News

SUNNOVATIONS ACHIEVES SOLAR HOT WATER ‘FIRSTS’

My good friends at Sunnovations made BIG news last month with the announcement of their product / system receiving SRCC OG300 certification. Those of us who are familiar with the process know just how important this is and how much effort it took over several years to achieve it!

The following is from Sunnovations’ press release:

Solar thermal technology innovator Sunnovations Inc. has been awarded the industry-standard OG300 certification by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation on 41 unique system configurations for residential solar water heating. In doing so, Sunnovations has achieved several industry “firsts”, including:

• The only “self-pumped” systems certified OG300 by the SRCC.
• The only closed-loop glycol systems certified by the SRCC to use PEX for the solar loop piping.
• The only systems with passive overheat protection.

These technical distinctions translate into a number of important homeowner benefits that are unique to Sunnovations:

1.    “Self-pumped” means that the system will work even when there is a power outage or in off-grid applications. Sunnovations’ systems are the only ones on the market that provide system freeze protection without the need for electrical pumps and controllers.

2.    “Use of PEX” means that systems can be installed more quickly and cost-effectively than any other comparable solar hot water system.

3.    “Passive overheat protection” means that the systems will not experience the chronic overheating that typical closed-loop glycol systems suffer from. This further means that the system does not require costly periodic maintenance that other systems require.

“We believe our systems represent the lowest cost per BTU delivered of any comparable residential solar water heating system in the US” stated Sunnovations Chief Executive Officer Matt Carlson, “Additionally, we have among the broadest variety of system configurations available, providing a fit for most home types and needs.”

The SRCC’s rigorous system certification process is the industry standard in the US, and utilized performance and durability data from independent testing conducted by industry leader TÜV Rheinland in Tempe, AZ. The certifications qualify Sunnovations’ systems for many state and utility solar hot water rebate programs, as well as the generation of renewable energy credits in multiple jurisdictions including Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Charles Segerman, CEO of Clean Currents Thermal in Rockville, MD, said: “Our experience with the Sunnovations system has been as advertised: simple, single day installation at an affordable cost to the homeowner. The renewable energy credits that are enabled by these certifications will help our Maryland and DC customers offset the installed cost of their solar hot water system and reduce their carbon footprint.”

About Sunnovations

Sunnovations’ geyser-pump design removes the need for all electro-mechanical components found in typical solar water heating systems, providing for affordable, simplified and standardized systems while at the same time maintaining performance and freeze protection. The company’s system is available exclusively through leading renewable energy installers.

Interested homeowners can determine their potential cost savings and carbon footprint reduction from a solar hot water system by going to http://www.sunnovations.com/forms/calculator. Qualified professional installers can learn more about Sunnovations’ system and becoming an Installer Partner at http://www.sunnovations.com/content/for-installers.

As you may remember, I have a Sunnovations thermal solar system on my home…you can see it here.

Also, go back to the October 2011 newsletter, (see it at this address https://espcotraining.com/2011/october-2011-espco-newsletter/ ), and read about my Sunnovations systems. If you have been contemplating getting into thermal solar and didn’t know what product to choose, where to get training and how to take advantage of state and federal tax incentives then I suggest reading up on Sunnovations…I’m a believer!

GEOTHERMAL CREATING NEW AND PROFITABLE OPPORTUNITIES IN RURAL OHIO

I had the pleasure of meeting Ron and Nathan Shafer of Shafer Heating & Cooling LLC in Hillsboro, OH this past month. I had classes scheduled in both Cincinnati and Columbus, OH and I took a side trip to Hillsboro to meet the Shafer’s at Nathan’s home to assist with a mini split system.

Hillsboro is in Highland County with a population of about 6,600 residents. Hillsboro has a total area of 5.2 square miles and population density of 1,269 per square mile…compared to Cincinnati that has an area of about 80 square miles and a population density of 3,879 per square mile, Hillsboro is the definition of rural!

As I drove closer to Hillsboro I felt like I stepped back in time…I passed a real ‘Mail Pouch Tobacco’ barn and passed local Amish men piloting horse drawn carriages…it is absolutely beautiful!

Now, you may be thinking that I’m going to tell you a story about a small town, family owned and operated heating and cooling contractor who services their ‘Mayberry’ like community but that would only be part of the story. The Shafer’s are the market leaders in Southwestern Ohio…in fact; they are the market makers in my opinion.

Shafer Heating & Cooling LLC are the pioneers of geothermal heating and cooling in their market. When their competitors were happy to do the ‘same old, same old’, Ron and his son Nathan have been increasing their company’s sales and profits by promoting geothermal systems to their neighbors, business associates and friends…all of which, are customers of the Shafer’s.

In a down economy, (I’m being polite), in an area of relative low income and small population, the Shafer’s are growing…yes, growing…and a big reason why is geothermal!

Nathan is third generation Shafer involved in the business. Ron started the company back in 1986 with his Dad and the fourth generation; Nathan’s wife is expecting their first child, a son, will insure the business will flourish for many years to come.

The business’s success was no mistake…Ron knew he had to set himself apart from his competition and ‘going green’ was the way to do it. Ron admitted to me that some of his competitors thought he was ‘nuts’ when he started promoting geothermal heating and cooling. Some years gone by, now he sees others following his lead.

Now, you would think that geothermal in rural Ohio where there is lots of land, farms with ponds and / or wells for agricultural and animal needs, is a no brainer…but it wasn’t always the case. Ron had to pioneer the concept to the community, overcoming concerns, none the least of which was cost.

Federal and state incentives in Ohio bring the cost of geothermal within the range of less efficient, shorter lived ‘conventional’ equipment and systems and in recent years where the economy has reached unprecedented lows…especially in rural areas…the Shafer’s are growing and look to add to their fleet of five trucks.

Check out Ron and Nathan installing a horizontal slinky ground heat exchanger, a pond geothermal project and vertical borehole installations at their website.

The Shafer’s are an example of a hardworking, smart, entrepreneurial family that thinks ‘outside the box’ and in doing so serves their community well with innovative, cost saving, long lasting geothermal services.

…and I just love Nathan’s dog…a ‘blue heeler Australian cattle dog’ who is just coolest dog in Ohio!

KEYSTONE UNIVERSITY, GILBERTSVILLE, PA.

I had the pleasure of conducting an ‘Introduction to Geothermal Heating & Cooling’ class at the Keystone University in Gilbertsville, PA this past week. I have posted pictures of the incredible classroom Bob DellaSala and his crew at Keystone Sales created and named Keystone University. You can see the pictures here.

This is a ‘state of the art’ facility with working hydronic heating systems including Buderus boilers and a Zurn radiant floor heating system.

The room is cooled by a Small Duct High Velocity (SDHV) cooling system from Comfort-Aire. The SDHV system, like the radiant manifold, is visible behind clear Plexiglas so students can observe these unique systems at work.

Bob and I go way back but this was the first time I visited with Bob at his beautiful facility in Gilbertsville. Bob took an existing manufacturer’s representative agency and brought it into the 21st century…he stocks more PEX tubing then I have ever seen in one place…you need high quality, competitively priced Zurn PEX tubing for your plumbing and / or heating project…Bob’s got what you need today!

Check out the picture of the classroom that shows the ‘wall of fame’ with a plaque dedicated to each manufacturer that Keystone represents…it is a relative ‘who’s who’ in the HVAC and plumbing industry.

Check out Keystone Sales’ website.

UPCOMING CLASSES

Keep checking the ‘Training Events’ tab on my website for updates on a class coming to a town near you. The following are some recent additions:

SUBJECT: Mini Split Air Conditioning & Heating
DATE: Monday, July 16, 2012
CLASS SPONSORS: Comfort-Aire / Heat Controller & FW Webb
LOCATION: Heritage Energy
625 Sawkill Rd.
Kingston, NY 12401
CONTACT: Heritage employees only

SUBJECT: Mini Split Air Conditioning & Heating
DATE: Wednesday, July 18, 2012
CLASS SPONSORS: Comfort-Aire / Heat Controller & FW Webb
LOCATION: FW Webb
62 Griswold St
Binghamton, NY 13904
CONTACT: 607-724-3170

SUBJECT: Mini Split Air Conditioning & Heating
DATE: Tuesday, July 24, 2012
CLASS SPONSORS: Comfort-Aire / Heat Controller & FW Webb
LOCATION: FW Webb
1173 Conway Rd.
Madison, NH 03849
CONTACT: 603-367-8852

See you all soon!

REPRINT FROM LAST MONTH

I have never done this before but I think some of you may have missed this article from last month’s newsletter and I think it is worthy of everyone’s attention…or maybe a second look!

The HydroClaw by Storm King Enterprises

A couple buddies of mine have invented a new way to secure and safely mount a traditional diaphragm expansion tank on any structural member within the boiler room and / or on unistrut. The HydroClaw is the invention of Bruce and Jeff Perry, brothers from my home town in Orange County, NY. They were taught well by their dad, Mr. Don Perry, and there has been a Perry taking care of the community’s plumbing, heating and cooling needs since 1927.

You can tell how smart these guys are because they don’t work together…that seems to be a curse in our industry. I have seen too many family businesses ruined by feuding siblings. Bruce is the president / owner at Perry Plumbing, Heating & Cooling in Cornwall, NY and Jeff is the president / owner of Piedmont Radiant out of Charlottesville, VA.

These guys are not your average HVAC and plumbing contractors…each hold a college degree and each have talents and interests outside their ‘day jobs’.

The HydroClaw is truly a product born from ‘necessity being the mother of invention’. Bruce and Jeff are advocates of the new condensing boiler technologies where boilers have been taken off the floor where they were traditionally installed and now they are mounted on walls. Many of these boilers do not have integral expansion tanks and traditional air scoops for air removal have been replaced with low loss headers with integrated air removal devices. The problem the brothers faced…and I suspect many of us ‘wet heads’ do as well…is where and how to mount the diaphragm expansion tank?

The HydroClaw is an innovative and creative answer to this question…it securely grabs the tank within a steel clamp designed to mount to any structural member, (possibly right on the same wall the boiler is mounted), or to a piece of unistrut secured to structure. The HydroClaw is currently available in a size that accepts both #30 and #60 standard diaphragm expansion tanks of virtually all manufacturers as well as the ‘thermal’ type tanks for water heaters. The HydroClaw Jr. is soon to be released and it is designed to hold the smaller #15 tanks.

I think it is safe to say we all have unknowingly unthreaded what was a water-logged diaphragm expansion tank only to have it drop to the floor like a bowling ball because of the weight of the water…and if it hit your foot it was an experience you won’t long forget! A water-logged expansion tank creates a hazard of pipe breakage due to the excessive weight. The HydroClaw can prevent catastrophic damage resulting from a flooded expansion tank taking pipe and other system components with it as it tears from the system if not supported properly.

Now, before you suggest that Bruce and Jeff go on the show, ‘Shark Tank’, I have already suggested it and I wasn’t the first. I think the boys got something here that might, in time, even go beyond its initial intended use. I can see the HydroClaw being used to mount virtually any tank of any type… I also see a future for it as a seismic mount for water heaters and alike in areas prone to earthquake. You guys hear that in California?

I have posted two videos that the brothers have produced touting the advantages of the HydroClaw and how to install it properly. The videos can be seen under the tab ‘videos’. I have to tell you, I’m not only impressed with the HydroClaw itself but I think Jeff Perry has a future in ‘infomercials’…he is great in these videos and represents the product, himself and his brother very well.

The HydroClaw is patent pending and the boys are researching how best to bring the HydroClaw to the masses but for now you can buy directly from them at Storm King Enterprises. Call Bruce at 845-534-4270.

NEW CLASSES POSTED ON THE ESPCO WEBSITE

Go to the ‘training events’ tab and find an upcoming class near you!

SUBJECT: Mini Split Air Conditioning & Heating
DATE: Tuesday, June 12, 2012
CLASS SPONSORS: Comfort-Aire / Heat Controller & American Copper & Brass
LOCATION: Heat Controller
1900 Wellworth
Jackson, MI. 49203
CONTACT: 517-787-2100

SUBJECT: Mini Split Air Conditioning & Heating
DATE: Wednesday, June 13, 2012
CLASS SPONSORS: Comfort-Aire / Heat Controller & Style Crest, Inc.
LOCATION: Style Crest, Inc.
645 Hagerty Dr.
Fremont, OH. 43420
TIME: 2 – 5PM
CONTACT: James Zuehike
419-333-5710

SUBJECT: Mini Split Air Conditioning & Heating
DATE: Tuesday, June 19, 2012
CLASS SPONSORS: Comfort-Aire / Heat Controller & E-Town WinAir
LOCATION: E-Town WinAir
436 S. Mulberry St
Elizabethtown, KY. 42701
TIME: 9AM – Noon
CONTACT: Doug Kerr
270-769-3851

SUBJECT: Mini Split Air Conditioning & Heating
DATE: Wednesday, June 20, 2012
CLASS SPONSORS: Comfort-Aire / Heat Controller & Trane
LOCATION: Trane
103000 Springfield Pike
Cincinnati, OH.  45215
CONTACT: 513-771-8884

SUBJECT: Mini Split Air Conditioning & Heating
DATE: Thursday, June 21, 2012
CLASS SPONSORS: Comfort-Aire / Heat Controller & Trane
LOCATION: Trane
2300 CityGate Dr.
Columbus, OH. 43219
CONTACT: 614-473-3500

NEW PICTURES IN THE ‘MEDIA / GALLERY’ SECTION

I did a swing through the lovely state of Vermont last week with my mini split class and I ended the trip at the FW Webb location in Fitchburg, MA. I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Witti and his crew and they filled a room for me with some great HVAC installers and service technicians and we spent the afternoon talking Comfort-Aire mini splits.
While I was there Chris showed me his collection of antique plumbing fixtures. He showed me a toilet that was actually manufactured and sold by FW Webb back in the day. He had a shelf full of beautiful faucets and a urinal flush valve that looked and felt like the handle on a Vegas slot machine…how cool!
Check out the offer for a ‘free case of beer’ with purchases of $250.00 or more…pre-politically correct era for sure!
You can see all these great items at www.ESPCOtraining.com under the ‘media’ tab and then click on ‘gallery’ and scroll to the pictures titled ‘FW Webb, Fitchburg, MA fixture artifacts’.

NEW VIDEO POSTED ON THE WEBSITE

I posted some video taken at the April 24, 2012 Comfort-Aire mini split class held at the FW Webb location in Newburgh, NY. The video captured a portion of the class that highlights the advantages of inverter compressor technology as well as a comparison of ductless inverter systems vs. ducted conventional systems.
You can see the video at www.ESPCOtraining.com in the ‘media / video’ section.

MINI SPLITS AS HEATING SOURCES?

I get asked quite often if I think mini splits should be used as a heat source and my answer is always a resounding YES!
Now, before you start writing your email to me to counter my position let me complete the thought…yes, mini splits should be used as a heat source but they should NOT be the sole heat source in cold climates such as the northeast.
I have never seen the logic in installing cooling only mini split models in cold climates…the equipment cost difference between cooling only and heat pump models is minimal and the benefit of a secondary heat source can be invaluable.
Equipment such as the Comfort-Aire V series inverter single and multi-zone systems can heat down to 5 degree outdoor air temperatures. Now, we do need to discuss this a bit…at 5 degree ODA the heating capacity drops off significantly from its full rated capacity at 47 degree ODA. That understood, the benefit of having a secondary heat source should a boiler or a furnace go down on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Eve far outweighs any concerns about performance…in my opinion.
Again, understand that we’re not going to get ‘rated performance’ at 5 degrees but we are going to get heat…and that my friends is the benefit! I’m gonna say it one more time to be clear…I am NOT promoting mini splits as sole heat source in cold climates and we do need to sell these systems by educating our customers of their limitations.
I am very confident that given the choice of a cooling only mini split or a heat pump model that will provide secondary and / or supplemental heat, Mrs. Gillicuddy will gladly pay a little more for the heat pump.
How about the radiant floor heating project that requires supplemental heat? Many of us ‘wetheads’ have found ourselves in need of supplemental heat in rooms where we just plain couldn’t put enough tubing in the floor…the mini split heat pump might just be an economic alternative to a hydronic fan coil and / or kickspace heater. Low cost and ease of installation makes the mini split heat pump a winner!

MY FEMININE SIDE…YES, YOU HEARD ME RIGHT!

I have been telling attendees of my Comfort-Aire mini split classes how I have become addicted to a television show on the Home & Garden Network (HGTV). The show is called ‘House Hunters International’. My wife turned me on to the show…the premise is they have a couple who is in the market to buy a home and show them three homes, at the end of the show they choose one. My wife likes the show because she tries to guess which house the couple will buy. I like the show because in showing the couple each home they usually show the ‘mechanicals’ of the home like the heating, cooling and water heating systems.
It is so cool to see how guys just like us are conditioning air and heating water in other parts of the world!
Don’t be afraid…check out the show…no one is going to know and I bet you find it as interesting as I do.

CONGRATULATIONS

Lou Rasmussen of Heat Controller, Inc. was named President of HCI on June 1, 2012. Lou joined the HCI team about four and a half years ago as Vice President of Sales. In January of 2011 he was promoted to Executive Vice President and joined the Heat Controller Board of Directors. In his new position Lou is responsible for the operations of the company’s two divisions: Heat Controller, Inc. Jackson, MI and Aiton’s Equipment, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Congratulations to Lou!

OBITUARY

I am sad to report that Bob November, owner of McKenzie River Music in Eugene, OR. passed away May 21, 2012. I met Bob this past March and wrote about him and his wonderful store in the April, 2012 newsletter.
I have been in guitar shops from Manhattan to Sunset Boulevard in LA but I have never seen a better selection of premier vintage guitars in one place like what Bob assembled at McKenzie River.
I met Bob just the one time but he and his wife Susan shortly thereafter sent me a McKenzie River tee shirt which I appreciated receiving, and since Bob’s passing, I now cherish.
See you all soon!

How do you know if your geothermal system is performing to specification?

(continued from last month) Last month we talked about conducting a performance check on the water side of the geothermal water to air system…this month I want to continue but now let’s take a look at the refrigeration side of things.

We will again use the Comfort-Aire model HTV036 1200 CFM / FULL LOAD as our example.

Here’s what we know:

The Entering Water Temperature (EWT) is 60 degrees
The Leaving Water Temperature (LWT) is 52 degrees
This makes our water temperature drop 8 degrees

The Entering Water Pressure (EWP) is 51 PSI
The Leaving Water Pressure (LWP) is 46 PSI

The Entering Air Temperature (EAT)  is 70 degrees
The Leaving Air Temperature (LAT) is 105 degrees
This makes our air temperature rise 35 degrees (105 – 70 = 35)

The Gallons Per Minute (GPM) is 9

We reviewed how to determine the GPM in the April 2012 newsletter so refer to it for a refresher if you need to.
The suction pressure is 120 PSIG
The suction line temperature is 53 degrees

The discharge pressure is 360 PSIG
The liquid line just prior to the expansion valve is 89 degrees

We will need to refer to a refrigerant temperature and pressure chart. You can see one at this address:

http://assets.fluke.com/appnotes/electricalpower/1265816_.pdf

We can find the suction pressure of 120 PSIG at the far right vertical column which represents R410A refrigerant, (120 PSIG falls between 118 and 122.8 on the chart). We move left horizontally on the chart to the first vertical column and we see the corresponding temperature is about 41 degrees…this is our suction saturation temperature (SAT).

We can now calculate our superheat by simply subtracting the SAT (41 degrees) from the suction line temperature (53 degrees). 53 – 41 = 12 degrees superheat

This is good…we are making progress!

Okay…now let’s determine the subcooling. We will use the same refrigerant temperature and pressure chart and now find the discharge pressure (360 PSIG) on the far right column. We see that 360 falls between 355 and 365. We move left horizontally on the chart to the first vertical column and we see the corresponding temperature is about 109 degrees…this is our discharge saturation temperature (SAT).

We can now calculate our subcooling by simply subtracting the SAT (109 degrees) from the liquid line temperature (89 degrees). 109 – 89 = 20 degrees subcooling

Let’s assemble all the info we have collected so we can evaluate the refrigeration side of the system:

EWT = 60
GPM = 9 (the HTV036 is a 3 tom unit so the GPM is 3 / ton)
Suction Pressure = 120 PSIG
Discharge Pressure = 360 PSIG
Superheat = 12
Subcooling = 20
Water Temperature Drop = 8
Air Temperature Rise = 35

Now you need to refer to the products Unit Operating Conditions chart. You can find this chart in the HTV I & O manual on page 41 at this address:

http://hci.heatcontroller.com/lib/HTV-HTD-HTH%20IOM%202-23-12.pdf

We find the EWT on the far left of the chart…now you will see that the chart jumps from

50 – 70 degree EWT and our system has an EWT of 60. You need to ‘round-down’ and use 50 degree EWT on the chart. We know our GPM is 3 /ton so find 3 in the very next column to the right. Now we move horizontally to the right under ‘Full Load Heating’ to begin our performance check.

The first vertical column under Full Load Heating is Suction Pressure PSIG. The typical operating pressure for the HTV036 is 105 – 115 PSIG. The actual system operating suction pressure is 120 PSIG…which is HIGH!

The next vertical column moving to the right on the chart is Discharge Pressure PSIG. The typical operating discharge pressure for the HTV036 is 331 – 351 PSIG. The actual system operating discharge pressure is 360…which is HIGH!

The next vertical column moving to the right on the chart is Superheat. The typical operating superheat for a HTV036 is 10 – 15 degrees. The actual system operating superheat is 12 degrees…this is fine.

The next vertical column moving to the right on the chart is Subcooling. The typical operating subcooling for an HTV036 is 17 – 22 degrees. The actual system operating subcooling is 20 degrees…this is fine.

The next vertical column moving to the right on the chart is Water Temperature Drop. The typical operating water temperature drop for a HTV036 is 6.4 – 8.4. The actual system operating water temperature drop is 8 degrees…which is fine.

The last vertical column moving right on the chart is Air Temperature Rise. The typical operating air temperature rise for an HTV036 is 24 – 30 degrees. The actual system operating air temperature rise is 35 degrees…this is HIGH!

We have determined that the system is operating with HIGH suction pressure, discharge pressure and air temperature rise…chances are good we are over-charged!

So, between this month and the April 2012 newsletters we have seen how we can check both the water side and the refrigerant side of an operating geothermal water to air heat pump system. These checks are critical to establishing a proper operating system that will perform as intended and provide efficient heating and cooling for decades.

The HydroClaw by Storm King Enterprises

A couple buddies of mine have invented a new way to secure and safely mount a traditional diaphragm expansion tank on any structural member within the boiler room and / or on unistrut. The HydroClaw is the invention of Bruce and Jeff Perry, brothers from my home town in Orange County, NY. They were taught well by their dad, Mr. Don Perry, and there has been a Perry taking care of the community’s plumbing, heating and cooling needs since 1927.

You can tell how smart these guys are because they don’t work together…that seems to be a curse in our industry. I have seen too many family businesses ruined by feuding siblings. Bruce is the president / owner at Perry Plumbing, Heating & Cooling in Cornwall, NY and Jeff is the president / owner of Piedmont Radiant out of Charlottesville, VA.

These guys are not your average HVAC and plumbing contractors…each hold a college degree and each have talents and interests outside their ‘day jobs’.

The HydroClaw is truly a product born from ‘necessity being the mother of invention’. Bruce and Jeff are advocates of the new condensing boiler technologies where boilers have been taken off the floor where they were traditionally installed and now they are mounted on walls. Many of these boilers do not have integral expansion tanks and traditional air scoops for air removal have been replaced with low loss headers with integrated air removal devices. The problem the brothers faced…and I suspect many of us ‘wet heads’ do as well…is where and how to mount the diaphragm expansion tank?

The HydroClaw is an innovative and creative answer to this question…it securely grabs the tank within a steel clamp designed to mount to any structural member, (possibly right on the same wall the boiler is mounted), or to a piece of unistrut secured to structure. The HydroClaw is currently available in a size that accepts both #30 and #60 standard diaphragm expansion tanks of virtually all manufacturers as well as the ‘thermal’ type tanks for water heaters. The HydroClaw Jr. is soon to be released and it is designed to hold the smaller #15 tanks.

I think it is safe to say we all have unknowingly unthreaded what was a water-logged diaphragm expansion tank only to have it drop to the floor like a bowling ball because of the weight of the water…and if it hit your foot it was an experience you won’t long forget! A water-logged expansion tank creates a hazard of pipe breakage due to the excessive weight. The HydroClaw can prevent catastrophic damage resulting from a flooded expansion tank taking pipe and other system components with it as it tears from the system if not supported properly.

Now, before you suggest that Bruce and Jeff go on the show, ‘Shark Tank’, I have already suggested it and I wasn’t the first. I think the boys got something here that might, in time, even go beyond its initial intended use. I can see the HydroClaw being used to mount virtually any tank of any type… I also see a future for it as a seismic mount for water heaters and alike in areas prone to earthquake. You guys hear that in California?

I have posted two videos that the brothers have produced touting the advantages of the HydroClaw and how to install it properly. The videos can be seen under the tab ‘videos’. I have to tell you, I’m not only impressed with the HydroClaw itself but I think Jeff Perry has a future in ‘infomercials’…he is great in these videos and represents the product, himself and his brother very well.

The HydroClaw is patent pending and the boys are researching how best to bring the HydroClaw to the masses but for now you can buy directly from them at Storm King Enterprises. Call Bruce at 845-534-4270.

I had a chance to meet with a HVAC legend last week!

I conducted a Comfort Aire mini split cooling & heating class at FW Webb in Warwick, RI last Thursday.  Charles Bursey is an Account Manager out of the Warwick location and he has been writing for the Fuel Oil News for decades. I was thrilled to meet Charles while I was there and to have him attend my class was very special indeed.

Charles has been an HVAC educator, author, advocate and icon for most of his life and he is an inspiration to guys like me who can only hope to establish a substantial, loyal following like Charles has over his career.

You can read Charles’ monthly column in the Fuel Oil News online at www.fueloilnews.com.

Go to the ‘columnists’ tab and click on Charles’ name to see all his current and archived articles…good stuff!

See you all soon!

How do you know if your geothermal system is performing to specification?

I had the pleasure last month to travel to Jackson, MI. to participate in a Comfort-Aire geothermal class conducted by Leon Cogswell and Bob Sycks of Heat Controller / Comfort-Aire. This was a unique opportunity for me to observe and learn from Bob who has been conducting the Comfort-Aire geothermal classes for some time and recently announced his retirement to be effective later this year. Bob is one of the those special trainers who after being in his presence a short time you sense his brilliance but at the same time has a wonderful ‘every man’ way of speaking that allows him to put forth what can be very complicated material in an easy going, comprehensive manner. There is a geothermal class scheduled for May 16 – 17, 2012 in Jackson and I can’t encourage you enough to take what may be this last opportunity to learn from the best…Bob Sycks.

Leon Cogswell, Heat Controller Sales Manager, has been assisting Bob with the class for the past couple years now and he brings his extensive knowledge of geothermal as well as practical experience in actual installations to the party. Leon and Bob conduct butt and socket fusion welding demonstrations and each attendee gets the opportunity to participate.

I have added pictures of Bob and Leon in action on my website in the ‘gallery’ under the heading ‘Comfort-Aire Geothermal Class, March 13 – 14, 2012, Jackson, MI.‘ Check out the great training facility these guys have created in Jackson, MI. not only for geothermal but for the entire Heat Controller product offering. It was an honor for me to have Bob and Leon ask me to participate in their class…it was like playing the ‘big room in Vegas’!

I want to share with you my portion of the class which pertained to ‘system performance checks’.

It is essential that once the system installation is complete that a performance check is conducted to verify that the system (and equipment) is performing as designed. A water side performance check requires NO refrigeration gauges but rather the use of pressure and temperature gauges located at the inlet and outlet of the heat pump’s coaxial heat exchanger, (where the water exchanges heat with the refrigerant).

We need to calculate the heat of extraction / rejection of the system water to the earth. My good friend, John Barba, is famous for the line, “you gotta do the math” and as one who freely admits to being ‘mathematically challenged’, I would always cringe when there was math to be done…but this process is painless and very necessary.

Heat of extraction refers to the amount of heat extracted from the water through the refrigeration effect and can be compared to the design data of the equipment manufacturer for a performance check.

Let’s go through a quick four step procedure in preparation for the performance check:

1. Always start up the new unit in the cooling mode…this will expand the Ground Heat Exchanger (GHEX), tubing as it will be rejecting the heat to the ground in this scenario.
2. Disconnect the Hot Water Generator (HWG) / desuperheater pump before beginning the performance check…you do not want the HWG to influence the measurements you will be collecting.
3. Allow the system to run for at least 15 minutes achieving ‘steady state’ conditions before taking measurements.
4. Begin to fill in the numbers for the Heat of Extraction equation…here is the equation:

HEAT OF EXTRACTION (BTUH) = WATER DELTA T X FLOW (GPM) X FLUID FACTOR

The system should perform within 90% of the unit’s specified performance.

Let’s review some of the formulas we will be using through this process:

DELTA T is the temperature difference between the Entering Water Temperature (EWT) and the Leaving Water Temperature (LWT).

DELTA P is the pressure differential between the EWT and LWT
Entering Water Pressure (EWP) – Leaving Water Pressure (LWP) = Delta P

Delta P converts to GPM (gallons per minute) using the pressure drop table for the equipment at the correct EWT, (see manufacturer’s product performance data sheet).

FLUID FACTOR is the ability of a solution to transfer heat in a certain period of time.
The fluid factor of a 30% propylene glycol mixture is 483
The fluid factor for a 25% ethanol mixture is 515
The fluid factor for water is 501

Okay…let’s go through an example:
We will use the Comfort-Aire model HTV036 1200 CFM / FULL LOAD as our example. Our EWT is 50 degrees and out LWT is 41 degrees. The EWP is 43.1 PSI and the LWP is 40 PSI

We can easily calculate the delta T is 9, (50 degree EWT – 41 degree LWT = 9), so let’s plug that into the equation:

HEAT OF EXTRACTION (BTUH) = WATER DELTA T X FLOW (GPM) X FLUID FACTOR
HEAT OF EXTRACTION (BTUH) = 9 X FLOW (GPM) X FLUID FACTOR

So now we would need to refer to Comfort-Aire’s performance data sheet for the model HTV036 1200 CFM / FULL LOAD. You can see it in the ‘Engineering Design Guide’ on page 16 at this address:
http://hci.heatcontroller.com/lib/HTV-HTD-HTH%20Design%20Guide%202-23-12.pdf

We know the EWT is 50 degrees so we find that on the first vertical column. We also know that our Water Pressure Drop (WPD) is 3.1, (43.1 EWP – 40 LWP = 3.1 PSI), so we can find that in the third vertical column marked WPD / PSI moving downward until we hit the 50 EWT  section. Now move horizontally to the left to find our GPM is 6.8 in the second vertical column. Let’s add that to the equation:

HEAT OF EXTRACTION (BTUH) = WATER DELTA T X FLOW (GPM) X FLUID FACTOR
HEAT OF EXTRACTION (BTUH) = 9 X 6.8 X FLUID FACTOR

We are making progress!

The last part of the equation is the fluid factor. We are using a 30% propylene glycol mixture in our GHEX so we know our fluid factor is 483…lets add this final number to the equation:

HEAT OF EXTRACTION (BTUH) = WATER DELTA T X FLOW (GPM) X FLUID FACTOR
HEAT OF EXTRACTION (BTUH) = 9 X 6.8 X 483
The calculated HEAT OF EXTRACTION = 29,560 BTUH

Going back to the performance data sheet we can now move horizontally to the right and locate the vertical column marked ‘HE’ and see that the specified heat of extraction for this piece of equipment is 29,400 BTUH. The calculated heat of extraction is well within the specified HE, (in fact it can’t get much better), and so we know our system performance, at least on the water side, is in great shape!

Next month we will look at the refrigeration side of the system and check our system performance there.

Thermostat and high limit control museum in Salem, Oregon

I had the incredible pleasure of conducting mini split classes for the Comfort-Aire people at six Johnstone Supply locations in the Pacific Northwest last month. On my stop at the Johnstone in Salem, OR. I met Glenn Crossway who has the most incredible collection of antique thermostats and high limit controls that I have ever seen and it is on display at the Salem Johnstone. I have posted some pictures of the collection on my website in the ‘gallery’ under the heading ‘Johnstone Supply, Salem, OR. antique thermostat and high limit collection‘.

I have collected similar vintage thermostats myself but my collection can only be described as ‘modest’ compared to Glen’s.

Glenn is a dead ringer for the guy named Jack on the reality show ‘Gold Rush’…luckily he does not have a similar voice, (that guy Jack has the most grating voice I have ever heard on a male human being). If you’re ever in the neighborhood of Salem, OR. you have to stop in and see Glen’s collection in person…great stuff!

New class dates posted on the website

Here are a few new dates for upcoming classes:

SUBJECT: Mini Split Air Conditioning & Heating
DATE: Thursday, April 26, 2012
CLASS SPONSORS: Comfort-Aire / Heat Controller & FW Webb
LOCATION: FW Webb
101 Jefferson Blvd.
Warwick, RI 02888
CONTACT: 401-463-8339

SUBJECT: Mini-Split Training
SPONSORS: Heat Controller / Comfort-Aire and FW Webb
DATE: Thursday, May 3, 2012
TIME: 5:00 – 7:30PM
LOCATION: FW Webb
3 Highland Ave
Queensbury, NY 12804
CONTACT INFO: 518-792-1316

SUBJECT: Mini-Split Training
SPONSORS: Heat Controller / Comfort-Aire and FW Webb
DATE: Monday, May 14, 2012
TIME: 5:00 – 7:30PM
LOCATION: FW Webb
737 Bank St.
Waterbury, CT. 06708
CONTACT INFO: 203-574-5959

SUBJECT: Mini-Split Training
SPONSORS: Heat Controller / Comfort-Aire and FW Webb
DATE: Monday, May 21, 2012
LOCATION: FW Webb
43 Sword St
Auburn Industrial Park
Auburn, MA. 01501
CONTACT INFO: 508-757-9322

SUBJECT: Mini-Split Training
SPONSORS: Heat Controller / Comfort-Aire and FW Webb
DATE: Tuesday, June 5, 2012
TIME: 5:00 – 7:30PM
LOCATION: FW Webb
2409 Portland St.
St Johnsbury, VT. 05819
CONTACT INFO: 802-748-8101

Music

I haven’t written a ‘music’ section in recent newsletters simply because I have had so many other things to talk about but this month I had to make room to tell you about the most incredible guitar shop that I visited in Eugene, Oregon. The name of the shop is McKenzie River Music. My friend, Tim Trantham (Comfort-Aire rep) took me there.

I have been to most of the renowned guitar shops in Manhattan, (30th Street Guitars, Rudy’s, etc.), and McKenzie River rivals any of them. I couldn’t believe the offering of vintage acoustics, electrics, resonators, Dobros, ukuleles and mandolins all on display and the visitor are encouraged to sit and play anything he / she might fancy…what a joy!

In my modest collection, two of my prizes are a 1926 Martin ukulele and a 1956 Martin style A mandolin…McKenzie River had at least three of each!

You can check out McKenzie River Music’s website at this address:

www.mckenzierivermusic.com

See you all soon!

A new ‘Training Partner’!

I couldn’t be more pleased to announce ESPCO’s newest training partner…Armstrong Pumps. Armstrong and their NY / NJ representatives, (Rathe Associates and Thermco respectively), have signed on with ESPCO to create a three level training curriculum to be conducted this spring, 2012.

Armstrong has established a solid presence in the NY / NJ market with their commercial pump and hydronic accessory products and through this new training initiative their residential / light commercial offering will be highlighted and the commercial market reinforced.

Here is a little bit about Armstrong from their website:

“At Armstrong, we take pride in a family tradition of fluid flow innovation, superb workmanship, and acknowledged product reliability. Since our founding in 1934 by Samuel Allan Armstrong, our company has pioneered an uncompromising range of products for customers in residential, commercial and industrial markets. From the very beginning, the Armstrong name has been a benchmark for quality in design, engineering and manufacturing. In 1952, our company, under the direction of James A.C. Armstrong, began to institute bold initiatives across the entire spectrum of our corporate activities that set our course for the next 30 years. In the decades that followed, we developed new technologies, established international manufacturing operations and expanded into more diverse markets. Today, as we serve customers throughout the world, our original commitment to production of the highest quality is unchanged. We will not compromise the expectation of us, and we will never allow an inferior product to carry the Armstrong name. For Armstrong, identifying customer needs, offering superior technology, and building great customer experiences, are all part of a long-standing family tradition.”

Although still in the developmental stage, my goal is to create a three tiered training curriculum which will span six, 1 ½ hour classes, (three in NJ and three in NY), over two months.

The first class, tentatively scheduled for the week if 4/29/12, will be an ‘introductory’ pump class covering the anatomy of a circulator, how it works, sizing, how to read pump curves, circulator placement in a system, how to determine GPM and TDH, sizing recirculation pumps and basic pump troubleshooting / service.

The second class will be an ‘intermediate’ pump class tentatively scheduled for the week of 5/27/12. This class will cover the unique pumping needs of radiant systems, and popular ‘green’ technologies like thermal solar and geothermal. Light commercial pump sizing will be covered as well as troubleshooting processes unique to light commercial systems.

The third class, tentatively scheduled for the week of 6/24/12, will be ‘advanced’ and cover such topics as variable speed pumping and the ‘Ace Online’ Armstrong pump sizing software.

My intent is to have each class stand alone and not one be a prerequisite for another so you can pick and choose the class that best fits the skill level you want to achieve, or better yet, attend all three and earn a ‘certificate of completion’ from Armstrong and 4.5 hours of NATE credit, (1.5 hour per class / NATE approval pending).

Locations for the classes are tentatively the Rathe and Thermco facilities but again, this is still in the planning phase so please watch the ‘training events’ section on my website and be sure to read the April 2012 newsletter for firm details.

You guys know that hydronics are in my DNA so I’m thrilled to be back in the ‘wet’ world with great players like Armstrong, Rathe Associates and Thermco!

Check out the Armstrong website at this address – www.armstrongpumps.com

A new sponsor!

I am pleased to announce that IPA of Woodstock, NY has signed on as an ESPCO sponsor. IPA manufactures tools for the HVACR and automotive industries. They are neighbors of mine in the lower Hudson Valley of NY located in the beautiful town of Woodstock. Now, most people associate Woodstock with the 1969 music festival but the fact is that the festival tool place in Bethel, NY, about 63 miles west of Woodstock.

IPA offers a variety of useful tools but there are three that I want to focus on here;

First is the Air Comb filter cleaner. This unique 12”, 24”, 36” or 48” wand is perfect for cleaning condenser coils, cooling towers, etc. It is trigger activated with multiple ports that maximizes air pressure and volume at a 90 degree angle. Take a look at the air comb and I guarantee your going to say “I wish I thought of that”.

The next item which I can’t wait to get myself is the 2 in 1 Cutter / Stripper. They come in two sizes, (large and small). The small will self-adjust to 14 – 26 AWG soft copper wire. It can be used on both copper and aluminum wire. This cool little tool will catch, hold and strip wire all in one quick motion! You gotta see this thing!

The last item is the ‘Fuel Tank Sweeper’. This item is a must for those of you in the fuel oil business. It is a turnkey solution for removing sludge, cleaning oil tanks and bulk fuel transfer. The Fuel Tank Sweeper transfers and filters fuel oil and removes water, dirt, algae and other contaminants from storage tanks of all sizes and depths, 55 gallon drums and diesel fuel tanks. It is the perfect tool for servicing existing tanks or transferring fuel from an older tank to a new installation.

You can see all of IPA’s products at their website at this address – www.ipatools.com

You can call them directly at 888.786.7899.

Do you ever feel like you’re all alone as a small business owner?

There is an old adage that ‘it is lonely at the top’…as a small business owner in the HVACR industry you have limited resources for professional sales mentoring. Many of us have found ourselves stuck treading water, or worse, moving backwards both financially and personally. It is hard to look at your own company objectively…let’s face it, our companies are very much our own creations and as such a reflection of us. Self reflection can be very difficult, (and painful), and most of us can use a little help from time to time.

There are some professional resources out there specific to HVACR…some are very good. I would like to introduce you to the fellow who when I was contemplating moving forward on my own and creating what has become ESPCO, Inc. was one of the first people I called for advice, guidance and an objective view of my plan.

Matt McDarby is the co-founder and chief sales officer of United Sales Resources (USR). I’m going to let Matt, in his own words, give you an idea of what he can offer you and your business.

I speak with owners of small to medium sized businesses almost every day, and I hear the same refrain from them this year that I did last year.  It goes something like this, “It is harder than ever to win new business.  I can’t seem to get customers to see the difference between me and my competition, so I have to resort to special pricing offers and steep discounts in order to win.  It’s killing my profits.”You may be thinking, “Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about that.”  If so, congratulations on being the rare exception to the rule in the HVACR business in 2012.  Operators of HVACR companies, whether they focus on commercial or residential customers, are feeling a huge amount of pressure from those customers to compete based on price.  Some HVACR companies can survive in the price-driven sales game because they have scale on their side.  But even for those companies, there is a limit to just how much their products and services can be discounted. So what is an HVACR business owner or manager to do?  The answer can be summed up in one word, “Diagnosis.” Your customers are clamoring for diagnosis.  Think about it.  How many of your potential customers are living right now with heating, refrigeration, or ventilation problems in their homes or businesses?  How many of them fully understand the costs of choosing not to deal with those problems?  How many of them are losing out on the opportunity to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by putting better solutions in place?  What would happen if you were the one who helped them to diagnose those problems or missed opportunities?

Is it possible that customers might pay a small premium over what the low-price providers charge in exchange for a little bit of diagnosis?  Absolutely.  They already do it every day…just not necessarily to their HVACR provider. Would you find value in learning how to change that?

If you’re intrigued and would like to learn more, please go to the United Sales Resources website at www.usr-llc.com.  If you want to speak with Matt right away, then give him a call at (888) USR-1956 X102 or (888) 877-1956 X102. You can email Matt at matt@usr-llc.com .

I suggest signing up for Matt’s mailing list and if you are on Linkedin, connect with Matt so you can get his insightful and helpful posts.

I have to tell you, the concept of ‘networking’ was foreign to me prior to my establishing ESPCO and I came into it kicking and screaming. The bottom line is my business has grown into a viable and healthy enterprise through networking and employing the talents and skills of people like Matt McDarby…give him a call!

Five new classes posted on the website!

I am pleased to be heading to the great state of Maine the last week in March and then beautiful Pennsylvania in April. I will be conducting Comfort-Aire mini split training at the following locations;

SUBJECT: Mini-Split Training
SPONSORS: Heat Controller / Comfort-Aire and FW Webb
DATE: Wednesday, 3/28
LOCATION: FW Webb
138 Leighton Rd.
Augusta, ME  04330-5008
CONTACT INFO: Nick Pelletier
207-623-2521
njp@fwwebb.com

SUBJECT: Mini-Split Training
SPONSORS: Heat Controller / Comfort-Aire and FW Webb
DATE: Thursday, 3/29
LOCATION: FW Webb
150 Postal Service Way
South Portland, ME  04106
CONTACT INFO: Nick Allen
207-541-3528
nma@fwwebb.com

SUBJECT: Mini-Split Training
SPONSORS: Heat Controller / Comfort-Aire and RJ Walker
DATE: Thursday, 4/19
TIME: 12:00 noon to 3:00pm
LOCATION: RJ Walker
1555 North Keyser Ave.
Scranton, Pa. 18504
CONTACT INFO: Christine
570-344-8221

SUBJECT: Small Duct High Velocity (SDHV)
SPONSORS: Heat Controller / Comfort-Aire and Keystone Sales
DATE: Tuesday, 5/22
LOCATION: Keystone University
441C County Line Road
Gilbertsville, PA 19525
CONTACT INFO: 800-220-1025

SUBJECT: Geothermal
SPONSORS: Heat Controller / Comfort-Aire and Keystone Sales
DATE: Wednesday, 5/23
LOCATION: Keystone University
441C County Line Road
Gilbertsville, PA 19525
CONTACT INFO: 800-220-1025

Geothermal

Check out this great new FREE tool from my good friends at HeastSpring Magazine… download the ‘Geothermal Site Visit Checklist’

“The site visit can be a geothermal company’s greatest asset or greatest liability. It will be an asset if it can be done efficiently, if it collects standardized information that can be used for accurately quoting jobs and creating compelling sales proposals that meet the client’s needs. Site visits will be a company’s greatest liability if they are a waste of time, or worse, lead to bad designs and installations that don’t work. The goal of the checklist is to be extremely simple and low tech.  It will ensure that enough information is collected so that work is performed efficiently and profitably.”

Solar

I have stated here before that photovoltaic solar isn’t my thing but I couldn’t resist this article from Solar Thermal magazine. Check this out…PV solar collectors made of plant material…talk about green! This is some heady stuff but according to this article it could be reality sooner rather than later. I love the sentence in the article that says, “within a few years a villager in a remote, off-grid location could take that bag, mix it with anything green and paint it on the roof to start producing power, which could then charge cell phones or lanterns…WOW! Check out the article here.

Any drillers out there?

I am looking to video the vertical borehole drilling process for a geothermal project to be posted on my website and used in my training activities. If you have an upcoming project that fits the bill, please give me a call and I will give you and all participants credit where ever the video is used…could be a great PR tool for your drilling company and / or geothermal installation business.

See you all soon!

• Prevents leakage downward along the GHEX from the surface or near-surface contamination sources.
• Prevents the migration of water between aquifers, (layer of underground sand, gravel or spongy rock in which water collects).
• Seals off formations which are known to be contaminated.
• Preserves the hydraulic characteristics of artesian formations and prevents leakage upward along the GHEX.

Grouts should have the following characteristics;

• High thermal conductivity
• Reasonably low viscosity during grout placement
• High viscosity upon placement – little to no shrinkage of the grout during setting
• Low permeability

Wyoming bentonite grouts are characterized by their ability to absorb large quantities of water and swell 10 – 20 times in volume. A sodium bentonite, (Wyoming bentonite), will produce a higher yield.
I am pleased to have Wyo-Ben, Inc. as a “sponsor” and you can see their website at www.wyoben.com .
You can see their Therm-Ex Grout here.

THERM-EX GROUT™ is an engineered system for use as backfill material in earth-coupled heat pump systems. Its elevated thermal conductivity and low permeability allow for excellent heat exchange while protecting groundwater supplies.  THERM-EX GROUT™ should be pumped using a positive displacement pump capable of generating pressures in excess of 300 psi.  Developed using high swelling Wyoming Bentonite, this new generation of grouting material offers efficient installation of closed-loop geothermal heat pump systems.

OBITUARY

Mrs. Grace Tefel, the mother of my closest friends, Steve and Raymond Tefel, passed away last night in Huntersville, NC. Many of you know Steve, not only as my high school friend, but also as a sales representative for N.H.Yates & Co., Inc., (the Burnham Boiler representative in the Mid-Atlantic territory). Mrs. Tefel was a huge part of my early life and I was privileged to visit with her for a last time just a few weeks ago at her home in Huntersville. I will miss her always and remember the wonderful times I had at the Tefel home as their family embraced me as one of their own. LOVE to Steve, Raymond, Lisa & Diane

ESPCO, INC. ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Well, it’s been one year since I created ESPCO, Inc. and started on this journey of self employment and personal growth. It has been a wild ride at times, definite highs and lows but most importantly, constant learning and adjustments.

I do my best not to give advice but if I were to say one thing to new business owners, and even people who may feel that they are fairly well established… be flexible! ESPCO as it is now is not what I envisioned 12 months ago. My initial concept, quite frankly, didn’t work. I gave it a good try but quickly realized that I needed what I now call “training partners”. I have been incredibly fortunate to have formulated several of these partnerships going into 2012 and I look forward to sharing them with you at the appropriate times, (I will be announcing one in this newsletter).

This crazy economy makes it necessary for business owners to loosen their grip on the wheel a bit and go where the business is…even if that is in an unconventional place and it takes a new road map to get there. This experience has humbled me and also encouraged me. Most of us like to think we “got the plan” and nothing will stop us from success. This is a good attitude, maybe the only attitude to have going into a new venture but what I have learned…the hard way in some cases…is to be willing to admit when your plan was flawed and re-assess and make adjustments. This may sound like I’m stating the obvious but often times our egos get in the way of adjustment. The shame is not in admitting a failure but rather in not correcting it and moving forward even if that means in a completely new direction and method.

I am proud of what ESPCO has become and I am thankful this adventure has caused me to evaluate, and constantly reevaluate, myself and my skills. When I look back at the first post I made on my website; “What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?” from March of this year I see the following quote; “education should never stop…..must never stop! The past seven years I have trained thousands of HVACR technicians and I neglected my own education. I was so busy doing what I was doing and enjoying a certain degree of success that I forgot to expand my own horizons by taking on new subjects and applications”.

So cool to look back a year later and see how I put that sentiment into practice and now find myself looking to 2012 with fresh ideas, subjects and partners! I’m no genius gang…you all know that, but I saw a need in the market, I recognized some deficiencies in myself and worked to eradicate them and I “loosened my grip on the wheel” and allowed myself and my business to grow, to prosper and to evolve!

Good luck to all of you in 2012 and remember we, (and that means you too), are a community here at ESPCO. We’re all in this thing we call the HVACR industry together, ready to help when we can and share our experiences…both good and bad.

CONTACTING GERRY

I have received a few phone calls from readers who are asking about upcoming classes and  / or questions about specific jobs or problems. I love hearing from all of you but I just want to suggest that the best way to reach me is via email. You can be as descriptive and detailed as you like in an email and I promise I will get back to you. In a couple cases I exchanged voice mails with readers and never hooked up so again, best to start with an email so we can establish a communication line. You can use the contact form here to get connected.

SMALL DUCT HIGH VELOCITY AIR CONDITIONING, (SDHV)

I have been involved with SDHV since 1984. I have it both in my home and in my shop. I was in Columbia, SC last week talking mini-split air conditioning when in the course of my presentation I mentioned SDHV. I was surprised to learn that my audience had little experience with SDHV but as I described it’s attributes I could see light bulbs turning on all over the room!

I have teamed up with the Comfort-Aire brand of SDHV, (as well as mini-split), for 2012 and will be conducting classes on their behalf on a national basis.

I wanted to take some time this month to give everyone a general overview of SDHV and what makes Comfort-Aire special.

SDHV’s claim to fame has always been it’s prefabricated duct system…no duct sizing no matter what the tonnage, (1 – 5 tons over 5 models). A variety of plenum materials can be used but 9″ round metal is the most common. Installations where the total plenum length is less than 150′ can use smaller 7″ round. Rectangular metal is also an option.

The plenum will always transition to either 2″ or 2 ½” supply tubing which will bring you to the room being conditioned. When utilizing the 2″ tubing the rule of thumb is 7 registers, (Comfort-Aire calls them outlets, I call them pucks), per ton and when installing the 2 ½” tubing use 5 pucks per ton.

I love the option Comfort-Aire gives with the two sizes of tubing…being able to reduce the number of pucks when 2 ½” tubing is used saves time and material costs!

I have been preaching the benefits of single cabinet fan coil construction for years. My position has always been there can be no air leakage from a single cabinet…air leakage kills efficiency! The Comfort-Aire SDHV fan coils come in five models…1 – 4 ton are the single cabinet design…the 5 ton unit comes in a modular design and is field constructed from two modules. I like this! The 5 ton being the heaviest and physically the largest of the five models, it makes sense to split it up for ease of installation. The 1 – 4 ton cabinets weigh about 100 lbs. or less so a single technician should have no problem maneuvering them during the install. The 5 ton fan coil has a combined weight of 183 lbs. so for us spindly types it is nice to be able to essentially split that weight over two modules.

Possibly my single most appreciated feature of the Comfort-Aire system is the return air options. The return air connection, (flange if you will), is round, oval or a return air plenum module is available which allows for multiple returns. The SDHM, as it is called, comes with no return openings so the installer can cut whatever openings are necessary for any number of returns…how cool is that!

After 27 years with SDHV I feel I have found the system with the best product features, accessories, installation aids and overall factory support with Comfort-Aire.

I can go on and on about the advantages and SDHV and specifically the Comfort-Aire product but I’m going to stop for now and invite all of you to keep an eye on the “training events” tab of my website where I will soon be posting dates times and locations of Comfort-Aire SDHV design, installation and service training classes coming to a location near you in 2012! Please go to the Comfort-Aire website at:

www.Comfort-Aire.com

Click on “residential” and “small duct high velocity” to get more details and find a Comfort-Aire distributor near you.

SOLAR

Check out this article in Solar Thermal Magazine about a buddy of mine, Sal Iacono of the Community Environmental Center who was influential in installing a thermal solar system on a Jewish Community Center on Staten Island, NY. Sal and I met when he came to my home to view my TSS. You can read the article here.

PV solar is not my thing but I love this idea…wiring new homes for electric car charging utilizing PV solar systems. Check out this article in Thermal Solar Magazine about a joint venture between Nissan and a California home builder. You can read the article here.

Here is some wild technology…creating natural gas using solar power! A company from Santa Barbara, CA. has filed for a patent on this technology…check it out in the TSM article here.

You can thank a TSS for your beer this winter! Check out how Anheuser-Busch in Baldwinsville, NY uses a TSS to clear the snow from the trucks delivering beer…you can read about it in TSM here.

GEOTHERMAL

In the November geothermal section I mentioned how a homeowner in Ohio found me on the internet and was having problems with a geothermal system installed in a new home he purchased. Among others things, he was concerned that the system was not sized correctly as he was experiencing insufficient heating on the first floor and insufficient cooling on the second, (two separate systems). When I asked if a proper design had been done utilizing ACCA manual J calculations the owner was only able to say that he “thought yes” but had never actually seen the design calculations.

He explained to me there had been an attempt by the builder and installer to resolve the issue by installing more pipe in the loop field…but no positive results were gained.

The last correspondence with me he suggested he was going to change the heat pumps and increase their capacity to see if that would give him the comfort he was looking for…I told him to STOP!

I strongly suggested before he does anything else that he have a proper manual J calculation done for the structure. I suggested he contact my good friend, Tracy at Savoy Engineering. Savoy offers ACCA manual J design services at very reasonable prices! I have used their services in my efforts with SDHV for years and the comprehensive designs they provide are invaluable both in equipment selection and in the sales presentation to the homeowner.

This is elementary for most of us but some times it is a good idea to review the basics…the successful project…whether it be geothermal, SDHV or any HVAC install, begins with proper heat gain and heat loss calculations. THERE IS NO SHORT CUT!

You can see Savoy Engineering at Load-Calculations.com
(Also, on the “Links” page here, under the heading “Resources”.

If you do your own calculations then check out this article in HeatSpring Magazine by my good friend Chris Williams at The HeatSpring Learning Institute. Chris has assembled a list of “tips” when doing your own calculations. You can read the article here.

WHO IS GOING TO TAKE ME UP ON MY OFFER?

Back in October I asked all my geothermal friends to let me know if they had an upcoming installation with vertical bore hole drilling for the ground heat exchanger. I am looking to film the drilling process for my website and for a future article to be published in one or more trade journals / magazines. The offer still stands! I will be sure to give your company as much “good press” as I can wherever the video and / or pictures are used. Ideally, I’m looking for a project in the NY / NJ metro area that I can commute to each day during the install.

HONEST HVAC TECH IN FLORIDA

Check out this story of an HVAC tech in Florida who found $20K in an air conditioning duct. You can see the story here.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!