September 1, 2011
Cover story
2011/2012 Guide to High-Efficiency Gas Furnaces
Contracting Business' 28th Annual Guide to High-efficiency Gas Furnaces...
Articles
The Customer Satisfaction Pyramid
If I’m doing something wrong that may cause me to lose business, I want to know about it. I believe the merchants that I do business with want to know about it too, provided they’re good business people. ...
12 'Must-Dos' on a Furnace Clean and Tune
Here are 12 things you must do to properly clean and tune newer LP or natural gas furnaces....
A New Standard for Home Performance
A new standard on the way from the Building Performance Institute (BPI) will help standardize and clarify how to conduct a whole-building, science-based energy evaluation of residential homes. The standard, BPI-1100-T-2010 (formerly BPI-101): Home Energy Auditing Standard will not replace BPI’s long-standing Building Analyst (BA) Professional Standard; instead, it expands upon the energy auditing components of a home analysis...
Tools of the Trade
Environmental Air Conditioning Services, Inc., based in Jacksonville, FL, was founded by Howard Stalls, Jr., (shown at left with Greg Miscally, project manager) in 1987. EAC is committed to providing homeowners, businesses, and builders in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia with high quality and reliable service. ...
Service Tip
Q: Explain the parts to a service valve. A: The typical service valve is composed of four essential parts: line connection, valve stem, service opening or gauge port, and compressor connection. ...
Columns
Make the Most of the 'Recovery'
As the markets shift, those who stay on top of those shifts will find opportunities that can benefit their businesses and customers. ...
10 Steps To Get the Economy Booming
L ately, every day seems to bring new depressing economic report. What gives? The recession officially ended in June 2009. We’re two years into an expansion. Why doesn’t it feel like one? Why won’t the economy get rolling? In a word, it’s Washington. Fortunately, what Washington screws up, Washington can fix. Here are 10 steps to get the economy booming. ...
Who Answers the Phone? Why Four Voices are Better than One
Most contracting businesses have one person who answers the phone and, yes, that's one (albeit old-fashioned) way to do it. Ideally, however, you’ll have four different people whose jobs involve the telephone...
Comfort FAQ
Q: What’s your company's callback policy?...
News
HARDI Holds First HVACR Congressional Reception
More than 250 Congressional staffers attended the first HVACR reception on the Hill, August 3....
Polar Technology to Distribute Venstar Products in Puerto Rico
Venstar a leading thermostat and energy management systems supplier, recently announced that it has signed Polar Technology's San Juan office as the exclusive distributor for Puerto Rico of its commercial and residential thermostat HVAC control products. ...
Business Bits
Gas Technology Institute (GTI) has opened a new office in Pittsburgh, PA. Headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, IL, GTI has field offices across the country. Sources say the Pittsburgh branch represents GTI’s local commitment to the region’s natural gas industry. ...
FROM THE FIELD
Cynthia Crockett, president, Crockett Facilities Services, Inc., Bowie, MD, has been named to Baltimore SmartCEO magazine’s 2011 Smart100. ...
Refrigeration Briefs
Emerson Climate Technologies has updated its white paper on refrigerants for commercial refrigeration applications....
