Given the current economy, many consumers may not have the money to replace broken air conditioners and heat pumps with new units and will instead be looking for repair options. This may cause a shift in the way contractors do business. If there’s no money to replace the unit, then repairing it is the next best alternative.

As a self-described “troubled youth” in New York, Rich Morgan never dreamed that 20 years later, he would own a thriving HVAC contracting company whose staff would nominate him for The NEWS’ Best Contractor To Work For contest. Employees at Magic Touch Mechanical couldn’t say enough good things about him.

Nine companies have been named as the winners of the seventh annual International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) Innovation Awards. All nine companies will be recognized at the awards ceremony at McCormick Place on Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. in the New Product Technology Theater A (located in the South Hall).

“The world is changing very fast. Big will not beat small anymore. It will be the fast beating the slow.” That quote from media mogul Rupert Murdoch effectively describes what’s happening in the world of HVAC. Manufacturers are developing alternative technologies to offer better energy efficiency. Contractors, too, must move quickly to adopt such technologies.

In the year 2020, more homes will probably be built with sustainable technologies. Completed in August 2008, the Wisconsin Trend Home was built to these 2020 “specs,” and features many different energy-efficient technologies that are readily available in the marketplace.

Times are tough out there right now. Consumers have less disposable income available - thanks to decreasing home values and increasing credit card balances - and creditors are less likely to extend any more credit until the economy turns around. This can make it very difficult for HVAC contractors to sell basic furnaces, let alone the more expensive, high-efficiency units.

Dual-fuel systems have become all the rage lately, primarily due to the increasing cost of fossil fuels. By pairing a fossil fuel furnace with an electric heat pump, manufacturers say the systems can often pay for themselves within a few years, while providing a higher level of comfort to homeowners and their families.

The phaseout of R-22 is now looming over the industry. Some industry sources have indicated that the adoption rate of R-410A has been slower than they hoped; however, many contractors are bucking that trend and moving their companies to primarily selling equipment with the new refrigerant.

Many contractors still have lingering concerns about the phaseout of R-22 and the adoption of R-410A. That’s why The NEWS asked experts from ICP, Arkema, Emerson, and ICOR to address some of the most common concerns about R-410A and the phaseout of R-22.

Studies estimate that more than one-half of all air conditioners in U.S. homes do not perform to their rated efficiencies due to improper installation. Because of this, EPA’s Energy Star™ program decided to utilize the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Quality Installation Specification to start the HVAC Quality Installation (QI) program.