It’s no secret that mini-split systems are growing in popularity throughout North America. In fact, they’re one of the fastest growing segments of the HVAC industry, a trend being driven in no small part by advances in ductless technology and rising consumer awareness. And while this is great news for HVAC companies across the board, […]
Turn on the news and you’re likely to see a story about extreme weather. Hurricanes, tropical storms, and heat waves have become the norm, not the exception. Which is one reason that air conditioning is such a pressing topic. As temperatures rise in many areas of the world, more people will be looking to cool […]
The biggest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions isn’t cars but buildings. Housing is responsible for about 54% of GHG while transportation releases about 42%. According to a government of Australia paper, a typical HVAC system accounts for approximately 40% of total building consumption. In the coming years, energy efficiency will become more important to […]
Extendable, flexible and comfortable. Those are just a few benefits of hydronic heating systems. For about a decade, geothermal or geo-exchange/ground source and water source hydronic systems have been a growing niche market when it comes to home central heating. But the high cost of installation and the difficulty fitting them into many buildings has […]
It’s no secret that traditional hot water tanks and systems are big-time energy hogs. According to Environment Canada, they account for 19% of the energy used in a typical home, and 8% of the energy used in a typical commercial setting. But what will those numbers look like in five years? What will they look […]
“Run it until it breaks.” For decades, this has been the way many business owners manage their HVAC equipment. They’ll happily let their heating and air conditioning units, or commercial fridges and freezers, deteriorate over the course of years even to the point of requiring replacement. If you’re an HVAC company, this presents a […]
Did you know that right now, raccoons all over North America are hunkering down in attics and crawl spaces to give birth and raise their young? It might not seem like the kind of factoid an HVAC specialist should know, but it is. Every year, pests of all kinds find their way into the warm […]
Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) have been around for a while, with the vast majority of consumers showing little interest. Until recently, it’s been easy to see why: HPWHs are significantly more expensive than conventional gas or electric water heaters, and the potential cost savings can be hard to communicate. But all of that […]
For as long as people have been heating and cooling their homes, there’s been a complicated relationship between energy loss and indoor air quality (IAQ). In fact, conventional wisdom dictates the two are more or less always at-odds: The more efficient a building is, the poorer the IAQ is. Right? Well, not quite. It’s true […]
With spring in the air and summer on the horizon, perhaps you’re daydreaming about hitting the beach, mixing margaritas, and building sandcastles this summer, right? Unfortunately, this year, the onset of summer in North America will likely mean another round of intense wildfires, and that has major implications for HVAC technicians when they prepare to […]
If you’re an HVAC technician, you’ve heard it again and again: “This room never fully heats up or cools down.” It’s one of the most common complaints homeowners and building managers make about their HVAC systems, and the solution might be simpler than you think. Check the registers When responding to one of these calls […]
One of the most common complaints customers make about HVAC systems is the noise they generate. Sometimes it indicates a problem that needs fixing, such as a broken blower wheel or check valve, but most of the time it’s a result of normal operation. Business owners and commercial building managers are the most likely to […]
It’s never acceptable to allow carbon monoxide into a household, which is why a cracked heat exchanger has the potential to spell big trouble for any furnace. In fact, it’s an industry standard to immediately replace any furnace that shows cracks or holes in its heat exchanger. But how seriously is the problem really taken […]
For nearly a decade, the global HVAC industry has been experiencing a steady boom. In fact, the industry has grown every year since 2011, and that trend is expected to continue through 2019 and beyond. Analysts are predicting 9% growth for 2019 with more than $70 billion in additional revenue over the coming years. What’s […]
It’s a good time to revisit the looming end of continued HCFC-22 refrigerant production, or R-22 as it’s better known. If you’re an HVAC technician or contractor, you’re in a prime position to help educate your customers and prospective clients on the need to start preparing for the transition. Here’s a quick look at everything […]
In the past couple years, we’ve written nearly 125 blog posts sharing insights on the news and trends that affect the HVAC industry. Here we share the most-read, which all focus on helping you – our customers – do the best job possible for your clients! How to choose between a roof, soffit or wall […]
The housing market isn’t looking terribly rosy for investors at the moment, or for the foreseeable future. In fact, it’s looking downright grim. As Barron’sreported last month, home prices recently had their lowest year-over-year increase in nearly two years, while the iShares U.S. Home Construction exchange-traded fund fell 12% in October, and is down 26% […]
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air is five times more polluted than outside. Now that it’s getting colder outside, it’s even more critical that your customers have good indoor air quality (IAQ). While doors and windows remain closed this season, your customers rely on the excellent ventilation capabilities of the vents […]
A home’s first line of defence for indoor air quality (IAQ) is a good ventilation and HVAC system that uses high-quality vents and wall caps. Homeowners should also be aware of the threats to their IAQ. One threat that laces awareness is radon. As we head into winter, it’s a topic all building professionals should […]
Choosing wall caps, grilles and diffusers for your HVAC installation is easy. You know where to get high-quality products. Selecting the right HVAC system for your customers is trickier. A new app promises to quickly analyze a wide variety of HVAC options. The larger the project, the more difficult the analysis can become. In the […]