Duct Dynasty: Duct Sealing Side Effects You Need to Know

Take Caution When Sealing Up Undersized or Oversized Equipment

By David Richardson

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/127038-duct-sealing-side-effects-you-need-to-know

In many areas of the country, duct sealing and tightness testing is now mandated at local and state levels. This has brought about renewed interest in sealing existing duct systems among HVAC professionals as awareness increases.

While a properly sealed duct system can lead to improved IAQ, comfort, and possibly a reduced risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, is it possible that too much is being assumed for tight ducts to really be right ducts? Is there a possibility that duct sealing could negatively affect an HVAC system?

Cause and Effect

A Brief History of Air Conditioning

Inventors who came before Willis Haviland Carrier tinkered with cooling machines. But it was Carrier's creation that launched the modern idea of air conditioning. To mark the 110th anniversary of his invention, we look back at the long story of a/c.

By Amanda Green  July 16, 2012 3:00 PM

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/improvement/electrical-plumbing/a-brief-history-of-air-conditioning-10720229

1758 All liquid evaporation has a cooling effect. Benjamin "I invented everything" Franklin and Cambridge University professor John Hadley discover that evaporation of alcohol and other volatile liquids, which evaporate faster than water, can cool down an object enough to freeze water. 

Craigslist Classifieds and the Contractor

Online Forum Offering At-Your-Own-Risk Employment, Distribution Opportunities

By Angela D. Harris

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/126891-craigslist-classifieds-and-the-contractor

From refrigerant to technician tools to rooftop units, HVAC equipment is onCraigslist. Described as local classifieds and forums that are community moderated and largely free, Craigslist has more than 50 billion page views per month and counts more than 60 million users each month in the U.S. alone.

There is a lot of stigma that goes along with Craigslist, and although its usage for job postings, lead generation, and equipment sales seem to be growing, the online forum’s benefits, dangers, and impact on the HVACR industry is largely undefined. To help shine a light on Craigslist, The NEWS reached out to a number of contractors and distributors to determine, “What role does Craigslist have in the HVACR industry?”

You’d Be Crazy Not To?

Selling Thermostats that Save
Customers Energy and Money

Originally published: 04.01.14 by Bill Fortner

http://www.hvacrbusiness.com/sell-energy-and-money-saving-thermostats.html

When you think of industries offering the latest technology, computer software, social media, and cell phone companies may come to mind first. But when I reflect back on my 27 years in the residential HVACR industry, I realize we too keep up with the times. 

One way we keep up with innovations is through thermostats in customers’ homes. Over time we have seen the transition from mercury and bi-metal thermostats to digital, programmable, and now Wi-Fi thermostats with onboard alerts. There are several hurdles that must be overcome in order to fully convert these new developments in thermostats and controls into HVACR sales. To be successful selling thermostats and controls, you must educate your employees about the new technologies, and convince your technicians to not just sell but also fully embrace them. Every time your technicians enter a home they have the opportunity to discuss the merits of new thermostats with customers. If they don’t, you miss out on potential add-on sales. 

What Are the New Technologies? 

Allergy Season and Indoor Air Quality

Posted by Brittany Yeager on May 15, 2014 @ 01:00 PM

After this past winter, I’m sure we’re all glad that the snow has melted and spring has finally found its way here; but warmer weather comes with its own set of problems. Within days of being able to see the grass again, allergy sufferers were reminded of what they were missing for the past four months.

Snow melts and the pollen count rises. It’s the same vicious cycle every year. However, HVAC contractors don’t have to suffer with the rest of the world. Allergy season is actually a great season to sell HVAC systems.

When the outside world fills up with pollen and spores, people with allergies retreat indoors; but they’re not as safe from suffering as they think. Dust mites, animal dander, and even cockroaches can attack allergies in the home. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says that eight out of ten people in the United States are exposed to house dust mites, and six out of ten are exposed to pet dander. Then there are the homeowners who still want to try to get the fresh air from outside and will throw open their windows and doors to try to bring it inside, not bothering with window filters. Of course, bringing in that new spring air will also bring outside pollutants in with it. You don’t need to be a math genius to figure out that that adds up to a lot of people putting up with allergies.

Now here’s the kicker: controlling the air quality in your home can reduce your seasonal symptoms. Putting in a new HVAC system or having an old one maintained can decrease the misery. According to Web M.D., many pollutants (like pollen and particulate matter) are water-soluble; and since air conditioners are made to remove water from the air, they remove the pollutants as well. Removing the pollutants means a more enjoyable time in your own home. And if that’s not enough to seal the deal on a new system, good indoor air quality can also reduce negative health effects, lower the costs associated with illness, and can improve quality of life (Indoor Air Quality.com).

Think of yourself as Superman: when the evil Allergens come to invade homes, you can stop them in their tracks just by growing your business.

http://www.arzelzoning.com/blog/allergy-season?utm_campaign=Blog&utm_content=5306309&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Get More Time for Your Work and More Work from Your Team

Originally published: 05.01.14 by David M. Dye

Asking the right questions can get your team to find their own answers
If you ever struggle with feeling like you’re doing your team’s thinking for them, or don’t have time to do your own work, then your team needs help with problem-solving. As a leader, you’re in a unique position to help them in specific ways no one else can.

Compressor Failures

Part 2
By Glenn Minch

If a refrigeration or air conditioning system fails or is not performing according to design the focus is almost always directed to the compressor.  After all,  the compressor makes the most noise so our attention naturally goes to the component of the system doing the work.  In all reality the “boss” of the whole system is the evaporator.  The “work” we need to do is remove heat from a refrigerated space.  The evaporator needs to perform at its design capacity to achieve our goal.  A poor performing evaporator not only affects the room or product temperature but also has an effect on the life of the compressor.  That being said, we must make sure that the evaporator is set up to optimize efficiency and performance.  Listed below are a few evaporator issues that have an effect on compressor life.

• Coil cleanliness……..May cause liquid flooding back to a “vapor” compressor.
• Improper air flow…..Same result as above.
• Too much evaporator superheat……….High return gas temperature causing overheating on a suction cooled compressor.
• Not enough superheat……….Liquid flood back to  a “vapor” compressor.

  

There are times when an evaporator may experience changing performance due to increased or reduced loads.  At that point we need to look at system protection components like suction accumulators, etc.