Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine May 2023

News Magazine May 2023

Arkansas’ First and Only HVACRNewsMagazine

You may be Too POOR for Central Air Conditioning

Doll House Teaches It Best — Pressure

House That Is

Central Chapter — What a BLAST! Pg 6

Page 3

Parks Teaches Inspectors at COAR Nothing Works Right Till the Mechanical is Right pg 8

Frustrated Renewing Your License? Pg 11 HVAC Licensing Support 501-682-9201 Adll.hvac@arkansas.gov

Completed 16 Classes, 14 Locations, 186 Students, 185 Certifications pg 60

Tech News Step Right This Way! Snake Oil Sales (Tom Turner – The Air Evangelist Condensate Drains: Codes & Best Practices (Byan Orr - HVAC School)

PG 24

Pg 46

PG 28

PG 30

Drain Cleaning Protocol (Bryan Orr - HVAC School) Charging Procedures (AC Service Tech, Craig Migliaccio)

PG 33

Bathroom Exhaust It ’ s Changing pg 13

Nick ’ s

Corner pg 16

Kirk ’ s

Corner pg 21

Unique Arkansas

2023 Has Been a Crazy Year Good Luck This Summer

ByArkansans Arkansas HVACR Continuing Education Providers as of April 17, 2023 pg 36 • No Carry Over • Good Year of Renewal • Renewal Year: approved classes taken in previous 365 days

Can you tell my favorite

Mini Key Lime

pg 44

For Arkansans

Table of Contents

Editorial & Opinion You May Be To Poor to Afford Central Air / We’ve Gone Too Far

pg 3

Code, Reguation, Legislation

PG 13

Bathroom Exhaust : It ’ s Changing

State, national, chapter news Central Chapter : Clay Pigeon Shoot Over $4000 in Prizes Nothing Works Right till the Mechanical is Right : Bobby Parks

PG 6

pg 8

Frustrated Renewing Your License?

pg 11

Nick’s Corner : Understanding the Additional Insured Status Nick’s Corner Continued: Liability Insurance --Why and How to Get It

pg 16

pg 18

Kirks’ Corner: Summer is Almost Here

pg 21

Education News Training Programs

PG 23

Tech News

PG 24

Step Right This Way! Snake Oil Sales (Tom Turner – The Air Evangelist) Condensate Drains: Codes & Best Practices (Byan Orr - HVAC School)

PG 28

PG 30 pg 3

Drain Cleaning Protocol (Bryan Orr - HVAC School) Charging Procedures (AC Service Tech, Craig Migliaccio) Critical & Interesting Info Continuing Education Providers

PG 33

pg 36

PG 36

EPA : Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned

pg 46

Unique Arkansas Featuring Arkansas Culture

PG 44

Mini Key Lime Pie : Nana’s Newest Favorite

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2023

or do without air conditioning. What if they can’t get approved for the additional money for the furnace. What if the car needs repairs and they can’t afford both the furnace and the vehicle repair. Well, homeowner of husband, wife, and 2.3 children, walk to work or SPEND THE SUMMER WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING.

You may be Too POOR for Central Air Conditioning

What the HECK are we doing?

DOE may require a complete change out to meet efficiencies.

Dilemma:

1. A home owner needs to replace their air conditioning unit. The new unit must meet today’s SEER 2 standards. 2. The 80% furnace is older but still works fine. No cracks. 3. The homeowner can qualify for a loan but the payments are a bit beyond their budget. 4. They can make the payments if the replacement does not include the furnace. Regretfully, they do not install the furnace. Makes economic sense. After all inflation has eaten up their pay increases so money seems tighter than ever before. OH! Stop right there. If the DOE gets their way, the homeowner has no choice. They are required to install a rated system and the AC will only work as rated if it is paired with a new furnace. So homeowner of husband, wife, and 2.3 children, find a way to pay for the furnace What are they to do?

You think I am crazy. You think there is no way that the feds would make a good efficiency decision with unintended consequences like we have just explained. Well, my good friends in the HVAC business. According to folks that I trust, the AC replacement must be paired with a furnace whose blower will allow the new high efficiency AC to work as designed. Otherwise it is considered an illegal replacement. Are you as a contractor responsible? That seems to be a big question. OK! What if you adhere to the letter and tell the folks that you can’t replace their AC without also replacing the furnace? Well, you and I and everyone else knows that the next guy will and you just lost business to someone that may or may not adhere to other health, safety, and efficacy issues.

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2023

We’ve gone too far. Efficiency decisions must also be balanced with economic reality. The price of equipment has skyrocketed and now we are demanding that homeowners replace perfectly good equipment. We understood and accepted it when we were required to replace the coil with a condenser but this has gone too far. Need I say it again. The camel has his nose under the tent so what is the next step. Frankly, if the only thing we are concerned about is efficiency, it makes more sense to require redesigning, replacing, or repairing the duct system. I find myself in a strange and uncomfortable position. I was birthed into this industry selling geothermal systems. My proposals were frequently 50 pages long with engineering data to prove that the geo would outperform any other system. I spent years on the radio with an efficiency expert and architect talking about building and remodeling to gain the best efficiency with the best payback. Now I find myself defending gas and resisting energy efficiency ideas; BUT, WE HAVE GONE TOO FAR. With prices escalating, I ask dealers all the time, “What are lower income folks going to do?” The answer, “The future will have window air conditioners in many, many houses.” If people have money, it may not be any big deal other than another example of the federal government forcing us to do something. But what about poor folks? Don’t they deserve some level of comfort and convenience that central air conditioning will bring. You ever been without AC in Arkansas. Probably not. WE’VE GONE TOO FAR.

OK. What are we to do? Good question. Call your representatives. Explain the situation. Surely they have some method of correcting this bureaucratically induced problem. I don’t believe that anyone realized the effect of this unintended consequence. The problem is, we are racing to the nirvana of energy efficiency without thoroughly examining the consequences as well as the benefits. You doubt me. Call someone you trust. Someone that keeps up with legislation and regulation. Ask them what they are hear ing. I don’t have a quotable statement from the DOE but my sources are impeccable. Of course anyone could be wrong and I hope they are and our next article is about the big mistake made in this issue. By way of full disclosure, some of my sources think I am making too big of a deal out of it. That a furnace is relatively cheap and anyone can afford that purchase. Well, ya’ know. Maybe they have never been poor. Maybe they have never had marginal credit. Maybe I ate the “Chicken Little” and am squawking out a ridiculous line of dribble. I don’t think so. You check it out and form your own opinion. In mine, “WE’VE GONE TOO FAR. ”

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2023

State National Chapter News

Pigeon Shoot No Safe Place for a Pigeon

Organizing Sponsors The Pigeon Shoot was the idea of Kirk Pierce at Summit Utilities and Kyle Schnebelen of Cross Pointe

Insurance. Both Kirk and Kyle thought of

the idea within a couple days of each other and both worked super hard to make the event a success. The Central Chapter and president, Dan Chapman, give their

thanks to these guys for all their planning and organization on the day of the event.

Some targets were safe, some were wounded, and some became a good stew with gravy, but all the shooters had a blast. (Pun intended) The Central Chapter of the Arkansas HVACR Association hosted a Pigeon Shoot a the Blue Rock in North Little Rock on April 25. Shooters

Top 5 Shooters Prize Winners

Shooter

Prize

Sponsor

arrived an hour early before the sign up and stayed for BBQ & Catfish by Corky’s. Did that eat good?!% Twenty plus shooters and a dozen or so

Chris Fitzhugh

$750 Cash

R & E Supply M & A Supply Sanders Supply

Blake Brewer

$1000 Gift Certificate

Monte Grist NAVAC Charging Machine

volunteers made the day fun. It was a first for the Central Chapter. An opportunity for the guys to relax with no agenda but to have fun and test their shooting skills. All did good — others did better — and five placed and received handsome prizes, especially for a 1 st Annual event. Prizes were amazing with four local distributors making contributions to rival any shooting anywhere.

Utaw Zakrzewski

NAVAC NP7 Vacuum Pump

Sanders Supply

Erik Wax

NAVAC Vacuum Pump

Sanders Supply

Large Milwalkee tool boxes were a hit as door prizes furnished by Ed’s Supply .

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2023

State National Chapter News

Central Chapter Arkansas HVACR Association Extends many thanks for all the sponsors that made the Pigeon Shoot a Success

Over $4,00 in Prizes

Organizing Sponsor

Organizing Sponsor

Prize Sponsors

Door Prize Sponsors

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2023 State National Chapter News

Nothing Works Right Until the Mechanical is Right Bobby Parks Teaches Inspectors at CORE Bobby Parks of Healthy Homes of LA gave Arkansas inspectors a full day of Mechanical and Energy Code perspectives during the COAR, Code Officials of Arkansas, meeting. Parks likes to refer to himself as a “High-Tech Redneck with Really Cool Toys” and toys is an understatement. Bobby uses the tools of our trade to demonstrate the importance of getting the design right on construction and mechanical. These demonstrations were particularly important to those doing Manual J and Duct Tests. His doll house, name given to it because it started out life as his daughter’s doll house, is a three story demonstration of pressure changes within a home when everyday appliances are used; i.e., dryer, kitchen vent, bathroom vent, fireplace. Even duct leakage’s effect can be demonstrated. Parks spent a lot of time talking about specific products and how they change a load. For example, R8 vs R6 insulation. While builders are concerned about the cost difference of the product, the mechanical industry needs to point out the potential difference in equipment and duct sizing costs. In his study, a typical system could save over $100 even though the cost per square foot of insulation was greater. When running a load, it is also important to know the actual difference in

Bobby’s Doll House / Pressure House demonstrates the effect of exhaust, combustion appliances, and leaky duct on the safety of a home.

the windows. The solar heat gain co efficient is the most important rating on a window and can be from 1 to 0. SHGC is best described as a ratio where 1 equals the maximum amount of solar heat allowed through a window, and 0 equals the least amount possible. An SHGC rating of 0.30 means that 30% of the available solar heat can pass through the window. Since windows may be the first or second largest heat loss and gain in a home, knowing the SHGC on the window is critical to running an accurate load. The day long presentation was entertaining and informative. Some inspectors commented that it was the most informative session they had ever attended.

http://www.edssupply.com/arkansas

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2023

State National Chapter News

Getting Frustrated Renewing Your License?

o 2 hours must be in a technical or business subject area o 2 hours must be in code but all 4 could be code ▪ Each successfully completed course must appear on a separate certificate supplied by the providing CE vendor. It isn’t that difficult but there is always a hiccup or two when something starts. Our industry has been super patient but understandably frustrated because there was no readily available line of communication. That is now solved. Thanks to everyone at the HVACR program for their hard work and to our licensees for their patience. We all win when we work as partners in serving the comfort and refrigeration needs of Arkansans. HVAC Licensing Support 501-682-9201 Adll.hvac@arkansas.gov

Our HVACR program at the department of Labor and Licensing is offering a support line to help folks renew their license. While the process should be easy, it isn’t always, so Lindsay Moore, program director, created a phone and email for you to use. These are manned by a rotating group of office folks and inspectors so they can more quickly address your problem. The phone # is 501-682-9201 and the email is adll.hvac@arkansas.gov It is important to note what is required to renew — 1. Renewal Notice 2. Proof of General Liability Insurance ▪ State Minimum: $250,000 ▪ Required of all “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, and “E” licensees that are doing business under their license. ▪ Not required of licensees working under the insurance coverage of their employer whether their employer is a HVACR company or another company or government authority; however, the employer must supply a letter stating relationship and coverage.

3. Continuing Education ▪

4 hours of CE is required each year

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2023

Code REgulation Legislation News

Bathroom Exhaust We know why--but the how is changing — again! A NEW UPDATE!!

Bath Duct / Vent Piping A NEW UPDATE Options If it can always be seen — • Class 1 Flexible Duct If it will be covered • 28 or 30 Guage

If it were just about odors, we could go back to the days of stricking a match after a job was done; however, humidity is the most important reason for good bathroom exhaust. While one would think this is eazy peazy, code seems to be finding its way. Now this “ain’t easy” for anyone. Code officials, like you, want a settled, official statement from ICC, IRC and any other “C” that thinks they need to chim e in on “stuff” that we need to know and do. What are we to do? In a communication to all inspectors, Tony Woodard, Ark ansas Chief Inspector, said, “Effective January 1, 2023, any single-family dwelling permit will have to meet IMC 2021/IRC2021. That did seem simple. We only need to know what those codes required. Oh my, but proofing that many words is easier said than done. The digital version of the 2021 IRC calls for the metal to be 28 guage; however, the printed version takes you steps leading back to Chapter 16 of the IMC, Table 1601.1 which can be a tad confusing as well. SO, our program has made life more clear, simple, and easy for we HVAC folk. If the bath duct can be seen, it can be Class 1 Flexible Duct. If it will be covered up, it must be either 28 or 30 guage.

The thing I like most about the Chief Inspectors latest email was the statement, “We are goi ng to make bath exhaust simple:…” Back to 30 guage or Class 1 Flexible?? Doesn’t get any easier than that.

Specializing in Custom Risk Reduction Programs, Cross Pointe is here to help protect your business, your employees and your family.  Commercial Property & Casualty Insurance  Bonds

 Employee Benefits  Personal Insurance

* Cross Pointe is proud to be an Arkansas HVCAR Association Endorsed Agency.

Since 1889

Cross Pointe is your Arkansas Commercial Insurance Specialists, providing affordable coverage and risk reduction services.

Nick Hall, CIC Sr. Risk Management Advisor nickh@cp-ins.com (501) 680-1186

Travis Hill Sr. Risk Management Advisor travish@cp-ins.com (479) 785-2912

Kyle Schnebelen Sr. Risk Management Advisor kyles@cp-ins.com (501) 831-5221

Cross Pointe Insurance Advisors  12410 Cantrell Rd., Ste. 200A  Little Rock, AR 72223 Cross Pointe Insurance Advisors  1120 Garrison Ave.  Fort Smith, AR 72901

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.

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Understanding the Additional Insured Status

Nick Hall Cross Pointe Insurance Advisors

I would guess that the majority of you have had to provide Additional Insured Status on your General Liability Policy to some other entity at some point in time. Do you know what you were providing to them? Did you have to pay additional premium to do that? This month we want to help you understand what an Additional Insured is exactly, and what you need to consider on your insurance policy regarding Additional Insureds. One of the questions I have had the most when needing to add an Additional Insured to my customer’s insurance policy is “What am I getting out of that?” The Answer as it obtains to your Insurance Policy: Nothing You are effectively granting another entity coverage under your policy. They are getting all of the benefit out of the insurance side. The Real Answer: You are likely fulfilling your contractual obligations to that party, and securing a job, obtaining a loan, or being able to rent a piece of equipment that you wouldn’t

otherwise be able to get without Adding that entity as an Additional Insured. Those are just a few examples of what you would then gain by adding an Additional Insured to your policy. The most common being… Work! So, when you list another entity as an Additional Insured, you are providing coverage to someone else from your Insurance Policy! They can then file a claim on your policy! Now, there are still some stipulations to that. The endorsement itself will outline the actual scope of coverage, but most Additional Insured Endorsements have a stipulation that the claim has to arise withing the scope of work between the two parties. Meaning if you provide a General Contractor Additional Insured Status, they cannot file a claim on your policy for a claim that they have for a project you had nothing to do with. What they can do though, is file a claim on your policy if they are sued due to your work on the job you are performing for them. The lawsuit does not have to be in your name anymore for your insurance policy to pay.

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Now, how is Additional Insured Status Afforded to another entity? That is typically done via Endorsement which can be a Specific Additional Insured Endorsement for a specific person or organization, or a Blanket Additional Insured Endorsement. For a specifically named Additional Insured, you will have to pay additional premium for every Additional Insured you add to your policy. But there is no confusion as to whether or not that status actually applies. For a Blanket Additional Insured Endorsement, you would pay one annual charge for that endorsement to be on your policy and then you can provide Additional Insured Status to anyone and everyone you need to throughout the year, granted you have a written contractual obligation to do so . Every Blanket Additional Insured Endorsement that I have ever seen has that stipulation in it; “When r equired by written contract”. This is a way to provide status to anyone you, the policy owner, needs to without having to notify your insurance carrier and pay premium every time. But it narrows it down to only those parties where you are contractually obligated to list as an Additional Insured, so not just anyone can try to file a claim on your policy.

The lasts thing I want you to know about Additional Insured status is that while you are technically adding another entity as an Insured on your policy, they do not have the same rights and duties as you do as the policy owner. The Named Insured is the policy owner and has the duty of paying premium, and the right to make changes to or even cancel the policy. An Additional Insured is granted coverage under that policy, but has no rights to make any changes. I hope this helps some of you understand what you are providing when you list another person or organization as an Additional Insured on your policy. If you are unaware of how your policy is structured now in terms of who is an insured, we are happy to dig in and answer that for you. Never hesitate to call. Please let us know if we can help you in any way and Stay Safe! Cross Pointe Insurance Advisors, LLC 12410 Cantrell Road, Ste 200A Little Rock, AR 72223 nickh@cp-ins.com 501-680-1186 You can contact Nick at--

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Liability Insurance

Why Have it

How to Get It

Nick Hall: Cross Point Insurance Advisors

liability claims for bodily injury (BI) and property damage (PD) arising out of premises, operations, products, and completed operations; and advertising and personal injury (PI) liability. I underlined two things in the definition above, Bodily Injury and Property Damage. I want you to remember those two coverage triggers. That can be damage to your customers home, office/business, their neighbor’s home or office, it can be injury to your customer or to any bystander who happens to be walking by while you are doing your work. The bottom line is this policy provides protection to you when you or your employee cause 3 rd PARTY BODILY INJURY or PROPERTY DAMAGE. You all work with heavy equipment and, if installed incorrectly, it can cause serious damage or injury. So, you can rest better at night knowing you are protected from financial loss by having general liability policy. As always, please let us know if you have any questions!

It has been great meeting many of you at the Continuing Education Expo’s the Association has been putting on throughout the state. I unfortunately can’t make all of them, but I hope to make as many as I can year in and year out! Many of you already know this, but there is a new requirement in Arkansas that in order to renew or get your HVAC License, you have to carry at least $250,000 in General Liability Insurance . You might ask why you need that, and how do you get it? Well getting it is easy! We put together the form on the next page that will allow us to get quotes for you. We work with several carriers and can shop your coverage to get you the best price, but did you know Arkansas HVACR Association Members get a 10% member discount through EMC? From there they will adjust the rates based off of your claims history and operations, but the starting point on your rates is only 90% of what a non-members would pay! So if you are not currently insured with EMC, you need to get a quote! Now, what does General Liability Cover? General Liability is defined as an insurance policy issued to business organizations to protect them against

Stay Safe Out There

Cross Pointe Insurance Advisors, LLC 12410 Cantrell Road, Ste 200A Little Rock, AR 72223 nickh@cp-ins.com : 501-680-1186

L IABILITY I NSURANCE Q UOTE F ORM

General Information

Company Name (& DBA):

Address:

FEIN:

Contact Name:

Years in Business:

Contact Number:

Website Address:

Contact E-Mail:

General Liability

Total Annual Revenue:

New Installation

vs

Servicing

Revenue %:

Residential

vs

Commercial

Workers Compensation

Estimated Annual Payroll:

Employee Count:

Clerical:

Technician :

Auto

Vehicles (# of Each):

Sedan:

Box Trucks:

SUV/Pickup Trucks:

Trailers:

Tractors:

Will Need VINs and Driver Information (Name, DOB, DL #) For Most Accurate Pricing

Current/Prior Coverage

Do You Currently Have Insurance Coverage? Y

/

N

Have You Had Any Prior Insurance Claims? Y N For a Quote, fill out the form and send to Nick Hall: 501-680-1186 or email nickh@cp-ins.com /

S tate, National, Chapter News State national Chapter News

Kirk’s Corner Summer is almost here

Summer will be here soon and HVAC contractors will be installing replacement systems which gives the homeowner an opportunity to upgrade their furnace to high efficiency natual gas. It is the perfect time to provide the homeowner with comfort and utility affordability. High efficiency furnaces may quality for rebates up to $600 which can offset the the increase in equipment cost. Most importantly, homeowners will enjoy a reduction in their utility bills. Furnce replacement at the time of an air conditioning change out just makes sense since much of the labor is already being done with the coil replacement. Give your customers the opportunity and I think you ’ ll be glad you did. If you have any questions about helping your customers, please reach out to me at TPierce@SummitUtilities.com

Kirk Pierce, Energy Efficient Consultant 501-377-4646 tpierce@summitutilities.com

Summer Sun is just over the horizion

S tate, National, Chapter News Education News

NWTI Business & Industry 709 Old Missouri Rd., Springdale, Arkansas 72764 Michael Dewberry: mdewberry@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 John Pyland : jpyland@seark.edu 870-543-5900 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 3000 West Scenic Drive, NLR 72206 Robert Dixon : rdixon@uaptc.edu 501-812-2200 UA Monticello / Crossett 1326 Hwy 52W, Crossett, AR 71635 William Campbell : campbellw@uamont.edu 870-460-2010 (501) 977-2053 UA Pulaski Tech 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. Add Your Name

Training Programs

Arkansas North Eastern College 4213 Main Street, Blytheville 72315 Rick Sones : rsones@smail.anc.edu 870-763-6222 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 Eric Smith : esmith@asumh.edu 870-508-6221 ASU Newport 33500 US 63, Marked Tree 72365 Mark Constant : mark_constant@asun.edu 870-358-8627 ASU Searcy Newcastle Road, Forrest City, AR 72335 Robert Jackson : rjackson@eacc.edu 870-633-5411 National Park College 101 College Drive, Hot Springs, 71913 Pam Castleberry : pam.castleberry@np.edu 501-760-4393 North Arkansas Community College 1320 Nort Spring Road, Harrison, AR 72601 Jeff Smith : jsmith@northark.edu 870-391-3382 Northwest Arkansas Community College One College Drive, Bentonville, AR 71712 A.J. Hart : ahart7@nwacc.edu 479-936-5108 1800 East Moore Avenue, Searcy Brad Cooper: bjcooper@asub.edu 501-207-6221 East Arkansas Community College

HVACR NewsMagazine March2023

Tech News

Step Right This Way! Snake Oil Sales

Westerns on big screens in the 1940’s, 1950’s and television in the 1960’s and 70’s remind us of the traveling medicine shows, complete with magic acts, Indians, and singing dudes, that were a front for peddling elixirs, tonic water, and rheumatoid cures.

dependent upon how many repeat customers or service agreements you have. Also, with new ideas and products popping up in the HVACR industry, we must keep our wits about us. We are about to witness an abundance of products and services aimed to lower heating and cooling costs while lessening demands on utilities. Many of these competing products will run counter to lowering customer bills. If you believe in free market, you understand that electric only, can ultimately bring higher price for a general commodity. It’s advised to make deliberate moves as moneys set aside may not become available prior to the end of the 2023 summer rush. Many states that accept IRA moneys will be slow to get the funds rolling due to a lack of process. The moneys should run over a course of six to ten years if done correctly. The HVAC industry witnessed widespread low performance with the Better Building Initiatives (2010), due to a rush to market with money to counter a sluggish economy. First point is, converting homes to all electric, is not a new idea. “Gold Medallion Homes” was initially launched in 1957, with a conservative Ronald Reagan as spokesman for the program. The idea of the program was to move to multiple fuels for generation of power and electricity only as the end consumer product. The

Little has changed, other than the format. From the back of a wagon to early evening television and internet adds. Folks are always trying to pry a dollar out of someone’s hand. While HVACR is a legitimate business, we need to make sure what we deliver, matches what the manufacturer claims. With the opportunities that are about to be upon our trade with tax credits, and outright payments for systems, and appliances, we must take advantage. You now have a foot in the door. Will you be the business that develops customer relationships, or will you grab the money and run? If your company is new, I can make a prediction. At the end of the funding cycle of six to ten years you will have a business that is marketable*, or you will have a boat, RV, deer lease with a portable building on it, and possibly a note on a $140k truck and several suppliers with notes over thirty days due. That * indicates a market value of 3 to 8 times EBITDA. EBITDA is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. That 3 to 8 wide swing is

HVACR NewsMagazine March2023

Tech News

program was visibly promoted up until 1983 with a 3” medallion placed adjacent to the front door or imbedded in concrete on the porch. The program was credited as a success since energy costs were low and generation plentiful with hydroelectric, coal, fuel oil and gas available.

that money would be saved if the consumer would take the plunge. Unfortunately, the plunge was

indoor temperatures when heat pumps were installed. Heat pumps could not keep up with high leakage rates (ACH) and low insulation levels on existing homes of that era. The heat pump market suffered a huge set back after consumers experienced bad installs of this era when fuel switching was encouraged. Many consumers wanted nothing to do with heat pumps for decades. It is true, today’s heat pumps do a much better job than they did in the early 1990’s. Multiple mechanical relays, crude defrost technology, and sticking reversing valves kept reliability parked at the low end of the scale. Todays improved controls, reliability and better performance do a much better job handling the technology. However, even the best performing equipment will get poor rating for comfort and reliability if installed with inefficient filtering, bad duct, or poor air delivery techniques or if accurate load calculations are ignored. Measuring insulation is not too tough, but how do we know a home is a fit for a heat pump if we don’t know what leakage rates are? Most energy raters today will tell you they run across very leaky homes, often built within the last decade. When we read Manual J load calculations and attempt to find equipment for the job, we also find today’s heat pump equipment delivers far less capacity in heating mode than in cooling. Never take for granted a 3-ton heat pump is comparable to a 3-ton gas furnace. Remember we can match a 3-ton

In the 1970’s during the Arab Oil Crisis, energy prices spiked, alternative sources for heating flourished and gadgets of all types were marketed to reduce power consumption on

standard systems. From a fine mist of water sprayed on the outdoor condenser to screens on the condenser to shade from radiant heat, products kept showing up to lower energy costs. That same spray of water fouled condenser coils and screens cause condensers to overheat and compressors to fail, ultimately costing consumers millions of dollars and making warry customers of everyone. This also marked an entry point for Arlka Servel (no compressor air conditioning) to make several positive moves when energy markets were diversified. In 1976, the “Good Cents” p rogram was initiated to promote all electric homes once again, complete with a plaque adjacent to the front door. The program still exists in College Station Texas (creation location) to date, along with “Super Good Cents” programs across the country. The move was again, to single source power to homes, while leaving markets open for generation fuels. Moving to the early 1990’s, it’s now been over 40 years ago that heat pumps were pushed to the front of the line for the consumer, once again for electrification. Promises were made

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furnace drive with anywhere from 40,000 to 90,0 00 btu of heat capacity. You don’t have that option with a heat pump. We have witnessed 5-ton heat pumps that struggle with 1,400 square feet due to excessive use of glass in central Texas. It is also worth remembering capacity takes a hit with straight cooling systems every time SEER goes up on a piece of equipment. Never assume top of the line equipment will have the capacity of a builder model. Most of the time single or two stage equipment will have better overall performance under full load. Most importantly, we must investigate performance on individual pieces of equipment, as each matchup is very different from the next. With all the innovation about to hit the markets for heating and cooling, it is important not to get caught up in all the newest technology, since about two thirds of new technology goes nowhere. We need to recall, most new technology, is a rediscovery of explored technology, rewrapped with a different message. We are already witnessing old technology called something new, whether new insulation methods, new construction products, or innovative high velocity duct systems. Some new products have building envelope requirements (devil is in the details) that are seldom achieved in the production

housing market. The HVAC trade is one that depends upon the builder to deliver construction methods that all too often fall short of expectations, leaving the HVAC contractor holding the bag. As contractors, we owe customers a straight answer on all delivered technology and the drawbacks that are associated with what we sell. Sadly, many products we peddle are never fully understood until the consumer notifies us of its short comings. Do not act on rumors or get out ahead of the programs that will be forthcoming. Begin to formulate a plan that keeps in mind, your plans are dependent upon your state energy and local authorities plans. Do not commit to promises someone else has to act upon. There will be significant amounts of moneys to work with. In many cases some jurisdictions with processes in place to move funding along, will be asked to take additional funding in two to three years out. Regardless of political positioning, the latest round for electrification will be slow due to necessary infrastructure updates, processes to be positioned and a workforce that is ready to get the work done. Hopefully our industry will achieve results this time around.

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that could cause ponding, erosion, or leakage.

Condensate Drain Codes & Best Practices

• Don't dump condensate on a roof.

• When discharging into a shared drain or sewer system, ensure that it isn't piped so that waste fumes can enter the system or occupied space. Drain Sizing IMC 307.2.2 tells us that an A/C condensate drain inside diameter should not be smaller than 3/4 ″ and should not be smaller than the drain pan outlet diameter. According to the IMC, 3/4 ″ is sufficient for up to 20 tons unless the drain outlet size is larger than 3/4 ″ . Drain Pitch The IMC dictates a 1% minimum pitch of the drain, equal to 1/8 ″ fall for every 12 ″ (foot) of horizontal run. In practice, it is safer to use 1/4 ″ of fall per foot to ensure proper drainage and provide some wiggle room for error. Support Drains can be made out of many materials, but PVC is by far the most common. When a drain line is PVC, the IMC dictates that it should be supported every 4 ′ horizontally (while maintaining proper pitch) and every 10 ′ vertically. Cleanout IMC 307.2.5 states that the condensate assembly must be installed so that the drain line can be “cleared of blockages and maintained” without cutting the drain. (Continu ed on next page…) Bryan Orr, founder of “HVAC School For Techs by Techs”, generously allows the Association to reprint their articles. We encourage you to subscribe to Bryan’s Website and get all the great articles and podcast directly. You’ll be glad you did.

It should be stated and restated that codes and code enforcement vary from location to location within the US. The IMC (International Mechanical Code) is one of the most widely utilized and referenced. The 2015 version of the IMC section 307 is what I will be referring to in this article. Condensate Disposal The code as it relates to condensate disposal in the IMC is pretty vague. It says that it must be disposed of in an “approved location” and that it shouldn't be dumped on walkways, streets, or alleys as to “cause a nuisance.” That leaves us a lot of wiggle room for interpretation and a lot of authority to the AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) and design professionals to establish what is and what isn't an “approved location.” Here are a few good guidelines: • Don't dump condensate in places that could cause people to slip. around foundations, basements, or other areas • Don't dump condensate

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Traps & Vents

But that excerpt really isn't talking about condensate drains when read in context. Some municipalities do require that horizontal portions of the drain inside the structure be insulated to prevent condensation, and this standard makes sense to me. In Florida, we always insulate horizontal portions of the drain because we would have consistent growth and water damage issues due to the high dew points if we didn't.

The IMC states that condensate drains should be trapped according to manufacturers' specs. HOWEVER, new wording was added in IMC 307.2.4.1 that states that ductless systems must either have a check valve or a trap in the condensate line. While most manufacturers don't specify this on gravity ductless drains, it is something to look out for. Venting after the trap (shown in both examples above) is an excellent idea in most applications because it helps prevent airlocks that can occur due to double traps and shared drains. It also prevents siphoning. This vent is AFTER the trap and must remain open to be effective. The vent opening should always rise above the trip level of the condensate overflow switch when it is in the primary drain line or pan or above the secondary/aux overflow port on the primary drain pan. That helps ensure that the water properly trips the switch instead of overflowing out of the vent if a backup occurs. While venting is a common best practice, it isn't required by the IMC. Drain Insulation The IMC doesn't directly state that the drain line must be insulated. Many will point to where the ICC energy efficiency code states: N1103.3 Mechanical system piping insulation. Mechanical system piping capable of carrying fluids above 105°F (40°C), or below 55°F (13°C) shall be insulated to a minimum of R-2.

Condensate Switches IMC 307.2.3 states that all HVAC equipment that produces condensate must have either a secondary drain line or a condensate overflow switch, a secondary drain pan with a secondary drain line, a condensate switch, or some combination of these installations should be used to prevent overflow if the primary drain line blocks. This code includes rooftop units, ductless units, and downflow units, but the code does allow for the overflow prevention switch to be placed in the primary drain pan in these cases but NOT the primary drain line, according to 307.2.3.1

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CLEAN MORE THAN JUST THE DRAIN LINE When most people say “drain,” the drain line is what comes to mind. While it is important to clean a drain line, several other parts need attention, too. You’ll want to remove the panels on the air handler or case coil. That way, you can access the drain pan and clean it. It’s easy for debris to build up in the drain pan. Even though a quarter or half- inch of grime doesn’t sound like a big deal, it’s going to block fluids in the drain pan. It's like a gunky dam, and it's not good for the system. We recommend checking the status of the filter, evaporator coil, and condensate safeties as well. These are especially critical for horizontal air handlers and during the summer (when the unit will spend most of its time cooling). We love using shop vacs to clean drains. Unfortunately, they have their limitations. One of those limitations is size. They can suck the sludge out of larger areas, but you’ll have a hard time making headway on small A-coil channels with a shop vac. We recommend using small brushes or even wires to clean areas that are hard to reach with a shop vac. You can make a small set of vinyl tubing tools to attach to some PVC and a shop vac. Vinyl tubing allows you to see what you’re sucking up, so you can tell if you’re making progress. You can also reach those channels with bottle brushes (or zip ties and thermostat wire). When you use those materials, you may want to run water while you clean those small channels. Water will force all the buildup to the front while you work. Grime builds up quickly in small channels and coils. Thoroughly cleaning them will spare you trouble later. USE SMALL BRUSHES TO CLEAN COILS AND NARROW CHANNELS

Hey Arkansas, let’s learn more about Drains wit h Bryan’s article on ---

Drain Cleaning Protocol

This article is primarily based on HVAC School’s “Drain Cleaning – More To It Than We Think,” hosted by Bryan Orr and featuring Corey Cruz and Mike Klokus. You can listen to that episode HERE . How hard could it be to clean a drain? The slime should just wash away if you flush the drain with water or blow some nitrogen in it, right? That’s one approach to take to cleaning drains, but it’s not a very good one. Simple work (or straight-up laziness) comes at the expense of callbacks and harsh Yelp reviews. Proper drain cleaning is a commonly overlooked element of the trade. It may sound like a simple task, but many drains are not properly cared for. Customers may not know that they have a gunk diorama of the Hoover Dam in their drain pans, but they will notice that something’s wrong. That’s where you can come to the rescue. Here are some proper drain cleaning protocols that can prevent a lot of heartache and time-consuming callbacks.

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TAKE NOTE OF THE DRAIN’S SETUP WITHIN THE UNIT Before cleaning a drain, you will want to analyze the drain and its parts. Consider the setup of the air handler, fan coil, furnace, and case coil. See if you can answer the following questions about the unit: • Where will the water come out? • Will the water flow into a drain pan or float switch no matter what happens in the case of a backup or other issue? • Are the float switch and secondary pan firmly set in place so they won't move or slide? It's vital to ensure that everything is anchored in place and able to handle the weight of the water. The drain setup’s structural integrity will affect the drain’s function, so it’s always a good idea to check that the drain can handle overflow and perform its necessary job. CONSIDER IF YOU’RE WORKING WITH A COMMUNAL (COMMON) DRAIN SYSTEM In communal (common) drain systems, several HVAC units lead to a single common drain. A backed-up common drain will have a different set of consequences than a single obstructed dedicated drain. More drains will be affected by blockages, and they will suffer the consequences of careless cleaning practices. If a common drain backs up, several units are at risk of leakage. Also, you have to make sure that you clean dedicated drains without messing up other people’s drains. You have to be extra careful of backflow if you’re cleaning a single dedicated drain within a communal drain system. The drain size is also an important thing to note when dealing with communal vs. dedicated drainage systems. It varies between dedicated and communal drain systems. Dedicated drains are usually only about ¾”

wide, while communal drains can be around 2” wid e. We also strongly recommend considering where the condensate will come out when working with a communal system. If the drain leads out to a garden, you may not want to dump chemicals in the drain pan! ASSESS THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF EACH CLEANING TECHNIQUE We recommend using one of the three main techniques for cleaning a drain. These are using a shop vac, compressed air or nitrogen, and water. We have already talked a little bit about wet/dry vacs. They are versatile and portable tools, but they have their limitations. We have already said that they’re difficult to fit into small spaces, but they are also on the weak side. Their suction power is limited to 14.7 pounds of force per square inch by physics (and you obviously get a lot less than that). Compressed air or nitrogen is a bit stronger than a shop vac, but you must be more careful with it, especially in communal systems. You can cause leakages in nearby drains if your compressed air messes up the piping. That is especially problematic if the drain system runs through a wall. If you want to use compressed air, it would be best to be mindful of your blowing power and the drain system’s structural integrity. Cap vents properly, and make sure fittings are glued before you blow compressed air into a drain that leads to a common drain. We believe that pressurized water is the best solution. It's powerful, clean, and less likely to cause problems in communal systems than compressed gases. Unfortunately, you won’t always have a hose at the ready and may need to consider other techniques when water is unavailable. You also have to be careful not to let the water overflow into the return or make a mess in general.