ATLANTA — Attendees who stopped by the Friedrich Air Conditioning Co. booth this year weren’t there for long, but that’s not because there was nothing to see. In fact, a plethora of new products were on display, and TJ Wheeler, vice president of marketing and product management for the company, was on hand to perform live demos. So why didn’t visitors spend more time in the booth? Well, they simply didn’t need to, thanks to the new FastPro™ system.

Launched at this year’s expo, the Friedrich Floating Air Pro® and Floating Air Premier ductless solutions have been re-engineered to feature FastPro, a method that requires spending just a couple of minutes and removing only seven screws before technicians can take out the interior unit’s blower wheel and drain pan module as one component versus having to perform multiple steps and disassemble several parts.

“Friedrich FastPro solves major pain points for the trades when it comes to ductless system installation and maintenance,” Wheeler said. “A lot of contractors don’t even try to sell maintenance agreements to ductless customers because it takes too much time to come out and service the units — they’d rather be doing something else that generates more money in the same amount of time.

“Removing these barriers will help continue to accelerate ductless system adoption while opening up ongoing service contract revenue streams for contractors,” he added.

While advancements in ductless technology have dominated countless conversations on the AHR Expo’s show floor for several years now, a rising demand for exceptional indoor air quality has been heard murmuring in the background. Luckily, Friedrich employees have good ears, and not only have they heard their customers’ requests for increased IAQ, they actually listened. As a result, the company has made a major effort to deliver just that.

Friedrich is doubling down on innovative comfort solutions that provide the best in IAQ by implementing its FreshAire™ technology, which is designed to help building owners meet AHRAE 62.1-2013 requirements — the industry standard for conditioned fresh air. Since last year, Friedrich has integrated FreshAire into more of its products, from its VRP to its PTAC product lines.

Originally available in 1- or 2-ton capacities typically used for lodging and hospitality properties, Friedrich’s larger-capacity, 3-ton VRP unit debuted in Atlanta as the ultimate solution for multifamily and other light commercial applications. The expanded lineup is based on the company’s, award-winning technology that features variable refrigerant flow and a precision inverter compressor designed to deliver increased comfort and efficiency, all while reducing sound.

“Friedrich VRP reduces sound and delivers outstanding indoor air quality, helping building owners meet ASHRAE 62.1-2013, thanks to patents-pending makeup air and sophisticated humidity control sensors that monitor and adjust compressor speeds to reach desired temperatures and improve humidity levels,” Wheeler said.

The FreshAire system brings in up to 70 cfm of conditioned, MERV 8-filtered outside air. In addition to the standard models, Friedrich also offers an enhanced dehumidification option — available in its 1-, 2-, and 3-ton sizes — for regions that suffer from high humidity.

“Our customers understand the major benefits that better indoor air quality has for reducing maintenance issues and promoting a healthier indoor environment,” Wheeler said. “With our new 3-ton VRP option, Friedrich now has a full range of sizes capable of delivering optimal room-by-room comfort and conditioned air, designed to fit just about any need.”

To kick off the expo, Jerad Adams, director of commercial products portfolio for Friedrich, joined Wheeler in the booth on Monday afternoon, and the two hosted a live webinar titled “Ductless Split System Innovations that Matter to Your Bottom Line.” The webinar focused on four learning objectives:

1. How aligning with the right product brands can elevate your business (and how the wrong ones can hurt it).
2. Innovative technology that gives contractors an edge.
3. Best practices for installation: what to look for in a ductless split product.
4. Best practices for support/service: what to look for in a DSS brand.

For those who couldn’t attend live, the webinar is available on demand.

Publication date: 2/18/2019

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