HVAC Contracting

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To keep their units operating at peak efficiency, homeowners are encouraged to schedule regular system maintenance. However, there are a number of problems with this approach. As a result, companies are developing hardware/software products to provide a means for monitoring and maintaining optimum performance of residential HVAC units.

Your role in this month’s troubleshooting situation is providing a second opinion on a failed compressor diagnosis. The customer’s complaint is that the unit isn’t cooling properly — the equipment is a heat pump package unit that is just past the warranty period for the compressor.

Welding fumes aren’t good to breath, and all regulatory agencies agree that welding fumes should be directed away from the welder’s breathing zone when local exhaust ventilation (LEV) is being used. While all fumes are bad, some fumes are recognized as more hazardous than others. One such fume is hexavalent chromium, which is produced when welding stainless steel and other materials containing chromium.

Whether you focus on HVAC, plumbing, or another contracting specialty, you got into the contracting business because you wanted to be your own boss and love what you do. If you lose focus, worry about accountants, and stop thinking about what you are good at, you can fail. Adding effective habits will help you determine your strengths and weaknesses.

Littledave has achieved the position of coil shop supervisor, making her the first female at RAE Corp. to hold this title, with manufacturing being a traditionally male-dominated industry. She brought her sales knowledge back to the production department and utilized it to optimize operations. In less than 10 years, Littledave has climbed from soldering coils to supervising approximately 100 employees that build the coils for all the divisions of the company.

Bob and Tim just arrived at the house of a new customer. The customer explained to them that he just started up his air conditioner for the first time this spring. There was a warm spell, and the system didn’t work. As a matter of fact, it didn’t cool — the outdoor unit did not run at all. Bob explained to the customer that they would get started looking at the system and figure out what was going on.

Where clean air is needed, an air filter is usually not far away. In the last decade, the filtration industry has made tremendous progress in filter technologies. With new materials and designs, advances in nonwoven fabric manufacturing, and pleating methods, as well as new developments like nanofiber layers and coatings, filters have become more efficient, reliable, and compact. Demands on the filtration industry are also changing. It’s no longer solely about filter efficiency and dust-holding capacity; with soaring energy prices and increasing awareness of sustainability, filter media are expected to contribute to lower energy consumption.