Environmental Health and Engineering (EH&E), Newton, Mass., evaluated the performance of Trane's CleanEffects whole-house air-cleaning system through comparison to industry standards, the performance of alternative systems, and health-based considerations.
With the pool of workers ever dwindling, how is it that some HVAC contractors seem to keep their stables of technicians well stocked? Who better to ask than the winners of The NEWS annual "Best Contractor to Work for" contest.
HVAC control systems in the home and in commercial use are becoming more advanced. But what seemed to be a convergence of technology a few years ago, has split into different directions, as evidenced by products shown at the 2006 AHR Expo.
The indoor air quality (IAQ) product manufacturers are bundling technologies to kill germs and destroy biological contaminants. Just look at some of the products shown at the 2006 AHR Expo.
Contractors who have been debating whether to get involved with the Energy Star® Home Performance program may want to get off the fence. Higher heating costs are hitting consumers hard this winter, and many are looking for solutions to effectively seal up their homes. In short, consumers are ready to listen to you about efficiency now.
Throwing micromanagement out the door, and giving owner-technicians decision-making ability, led to the selection of Howell's Air Conditioning and Heating as winner of the 2005 "Best Contractor To Work For" contest for the East region.
One of the technical presenters at the 96th Annual Refrigerating Engineers' and Technicians' Association's (RETA) National Convention was Randy Naugle of RAM Industries. He covered motor construction, failures, and a preventive maintenance program.
When modifications are made to a building, they can often release significant amounts of dust and mold. Contractors need to make sure that not only are occupied portions of the building protected from contaminants, but that these contaminants do not affect the system.
In jails, dense inmate populations raise the risk of disease outbreaks. One jail is using UVC lamps in the air-handling systems to help reduce natural gas heating costs while also enhancing indoor air quality.
At the Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association (RETA) annual convention in 2005, a pump teardown was one of the technical session highlights, and crowded to the point that the instructor had to offer an unscheduled second class later in the day.