In a year marked by a sudden surge in steel prices, big-time manufacturer mergers and acquisitions, and growing debate over refrigerant use, the 13 SEER decision was the biggest story in 2004. It even beat out the hurricanes that wreaked havoc in Florida and the Southeastern United States.
Jeff Hamstra, owner of Hamstra's Heating and Cooling (Tucson, Ariz.), won a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette in the 2004 "Stars and Stripes" promotion program sponsored by American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning.
Tom Mikulina, vice president of Industry Relations for Trane, spoke with contractor members of The Unified Group, a Chicago-based group of independent HVAC contractors about the future of the HVAC industry.
The unitary market continued in 2004 where it left off in 2003 - and that's saying a lot. Final statistics for the year are not yet in, but early numbers seemed to indicate that another record year is a possibility.
There was no shortage of manufacturers submitting price increases to The News for publication in 2004. The main reason cited for the cost hikes was the drastic jump in steel prices.
Thirty years ago, five independent wholesale distributors envisioned a group of peers standing together as equals and becoming a powerful force in the heating and plumbing industry. Now on WIT's 30th anniversary, their dreams have become reality.
This year was full of handshakes, contracts drawn, arrangements signed, and acquisitions recorded. Perhaps the biggest development was the acquisition of Goodman by Apollo Management L.P.
On Jan. 13, a U.S. appeals court ruled that the DOE did not follow proper procedure in adopting a 12 SEER standard for air conditioners and heat pumps. As a result, the more stringent 13 SEER standard would go into effect.
D. Wendal Attig wants commercial HVAC contractors to think of ways to make their company names the brands that customers remember when they need service and installation work.
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