Air filters have come a long way over the years. Not that long ago, homeowners had few options when it came to selecting mechanical air filters. Now there are a wide variety of filters available that are better able to capture airborne particles such as dust, pollen, dust mite allergens, some molds, and animal dander.
Controlling humidity in a home is a fine balance: Too much humidity can result in mold growth and a sticky feeling for occupants, while not enough humidity can result in residents experiencing dry noses, throats, lips, and skin. Finding the right level of humidity control can be tricky, but an array of dehumidifier and humidifier options can make that task easier.
Improper IAQ can seriously affect homeowners’ comfort and health. While increased comfort in a home is obviously a desirable goal, improving health and safety through the elimination of indoor pollutants is an even more important issue that contractors need to discuss with homeowners.
Throughout the country people are greatly concerned about two things, a lack of jobs and saving money. A new program to train energy auditors addresses both of these issues as it can create jobs and save Americans millions of dollars. An energy auditor can perform detailed building inspections and make recommendations about improving a building’s energy efficiency.
Companies that want to stay current and have a shot at getting ahead in the HVAC industry are investing in training programs. While the successful ones have always put money into their staff of installers and technicians, they’re opening the door to get everyone from their managers and sales staff into a training session of one kind or another.
At North American Technician Excellence (NATE), they’re always working to make their certification tests better and improve the quality of HVAC service across the board. Patrick Murphy, NATE vice president for certifications, said the organization’s test isn’t something a technician can take lightly, and he or she can’t cram for it.
Vice President Joe Biden kicked off five days of administration events around the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with the announcement of the selection of 25 communities for up to $452 million in Recovery Act funding to “ramp-up” energy efficiency building retrofits. The Retrofit Ramp-Up initiative is focused on retrofits of neighborhoods and towns - and eventually entire states.
Four-hundred independent HVAC contractor owners, managers, sales reps, and technicians spent four full days in sessions on business building tools and strategies at AirTime 500’s semi-annual expo. These sessions, coupled with the California location, made the expo theme aptly fit - It’s Perfect Weather for Profit.
Technicians coming out of school can’t find a job. Laid off technicians can’t find a job. Contractors struggling to hire can’t find HVACR technicians. These are three common scenarios currently occurring across the nation. Contradictory at best, the issues bring to light a question that has surfaced again in the HVACR industry, “Is there a technician shortage?”
Economic recovery has been more U shaped than V shaped, but the HVAC industry is slowly turning upward, as evidenced in a recent rise in some shipment numbers reported by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). March’s year-to-date factory shipments of heat pumps, for example, increased 7 percent over March 2009 totaling 385,717.
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