5 New Ways of Looking at Service Agreements
Most contractors and their teams are aware of the value of service agreements. However, there are some valuable aspects of service agreements that tend to go unexplored....
Finding Equipment Rated Capacity
In the HVAC industry, system efficiency ratings are creating quite a stir as the long time energy saving staple of “high efficiency” equipment is beginning to be questioned. ...
What Do Customers Want?
The Volkswagen Company recently launched an interesting marketing initiative to find out “what the people want.” It’s a brilliant campaign, extremely engaging and interactive. The idea raised the question, what do our customers really want in their heating and cooling systems? Let’s take a closer look....
Fuel Costs Drive ARS/Rescue Rooter to Fleet Changeover
National HVAC services provider ARS/Rescue Rooter, Memphis, TN, is on a campaign to improve the fuel efficiency of its entire fleet of vehicles....
MSCA Stars Explore Marketing, Branding Topics at Summit
The Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) hosted its Second Annual MSCA STAR Summit this month in Las Vegas, NV. The meeting included a tour...
Service Tip: Evaporator vs. System Superheat
Q: What is the difference between evaporator superheat and system superheat? A: Superheat varies within the system, depending on where it is measured....
The Day a Four-ton System Became a Two-ton System
Most contractors have removed a newly installed piece of equipment and replaced it with a larger one to keep a customer happy, at least once. Years ago, we made the same mistake. This situation raises an interesting question. Why didn’t the first piece of equipment do the job? Undersized, you say? ...
HVAC System Repair Study
In 2006 the National Comfort Institute (NCI) conducted a study of duct renovation and system performance test results. There’s been a renewed interest in the results of this study as we are receiving an increasing number of requests about common system defects and their effect on system performance. Here is a summary of what we learned. ...
Green Doesn't Cost More, Expert Tells Linc Service Audience
Green building expert Christine Ervin told Linc contractors that green builidings provide opportunity for them, and value for their customers, during the 2009 Linc Service continuing education conference. ...
Expanding into Large Commercial HVAC Service
Advancements in equipment configurations and service techniques have made it easier for contractors to take the step to greater service capabilities....
Chase Paymentech, Angie's List Team Up for Small Businesses
Chase Paymentech, Dallas, TX — a merchant acquirer and payment processor — and Angie's List — which provides consumer ratings on local service providers — announced they've formed an alliance to make affordable credit card and electronic payment approval available to thousands of small businesses and service providers....
Your Greenest Approach to Coil Cleaning: Two Hydrogens, One Oxygen
Whenever possible, take the conservative approach to coil cleaning. Simply rinse coils with good old H2O (also known as water). There are several reasons for this. ...
Refrigeration Service Today: April 2009
On these pages, Contracting Business provides information on products, trends, and business management for today's commercial refrigeration contractor. ...
Do What's Right
With the different economy in which we find ourselves today, we can moan and groan from now ‘til the cows come home or we can decide how WE are going to adjust to succeed in today’s world. ...
EMCOR Group Acquires Team Mechanical
EMCOR Group, Inc. Norwalk,CT, a Fortune 500 leader in mechanical and electrical construction, energy infrastructure and facilities services for a diverse range of businesses, today announced that it had acquired Team Mechanical, Inc., Buffalo Grove, IL, a leading mechanical contractor and service provider. ...
The Importance of Boiler Inspections
Boiler breakdowns can cost thousands of dollars in equipment repairs, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars for additional property damage and business losses....
Cast iron boilers are being replaced with more energy-efficient mod-cons
I was very busy this summer. The golf clubs didn't see much action, but the sales order pad did, and the trend was quite specific. Increasingly, cast...
Condensing Units placed in enclosures can lead to problems
Housing development bylaws that mandate heat pump or air-conditioning units must be hidden from view are creating condenser airflow re-circulation problems...
Service Clinic: Troubleshooting Zone Controls
A basic understanding of zone control systems can be a real plus in the troubleshooting process....
Service Clinic: Steps to Compressor Replacement Following Burnout
It may be stating the obvious, but anyone seeking a repair technician is in an anxious frame of mind. Machinery in need of repair is inconvenient, annoying, and an unwanted expense. So it’s with a sense of concern and trepidation that the HVAC technician is “called in to have a look.”...
International Service Leadership Joins National Comfort Institute Group
With a goal of being the leading organization in North America focused on helping HVAC contractors grow and differentiate their businesses, National Comfort Institute has acquired International Service Leadership Inc.(ISL). ...
Service Tip: Suction Accumulators
A suction accumulator is used to prevent liquid refrigerant flood-back to the compressor. Accumulators are commonly used on heat pumps, transport refrigeration systems, low-temperature supermarket refrigeration systems, and in any situation where liquid refrigerant is a concern. ...
Service Clinic: Taking the Mystery Out of Superheat
Improper charge is the biggest non-electrical cause of callbacks on a fixed restrictor air conditioning system. If all components are functioning properly, the best way to avoid improper charge on such systems is to compare actual superheat to target superheat....
