A premium or high-end forced-air furnace is typically thought of as having an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of 90% or above. These furnaces also usually come with other amenities, such as variable-speed motors, sophisticated controls, and longer warranties. For one manufacturer, a premium furnace encompasses all of the above, as well as improved igniter technology.

When trying to sell a customer a high-end furnace, contractors may espouse benefits such as higher efficiencies, which usually translate into lower utility bills. Quieter operation is also a good selling point, as is improved comfort resulting from variable-speed technology. A less obvious but no less important benefit can be found in the form of the variable-speed draft inducer.

Summer is barely over, but it’s time to start thinking about all the new boilers, furnaces, and heat pumps offered by manufacturers. Yes, it’s time once again for the Heating Showcase. This annual event in The News introduces the latest heating units available for the upcoming heating season. The intent is to help our contractor subscribers prepare for winter by putting key product information at their fingertips.

People in Texas have a reputation for doing everything in a big way. Right now there’s a home under construction in The Woodlands, TX, that puts most others to shame. The 33,000-square-foot custom home will cost upwards of $7 million when it’s finished this fall. Obviously, a comprehensive HVAC system is needed for a house this size in order to keep its occupants comfortable. Designing and installing that system are Wayne E. Jones, CEO, and Robert L. Sparks, CFO, Geothermal Air Conditioning, Humble, TX.

Russel Wright was one of the best known designers of home furnishings in America and an outspoken proponent of American design. His home is considered to be a masterpiece of the late designer. The home was recently listed with the National Register of Historic Places and is being meticulously restored to its original grandeur. Part of that restoration includes replacing and upgrading the original mechanical systems.

A doctor in Tampa, FL, is in the process of building a spectacular home, which has an equally amazing HVAC system. At 15,000 square feet, this home will provide more than enough room for its occupants. Given the hot and humid conditions in Florida, it’s no wonder that the owners wanted to spare no expense on comfort. The result is an HVAC system that’s sure to keep them comfortable no matter what the weather decides to do.

It’s the middle of summer, the temperature is soaring, and it’s time to think about keeping cool — especially where customers are concerned. So what do you do when you have to take a building’s A/C system offline in order to make repairs? Or worse yet, what do you do when a system breaks down, and you’re going to have to wait a few days for a part? One answer is portable, or temporary, cooling.

When a major department store in a New York mall had a problem with its 600-ton absorption chiller, management needed a quick solution to keep the store cool. NuTemp came through with a portable chilled-water plant and generator.

The day will undoubtedly come when it’s necessary for you to arrange for portable cooling in order to keep a customer comfortable. Whatever the occasion, contractors should be aware of where they can get their hands on portable cooling equipment. One source is Spot Coolers, which has 27 locations nationwide.

When DST Output decided it needed more space to expand its printing and publishing services for mutual fund companies, it looked in a rather unlikely spot. Instead of choosing an existing building to move into or even vacant land on which to build, DST Output chose to renovate an abandoned railroad roundhouse.