Amy Al-Katib

Three contractors discuss the advantages of hydronics, and how to explain that to end users.

It wasn’t too long ago that the only time people thought about the air they were breathing was when they wanted to light up their next cigarette, which they could do anywhere — in hospitals, on planes, at the grocery store. IAQ wasn’t even a thing. But that was then, and this is now.

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.

The Fieldpiece booth commanded a lot of attention on the show floor at this year’s AHR Expo in Atlanta. Those who didn’t have time to wait in line to find out why may be wondering, “What was all the rage about?”

As a small- to medium-sized company, it’s important for Braeburn to target the demographic that will give it the most bang for its buck — the average consumer.

The tech who showed up to the house was probably just as surprised as I was that my dad was getting the ducts cleaned. But he saw this appointment as an opportunity, not a waste of time. He talked to my dad, found things out about him and the house. Because he spent just a few minutes with my dad, he was able to add on additional products and services. That tech turned a $375 duct cleaning job into a $1,500 IAQ solution job.

What’s the difference between HVAC field techs and NFL players? Or how about the difference between owners/managers and NFL coaches? Well, the answer, according to Ryan Harris, who played for the Denver Broncos when they won Super Bowl 50, is nothing, really.

There are a lot of variables that make it impossible to say there’s one product that’s better than all the rest in every situation; however, everyone has their favorite.

And the reason for all the hype is that the Daikin Fit does exactly what it says: It fits the comfort needs, budget barriers, and space constraints of homeowners who are looking to upgrade their HVAC systems without breaking the bank.

Now, don’t get me wrong … I think the things people in California are doing for our environment are great. But California does not have a monopoly on innovative HVAC ideas or concerns about the environment.