August 1, 2010
Cover Story
The Insider: Comfortech 2010 Official Show Guide
The official show guide of HVACR Week and HVAC Comfortech...
Articles
The Value of Performance Benchmarks
If you’re not matching your business performance to a higher standard, your business can stagnate and never reach its full potential. Here’s a look at how leading contractors use benchmarking in their residential and commercial HVAC businesses. ...
NATE Certification: A Sign of Integrity
At HVAC Comfortech 2009, North American Technician Excellence (NATE) recognized five "Top Techs" from across the country. This month, Contracting Business is pleased to introduce you to Bob Millen, lead service technician, Adams Electric, Pratt, KS....
Tools of the Trade
To provide excellent service, a successful HVAC contractor needs reliable tools and equipment. Tools of the Trade offers a look at the tools, equipment, and services these contractors use to help them run their businesses....
Lack of Safety 'Sacrifices Everything'
Employees of R.F. Knox Company, Inc. strictly adhere to the highest sheet metal industry safety standards. All employees are required to maintain their certifications for equipment used in precision sheet metal fabrication and installation, and continue to meet and/or exceed OSHA requirements. ...
TXV Installation & Troubleshooting
Proper thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) function is key to a variety of system deficiencies. Here's a look at installation and service tips that will make a diagnostic go smoother. ...
Price Chopper Store Earns GreenChill Silver Award
The Price Chopper Supermarket in Warwick, NY, has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) GreenChill Silver certification award, for streamlining and/or reducing its use of refrigerants. The Schenectady, NY-based grocery chain is a longtime participant in the voluntary program....
Columns
It's Hot and Crazy Out There
What a crazy summer. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm exhausted. Yeah, right — like I know what it's like to be working 18-hour days crawling aound in hot attics and dealing with irate customers who don't understand why their broken air conditioners aren't at the top of your repair list....
Tune Into a Great Publicity Tactic
When contractors think about a public relations campaign or other ways to generate publicity for their businesses, they often envision a television appearance, a newspaper or magazine article and photo, or a No. 1 Google ranking. But there's one major publicity vehicle that many neglect completely, although they probably hear it almost every day: radio. ...
Running Service Step 11: Doing the Work
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 is installment number 11....
Appointments: Challenge or Drudgery?
It has long been said that, "a salesperson without an appointment is momentarily unemployed." Making the initial contact is the first major step in the selling cycle. There are five distinct methods in making the initial contact; phone call, cold call, mailing campaigns, associations, and networking. In future articles, I will discuss each in detail, but, for now let's address my favorite: setting appointments by phone. ...
The House As A System, Part II
In 1994, one of my editorials as chief editor of Contracting Business magazine entitled, The House As A System, was also one of the first articles written in an HVAC industry magazine that identified the connection between the entire HVAC system and a home's envelope. At the time, research and the practice of "Building Science" were just in their infancy, but many people began recognizing the importance of interactions between the envelope and the HVAC system. ...
From the Field
ComfortSystems USA Acquires ColonialWebb Contractors
ComfortSystems USA, Inc., Houston, TX, a leading provider of commercial, industrial and institutional HVAC services, has acquired ColonialWebb Contractors, based in Richmond, VA....
ARS Rescue Rooter Acquires Beutler's
Residential Services Division
Beutler, a leading residential HVAC new construction contractor, will continue to provide new construction HVAC services, while ARS®/Rescue Rooter® expands the residential service and replacement business....
ASI Hastings Signs on With GreenHomes America
GreenHomes America, a leading national provider of home performance contracting services, has signed a franchise agreement with ASI Hastings Heating and Air, San Diego, CA....
Unified Group to Host Energy
Services Forum
Unified Group members will learn the basics of energy efficiency, perform an energy audit and examine utility rebates....
Business Bits
ComfortNet™ Combines Sophistication with Simplicity
The ComfortNet communicating control system — recently launched by Goodman Global, Inc., Houston, TX — is helping HVAC contractors leave behind the time-consuming (and potentially confusing) wiring arrays frequently associated with high-efficiency residential HVAC systems....
Emerson Climate Technologies Event Takes Contractors, Distributors Into the Fast Lane
Emerson’s White-Rodgers division combined business with pleasure in a unique way for Texas-based HVAC contractors and distributors, June 25-26, by pairing up product education with NASCAR racing. The weekend began with a Friday night dinner and educational session that provided a review of White-Rodgers’ new sales support program. The next day, guests had the opportunity to drive eight thrilling laps on the Texas Motor Speedway....
Factory Authorized Parts Ease Heat
of Summer Maintenance Calls
Factory Authorized Parts from Totaline help Carrier and Bryant dealers make quick work of summer emergency calls....
JCI Survey Finds Continued Interest in Energy Efficiency
Results from the Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey reveal that, despite a global recession, investment levels in energy efficiency for buildings have remained strong. The survey also discovered there to be an increase in energy management among business leaders in China and India. Efficiency Indicator Survey results were released in June 2010....
