April 6 2020 Issue

In this issue, we take a comprehensive look at the future of social media, SEO, apps, and more and how they can affect your contracting business. We also look at new home automation and zoning products and trends that will benefit your customers in terms of comfort and convenience.

Check back throughout the week for additional content.

Contractors Jump Hurdles to Bring High School Students Into HVAC

Large and small companies navigate red tape, parents, and uncertainty to find young workers

Angela D. Harris

April 2, 2020

Contractors are seeking a new source of fresh and willing talent. Cue high school students.

How Growth From HVAC Companies Could Put Them at Risk of Ransomware Attacks

The more the industry grows, the larger of a target it becomes

Ludovic Rembert

March 27, 2020

As the size – and profits – of these companies continues to grow, they are likely to come under increasing levels of cyberattack.

Survey Shows How Mechanical Systems Industry is Dealing With COVID-19

Clear Seas Research offers insight into economic ramifications of pandemic

Kyle Gargaro

March 30, 2020

Clear Seas Research has provided information in how the mechanical systems industry is viewing, seeing, and reacting to this pandemic.

Indoor Environment Plays Role in Virus Transmission

HVAC contractors can help improve occupant health, immunity

Angela D. Harris

March 27, 2020

Adjusting the air quality inside a home or business won’t stop the infectious disease, but it could impede its transmission.

Coronavirus Crisis Leads HVAC Contractors to Protect Health of Their Staff, Customers

Business impacted by drastic actions to prevent spread of virus

Ted Craig

March 19, 2020

No one was prepared for the coronavirus outbreak, which is like every imaginable disruption at the same time and everywhere.

How to Market HVAC During Coronavirus Pandemic

Messaging should focus on health measures, avoid overpromising

Ted Craig

March 23, 2020

Contractors need to decide how much to spend on ads while watching cash flows dry up.

For HVAC Marketing Through COVID-19, Follow the Data

Looking at the right data can drive insights for your strategy

Ben Landers

April 12, 2020

One of the questions I hear from home service contractors is, “Should I continue to advertise and market through this chaos, and if so, how?”

Experts Warn HVAC Contractors to Guard against COVID Scams

Crisis creates opportunities for con artists, cyber criminals

Ted Craig

April 8, 2020

Banks warn that quick implementation of financing programs will prove challenging. Scam artists are taking advantage of the need for fast funding.

Atlantic Mechanical recently installed a Daikin VRF system with heat recovery in a Cuban restaurant called Mariel.

VRF Systems Remain a Rarity for Supermarkets, Convenience Stores

Experts say systems offer design flexibility and lower installation/operating costs

Joanna R. Turpin

April 2, 2020

Some experts believe that given the flexibility of a VRF system, some food retailers may begin adopting them.

Social Media Sites and the HVAC Contractor

Contractors need to know best practices for each platform

Ted Craig

April 3, 2020

How much time and money should contractors invest in social media? It helps to know how to invest these resources.

New California CCPA Law Aims to Put Consumers in Charge of Their Data

Violating the regulations can bring stiff penalties

Ted Craig

April 3, 2020

Businesses need to swim through regulations when reaching out to consumers. Now comes the CCPA, which has many states considering similar laws.

Home Automation Means Opportunity for HVAC Contractors

Shrug at thermostat-adjacent business and someone else will answer the call

Robert Beverly

April 4, 2020

Contractors can take advantage of potential thermostat upgrades, and position themselves for the consumer interest in non-HVAC appliances.

Technology Upgrades Are Changing Modern Boiler, Hydronic Systems

Professionals explain their changing field and how they adapt

Angela D. Harris

April 5, 2020

The difference between the systems of old and modern hydronic systems lies in technological and installation upgrades.

International Code Council Removes Exception for Duct Leakage Tests

Industry groups oppose broader testing and the specified method

Robert Beverly

April 6, 2020

The ICC passed a proposal that will require more duct testing in an effort to combat duct leakage, conserve energy, and reduce utility bills.

“Old” Methods of HVAC Marketing Still Work When Done Right

Getting in front of consumers remains the goal

Ted Craig

April 6, 2020

There’s an old saying about advertising that 50 percent of it works — it’s just that nobody knows which 50 percent that is.

Facts + Figures: AHRI Shipment Data for January 2020

April 6, 2020

Industry figures are estimates that are derived from the best available figures supplied by a sample of AHRI member companies.

HVAC Contractors Get Comfortable With Zoning

Changeouts represent the chance to sell the rest of a whole-home solution

Robert Beverly

April 7, 2020

How many of standard HVAC sales include add-ons like a humidifier, air cleaner, HRV/ERV, UV lights, or zoning?

Talking HVAC Technology With Johnson Controls’ Jeff Williams

Smart homes, refrigerant transition risks, and remote HVAC service scratch this interview’s surface

Robert Beverly

April 7, 2020

It is not a dull time for HVACR technology, regulations, and training, as Jeff Williams shared in an interview with The ACHR NEWS.

Don’t Confuse a Frosted Evaporator Coil With Refrigerant Overcharge

Never add or subtract refrigerant from a system until the problem is determined

John Tomczyk

April 8, 2020

Technicians often confuse symptoms of a refrigeration system that has a frosted evaporator coil with a system that is overcharged with refrigerant.

Tech of the Month — April 2020: Orval Stier

April 9, 2020

Stier joined Baxter Comfort Solution in Baxter, Iowa, in August 2018.

Understanding Low-Pressure Controls in Refrigeration Systems

When added, they control and protect the compressor

Joe Marchese

April 10, 2020

When working on a system, it is important to determine how the low-pressure control is being used and make sure it is properly set.

A Goettl employee shows off a UV Germicidal light.

Goettl Air Conditioning Gifts UV Systems For Employee Safety During COVID-19

Corporate responsibility shines through “Heart for Home Services” initiative

Maria Taylor

April 9, 2020

When companies are cutting back, Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing is stepping up the investment in its most valuable asset — its employees.

Snowmelt Systems Mean Safety, Reduced Liability For HVAC Customers

Professional advice on the marketing and installation of snow/ice melt systems

Angela D. Harris

April 11, 2020

Spring has sprung and the ground is thawing. The pains from snow and ice removal, however, still linger for residential and commercial customers alike.

Coronavirus Leads to Cancellations of Major HVAC Events

ACCA, HVAC Excellence, and IIAR remove 2020 events from calendar

March 16, 2020

ACCA, HVAC Excellence, and IIAR all removed their 2020 events from calendar due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

The Unified Group Holds Its Annual Sales Forum

Event took place in early March, in Nashville, Tennessee

March 30, 2020

More than 30 attendees from 20 member companies met to share best practices on all things sales-related.

Grundfos Foundation to Donate $29 Million, Help Fight COVID-19

In 2019, Foundation celebrated completion of the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp

March 24, 2020

The Grundfos Foundation has expanded its budget for donations from planned $18 million to $29 million.

ARS/Rescue Rooter Donates to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Partnership is kicking off its third year

February 24, 2020

ARS/Rescue Rooter presented a check to ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

FYI: News Briefs in HVAC - April 6, 2020

April 6, 2020

For your information news briefs from a wide variety of categories within the HVAC industry. Price increases, mergers and acquisitions, award winners, and more are highlighted here each week.

Regal Beloit Corporation: Monitoring System

April 6, 2020

The vibration and temperature monitoring system provides 24/7 services to help detect abnormalities in equipment before they become problematic.

Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US LLC: Single-Zone 2-ton H2i Unit

April 6, 2020

This product can be paired with a range of existing indoor units of varying sizes and designs.

ClimateMaster® Inc.: Heat Pump System

April 6, 2020

Created for residential applications, this product is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Energy Star’s® Most Efficient 2020.

Warren Controls: Control Valves

April 6, 2020

This upgraded version of its AmurAct is designed for 1.5 million cycles and can withstand ambient temperatures up to 140°F.

Fujitsu General America Inc.: Connection Kit (VRF)

April 6, 2020

This product enables installers of Fujitsu Airstage VRF systems to incorporate third-party air handling units and fan coils into a VRF system.

Synchroteam: Field Service Software Tool

April 6, 2020

This product is a cloud-based field service management solution aimed at managing real-time mobile employees.

On Demand As AI workloads and high-density computing push traditional cooling methods to their limits, the data center industry is accelerating the adoption of next-generation HVAC technologies.

In this session, we will cover how to design VRF systems for the U.S. market using new A2L refrigerants. These systems provide an advanced zoning solution by using inverter technology to deliver precise heating and cooling control across multiple zones and spaces.

ACHR NEWS

2020 April 6

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