Poor ventilation compromises the highest efficiency system, but the winning equipment in The NEWS’ eighth annual Dealer Design Awards’ Ventilation Products category showed up to show the ventilation world how complete efficiency is done.
State Automatic Heating & Cooling fabricates plenty of ductwork in its sheet metal shop, but when it came time for heating the shop to improve employee comfort and productivity, the owners chose a fabric air distribution system instead of spiral metal duct.
All homes breathe during the extreme weather conditions of the region. When outdoor temperatures are low and the wind is blowing, most homes get enough fresh air to be “healthy.” However, it is more accidental than controlled. Here are some guidelines for helping customers achieve the kind of IAQ they want, in a controlled way.
Steve Lauten, president of Total Air & Heat in the suburban Dallas area, seems to focus the company primarily on energy conservation measures such as home efficiency and energy conservation. But intertwined with the company’s systems-based approach is a belief that good IAQ must be part of the result.
Tall ceilings can be both a builder’s dream and an HVAC contractor’s nightmare. The introduction of air movement by means of large-diameter, low-speed fans can provide the necessary comfort, further optimize HVAC system effectiveness, and save money on both energy use and building supplies.
Here are additional new products that The NEWS’ editorial staff found at the AHR Expo. Due to an internal error, these products were not included in The NEWS’ AHR Expo Post-Show Issue.
The newest product innovation in the ventilation industry - the modular/field-adjustable (M/FA) fabric duct/diffuser system - promises air distribution installation time reductions of as much as 40 to 80 percent and 15 to 50 percent less material costs, depending on marketplace geography.
With increasing numbers of customers making green and energy-efficient decisions, it’s becoming even more important for HVAC contractors to pay attention to their customers’ air quality. “Adequate fresh air should be an equal priority to energy savings,” said Allen Rathey, president of the Healthy House Institute (HHI).
When we last visited with lead installer John and his helper Charlie, they had learned how to measure external static pressure on a new system. They were shocked to measure a high 0.98 inches of water column - and surprised when their trainer asserted the airflow through the unit was probably OK.
Measuring duct static pressure is a fundamental part of
diagnosing how a duct system is performing. It’s kind of like getting your
blood pressure tested when you go to the doctor.
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