Since A2L refrigerants are designated as mildly flammable, safety features like refrigerant detection systems (RDSs) are being incorporated into new residential/light commercial ducted split systems that contain more than 4 pounds of A2L refrigerant. Here’s what HVAC technicians need to know about installing those RDS in the field.

Manufacturers are rolling out a wide array of new equipment that utilizes all types of refrigerants, providing end users with a number of new options to consider.

The giant clock on top of the Parker Hannifin Corp. — Sporlan Division’s ZoomLock^® Roadshow truck counted down during the 2019 AHR Expo, keeping track of the time left until the next live demo. Every 40 minutes, Sporlan would bring attendees up to physically make the connection themselves.

In an informative session at the NASRC’s Sustainable Refrigeration Summit, Publix and Coborn’s shared the pros and cons of incorporating CO₂ refrigeration systems into their stores.

Portable cooling products used to be considered “temporary” solutions, but consumers are now looking to portables to solve more of their residential and commercial needs.

Implementing company-wide static pressure measurements can be tough. Let’s look at how you can use red flags to improve your static pressure measurement consistency and reduce callbacks.

Preventive maintenance and proper setbacks can save a business money while keeping staff and customers comfortable.

Companies that deal in surplus HVAC equipment are seeing business opportunities in the new U.S. DOE energy efficiency minimums for single-phase residential air-conditioners.

The Endeavor Line provides tech-savvy and environmentally mindful consumers like the Horwitzes with smart home compatibility and sustainable features.

Increased cooling capacities, remote monitoring technology, and the need for backup units are all part of the mix in the portable a/c market, experts say.

Since its inception, air conditioning has saved lives and driven technological innovation – take a deep dive into its transformative role.

Johnson Controls has been recognized by independent analyst firm Frost & Sullivan with its Best Practices Customer Value Leadership Award for 2022.

Renewable energy enthusiasts now have reason to celebrate: EVAPCO offers a solar-powered evaporative cooling tower. The SUN cooling tower is paired with PV panels to dramatically reduce energy consumption.  

Although evaporative cooling is great at saving energy, it does consume some water, but the benefits on energy savings outweigh the water usage, which in some places is a scarce resource.

Michael Daly, chief technology officer, ECM Technologies, offers insights into the HVAC commercial market.

Despite their similar exterior appearance, cooling towers and closed-circuit coolers are very different pieces of equipment with distinct advantages and limitations. This is especially true when determining which option is best suited for a specific cooling application.

Technology is redefining how consumers control their homes. That includes everything from lighting to mood music to heating and air conditioning.

While “smart” tools and tablets are becoming more and more common in an HVAC tech’s toolbox, there are still plenty of things an app just can’t do.

The TXV also simultaneously controls a set amount of evaporator superheat while, under these same conditions, assuming the range and capacity of the valve is not exceeded.

This product displays the temperature as real images with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and infrared images with a resolution of 33 x 33 pixels.

Now available with Bluetooth, this product provides users full access to all features of their devices, such as apps and email.

It’s the contractor’s job to ensure consumers understand the functionality of smart thermostats without becoming overwhelmed by the features and data.

Lennox received a 2023 Green Builder Sustainable Product of the Year recognition.

OK, you’ve exhausted all of the existing air from an interior space; now how do you replace it? You bring in makeup air from another source. For the purpose of an HVAC discussion, your source will be mechanical equipment — makeup air units.

Ideal for cost-conscious applications that require 100 percent outside air, the new unit from Modine provides first-rate efficiency with a 100 percent thermal efficiency (92 percent sensible), and extends airflow capability to as low as 800CFM to cover far more applications than previously offered.

The EPA initially faced backlash from the industry regarding the sell-through mandate for certain HVAC systems. The Agency revised the provision by allowing one additional year, until January 1, 2026.

ABC argues the rule could end up hurting legitimate contractors in the building trades, who are already strapped for workers.

With more than a trillion dollars designated from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) starting to hit the wider economic field, HVAC contractors and the utility industry should be aware of how to cash in.

In recent years, the cost of HVAC equipment has increased significantly, and regulatory changes, such as the phase-down of R-410A, will make the new A2L units even more expensive.

Sales of VRF systems continue to rise unabated, leading many to predict their shipments will increase by double digits annually for the foreseeable future.

The NEWS’ Extra Edition page is home to hundreds of online-exclusive service and maintenance, technical, and business management articles. Here are some of the best.

An HVAC solution was the headliner for an event on Feb. 19 at a 121-year-old building in the nation’s capital named after one of America’s greatest composer-musicians. The event at Duke Ellington School of the Arts demonstrated how stepping beyond traditional non-inverter HVAC systems can preserve a building’s historical architecture, enhance energy efficiencies, minimize noise, and earn design-award accolades.

Most of the rest of the world has relied on ductless mini-split systems for their heating and cooling needs for decades, but that has not been the case in the U.S. That may be changing with the advent of ducted mini-split systems.

Contractors need to implement a refrigerant management strategy that accommodates both legacy and A2L systems, as well as emphasizes recovery and reclamation.

The proposed new approach to chilled water HVAC systems promises to provide significant capital cost savings, energy cost savings, and a path to eliminate CO₂ emissions.

As the federal government plans millions in grant funding to boost heat-pump manufacturing in the U.S., a big player in the market as well as a newcomer are thrilled with the opportunity.

When changing the refrigerant within your pumping application, it is worth discussing the application with a process specialist.

The 30-day ANSI public review period closes May 14.  

Posted by Daniel Augusto Veronezi Salvador on Nov 12

Often considered to be an affordable, reliable heating and/or cooling system for a variety of commercial buildings, the standard rooftop unit used to come with a basic thermostat that is limited to turning the system on or off. The advent of new controls has changed all of that by allowing rooftops to monitor operation, analyze conditions, and make real-time decisions that can optimize performance.

In supermarkets, where HVAC and refrigeration equipment use 50 to 60 percent of all electricity consumed, new technologies and advanced control strategies have been developed to help boost energy efficiency as well as reduce emissions.

Here are two examples of the difference that high-performance building features and high-efficiency HVAC technology can make.

HVAC contractors could invest in all kinds of technology, ranging from tools to management systems, but often, the question lies with the payoff.

Aircuity has been named a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Qualified Vendor for the RTEM program.

Hamid Sarshar will lead the 50-year-old company into the next strategic phase of growth and innovation within the UFT platform.

RetroFIT+ is the next iteration of the Belimo retrofit program, which offers online resources, including a product-selection tool, as well as personal support to provide quick and easy access to HVAC replacement solutions for actuators, valves, and sensors.

Manufacturers are finding innovative ways to meet and exceed expectations while creating comfortable, healthy indoor environments for building occupants.

Since they don’t have to stay in one place, portable cooling units have been known to show up in some pretty unique places. Here’s a closer look at how portable units are serving in some outside-the-box applications.

The benefits of portables, including speedy implementation, reduced downtime, and cost-effectiveness, are continuing to gain recognition from end users. And, as end users experience these benefits and the resulting uptime, industry experts expect the portable market to continue to heat up.

New Champion LX Series packaged units heat and cool residential and light commercial buildings.