Schools, colleges, and universities are a familiar and valuable market for HVAC contractors. These institutions typically combine a large amount of square footage with a high percentage of building ownership, which often means a willingness to invest for the long term.
The residential boiler market in the U.S. is somewhat small when compared to the rest of the world. In fact, according to some estimates, only about 9 million U.S. homes are heated with boilers, 60 percent of which are in the Northeast.
Manufacturers of HVAC equipment are a charitable bunch, often lending a hand after weather-related and natural disasters, as well as offering their expertise to national and local charities. They are particularly generous when it comes to supporting trade schools and vocational training programs that count on their donations of HVAC equipment in order to provide a hands-on experience for their students. By donating equipment to trade schools and vocational training programs, manufacturers demonstrate their dedication to educating the next generation of HVAC professionals.
Since its arrival in the U.S., crosslinked polyethylene PEX) tubing has taken the hydronics industry by storm. That is primarily due to its reputation as being a durable, flexible, and, some might even say, more affordable option for radiant heating and snowmelt applications.
Advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) were used during the design of the CBEX Dryback Elite to optimize the integration of core competencies, including the burner, controls, and heat recovery.
The Aspen and Aspen Light commercial condensing boilers feature a 10:1 turndown ratio, efficiencies of up to 96 percent AFUE, and boast low emissions. With a stainless steel, vertical, firetube heat exchanger, the Aspen line includes seven sizes between 85-399 MBtuh, with a 155-MBtuh combi unit available.
All technicians at some point will need to call and speak with a manufacturer’s technical support adviser. I have made many calls to these advisers throughout my career and learned how to best get the information I needed from them.
Energy Star certification is an important distinction for HVAC manufacturers’ products to achieve. The designation recognizes highly efficient performance, and 2017’s list of the most efficient boilers delivers a bevy of products from a wide range of manufacturers.
The Noritz Residential Combination Boiler (NRCB) allows for simultaneous residential domestic hot water and space heating and performs at 95 percent AFUE. Unlike traditional combination boiling systems, which can provide only space heating or hot water at any given time, the NRCB’s simultaneous capabilities are easy to control and especially beneficial for applications that do not store or deliver heat energy efficiently.