HVAC Residential Market - Articles - Page 250

This style of ventilation introduces a small amount of outside air directly into the return duct of a system.

Ventilation a Pivotal Part of Home-performance Installations

Homeowners considering tactics such as air sealing to save energy and money

April 18, 2016

As home-performance contractors spend considerable time sealing air leakage in homes, much of the responsibility of educating homeowners about the benefits of proper ventilation lands on them.

Brett Nejmanowski, president of JT Dunn Heating & Cooling in St. Louis, displays the energy recovery ventilator (ERV) setup at the company’s office.

Baiting the Hook with Energy Recovery Ventilators

Contractors suggest how to upsell ventilation systems to customers

Nicole Krawcke

April 18, 2016

ERVs are among the fastest growing segments of improved IAQ management in buildings, according to a report from Navigant Research. According to the report, worldwide revenue from ERVs will grow from $1.6 billion in 2014 to $2.8 billion in 2020.

3D Printing Enables New Generation of Heat Exchangers

Modern process improves performance, reduces waste

April 18, 2016

The University of Maryland, through a partnership with 3D Systems and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Building Technologies Office, has used 3D printing to prototype a new heat exchanger. The product weighs 20 percent less, is 20 percent more efficient, and can be manufactured much quicker, compared to current designs.

California Proposes Ban on Sale of High-GWP HFC Refrigerants in 2020

Proposed emissions reduction strategy includes several measures targeting HFCs

April 15, 2016

California’s Air Resources Board (ARB) has released a proposed strategy aimed at curbing emissions that includes prohibitions on high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants.

Xergy, University of Delaware Researchers Work to Build a Better Heat Pump

Use of fuel cell technology provides new approach

April 13, 2016

Xergy Inc. has announced a new refrigeration system based on an electrochemical compressor to replace the conventional mechanical vapor compression systems found in typical heat pumps. The company credits the University of Delaware’s Ajay Prasad and his research team with playing an important role in the breakthrough.

Residential Cooling Showcase 2016: Systems Designed to Keep Customers Cool

New equipment rolled out for the warmer months

April 11, 2016

Every year, The NEWS introduces the latest cooling equipment available for the upcoming summer season in order to help contractors prepare for this busy period by doing the research that will help them to distinguish between brands. The coverage features specific information about each individual product as submitted by the manufacturers.

While the level of excitement surrounding home-performance contracting has waned for some, many still see great benefits and potential in the marketplace.

Is Home Performance Still in High Demand?

Contractors offer varying opinions, strategies, and approaches to home performance

Nick Kostora

April 11, 2016

The energy and excitement was certainly present among contractors across the nation, and while it has waned for some, many still see great benefits and potential in the home-performance marketplace.

Many successful service managers believe it’s important to visit techs on-site to demonstrate specific job-related skills.

Defining the Perfect Service Manager

It takes the right mix of technical and people skills to excel in the service manager role

Ron Rajecki

April 11, 2016

Clearly establishing what you want and expect from your people and understanding what they want and expect from you will go a long way toward making things run as smoothly as possible.

Figure 1: A system refrigerant undercharge caused these two parallel evaporators to freeze.

The Professor: More Troubleshooting Tips for Spring Tuneups

Properly diagnosing the symptoms is what sets professional technicians apart

John Tomczyk

April 11, 2016

Diagnosing an air conditioning system isn’t easy. A service technician must be a trained professional to diagnose a system efficiently and correctly — no longer can a tech rely on rules of thumb for coil temperatures or pressures.

Butch Welsch (right), owner of Welsch Heating & Cooling in St. Louis, was recently honored as ACCA’s 2016 Residential Contractor of the Year.

Welsch’s Heating & Cooling Adds More Hardware to Its Mantle

St. Louis-based HVAC contractor earns ACCA 2016 Residential Contractor of the Year award

Nicole Krawcke

April 11, 2016

George “Butch” Welsch, the 74-year-old owner of the St. Louis-based Welsch Heating & Cooling Co., was recently honored as the ACCA 2016 Residential Contractor of the Year during the ACCA 2016 conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.