Congratulations to Bernard Nagengast, an engineering consultant and industry historian who found the oldest NEWS issue among our readers. His oldest issue was dated Nov. 30, 1926. The very first issue of the magazine was published in September of that same year.
History, they say, repeats itself. The HVACR industry is not immune to the truth of this saying. A good case in point was the introduction of R-410A earlier this century, compared to the introduction of R-22 in the 1930s.
We all create our own individual histories every day. At the same time, we become part of a larger history. With that in mind, we asked a few industry colleagues what the most significant changes were that they have witnessed in the HVACR industry.
With all the late-spring heat scorching the country, air conditioning systems are being asked to perform up to their full capacity in many areas. When they can’t keep up, for whatever reason - breakdown, replacement, or simple undersizing - portable cooling systems can literally get clients out of a tight spot.
Has Max Tech entered your world? According to a Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) report, it is achieved when existing products and appliances are replaced as needed with those that offer the greatest efficiency gains - products that are at the peak of technological efficiency at the time.
Aeroseal LLC, the company whose duct-sealing system seals leaks from the inside out, was purchased by JMD Corp. The new owners recently announced the launch of the “new Aeroseal,” with a program focused on helping HVAC contractors increase their business revenues.
Residential zoning systems have come a long way in recent years, both in terms of the equipment itself, and in an increased understanding of how to apply it correctly. Yet there are still many misconceptions about these systems that zoning experts are trying to dispel.
Zoning systems can be beneficial to both homeowners and the HVAC contractors who install them. However, their complexity can sometimes lead to confusion, and perhaps avoidance among contractors. A new standard developed by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America aims to help with zoning design to improve the installation and operation of zoned systems.
What were the most significant changes you have seen in the HVACR industry? We’re going to be exploring this in more detail in our upcoming 85th anniversary special issues - which is why we want to know: What were the biggest technological or market changes, in your opinion?
It is the time of year when, in many parts of the country, cooling system problems involving coils tend to become more pronounced. Foul odors are especially problematic, but still more insidious are coil failures caused by formicary corrosion. The NEWS interviewed members of the Copper Development Association (CDA) for their takes on how these problems are being addressed.