Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine September 2023

News Magazine September 2023

Arkansas’ First and Only HVACR NewsMagazine

College HVACR Instructors to Receive Training and Equipment

Chapters to Host Continuing Ed Classes during October meetings More to come.

2 Hours Code CEU

EPA Cylinder Ban Stuck Down By Court Pg 9

EPA Ban

Nationally

acclaimed

author,

teacher, and inventor, Jim Bergmann to share materials with Arkansas HVACR Association pg 5 podcast host,

Unique Arkansas Kim Middlebrooks Enchilada Gracias Gracias Gracias pg 52

Tech News Jim Bergmann to Share with Arkansas HVACR Association Does Your Kitchen Exhaust Suck? Bryan Orr - HVAC School)

PG 5

PG 25

PG 29

Ethics & Air Flow (Tom Turner : Air Evangelist) Is It Ok to Use R22? (Byan Orr - HVAC School)

PG 33

PG 35

Where to Find a Leak (AC Service Tech, Craig Migliaccio)

By Arkansans

For Arkansans

News Magazine September 2023

Table of Contents

Editorial & Opinion Which Cup is Worth $5

pg 3

Feature Story

PG 5

Jim Bergmann Shares Training

PG 6

On-Line Course

State, national, chapter news EPA Ban on Disposable Tanks Struck Down by Court Nick’s Corner: Liability Insurance--Why and How to Get It

PG 8

pg 16

pg 18

Kirks’ Corner: Summer is Almost Here

pg 20

IRA: This Much We Know

Education News Training Programs

PG 21

PG 22

DTV, Duct Test Verifier, Train the Trainer for College HVACR Instructors

Tech News

PG 25 pg 30 PG 33 pg 36 PG 29 PG 33 PG 35

Does Your Kitchen Exhaust Suck? (Byan Orr - HVAC School) Ethics and Air Flow (Tom Turner – The Air Evangelist)

Is it OK to use R22? (Bryan Orr - HVAC School)

Where to Find a Leak: Top 10 Spots (AC Service Tech, Craig Migliaccio)

Critical & Interesting Info Continuing Education Providers

PG 42

Unique Arkansas Featuring Arkansas Culture

PG 52

Cheese Enchiladas, a recipe by Kim Middlebrooks

News Magazine September 2023

sleeve. All can have a lid. The best shops have printed cups and stress that they are environmentally friendly. Perhaps and perhaps that is important to you. Point is, coffee shops understand that their business in not only based on the delicious array of coffee and additives ( the accoutrement- in French prounced ackoo-truh-mahn) but also on the perception of value. I can buy a cup of coffee that I enjoy at a convenience store for about $1.69 which irritates me big time because I remember 10 cent coffee at the local restaurant. You could get cream and sugar as well. Wow! That was a coffee experience. So what has this got to do with the HVACR industry? It is perception. Ya’ got to tell folks that dealing with your firm is a wise and socially acceptable thing to do. Present your image as THE PROFESSIONAL and only logical place to purchase and service their HVAC system. Back it up with excellent service so they would not even consider going anywhere else. Consider the following practices that make a difference: 1. Have newer or at least well-kept vehicles. People shouldn’t be

Bought a $5.00 cup of coffee lately. Lots of folks have. I guess the best known coffee house would be Starbucks. They opened in 1971 in the now famous Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington. Same place as the well-known and celebrated Pike Place Fish Market. Both are amazing. Back to coffee. As of 2022 there were over 35,711 stores in 84 countries. There are 55 reported to be in Arkansas; so, in a state that has the 3 rd lowest per capita income at $45,314, we’re still buying frou-frou coffee. Let me apologize to those of you who frequent Starbucks and the growing list of coffee establishments. You do it because you really like their coffee; but, is it worth $5 or almost $5. I am convinced that it is a matter of perception. Yes, you like it but you also like that your coffee comes from a coffeehouse. Golly, I just offended some folks and I can ’t afford to lose any friends. SO LET MOVE INTO THE REASON FOR THIS ARTICLE. If we look at this picture of coffee cups, we see that they are similar but also different. In the world of coffee, they may be Styrofoam, paper, or paper with a

News Magazine September 2023

embarrassed and concerned that you came to their neighborhood. Also, no oil leaks on the drive. 2. Have uniforms for your employees and have them well groomed. Even long hair and a beard may be OK but only if it is well kept. 3. Always show up when promised. Try to have a 2 hour window at the most. Most people work and giving a 4 or 8 hour window means that a working family may have to take a day of sick leave or vacation to wait on your arrival. If you are running late, call and let them know when you will arrive and never make it the next day. And don’t’ charge overtime for you r mistake. I know it’s hard but try your best to accommodate the homeowner. 4. Lots of companies are now using a GPS notification with a picture of the tech being sent to the homeowner when they are on the way. This provides a comfort and a sense of safety for the homeowner. If you don’t use this you are being left in the dirt. 5. Use booties to enter the house. Even if your shoes are not dirty, let your customer know that you would n’t consider tracking in mud and dirt. 6. Use courteous conversation like you care. This one could take a while to cover so we’ll move on but you know what I mean. 7. Give clear and understandable estimates. Don’t let the price be a surprise. This is where “flat rate pricing” can be helpful. 8. Use your time to not only fix the equipment but also leave it looking

better. If you are charging a condenser, use your wait time to clean the housing. Make it shine. They don’t know what you do inside the cabinet but the shine can make it seem even better. 9. Did you clean out a bushel of leaves from the condenser. Put them in a trash bag and haul them off. Don’t leave the yard looking worse than when you arrived. 10. Clean up your messes. Don’t leave replaced parts in the furnace closet or outside the condenser and dang sure don ’ t leave an old furnace in the attic. 11. When the job is complete, make sure the homeowner knows what you did — Do it in easy to understand consumer language. 12. When the job is complete, someone should call the customer and get very casual but professional feedback. 13. Send a letter of appreciation. Remember, if they know you appreciate them they are more likely to appreciate you. There are other things you could add to this list but it is a start on getting your cup of coffee to be worth $5.00 instead of $1.69. Are you worth it? Of course we are assuming that every tech will do an excellent job of service. That shouldn’t even be a question (though it may be in some cases).

News Magazine September 2023

FEATURE STORY

Jim Bergmann to Share with Arkansas HVACR Association Everyone knows something about Jim Bergmann. His YouTube training videos are among the most watched and are a must see for everyone, especially entry level and even those that have been around the industry for a while. Jim taught a Train the Trainer session for Arkansas HVACR instructors in October 2021. The course was an introduction to digital diagnostic equipment. It was endorsed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and sponsored by the Arkansas Office of Skills Development and the Arkansas Energy Office. Each of the colleges were gifted over $3,300 in equipment. The results were tremendous. Each of the participating colleges are now using digital diagnostic equipment and have offered 12 continuing education classes for local contractors. This was not the first time Jim played a role in the Arkansas HVACR industry. He collaborated to form the training for the Entergy and CLEAResult air conditioning and heat pump tune up program. That was about the time he rolled out Measure Quick. measureQuick ™ is Measurement Science at Work! It's a comprehensive application that: collects measurements, aggregates data, diagnosis faults, analyze and educates technicians. measureQuick ™ has the diagnostic tools to find problems technicians might miss, leaving revenue on the table and ultimately creating an eventual call back. Contractors who use

the measureQuick ™ diagnostic tool to find billable problems have found an increase of 40-60% in revenue. Now to the exciting news. Jim volunteered to make his training available to the Arkansas HVACR Association. This brings to Arkansas a continuance of the relationship he started years ago. We are fortunate and grateful to have Jim as our partner in training Arkansas HVACR techs. The following are links to some of our favorite YouTube training videos. Click on the incon to link to YouTube. How to Use measureQuick ™ App (shared on HVAC School)

Best Practices Vacuum

How to Properly Charge a System

The Importance of Decay Testing in a Vacuum

How to Commission a Gas Furnace (shared on HVAC School)

News Magazine September 2023

FEATURE STORY

Association Rolls Out Online Continuing Education Labor & Licensing Approved CEU #21-23

least two hours of technical. Some offer both technical and code. The whole reason behind the continuing education requirement was to make sure that every licensee understood their equipment as well as code. For that reason, it is best, though not required, that licensees get a least two hours of their CE from their distributor. It is a great opportunity to learn about your equipment while earning 2 hours of technical continuing education. If your distributor does not offer code training, you can get it from the Association in the chapter meetings. There will be 8 each fall and another 8 in the spring. The meetings are open to members as well as non-members. The Chapter meeting classes begin with a meal and are free to Members. Non members will pay a $50 fee. You can also get the code training from our new Online class. It is just a matter of personal preference. Another cool thing about this online class, is the way it approaches testing. After each module, there is a review test. You have to score at least 70% to move onto the next module but the review does not count toward the course test at the end. If you miss a question in the review,

Beginning September 1, 2023, the Arkansas HVACR Association will offer 2 hours of CODE Continuing Education via the online format. Mechanical Code: History and Updates begins with a brief history of our modern industry from the days of the first AC to Arkansas’s first contractor, and history of our law. It creates an understanding of the why we do things way we do things. Sounds kind of redundant doesn’t it. Anyway, the course then moves into new issues of code that began in July of 22 and Janu-ary of 23. For those a little nervous about online classes, it begins with an optional module that explains step by step how to successfully complete the course. Once you get about 2 modules into it, it is intuitive and easy to complete. It will take about 2 hours to complete the class, thus the 2 hours of CODE Continuing Education Credit. Important note, licensees must complete 4 hours of continuing education to renew their license. 2 hours may be in technical / mechanical areas but the other two must come from code. A licensee can opt to take all 4 hours in code if they desire. Most distributors offer at

News Magazine September 2023

FEATURE STORY

it will show you were to go back to in the module to find the answer. Watch a few minutes and then re-answer the question. Eazy-Peezy. The idea is to build knowledge, not spend unnecessary time looking for answers. Let’s say you get a brain freeze and score less than 70% on the course. Not big deal, you can take the class as many times as you may need for no additional cost to members. Again, Eazy-Peezy.

By the way, the coupon code for members is their chapter name; i.e., Central, Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Northwest, Northeast, North Central, Southwest, South Central, etc. Click Here to Register for the Online Class

The Arkansas HVACR Association is dedicated to providing informative, affordable, and readily available training for the entire industry. We think this Online class accomplishes that goal and we’ll be rolling out at least one more class this fall and another in spring 2024. If you find yourself needing CODE online training, please give this class a try. It is a course by Arkansans for Arkansans. If there is anything the Association can do for you, feel free to call or text 501-487-8655 or email tomhunt@arhvacr.org .

HVACR NewsMagazine September 2023

State National Chapter News

businesses. Had EPA’s ban gone into effect, it would have cost the industry billions of dollars and caused logistical nightmares. The cylinders used in the field today would have been entirely replaced by heavier cylinders that cause more workplace injuries, don’t fit in truck racks, and are more expensive. The Court's decision to overturn this ban is the direct result of ACCA’s commitment to fight for contractors and their best interest. This article is a breath of fresh air to the entire HVACR industry. We were on the verge of outlawing disposable cylinders and the institution of a QR Code tracking system that would have created a huge paperwork problem. The result would have been a nightmare for all — both small and large companies. This would have increased costs to contractors and higher prices for consumers. We appreciate ACCA for leading the way in opposing this burdensome regulation. The Arkansas HVACR Association is an Affiliate member of ACCA and enjoys first hand information on national issues. We encourage Association members to consider making ACCA one of your industry memberships. Their legislative reach and their technical support is an indispensable benefit to the entire industry.

Huge Win for Contractors! EPA’s Disposable Cylinder Ban Struck Down in Court

By Chris Czarnecki

[Grab your reader’s attention with a great quote from the document or use this space to emphasize a key point. To place this text box anywhere on the page, just drag it.]

On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals (the Court) issued an opinion granting ACCA’s petition to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ban on disposable cylinders and proposed QR code tracking system. The Court agreed with the petition, stating that EPA lacks the statutory authority under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act to ban disposable cylinders or implement a QR code tracking system for HFC refrigerants. You can read the full decision from the Court here. ACCA initially opposed this ban after members spoke up and told us just how harmful it would be to their

The Third Branch working on your behalf. The filing follows:

HVACR NewsMagazine September 2023

State National Chapter News

http://www.edssupply.com/arkansas

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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.

ARHVACR NewsMagazine September 2023

S tate, National, Chapter News State national Chapter News

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 /

ARHVACR NewsMagazine September 23

S tate, National, Chapter News State national Chapter News

Kirk’s Corner

Dear Valued Trade Ally,

We trust you're doing well. We wanted to share an exciting opportunity that could not only benefit your customers but also enhance your business offerings. Right now, homeowners can capitalize on Federal Tax Credits along with Summit Utilities’ generous re bate offerings for the installation of highly efficient 95% natural gas furnaces and condensing tankless water heaters. Unlock Savings with 95% Furnaces: Homeowners are looking for ways to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills, all while improving the comfort of their homes. By recommending and installing high efficiency natural gas furnaces with a 95% AFUE rating, you can help your customers achieve these goals and simultaneously make them eligible for Summit Utilities’ rebates and valuable federal tax credits. Upgrade to Tankless Water Heaters: Tankless water heaters have gained popularity due to their on-demand hot water supply and efficient operation. With natural gas tankless water heaters, homeowners can enjoy endless hot water while reducing energy waste associated with conventional storage tank systems. By suggesting and installing tankless water heaters, you’ll

assist your customers in becoming more energy efficient and qualifying for a Summit Utilities rebate – and potentially a significant federal tax credit.

Key Points about Federal Tax Credits:

• Federal Tax Credits, combined with Summit Utilities’ rebate offerings, present a great financial incentive for eligible energy-efficient upgrades. • High-efficiency natural gas furnaces and tankless water heaters are among the technologies that qualify for these tax credits. • By making these upgrades, homeowners will benefit from both immediate savings and long-term benefits. At Summit Utilities, we’re committed to providing solutions that offer a perfect blend of comfort, cost-effectiveness, and energy savings. By promoting the availability of Summit Utilities’ rebate offerings and the federal tax credits, you’ll empower your customers to choose energy-efficient options that not only enhance their homes but also reduce their energy costs. If you’re interested in learning more about effectively informing your customers about these incentive

ARHVACR NewsMagazine September 23

S tate, National, Chapter News State national Chapter News

opportunities or exploring seamless ways to integrate energy-efficient solutions into your services, I welcome the opportunity to assist. In the meantime, please select the links below for more information. For Information about Federal Tax Credits: https://www.energy.gov/policy/articles /making-our-homes-more-efficient clean-energy-tax-credits-consumers Please note: For more information about the tax credit, please consult your tax professional. For Information about Summit Utilities Rebates, visit SummitUtilities.com/Rebates

• Up to a $600 rebate for a 95% furnace. • Up to a $600 rebate for a condensing tankless water heater. Don’t miss out on this chance to elevate your services and position your business as a trusted authority in energy- efficient home solutions. Let’s work together to create homes that not only provide unparalleled comfort but also align with the latest advancements in energy efficiency technology. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to the prospect of collaborating with you to save your customers money and make their homes more energy efficient.

Oscar Wild

HVACR NewsMagazine September 2022

State National Chapter News

Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit It is a CREDIT — not a rebate. Why is this important? a. It reduces your tax burden. b. It cannot be used to get a refund. c. It cannot be carried over from year to year. As you can see, it is valuable but has its limitations. In addition, it is generally limited to 30% of the cost of the installation but then also has caps. For Example: Heat Pump 30% Capped at $2,000 Central Air 30% Capped at $ 600 Gas Furnace 30% Capped at $ 600 Electric Panel 30% Capped at $ 600 Doors, windows, and insulation can also qualify but ours is HVAC so we’ll stay in that lane. It is important to check with your distributor and manufacturer to be assured that the equipment you are purchasing complies with CEE and the tax credit requirement. Frankly, I am not sure of the standard. Our goal is to have more information as it becomes available. That means, when the Arkansas Energy Office publishes the “how much and how to.” I encourage you to stay tuned. My crystal ball says that by the November issue, we should have a better fix on what we all want to know — "What about that big rebate money we ’ re all hearing about. ” As to that, nobody knows today so focus on what you do know and help your customers afford that new equipment using tax credits.

IRA This much we know! Seems everyone has questions and there are lots of folks with answers about the Inflation Reduction Act. I can’t help myself--it should have never been called anything related to inflation reduction. Even Fortune Magazine on August 13 quoted President Biden saying, “‘ I wish I hadn’t called it that because it has less to do with reducing inflation’ than other things.” Ok, enough spiking the football. This win doesn’t mean much except a bit of self congratulations. We were right. We all know that there is a big pot of money waiting on its stage coach ticket to get to Arkansas. In fact the IRA has allocated up to $105,172,730 for Arkansas. Sounds like a lot but equally distributed it’s only about $35 each for the 3.026 million Arkansans. The total is divided into two pots. (1.) $52,739,720 for the Home Energy Performance-Based, Whole-House Rebate Allocations and (2.) $52,433,000 for High Efficiency Electric Home Rebate allocations. So, what are these pots, how can Arkansans access these pots, and when will the money be available. Well, we don’t know. A menagerie of reasons--some at the federal level and some at the state. No need to focus on these. It only confuses and frustrates. We’ll focus on th e program we can use to help our customers afford that new equipment.

We’ll focus on th e program we can use to help our customers afford that new equipment.

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 September 2023

education News

Participating colleges agree to •

Association Instructor’s Council

Include DTV training in their programs where appropriate

• Host classes for local contractors in their service area According to Hunt, Executive Director of the Association, “An additional goal of this program is to bring local contractors into the local Community College.” “The colleges are the logical and conveniently located institution providing training. They are a tremendous asset to the community but not everyone realizes the value of the program. Many have never visited their local program. This DTV training program can be the catalyst for connecting the contractor with the college HVACR training program. ” The Instructor's Council of the Arkansas HVACR Association is pleased to bring this training to HVACR instructors. As chair of the Instructor's Council, I am particularly proud to work with the Association to make this training possible. The Office of Skills Development made a grant to the Association to provide over $4,000 in duct testing equipment for the successful class attendees. Instructors will be certified to offer training to their students and contractors in the college ’ s service area. Successful students will be recognized by the Arkansas Energy Office and the Department of Labor and Licensing to test their own ductwork as well as offer that service to others. We will operate under the umbrella of the Arkansas HVACR Association and they will issue DTV, Duct Testing Verifier, cards to the successful completers. This "DTV Train the Trainer" class is only one day and there is no charge. Message from Jeff Smith, North Ark HVAC instructor and Chair of the Instructor’s Council.

Offers DTV “ Train the Trainer ” Training to College HVACR Instructors October 23, HVACR college instructors will be gathering in Little Rock for DTV, Duct Test Verification, training; but, even more, it will qualify the instructors to provide DTV training in their service areas across the state. This has two big values for local contractors • Training will be Certified • Affordable • Readily Available The Arkansas HVACR Association Instructor’ s Council will provide the curriculum and materials for the instructors in this “Train the Trainer” class. Arkansas Department of Skills Development agreed to provide each college attending with a • Energy Conservatory Duct Blaster • DG1000 Manometer • Vent Cover set. The value of the the equipment is $4,031. The equipment is invaluable for starting the training.

HVACR NewsMagazine September 2023

Tech News

Does Your Kitchen

Exhaust Suck? https://hvacrschool.com/does-your-kitchen-exhaust-suck/ Article by Adam Mufich Have you ever been tasked with installing the exhaust duct for a kitchen hood? I have, and when doing so, I wondered how to size the duct run correctly. Since I had a basic understanding of how airflow works, I knew that there had to be a limit on the resistance the fan can handle; more fittings added to the duct and longer runs equated to reduced airflow. Residential duct design is performed by using a process called Manual D . I considered trying to calculate a friction rate for an exhaust fan by using the given equivalent lengths in ACCA’s Manual D. How ever, I reconsidered since I knew that supply ELs in Manual D are based on an arbitrary 900 FPM. I decided to use my “phone -a- friend” option, and this time, I called my friend and mentor, Tony Amadilo. Tony is an engineer and owner of P.E. Load Calcs . My first question to Tony was, “Should I use the velocity correction for the equivalent lengths since it will be running at velocities much faster than 900 feet per minu te?” He said, “It's time I show you how to do your first commercial pressure drop calculation.” Man, I felt like Luke Skywalker getting ready to learn some Jedi mind tricks from Master Yoda himself. After learning this process, my mind was blown, and I figure there has to be someone else out there with the same struggle. The steps are pretty simple, really. All you will need is a good Ductulator, a copy of ACCA’s Manual Q , and the blower curve for the fan you want to install.

STEP 1: First, we must look at the fan's spec sheet and reference the maximum design CFM and the corresponding static pressure. In this case, we are using model CP55IQ, which is rated for 600 CFM @0.1” W.C.

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VP = (V/4,005) 2

STEP 2: Next, we'll set the duct size on the Ductulator. The collar on this fan is 8” round, so let's t ry that. We line up 8” to the arrow under “Round duct diameter.” While holding the Ductulator still, we look at 600 CFM and note the corresponding velocity, which is around 1,720 FPM in this case. Also, we ought to note that the FR for galvanized metal duct is 0.55 (“W.C./100FT). Note: If your Ductulator is giving you values that are a few percentage points off, consider a phone app Ductulator. These digital Ductulators give precise calculations and are not subject to assembly tolerances (a duct wheel that is a hair off-center will give incorrect results). An app is easier to use and looks like this: “ASHRAE HVAC DUCT SIZER APP”

• VP = Velocity Pressure (inches of water column)

• V = Velocity (FPM – Feet per minute)

• 4,005 is a unit conversion constant 0.18 = (1720/4005) 2

Therefore, the velocity pressure in this example is 0.18. STEP 4: Now, let’s calculate the friction loss for our actual straight duct. Let’s start by adding the total length of the duct run (not including elbows). In this example, it is 10 feet. Keeping our Ductulator set at 8” round, let's look at what the friction rate is for 600 CFM under “Galvanized metal duct.” In this case, it is 0.6” of friction loss for 100’ of duct. But we aren’t using 100’ of duct; the actual straight duct run is 10’, so let's do the math so that we can convert it to our actual friction loss. That equation looks like this: PL SD = ADL x (FR /100) • FR = Friction Rate PL SD = 10 x (0.55/100) = 0.055” W.C. This means that 0.06” is our pressure loss for 10’ of straight duct Step 5: Next, we must calculate the loss for all the 90s in the duct run. To do that, we count up the total number of 90s that will be needed for the duct run. For this job, I am figuring 4 elbows. Once you have the number of 90s, we look at Table A6-1 in Manual Q, “Loss Coefficients for Elbows.” I am using “Elbow B” because the elbows that I can buy locally are 4-gore. I don’t have an elbow in front of me, so I will assume the worst-case • PL SD = Pressure Loss of Straight Duct in Inches of Water Column • ADL = Actual Duct Length in Feet

STEP 3: We need to convert our velocity of 1,720 FPM to velocity pressure, and the equation to do so looks like this:

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= 4 x 0.5 x 0.18 = 0.36” W.C. pressure loss for 4 elbows

radius to diameter column, which is a loss coefficient of 0.5 per elbow.

Step 6: We are almost there. We just need to take the wall cap exit into account. In this case, I referenced Table A6-10 in Manual Q. The most conservative, or largest, exit pressure loss coefficient is 1, so that’s what I will assume for a wall cap exit.

Note: A 45° elbow pressure loss coefficient can be estimated to be half the value of a 90° elbow pressure loss coefficient. Now, we can solve for the loss of each elbow, which looks like this:

PL Ci = C i x VP

• PL Ci = Pressure Loss Per 90° Elbow • C i = Pressure Loss Coefficient for Fitting i, dimensionless

VP = Velocity Pressure

•

PL C = 0.5 x 0.18 = 0.090 “W.C.

Therefore, 0.090 is the loss per 90° elbow, so if we want to find the loss of all our elbows, we just slightly adjust the math. Since we have just one single duct run with the same diameter (i.e., same velocity, therefore same velocity pressure) and fitting type (4 elbows), our total fitting losses equate to:

PL C-Exit = C Exit x VP

PL C-4 Elbows = (∑C’s) x VP = 4 C-Elbow x VP

• PL C-Exit = Total Exit Pressure Loss

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• C Exit = Pressure Loss Coefficient For a Wall Cap Fitting VP = Velocity Pressure = 1 x 0.18 = 0.18” W.C. pressure loss for the wall cap exit Step 7: Let’s add up all of our losses. The total pressure loss is: PL Total = ∑PL SD + ∑PL C’s = PL 10’ + 4PL C Elbow + PL C-Exit •

If we look at the system design point of 600 CFM @ 0.60” W.C., we can see that the total pressure loss of our 8” exhaust duct system is above the range hood blower curve, meaning our exhaust duct system resistance is too high. We want to size our exhaust duct such that our total pressure loss result is below, or exactly on, the hood blower curve such that we can meet or exceed the rated hood exhaust CFM. This is an iterative process that will sometimes take several tries to confirm the correct size duct. What duct size should be used to exhaust 600 CFM @ 0.1 ″ W.C. for the “CP55IQ” exhaust hood?

= 0.055 + 0.36 + 0.18 = 0.595” W.C. total hood exhaust duct pressure loss

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.

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Ethics and Air Flow

A great deal of financial resources are headed the direction of HVAC industry with the Inflation Reduction Act. Rather than taking time to explain how to get a share of the pie, let’s examine the impact of taking on funding, without understanding the politics, science, and liability, behind the funding. Political- We have seen a political push to move away from carbon. Few would disagree, we must be responsible stewards of the planet we live upon. Everywhere we go, everywhere we exist, we leave trails of destruction and trash. That fact is inevitable. How we limit destruction, manage trash, and allow reclamation are the foundation that make the planet sustainable. If you believe some of the claims that spur the move in the first place, we simply will run out of time to convert. But before we embrace the race to remove carbon, remember, life’s basic building blocks, are of carbon origin. Here are some predictions that are a decade or more overdue. 1969: Worldwide Plague, Overwhelming Pollution, Ecological Catastrophe, Virtual Collapse of UK by End of 20th Century 1970: Oceans Dead in a Decade, US Water Rationing by 1974, Food Rationing by 1980 1972: Pending Depletion and Shortages of Gold, Tin, Oil, Natural Gas, Copper, Aluminum 1975: The Cooling World and a Drastic Decline in Food Production 1988 : World’s Leading Climate Expert Predicts Lower Manhattan Underwater by 2018

1989: UN Warns Entire Nations Wiped Off the Face of the Earth by 2000 From Global Warming 2000: Snowfalls Are Now a Thing of the Past 2005: Fifty Million Climate Refugees by the Year 2020 2011: Washington Post Predicted Cherry Blossoms Blooming in Winter

In an idealistic world, electrification does make sense to a point. Multiple fuels, generating a single power source to end users. However, 2023 provides barriers that prohibit a relatively quick change. First and foremost, electrical utility infrastructure, is dated and strained. Everyone agrees an updated infrastructure is necessary, however billions of dollars and decades of time are required to complete the updates. Science- The science for electrification is not what might appear at face value. Laws of physics limit energy transfer, making it costly.

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This limit is where alternative fuels give an advantage. While the US has embraces technology for cleaner air when fossil fuels are utilized, other geopolitical powers will use fossil fuel any way possible until the supply is gone due to population demands. Fossil fuel is cheap, abundant, and portable to a great extent. While the air is much cleaner today in the US, we have little influence with fuel use and air quality over greater Asia. Wildfires are a greater threat to US air quality than industry in general. Since electrical power was widely available in the US efforts to electrify has been attempted several times. In the late 1950’s Ronald Reagan pitched the idea with “Gold Medallion Homes”. In the 1970’s during the Arab Oil Crisis, the “Good Cents” program was initiated. As recent as the late 1980’s to early 1990’s, a government push was made to install heat pumps. It is the opinion of some in the industry, the push was a failure, due to poorly calculated loads, poor defrost technology and dependability issues. These machines had many mechanical components that contributed to the problem. One major issue that excludes equipment, was improper distribution systems that caused uncomfortable conditions. We didn’t pay attention to the properties of air. One can argue the entire range of HVAC of equipment has benefited by the age of electronic components taking a foothold industry since that 1980’s to 1990’s push. Most in the HVAC industry agree heat pumps are much more efficient and dependable today over those manufactured during that last heat pump push. Science also demands we deliver heat pump technology efficiently and effectively. Since the general design of air conditioning, moving

warm air to the outdoors, it only makes sense we can harvest heat outdoors, and move it indoor for comfort via the heat pump. The missing thought is, when we cool the human body, drafts are sometimes appreciated, especially when air movement speeds the process of perspiration drying. When in winter time conditions, the air is less moist as cooler air holds less humidity and heat pump delivered heat temperatures are around 90 degrees so the air must be mixed and delivered outside the occupied zone. Any air delivered below 98 degrees will be sensed as a draft making conditions uncomfortable, particularly for older folks. With these facts in mind, we must realize grille size, selection and configuration must be considered for air delivery in heating mode. What works for heating will make cooling more efficient and comfortable. The science also points out heat pump capacities vs. furnace capacities are not an even matchup. In hot humid areas of our county where 2000 square foot homes are cooled by 30,000 to 36,000 btu cooling systems, winter time loads can call for 80,000 btu to 110,000 btu heating capacity. If we look at heating capacity of a 36,000 btu high efficiency heat pump, we may find as little 24,000 btu at 35 degrees. Do not make the mistake of overlooking load information. In general, winter heating capacities are double that of cooling required where hot humid conditions exist in the summer. That logically would mean two heat pumps to do the job of one furnace. We can utilize dual fuel heat pump technology to overcome this hurdle and keep one system in place. Once comfort temperatures are met, the fossil fuel system takes a back seat, and the system moves to the heat pump mode. During high demand for heating the dual fuel makes up for the

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Liability- For obvious reasons liability is the reason for the “Ethics and Air Flow” title. In a large part the industry should have learned from past mistakes, however the majority of those in the HVAC industry were not present in the l ate 1980’s or earlier, so this message is important to hear. It is human nature to push failure aside and believe we possess new ideas that can overcome old issues. We forget the laws of physics were discovered by folks like Kepler, Pascal, Boyle, and Newton. These laws do not change and provide a foundation for others to work from.

difference in capacity. You get the economy of a heat pump in mi ld weather, but you don’t eliminate the fossil fuel. So, converting a fossil fueled home to all electric with twice the cooling hours of compared heating hours is going to be a challenge.

Most understand electricity can provide immediate torque and high rpm but there is a cost to do so. When steam locomotives required more power, they abandoned heavy steam boilers and consistent water consumption and drove the wheels electrically with diesel powered engines in the early 1900’s. The electricity pro vided by the diesel engines allowed precise control with little or gross amounts of energy. If you think about it, science prohibits complete abandon of carbon base fuels for the near future. Tractors, earthmovers, and most heavy equipment requires extreme amounts of torque that can’t be replaced by alternative power to date. Once again, we must look toward advanced power systems like hydrogen fuel cells, but these promising alternatives are decades away from being produced in numbers that alter electric consumption.

Rather than focusing on the single issue of the dollars coming our way, we in the HVAC industry must take the opportunity and the dollars to provide meaningful improvements for owners and occupant that will last the life of the home. We spend too much time chasing air leakage when proper process and application can end duct leakage. Putting an end to leakage will allow us to focus on a properly sized and applied duct systems. When the duct system is efficient, pressures are lower, and air from undesirable sources is

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substantially reduced. The industry must pay attention to construction methods at the time the home was built. Practically every home in America could reduce electrical consumption radically, by addressing poor air flow that makes new equipment inefficient and pushes air quality down to an unacceptable level. We must never embrace ideas that are illogical. We must deal with sound fundamental principles that serve our communities here first, and abroad later. A platform for stability favors no single entity in society. Our (HVAC contractors) reluctance to get involved at the manufacturing and code levels must be reevaluated. By establishing better two-way communication, with challenges from the contracting community and proper installed engineering from the manufacturers will help both sectors. Above all, embrace all the information the manufacturers put at your fingertips. Contractors ignore product information and say they are too busy to attend the many training sessions manufacturers and distributors are hosting. Remember, if you don’t do it right the first time, it will cost you the second time.