The final construction numbers for 2012 aren’t all tabulated yet, but the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC) is making predictions about what some sectors of the construction market will look like in 2013. Nonresidential construction is predicted to expand by 5.2 percent next year.

The magnetic umbrella holder helps improve working conditions outdoors in the sun, excessive heat, and the elements. According to the manufacturer, it makes working conditions for HVAC rooftop service and installations approximately 10°-20°F cooler.

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy and the superstorm it spawned in the northeastern United States, manufacturers represented by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) have increased production to meet the unexpected increased demand for residential and light commercial boilers, furnaces, and heat pumps.

Contractors from around the country converged on Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas for the Nexstar Network’s Super Meeting. The meeting was titled “Customers First” and included informative sessions and plenty of networking opportunities.

Is America approaching a fiscal cliff? That depends on who you talk to. Find out what Alan Beaulieu and other keynote speakers had to say at the 2012 HARDI Annual Conference.

Two NuTone packaged systems — heat pumps and packaged gas/electric models — include all-aluminum microchannel coils for lighter weight, smaller size, better durability, and greater reliability in corrosive environments, said the company.

Various areas of the U.S. HVACR industry are considering variable refrigerant flow (VRF) technology these days. What are contractors saying about it?

The IntelliPak™ I unitary rooftop systems in configurations from 20 to 130 tons are available. The redesigned system is a packaged rooftop unit that has energy efficiency ratings (EER) of 11; some IntelliPak I configurations exceed the EER of 11 and achieve as high as 14.2.

As the green movement continues its forward momentum, numerous contractors are well ahead of the learning curve, thanks to a comprehensive qualification program, courtesy of the Mechanical Service Contractors of America. What is the association’s latest offering?

Superheat is probably the most talked about yet misunderstood technical term used by service technicians in the field. Superheat is a measured value. What can be done with it?