July 1, 2010
Cover Story
Woman of the HVACR World
Carol Papesh's love for HVAC, construction, accounting, teaching, and managing is equaled only by her love for people, and for seeing them achieve. ...
Articles
Quality Comfort Toughs It Out!
Our 2010 Quality Home Comfort Award winners gave their best to these projects, which represent their best work for homes in a wide range of sizes and descriptions. ...
Show Me State Showplace
Sigman Heating and Air Conditioning/Sigman Indoor Climate Solutions LLC is no stranger to the Quality Home Comfort Awards. Perennial winners, Sigman is known for its ability to land some of the largest and most interesting residential projects in St. Louis area — or anywhere in the U.S., for that matter....
HVAC System Savior
Into everyone's life a little rain must fall. However, just as "April showers bring May flowers," sometimes going through difficult times can make one appreciate good times all the more. That's what often happens for homeowners who work with Jim Patterson and his sons, who collectively comprise Orchard Valley Heating and Cooling in Southampton, MA. As the company's nine Quality Home Comfort Awards over the years attest, Patterson knows his stuff when it comes to designing and installing superior quality home comfort systems. ...
From Covered Wagons toTotal Comfort
Some HVAC contractors might feel a little pressure being called upon to design and install a comfort system in the newly constructed home of a certified home energy rater. That wasn’t the case for Eric Kjelshus, owner of Eric Kjelshus Energy, Greenwood, MO. In fact, one the reasons home-owner Amy Walker selected her long-time friend Kjelshus for the job is because he had proven his knowledge of superior HVAC design by teaching classes for Walker and other energy raters in the Kansas City area. ...
Flying High Thanks to a Flier
Corey Hickmann, president of Comfort Matters Heating & Cooling, Hanover, MN, knew that his young company had a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction that would enable it to handle even the most demanding customers' comfort needs in the challenging weather extremes of the North Star State. But it was a simple flier sent in the mail that started the ball rolling on the company's first Quality Home Comfort Award....
A Constant State of Change
Commercial refrigeration contractors are rolling with the punches. They’re learning all they can about new technology, are focused on making customers’ lives easier....
Rooftop Equipment Checklist
Improperly heated or cooled buildings can cause a host of problems, including a loss of employee productivity and computer malfunctions. Mechanical failure of commercial HVAC systems can result in thousands of dollars in damages. These incidents, and the majority of service calls can be prevented through proper maintenance. Typically, packaged units are located on building rooftops, making it difficult to see or hear small changes which indicate the need for a service call. (Out of sight out of mind.) Properly maintained equipment can also lower the overall annual operating/repair costs. The following maintenance procedures will keep your commercial HVAC equipment in proper operating condition....
Columns
So What's a Symposium, Anyway?
It's a heady word, this word "symposium" is. Three syllables and as a good friend of mine is fond of saying, "high and mighty sounding." Well that may be, but the word has its basis in the darkest depths of antiquity. For those who know me, you know this is going to lead to a beer reference, and you're absolutely right. ...
Running Service Step 10: Getting the Signature
Charlie Greer is in the midst of a year-long primer designed to teach you what to do when running service calls, and how to maximize each call in an honest and professional manner. "I'll tell you everything I do; from the moment the call is dispatched, to the greeting at the front door, to closing and handling objections, down to what I do to prevent 'buyer’s remorse,'" Charlie says. Here's installment number 10....
To Win The War On Business: Advertise
Private enterprise is under assault in America to a degree not seen since the Great Depression. While Hollywood and the media attack business with rhetoric, the government uses rhetoric, regulation, and taxes. It doesn't bode well for those struggling to find employment, though it might present an opportunity for your company....
From the Field
Cool & Quick: Emergency Cooling
When customers get hot over an unplanned cooling failure, help keep them — and yourself — cool, with portable spot cooling. Models exist to meet every need....
BIG DEAL: Direct Energy to Purchase Clockwork
Direct Energy has announced its intention to acquire the assets and business of Clockwork Home Services, Inc. for $183 million. ...
AireServ Announces Winners in Home Comfort Contest
Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., Waco, TX, has announced the winners of the Home Comfort Giveaway. The grand prize winner, Janice Leigh of Somerset, KY won a complete heating and air conditioning system worth up to $10,000. The first place prize winner received a heating and cooling system worth up to $5,000....
SMACNA Manual Helps Contractors Assess Labor Costs
The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) has released an updated edition of its "Reference Manual for Labor Units for Sheet Metal and HVAC." ...
Contractor Clips
Classic Air’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Virginia Beach, VA, has received the Regional Small Business of the Year Award, from the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce....
Comfort Services Manager Earns NEBB Elite Status
Johnny N. Germaine, commissioning manager for Comfort Systems USA Energy Services, has earned elite certification status through the National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB)....
ASHRAE Pilot Program Rates Energy Use in Buildings
Seventeen professional engineers across the U.S. have been assessing the energy use of selected buildings, as part of a pilot program by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The Building Energy Quotient program is designed to encourage the building industry to cut energy use and costs....
Unified Group, Lennox to Partner for Light Commercial Projects
The Unified Group, Broadview, IL, announced a new partnership with Lennox Industries, Inc., for light commercial applications. Through the partnership, Unified Group members will have access to Lennox opportunities, products, and customer service in their individual markets. ...
Business Bits
Goodman Launches ComfortNet™
Communicating Control System
The ComfortNet™ communicating control system, recently launched by Goodman Global, Inc., is making complex, time-consuming system wiring frequently associated with high-efficiency residential HVAC systems obsolete....
Brauer Supply Adds Room for Next 130 Years
Brauer Supply Company, a family-owned and managed wholesaler founded in St. Louis in 1881, has opened a new headquarters and distribution center in St. Louis, MO. Brauer will use the location as the base from which it will service 12 Midwest locations with HVACR, themal insulation, air filtration, and fastener products....
Mars Markets Wins Danfoss EnVisioneering Prize
Danfoss has announced that Mars Super Markets, Baltimore, MD, is the winner of its first "EnVisioneer of the Year" award competition....
