Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

News Magazine March 2026

Arkansas’ First and Only HVACR NewsMagazine

Classes Ruth King : Profit Starts with Pricing (pg. 13) April 15 & 16 : Northwest & Central Manual J: (pg. 23)

Articles Feature: Association Partners with HVACRedu for Online Continuing Education (pg. 4) State, National, Chapter News Do I Have My CE: Never Worry Again (pg. 6) Kirk’s Corner (pg. 10) Kirk Pierce DOE Recognizes 3 Arkansas Colleges (pg. 8) Energy Talk: Why Blower Door Data is Vital (pg.14) Tom Turner Education: 2 Instructors Speak at National Forums (pg.22) Manual J Classes (pg. 23) NewsMagazine Past Issues (pg. 25) Business: Five Fun Financial Facts, Ruth King (pg. 27) If You Live or Die, You Need a Plan (pg. 29) Five Musts for Field Managers, Ruth King (pg. 33) Tech News: Thermal Balance (pg. 36) (HVAC School) Don’t Get Locked Out (pg. 37) Craig Migliacco Attic Designs and Heat and Air (pg. 38) Bryan Orr

Exhaust Done Right

April 2, 3 : Maumelle April 6 & 7 : Springdale April 9 & 10 : Fort Smith April 20 & 21 : Blytheville April 23 & 24 : Jonesboro

Bryan Orr Attic Designs & Heat & Air Craig Migliacco Don’t Get Locked Out

Ruth King “ Profit Starts with Pricing ” Classes in April pg. 13 Tom Hunt Manual J Wrightsoft Classes in April Pg. 23

S p r

e r e

i n g

s H

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Instructors Speak at National Forums

Matthew Lewmaster

Brad Cooper

By Arkansans

For Arkansans

News Magazine March2026

Table of Contents

18

FEATURE STORY Amazing Announcement Association Partners with HVACRedu for Comprehensive Online Education

pg 4

State, national, chapter news Do I Have My CE? Never Worry Again.

PG 6

PG 8

DOE Recognizes 3 Colleges with Energy Skills Status

PG 10

Kirk’s Corner

PG 13

Profit Starts with Pricing : Ruth King In-Person Class :Northwest & Central

Energy Talk Why Blower Door Data is Vital — Tom Turner, Air Evangelist

PG 14

Education News Training Programs

PG 30

PG 21

pg 30 PG 33 pg 36 PG 22 PG 23 PG 24 PG 25

Instructors Speak at National Forums

Manual J Classes in April

Education News HVACRedu (Education more than CE)

NewsMagazine Past Issues Lunch & Learn Past Issues

PG 26

Business News Five Fun Financial Facts

PG 27 pg 30 PG 33 pg 36 PG 29 PG 33

(Ruth King)

We Live or We Die: Are You Ready: You Need a Plan : Estate Planning

Five Musts for Field Managers

(Ruth King)

Tech News

PG 36

Thermal Balance Ty Branaman with HVAC School

PG 37

Don’t Get Locked Out (Craig Migliacco – AC Service Tech HVAC Academy)

PG 38

Attic Designs and Heat and Air (Bryan Orr – HVAC School)

I’ve Done it This Way for 20 Years: That’s the Problem (Bryan Orr - HVAC School) PG

News Magazine 2026

Arkansas’ First and Only HVACR NewsMagazine

Going Someplace in 2026 Check out MemberDeals

It’s a service for Association members to reduce travel and entertainment costs. Check it out on the website at arhvacr.org Log in and scroll down to Member Advantages. At the bottom, click on the MemberDeals icon. Lots of potential savings are available and it only costs you your membership. What a deal — What a deal. You might save some money and maybe not. Won’t know till you check it out. Let us know your experience so we can improve or share.

arhvacr.org sign in Member Deals

Exclusive Members Only Check it out!

Membership Has Its Advantages

News Magazine March 2026

FEATURE STORY

Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing Approved Continuing Education Approved

AMAZING ANNOUNCEMENT! HVACRedu and Arkansas HVACR Association partner to offer Arkansas HVACR continuing education via an online format at a discount. HVACRedu has offered their brand of continuing education for many years and is recognized by NATE and HVAC Excellence as well as the US Department of Labor for their apprenticeship program. With over 2,600 hours of training from beginning to advanced, they are uniquely prepared to meet the industry’s educational needs in an online format. Chris Compton, founder of HVACRedu, and Tom Hunt, executive director of Arkansas HVACR Association, are excited to announce the partnership. The Association begins by offering 8 courses at special Association pricing. These courses are being approved by the Arkansas Department of Labor to meet the Arkansas Continuing Education requirement for license renewal. The CEU # is yet to be assigned. These courses provide 8 hours of CE during the three-year code cycle which is the new requirement for license renewal.

Eight hours of continuing education every three years.

With 8 hours of CE, the classes take longer and cost more; however, they provide excellent training for the newer licensee as well as the seasoned. The

initial offerings include 111 Electrical DC Theory

(approximately 18 hours to complete)

112 Electrical AC Theory Plus

( approximately 18 hours to complete) 113 Electrical Common Components ( approximately 18 hours to complete) 114 Electric Motors (approximately 21 hours to complete) 135 Heat Pumps (approximately 21 hours to complete) 138 Introduction to Mini Splits (approximately 15 hours to complete) 141 Refrigeration (approximately18 hours to complete) 143 Refrigeration Cycle Service Procedures (approximately 9 hours to complete) These courses are more for those wanting to improve their knowledge and skills as well as meet the requirements for license renewal. Even if you have completed school or been in the field for a few years, they make a good review. To learn more about the courses go to — a. www.HVACRedu.net/arhvacr b. Click on a course that interests you

News Magazine March 2026

FEATURE STORY

c. Look at the price to determine if you are ready to invest d. Click on Purchase Now e. Click on Checkout f. If this is your first time, scroll down to New Customer and create an account with HVACRedu i. Fill out the personal information j. Be sure to include your license number if you have one k. Pay for the class l. Begin when you ’ re ready m. You have one year to complete the class n. However, the class must be completed prior to license renewal if you are using it for that purpose. You can find all 2,600 hours of courses but these are the ones we initially selected for your consideration. These are the only ones that are approved for Arkansas Continuing Education for license renewal. They are also the only ones that will get you the special Association pricing. The others are great courses but the Association picked 8 to begin with. We will add others. So, as we look to the value of continuing education and the best way to obtain the required hours, the Association will continue to offer the Chapter meetings with CE during October and February; individual courses like Manual J, D, S, Blower Door and Duct Testing; individual “prescription classes” which focus on specific skills in a short time frame. With the addition of NATE approved classes g. Create a Username h. Create a Password

from HVAC/Redu, the bases are covered. Our goal is to improve the technical abilities of our folks so the techs can make more money for the contractor so the contractor can justify paying a higher wage to the technician. It’s all about being worth more by knowing more and being able to turn knowledge into skill and better service for the homeowner and business customer. Education should not be about meeting a legal requirement. It is about being the best you can be and serving the end user . It’s about being proud of your career and your skills. You provide better service and the customer will reward you with loyalty. • Central / Little Rock and surrounding area • East Central / Forrest City and surrounding area • Fort Smith and surrounding area • Hot Springs and surrounding area • North Central / Harrison & Mountain Home and surrounding area • Northeast / Jonesboro and surrounding area • Northwest / Fayetteville and surrounding area • South Central / El Dorado and surrounding area • Southwest / Texarkana and surrounding area Meeting to share experiences, ideas, and education to build professionalism and friendships and to better serve our residential and business customers. Arkansas HVACR Association Chapters

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

State National Chapter News

Never Worry About Continuing Education Again

Do I have my continuing education?

Act 746 determined the timeline for electricians but not for the HVACR industry. Electricians have to get their eight hours in the first year of their 3 year cycle. It appears that the HVACR Board will have to review and approve a plan for us. I think Labor and Licensing is devising a plan to present to the Board. The Board meets on March 11 and we trust that it will be discussed and determined; but, we don’t know for sure. Regardless of how they choose to implement and transition, the Association will provide classes that are near you to meet the continuing education requirement. We ’ ll always offer the two hours during two of the Chapter meetings each year; but, will add additional classes to make it easy for you. These may be 4 hours or 8 depending on what works best. By the way, the idea with continuing education was always for the distributors and manufacturers to be your first choice. We need to stay current on equipment as well as code. Makes the design, installation, and service of comfort and refrigeration system go better for everyone. We ’ ll keep you informed on how all this plays out. Open our emails, attend the chapter meetings, and you ’ ll be on top of your CE requirement. No worry.

Yeah! It is a pain. Do I have my CE? Do I have enough? Do I know where my certificates are? Did I get my certificates? You need everything once a year and a year to get it; but, man, you have better things to do — like running a business. True. That is why the Arkansas HVACR Association has developed a plan for you to ALWAYS have the required continuing education hours to renew your license. Here’s how. Two hours of continuing education are offered during the February and October Chapter meetings. There are 9 active chapters in the state with more coming. So, pick a chapter near you, attend the February and October meeting, and you’ll always have enough CE to renew your license. Two meetings, two hours each total four hours for the year. You’re set. There is a new and coming wrinkle. Act 746, Section 9 passed by the legislature in the 2025 session changed the required continuing education to eight hours every three-year code cycle. The transition from 4 every year to 8 every three years is still to be determined and we’ll have to see how that takes place.

http://www.edssupply.com/arkansas

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

State National Chapter News

Department of Energy “ Energy Skills ” Recognized Three Arkansas Colleges Arkansas State University in Searcy, Arkansas Tech University in Ozark, and North Arkansas College in Harrison have been recognized by the Department of Energy as providing Heat Pump Installation Skills worthy of note for hiring contractors and the public. Thanks to a cooperative agreement between DOE and Google, students who receive training from an Energy Skilled recognized program can have their employer highlighted in Google search results, which helps consumers find qualified technicians. Recognition as Energy Skilled signifies that a training program or certificate covers the skills and knowledge identified by DOE as necessary for performing high quality work with new energy-efficient technologies. A credential from an Energy Skilled-recognized training or certification program tells hiring companies and consumers that a graduate has been trained to an established level of knowledge about HVACR, including both fundamentals and the latest technologies. Recognition is determined by the training program’s successful completion of a 100 point assessment of their specific theory and application instruction. Energy Skills program was developed by the Department of Energy and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The goal is to train technicians to provide excellent design, installation, and service achieving heat pump efficiency, comfort, and safety criteria.

Arkansas State University, Searcy Brad Cooper instructor Arkansas Tech University, Ozark, Kenny Beeler instructor

•

•

The Arkansas HVACR Association and Arkansas Instructor’s Council worked with the Department of Energy to meet the criteria of the DOE Energy Skilled Heat Pump Installation program. Energy Skilled-recognition can be extended to community college programs that adopt the Arkansas HVACR Association / Instructor’s Council standardized curricula which DOE recognized as Energy Skilled for Heat Pump Installation in August 2025. One unique advantage of the Arkansas program is that the Arkansas HVACR Association certifies the colleges as meeting the program criteria which reduces the paperwork normally required with an application. The Arkansas program is a first and the Department of Energy hopes to use it as an example of cooperation between industry, associations, and the Department. North Arkansas College, Harrison Jeff Smith instructor Recognized by Department of Energy to meet Energy Skills training in Heat Pump installation •

ARHVACR NewsMagazine March2026

S tate, National, Chapter News State national Chapter News

Kirk’s Corner Exhaust Done Right: A Guide to Proper Venting for Natural Gas Furnaces When it comes to installing natural gas furnaces, one of the most critical — and frequently overlooked — components is the exhaust system. Improper venting doesn't just compromise furnace efficiency; it can lead to dangerous carbon monoxide buildup, fire hazards, and costly code violations. Whether you're retrofitting an older home or installing a high-efficiency system in new construction, knowing how to size, configure, and install the exhaust properly is essential to a safe and successful job. Exhaust systems are responsible for carrying combustion byproducts — mainly carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and water vapor — safely out of the building. A well-designed and properly installed vent prevents backdrafting, corrosion, and furnace damage. In high-efficiency (condensing) units, improper venting can even trigger error codes and shutdowns. Why Exhaust Venting Matters

Understanding Furnace Types and Venting Categories

Category I (Non-Condensing, Natural Draft or Induced Draft) • Uses metal flue (Type B vent) • Relies on a draft • Sensitive to negative pressure/backdrafting Category IV (Condensing Furnaces) • Uses PVC, CPVC, or polypropylene for venting • Requires both exhaust and intake piping (sealed combustion) • Needs a proper slope for condensate drainage Understanding which category the furnace falls under is step one. Always refer to the manufacturer's installation manual — model-specific venting details override general rules.

ARHVACR NewsMagazine March2026

S tate, National, Chapter News State national Chapter News

Key Considerations for Proper Exhaust Installation

manufacturer's maximum allowable run.

1. Material Matters Use only manufacturer-approved materials. For condensing units, avoid ABS or unlisted PVC. CPVC or polypropylene piping is typically recommended. Vent pipe joints must be properly primed and glued to prevent leaks. 2. Follow the Slope Rule For condensing furnaces, exhaust pipes must slope back toward the furnace at 1/4 inch per foot to allow condensate to drain properly. Pooling inside the vent can trigger safety lockouts or corrode internal components. • Maintain required clearances from windows, doors, and fresh air intakes (typically 3 – 4 feet) • Include screens to prevent rodent or debris entry, without restricting airflow 4. Avoid Too Many Elbows Too many bends create excessive resistance, increasing the chance of vent pressure problems. Count each elbow when calculating total equivalent length and always compare this to the 3. Proper Termination Exhaust and intake terminations should: • Be at least 12 inches above expected snow levels

5. Combustion Air Matters A sealed combustion system (direct vent) pulls outside air in for combustion, reducing the risk of backdrafting and improving efficiency. In tight homes, always confirm there's adequate combustion air — whether direct or from a mechanical system. Mixing incompatible pipe materials (e.g., PVC with CPVC) • Using unsealed joints in exhaust piping • Installing exhaust too close to air intakes or wall openings • Neglecting to secure horizontal runs every 3 – 4 feet • Ignoring local and national mechanical code Common Mistakes to Avoid • International Mechanical Code (IMC) • National Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54) • Local and state codes , which may have more stringent rules As HVAC contractors, you know that safety, efficiency, and code compliance go hand in hand. Taking the time to properly size, install, and inspect natural gas furnace exhaust systems protects your reputation and your Know the Code Always reference: •

ARHVACR NewsMagazine March2026

S tate, National, Chapter News State national Chapter News

customers' safety. When in doubt, consult the manufacturer or local code official. Exhaust may be out of sight — but it should never be out of mind.

In a rare partnership between utility and industry, we appreciate Summit Utilities and Kirk Pierce for providing Kirk ’ s Corner. If you need information about rebates, contact Kirk at tpierce@summitutilities.com

Hey! It ’ s Arkansas and It ’ s Festival Time

Newton County Fairground

Hot Springs : Garland County Fairground

March 14 - 22 Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival / Wye

Ozark Folk Center : March 12 - 14

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

State National Chapter News

Ruth King Pricing Comes Before Profit A one-day financial session that will change your life and your company.

Our industry has lots of guys who are great with a tool belt but challenged with a Profit & Loss & How to Price Is That You?

Wednesday, April 15 U of A Fort Smith, Bakery District 70 South 7 th Street, Fort Smith 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 16 Ultimate Tech 6108 Getty Drive 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Click Here to Register for North Little Rock

Click Here to Register for Fort Smith

Member $250 Non-Member $350 Lunch Furnished

Class Pricing for the Day

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

Tech News

equipment. The ACH must be measured accurately. One would think we should celebrate the milestone of beginning to control unintended air flow.

Why Blower

Door Data is Vital Tom Turner, Air Evangelist

So, what is the issue?

The fact that past construction has allowed uncontrolled air through the structure, kept carbon monoxide poisonings at lower levels. The blower door is vital when measuring a home for proper operation with combustion appliances are present. In a 2-ACH home carbon monoxide becomes of greater concern. If you remember mold issues from the early 2000’s in homes that were 4 -ACH or more, how bad can mold get in a home of 2-ACH or less? These same low ACH homes will suffer greatly if the environmental equipment is not sized correctly or if make up air is not provided in calculated quantities to overcome vent hoods, bath fans, and other general ventilation requirements.

Reviewing history is sometimes helpful.

Construction codes, inspection jurisdictions and utilities across the country require Manual J calculations when replacing or altering capacity in HVAC equipment. I have no idea how many load calculations we have performed or reviewed, but one section of the load calculation always causes consternation early on. The first Manual J for the business was completed in about 1977 when remodeling a two-story structure. Test equipment popular today was not available. To this day in the year 2026, ninety percent of the time, folks still do as I did. They are guessing at building tightness. Guessing leads to oversizing the equipment just to make sure people are comfortable, while forgetting Manual J and Code allows 25% oversizing when fudge factors are combined. With today’s materials and processes, it is becoming the norm to choke unintended air flow off with remarkable success. Oversizing becomes a much more apparent issue when the envelope is controlled. Only a decade ago construction struggled to get homes below 4 ACH. Homes where heat pumps are installed must have an approximate ACH of 3.5-ACH or less to be sure they function efficiently. Today 2-ACH is readily achievable, but standing at the curb looking at the home will never give you the data necessary to carefully select To this day in the year 2026, ninety percent of the time, folks still do as I did. They are guessing at building tightness.

ERVs & HRVs

Kitchen Exhaust

Bath Exhaust

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

Tech News

Oil embargo Energy prices were cheap in the 1960’s with gasoline prices between 21 and 29 cents per gallon in the south. The 1973 OPEC oil embargo sent oil prices up over 400%, from $3.00 a barrel to $12.00 a barrel. Imagine a price increase like that in today ’ s dollars. A barrel would cost $300 a barrel. It would set the stage for the United States and other concerned nations to find ways to limit wasting energy unnecessarily.

We need not forget how we arrived with homes performing as efficiently as we have so far. The journey has been slow simply because of foundational building science that was new to the industry as we tried to reign in energy costs and environmental impacts. Keeping folks from freezing to death had been achieved. Now we are moving to keep people comfortable, which is a much more complex challenge. Vanishing pier and beam construction In the mid 1950’s construction practices moved to slab construction due to costs savings. Between two and three decades later it was realized moving to slab construction cut energy usage by over 30 percent limiting envelope leakage. Even today you sometimes find a combination of slab and pier and beam construction. If you do, be sure to measure temperature and humidity on both sides of the equation. If there are differences of more than 15% humidity with no visible means of slowing movement (applied barriers) you can be sure damage will occur when moisture migrates. Moisture moves through concrete, will lift finishes on floors and trim, and cause wood floors to cup. Like heat moving to cool, moisture migrates to dry.

Imagine $300 per barrel oil

During the embargo, many ideas for energy saving fell upon the HVAC industry. Since HVAC loads were a sizable portion of the utility bill just as they are now, many of the ideas were reactionary. An example of one way to drive down the cost of cooling was direct misting of the condenser coil. Stainless steel wires held nozzles about 12 inches off the face of the condenser and quarter inch lines supplied the coolant. In short order the mineral content would foul the coils and require cleaning that sometime destroyed the aluminum fins. This was just one example of the measures used to try to reduce consumption. Most often the remedy for the high consumption resulted in less than favorable results. As recently as last (2025) summer, qualityhomeaircare.com, a consumer / contractor HVAC education web site, had a discussion paper on the same

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

Tech News

topic. Many ideas presented as mechanical enhancements for saving energy for homeowners via the oil embargo era proved detrimental to overall performance.

foam application cuts off the circulation and any portion below the application could suffer from moisture migration. Crawl spaces where floor joist was sprayed with foam resulted in supporting members between the joist and the ground deteriorating. We are not picking out foam specifically. We have witnessed vapor barriers stapled to the bottom side of floor joist giving the same support structure destruction.

Vapor barriers, air barriers, and insulation

Identifying when, where, and how to use air barriers, vapor barriers and aligning insulation has been some of the most difficult pieces of the building science puzzle. To set aside one prime point, true vapor barriers are not recommended in wall construction with the exception in extreme cold climates. Vapor barriers most popular use is being placed on the ground to keep moisture on one side or the other. The most common use of vapor barriers is being placed beneath slab construction to slow curing of concrete. The slower the cure (chemical reaction), the stronger the slab. Encapsulation of crawl space is the next popular use with heavy weight materials in contact with the ground and ballast (gravel) keeping it in place. Not understanding the impact of material used early on during first attempts at saving energy in the construction industry put many structures at risk during the oil embargo (1970s) and improper use impacting construction continues to this current year of 2026. Updating older homes has proven to be a significant challenge. A failure to understand the impact of upgrading portions of the dwelling without assessing the home in its entirety is risky. An earlier widespread practice of insulating the attic with foam proved to be detrimental to cutting off intended air flow through the structure. Since most structures were designed to breathe with air currents dependent upon temperature,

Addressing window leakage As early as the 1950’s, engineers knew double-hung wood framed windows and glass panes performed poorly against even the most basic wall structure. After the effort to electrify the lower 48 states, it became apparent builders would have to improve fenestration. Casement window was the first attempt at addressing the issue. Mechanical hinges, crank mechanism, and framing stresses made these improvements short lived. The mass adoption of electricity itself put strain on original generation loads and even in the 1950’s there was a noticeable push to conserve energy. Building something transparent, allowing natural light while being energy efficient proved difficult. The first “efficient” window treatment was a gold film behind the glass available only in commercial application to

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

Tech News

reflect light and heat, sometimes moving the reflected loads to neighboring offices. This was the same technology that improved thermos bottles just a decade prior. Next came aluminum double pane windows. Double pane modules lost integrity early on making the first-generation windows short lived. In the late 1990’s a shading technology with mild reflectivity built in was the first generation of “Low E” window. In the mid 2000’s, code mandated “Low E” fenestration. Today’s windows are improved with be tter materials, lower air flow, and thermal conductivity however, the phrase “windows make a terrible wall” remains a common term.

handling equipment utilizing variable speed technology would attempt to overcome poor duct using more energy in the process. In the cooling retrofit market, heat only systems had ducts that were too small or inaccessible to move required air efficiently. Only steel duct manufacturers were calling foul on flexible duct that had been installed over the past two decades. Due to the ease of installation and lower material costs contractors were reluctant to question engineering data provided with the flex. This unintended consequence of duct testing in the late 1990’s shined a light that has only recently improved upon over the last several Code cycles moving from R4 insulation to the current requirements dependent upon climate region, and with sizing increases for efficient air flow. Turns out if flexible duct is installed as the manufacturer intended, the differences in performance are minimal compared to steel duct. Restricted air flows By analyzing poor air delivery, engineering data validated duct sizing needed to be revisited both on the fan side, and the return or cold air side. This is why the old rule of one square foot of return air grill per ton in the 1980’s has been replaced w ith the current two hundred square inches per ton or more depending on the face velocity required for proper filter function. Filters themselves continue to be the biggest chokepoint in air delivery to date. You must be familiar with all brands and real-time applications of materials. Deep pleated, multiple housed filters are required on all but 18,000 BTU air handling equipment if you are to move air efficiently.

Courtesy healthbuildingscience.com

Duct seal revolution Realizing windows would be tough to further improve upon, the energy emphasis moved to sealing duct systems through code requirements in the late 1990’s. Where new duct seal codes were adopted, low performance and higher energy consumption problems were quickly noted. Limited studies demonstrated that if ducts were sealed without evaluating existing constraints, air flow performance fell on fractional horsepower motors and energy usage went up significantly with variable speed furnaces and air handlers. Fractional horsepower blowers would slip in the airstream under high static delivering less CFM and more efficient furnaces and air

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

Tech News

Final case for blower door data For all the mechanics of building science and proper application of material, the blower door is a necessary tool for measuring a variety of issues in the home. The blower door can tell us a true number for ventilation, provide numbers for range hood make up air, tells us how effective our duct seal is, and identify areas of leakage not seen by the human eye. Its most effective task is assisting with sizing equipment for proper operation. Along with a flow hood and a duct blower, there is little that we will not know about how the home performs. Measuring is the key to finding proper build, proper equipment sizing, and proper service. No two homes are the same. Ever!

More Arkansas

March Festivals

World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Hot Springs : March 17

Historic Washington State Park : March 20 & 21

Courtesy blowerdoor.co

March 28

The NewsMagazine is indebted to the contributions of Tom Turner. Tom brings a depth to the topic that only years of experience can provide.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge State Park Eureka Springs

5% Energy Resource Conservation Loans

A Touchstone Energy® Partner

• No down payment • Low 5% interest • Up to 84 months to pay • Write one check for your payment and electric bill

• No early payment penalty • Low hassle loan application Call Southwest Arkansas Electric Member Service Department 800-782-2743

SUMMARY OF ERC LOAN PROGRAM Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative Energy Resource Conservation (ERC) Loan Program provides low cost financing for high efficiency heat pumps and other energy conservation improvements needed to make your home energy efficient. With approved credit and completion of the home survey, SWAECC will loan up to $5,000 per member per residential structure at 5% interest for up to 84 months. These loans are to finance energy conservation measures including heat pumps (including water source), caulking, weather stripping, insulation, storm or thermal doors and windows, etc. Loans for more than $5,000 will need Board of Director approval. Loans which do not include a heat pump will be limited to $3,000. To qualify, all conservation measures must save enough energy within 10 years to pay for the improvements. Payback estimates are determined by the Cooperative's Home Survey. Because loan funds are limited, loans will be made on a first come, first served basis. QUALIFICATIONS To qualify for the loan the member must have a good credit history with Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative and a good national credit rating. A three-member loan committee will check the member's credit before approving the loan. Loans will only be made for existing homes or buildings. The program is not for homes under construction. Also, property must be owned by the member. The cooling capacity of the heat pump should not exceed 125% of the calculated design load. The heat pump must also meet minimum efficiency ratings to qualify. The SEER rating must be 14.0 or above and the HSPF must be 8.0 or higher. All duct work, including all supply and return air duct work, must be installed with a minimum of 2" duct insulation or rigid fiberglass board and must be sized properly for noise reduction and air flow. HOME SURVEY Before a loan can be made, a home energy survey must be completed. This is a questionnaire concerning the existing and proposed energy efficiency of the property . CONTACT YOUR DEALER We advise but do not require you to contact more than one qualified dealer or contractor for cost estimates to install a heat pump and making other improvements such as storm windows or insulation if they are advised. To qualify for the ERC Loan, the unit must be installed by a member of the Arkansas HVACR Association. SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR ERC LOAN Complete and return the credit application, and the credit check authorization form in this brochure. Your application will be submitted to our loan committee for consideration, and we will notify you in writing of their decision. Once your credit is approved, we will need a copy of the deed to your property for proof of ownership and a legal description. The cooperative will file a lien on the proper-ty to secure the loan. A one-time fee of $30 will be charged to cover the cost of placing and releasing the property lien PROCESSING LOAN DOCUMENTS Upon completion of the work, a serviceman will inspect it. When the invoice is received and the inspection is complete, we will make an appointment for you to come to our Texarkana office to sign the loan papers and have them notarized. All checks will be two-party checks made out to both you and the contractor or contractors. NOTE : Cost of equipment and installation are to be negotiated between you and your contractor. You will be responsible for getting the invoices to us for processing and making payment to your contractor. A two-party check will be written to both you and the dealer . Sign the check only after work is completed.

Now is a great time for customers to earn rebates on high-efficiency natural gas furnaces and water heaters! These energy-efficient systems are not just practical, they’re also fantastic choices that can truly elevate your customers’ home comfort and savings. equipment with rebates from Summit Utilities! Increase your sales of high-efficiency natural gas

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Residential and small business rebates: • Up to $800 for qualifying heating systems • Up to $700 for qualifying tankless water heaters • Up to $1,700 for combination furnace plus tankless water heater Learn more at SummitUtilities.com/Rebates

S tate, National, Chapter News Education News

Training Programs

Northwest Technical Institute 709 Old Missouri Rd, Springdale, Arkansas 2764 Galin Cronin : info@nwti.edu 479-751-8824 SAU Tech 6415 Spellman Rd, East Camden, AR 71701 Roland Walters : cwalters@sautech.edu 870-574-4500 Southeast Arkansas College 1900 Hazel Street, Pine Bluff, AR 71603 Danny Gumm : dgumm@seark.edu 870-543-5976 UACC Hope / Texarkana 2500 South Main, Hope 71802 Leo Rateliff : leo.rateliff@uacch.edu 870-722-8507 UACC Morrilton 1537 University Blvd., Morrilton, AR 72110 Carroll Chism : chismc@uaccm.edu (501) 977-2053 UA Pulaski Tech College 3000 West Scenic Drive, NLR 72206 Matthew Lemaster : mlemaster@uaptc.edu 501-812-2795 UA Monticello / Crossett Add Your Name If you are a college or technical institute and want to be included in the list of HVACR education providers, contact the NewsMagazine 501-487-8655 news@arhvacr.org We’ll make sure you are in the next issue. Also, if we need to correct your information, please let us know. 1326 Hwy 52W, Crossett, AR 71635 Brad White : bwhite@uamont.edu 870-415-9795

Arkansas North Eastern College 4213 Main Street, Blytheville 72315 Jody Woodard : jwoodard@ smail.anc.edu 870- 780-1231 ext 1431 Arkansas Tech University, Ozark 1700 Helberg Lane, Ozark, AR 72949 Kenneth Beeler : kbeeler@atu.edu 479-508-3333 ASU Mountain Home 4034 Hwy 63 W, Mountain Home 72653 No program at present ASU Newport 33500 US 63, Marked Tree 72365 Mark Constant : mark_constant@asun.edu 870-358-8627 ASU Searcy 1800 East Moore Avenue, Searcy Brad Cooper : bjcooper@asun.edu 501-207-6221 East Arkansas Community College Newcastle Road, Forrest City, AR 72335 Robert Jackson : rjackson@eacc.edu 870-633-5411 National Park College 101 College Drive, Hot Springs, 71913 Hannah Lammers : hannah.lammers @np.edu 501-760-4394 North Arkansas Community College 1515 Pioneer Drive, Harrison, AR 72601 Jeff Smith : jsmith@northark.edu 870-391-3382 Northwest Arkansas Community College One College Drive, Bentonville, AR 71712 Lashanda Owens : 13owens1 @nwacc.edu 479-986-4000

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

education News

HVACR Association Instructor’s Council Brad Cooper & Matthew Lemaster Speak at National Events Arkansas HVACR instructors are getting national reputations and asked to speak at conferences. Brad Cooper, ASU Searcy, and Matt Lemaster, UA Pulaski Tech, have distinguished themselves by leading their colleges into accreditation with HVAC Excellence and have subsequently made a name for themselves and their programs with presentations on a national scale.

Brad spoke at Bryan Orr’s Annual HVACR Symposium in Florida. Bryan leads the podcast and newletter sponsored by HVAC School by HVAC techs. This was the 7 th Annual meeting of the best known and respected gurus in the country. Folks like Jim Bergmann and Craig Migliacco, regular contributors to the Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine are popular presenters. Brad spoke on “Geothermal - Back to the Basics.” Matt Lemaster will speak at the National HVACR Education Conference, the largest convention and conference for HVACR educators in the United States. The 2025 conference boasted over 1300 attendees. This year will have nearly 100 sessions and classes with attendance expected to top 2025. Matt will be speaking on “Hardening of Soft Skills.”

These two programs and instructors are a credit to our state and their institutions. We encourage you to support them and their programs by serving on their advisory boards and being available to pinch hit whenever they may have a need. Their students would welcome you to share your experiences and to interview with you for job placement when they complete their programs. Are you taking off for spring break or have a vacation planned? Take some pictures and let us publish your getaway in the NewsMagazine. We need a human interest section. We ’ ve done recipes but submissions have tapered off. Want to brag about your back yard BBQ prowess, let us know and send pictures. We do more than wear a tool belt or carry a bucket. We ’ re a family. Tells us more about yourself. Remember, “ He that tooteth not his own horn, the same shall not be tootethed ” .

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

education News

April Manual J Classes

April 2 & 3

Central Arkansas

Summit Utilities, 101 Bringler Drive, Maumelle

Register, Maumelle

April 6 & 7

Northwest Arkansas

NWTI, 709 S. Old Missouri Road, Springdale

Register, Springdale

April 9 & 10

Fort Smith

UA Fort Smith, Baker District, 70 South 7th Fort Smith Arkansas Northeastern College, 2105 S. Division Blytheville ASU Newport/Jonesboro Workforce Campus 5504 Krueger Drive, Jonesboro

Register, Fort Smith

April 20 & 21 Blytheville

Register, Blytheville

April 23 & 24 Jonesboro

Register, Jonesboro

What you get: 1 year subscription to Wrightsoft software including-- J, S, D Mini-Splits, 2D Duct, 3D Reader, Proposal, Hydronics 8 Hours Continuing Education 2 Days of Manual J instruction including one- & two-story houses, fiberglass, cellulose and foam insulation and encapsulation Donuts & Coffee and Lunch both days Certificate of Completion What you need to bring: Laptop computer. Download the software before class. You’ll get software keys and instructions when you register A separate mouse. Not the one on your computer. Trust us. You ’ ll want a second mouse. A 25 foot grounded extension cord. What it costs you: If you are a member of the Association If you need the software $600.00 If you already have a current copy of the software $100.00 If you want to bring a guest and use the second seat $150.00 (Your Wrightsoft subscription comes with 2 seats)

If you are not a member of the Association If you need the software

$750.00 $250.00 $250.00

If you already have a current copy of the software If you want to bring a guest and use the second seat (Your Wrightsoft subscription comes with 2 seats)

Join us in April for Manual J in person training. If you do 3 or more loads per year, you ’ ll save money by doing them yourself. Plus, you ’ ll have the confidence that they were done correctly for both new construction and retrofit. There are lots of software options, but Wrightsoft has tenure and credibility that only comes with time and experience. The Association has been using Wrightsoft for over 30 years.

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

education News

Education That is More Than Just CE • Continuing Education Credit • Technical Skills • ONLINE • NATE Approved

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

EDUCATION NEWS

Published •

Keeping the Arkansas HVACR industry informed of regulatory and legislative issues, code and technical training, and an eye into the beautiful state we call home.

January March

• • • •

May

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NewsMagazine

May 2025

September 2025

November 2025

January 2026

March 2025

January 2025

September 2024

November 2024

For Past Issues https://www.arhvacr.org/newsmagazine

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

education News

Dedicated to serving the Arkansas HVACR industry with updates in code, legislation, regulation, technical tips, equipment and products of interest.

2 nd

Zoom In live

M O N T H L Y

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and follow up on

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YouTube.

D

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YouTube

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Links furnished each session

December 2025

January 2026 Coming Soon

For Past Webinars https://www.arhvacr.org/lunch-learn

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

Business & Marketing Tips

month is over?” You get to start again and do better the next month. Balance sheets begin the day you start or buy your company and end the day you sell your company or close the doors. They tell you whether your company is becoming more or less profitable. How? Through the profitability trends when you calculate the current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) and working capital (current assets minus current liabilities). 2. Cash may be “King and Queen”. But, profitability is more important for continuous cash. You need profitable revenue which, when collected, turns into positive cashflow, which turns into cash. Make sure that you save at least 1% of all revenues that comes in the door. It’s easy to do. Attach a savings account to your operating account. Each week transfer 1% of the collected monies into the savings account. 3. You can be profitable and go bankrupt. Not paying attention to collecting your accounts receivable as you grow could grow you out of business because you can’t pay your bills. Or, not saving enough cash can do this too – you need protection. True story: Three of a contractor’s major customers went bankrupt in a

Article furnished by Ruth King Profit & Wealth Guru 770-729-0258 rking@ontheribbon.com

5 Fun Financial Facts to Start the Year

Understanding analyzing financial statements can be fun – they are your scorecard. They tell you how healthy your business is. Here are five fun financial facts: 1. Balance sheets tell you the true profitability of your business. Profit and loss statements tell you profit or loss for a specific period of time. Then they start over – ever had a bad month and think “I’m glad that and

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

Business & Marketing Tips

Here is my holiday present to you:

month and $1 million in receivables became uncollectable. 4. For contractors, maximizing profitable billable hours is a key to success. If you are a contractor, you generate revenue through billable hours. No billable hours means no service revenue, no replacement revenue, no project revenue, etc. How many hours are you paying for each week? How many of them are billable? Then make sure those hours are producing profitable work. It is very dangerous to have 40 billable hours and the company is losing a dollar for each billable hour. You will go out of business faster. 5. You can be your own chief financial officer – in less than 5 minutes a month. It’s like learning to ride a bicycle – tough in the beginning but it becomes reflexive. You can see how easy it is to analyze your financial statements in less than 5 minutes a month – know how your business is trending – spot impending issue and resolve them before they become major crises. In less than a minute you can get the meaning of what your financial statements are telling you. Go to www.financiallyfit.business to find out how.

Try Financially Fit Business. Put your financial statements in and see what they are telling you. We’ll take you through the process and review them with you on a Zoom call. Your investment? Only $299 for entering up to two years of financial statements and the review. Schedule a time to get it done, see the financial health of your company, and start the new year avoiding a little cut (takes less than an hour): www.calendly.com/rking 5 It might be the best investment you make all year. Ruth King is Coming to Arkansas

April 15 Northwest Arkansas / Springdale NWACC, 6101 Watkins Avenue, Springdale

April 16 Central Arkansas / North Little Rock Ultimate Tech, 6108 Getty Drive, North Little Rock

1 day class : 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Profit starts with Pricing Come Learn Pricing for Profit

You ’ ll Never See This Class Priced This Low Again. The Association is digging deep to make it happen

Members $250.00

Non-Members $350.00

Click Here to Register Springdale

Click Here to Register North Little Rock

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

Business & Marketing Tips

ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS

We Live or We Die Are you ready During a Fort Smith Chapter meeting, J. Randall McGinnis presented a topic that almost no one knows or is ready for — Taxes, Death, and Transfer of Assets. Wow! What a way to bring down the party. Actually, it is a primer on having a peace about your family, your business, and the future for your employees. One thing is certain, if you don ’ t plan, the government will take care of it for you; however, is that who you want to handle your estate when you graduate from this side to the next? I ’ ll avoid the word death because it freaks some folks. Oh, lets just freak them. Planning. ” It is an outline of lots of terms and laws that you should know about. Reminds me of a law firm in central Arkansas that advertises estate planning. She says, “ If you have a dollar and two relatives, you need to plan. ” By the way, her point is that a will is only the beginning unless you are willing for the probate to handle your affairs. That can get long, ugly, and very disappointing. This article includes the outline points in Mr. McGinnis ’ s paper. It is a bit like a dictionary of terms that we all should know. It should get us all motivated to contact an estate planning attorney to get our finances, our business, our family prepared for the certain reality of, “ life on this side isn ’ t forever. ” During the meeting, Mr. McGinnis supplied a paper entitled, “ Estate

Living Trust (Revocable) • A trust that the grantor may revoke, alter or amend during his or her lifetime. The grantor has full access to the trust assets during the grantor ’s lifetime. Last will and Testament • Designates who will receive the individual ’s property upon death. • Appoints Executor or Executor in Succession • May appoint guardians for minor children. Durable Power of Attorney • Designates who will make decisions with respect to the individual ’s financial and/or legal matters in the event the individual is unable to make such decisions. “ Durable ” means that the power of attorney remains effective during the individual's incapacity. Expires upon death. Power of Attorney for Health Care • Designates who will make decisions with respect to the individual ’s health care in the event the individual is unable to make such decisions. Living Will • A statement of the individual ’s wishes with respect to the decision of whether to keep the individual alive by artificial means in certain circumstances. Benefits • Probate and possible Guardianship avoidance. • Confidentiality • Creditor protection and legacy planning for the remainder beneficiaries. • Estate tax planning opportunities for a married grantor (if significant estate). Living Trust (Revocable)