phvac Nov 2001.qxd - Plumbing & HVAC

This filter system offers a solution for 

coffee that tastes like swamp swill. 

Tasty details on page 14 

Volume 14 Number 4 July/August 2004 

Better drinking water 

These ground-source heat pumps are 

available with six loop configurations. 

Hot information on page 17 

Canadian Mail Sales Product Agreement #400076296. Return postage guaranteed Nytek Publishing 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario M9W 5C4 

Circle Number 100 for More Information 


INSIDE 

■ New confidence in oil heat industry 

■ Reversal on DHW tank requirements 

■ Certification requirements too stringent? 

■ Contractors struggle with fuel, insurance costs 

■ MEET show breaks records 

www.drainbrain.com 



PERFORMANCE 

UNDER PRESSURE 


This large fixture manufacturer is getting 

serious about faucets. 

Full report on page 22 

Installing PEX crimp rings is easy. 

Removing them can be too. 

Breaking news on page 27

COSMETIC CHANGE 

Step 1. 

Install the Moen M•PACT 

valve underbody and screw 

trim pieces into position. 

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Step 2. 

When it’s time to upgrade or 

change decor, twist off spout 

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Step 3. 

…twist on the new Moen style. 

That’s all there is to it. 

©2002 Moen Incorporated is a Fortune Brands Company. (NYSE: FO) 

Circle Number 103 for More Information

In This Issue 

Features 

Drinking water systems 12 

Correct installation key for effective 

RO 

Departments 

Hot Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 

Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 

Western Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 

Atlantic Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 

Coming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 

People and Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 

Literature Showcase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 

Products & Technologies 

Water Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 

Hot Water Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 

Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 

Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 

Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 

Faucets & Fixtures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 

Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 

Boiler water solutions 15 

High efficiency equipment requires 

special care 

True Comfort 

& 

Peace Of Mind 

Nasty business 21 

Warren Law looks at drain cleaning 

hazards 

Trade truck survey 26 

Higher fuel, insurance costs having 

an impact 

Outdoor Unit 

Indoor Unit 

Refrigerant Lines 

No duct work means faster, easier and more cost 

effective installation in areas with no or limited ducting. 

World Leading Technology 

Best Quality 

Quietest Operation In The Industry 

Higher CFM For Best Air Distribution 

Refrigerant Pre-charged 

Best Technical And Service Support 

Best Parts Availability In The Industry 

6 Year Compressor Warranty 

9,000 to 24,000 BTU 

Our quality ductless split 

air-conditioners will give 

you and your customers 

the comfort and peace of 

mind that only Mitsubishi 

Electric can offer. 

Our technically competent 

distributor network, 

strong service support 

and unmatched service 

parts availability will give 

you and your customers 

the peace of mind that 

you deserve. 

After all, what good is a 

warranty if you can't back 

it up ! 

Electronic 

Environments 

Cover photo: Russ Bateman, left, and Greg 

MacDonald of Lodder Bros., Guelph, Ont., 

install a water treatment system. (Photo by 

Simon Blake) 


www.plumbingandhvac.ca July/August 2004 – Plumbing & HVAC Product News 3

Gary Coad increased his 

business by 50% last year. 

(Now if only his golf swing would improve as much.) 

Gary Coad’s golf swing may need work. But that’s okay with Gary because he 

knows where his real strengths lie. “I really enjoy going out and meeting with 

customers, discussing what their needs are and making sure they’re getting 

only what they need. I don’t try to sell them anything they don’t need and 

I think that’s a big part of our success too.” 

But often, Gary finds himself selling Lennox Integrated Comfort Solutions. “What we 

try to do is explain that it’s in their best interest to look at replacing what they have with 

a matched system. And we explain the benefits of that. Many times, they will look at the 

benefits and realize that they should upgrade.” 

Benefits sell systems. 

You can count on customers to have done their homework before they even call you. They 

will consider a complete system when they understand the benefits. That’s where Gary 

comes in. “We will explain the benefits of a matched system – how the systems work together. 

Then the customer feels confident enough in you as an individual to purchase the equipment.” 

Word of mouth sells systems. 

“About 80% of our business is through customer referrals. It basically comes down to the fact 

that if you do a good job for someone and they are happy, they are going to tell somebody else. 

Our business has probably increased by 50% over the last year since the new products 

were introduced.” 

Lennox sells systems. 

When you have the best product line out there, you just can’t help but sell 

them. According to Gary anyway. “Lennox, in my opinion, has the 

best product around … The Lennox territory manager is 

always available. He gets back to me as soon as I have a 

question. If I’m going to give my customers good service, 

then I need to know that there’s somebody there that’s 

going to give me good service too.” 

Gary Coad, 

Coad Heating & Air Conditioning 

For more about Lennox integrated comfort solutions: 

1-800-4 LENNOX • www.lennox.com 


Hot Seat 

Tunnel vision 

Plumbing contractors should 

expect some heat from their customers 

as a result of a recent decision 

by building code officials to reduce 

the maximum domestic hot water 

(DHW) temperature at the tap. Phones 

will ring as customers wonder why their 

water is lukewarm. 

The reason? The Canadian Commission 

on Building and Fire Codes 

(CCBFC) has accepted a recommendation 

that water at the fixture be restricted 

to a maximum of 49°C (120°F). 

For anyone that has followed this 

soap opera through the pages of 

Plumbing and HVAC Product News over 

the past year, it gives a rare insight into 

the National Building Code process and 

shows how one well-meaning organization 

- albeit one with tunnel vision - can 

have a dramatic effect on the everyday 

lives of all Canadians. 

Safe Kids Canada - the 'national 

injury prevention program of The 

Hospital for Sick Children' in Toronto - 

lobbied national code officials to reduce 

the maximum allowable domestic hot 

water temperature for a storage-hot 

water tank from 60°C to 49°C in the 

National Plumbing Code. 

The group presented considerable 

evidence that: a) children are more susceptible 

to scalding than adults and b) 

that reducing the DHW temperature to 

49°C would substantially reduce the 

risk of scalding. There is no debate on 

either point. 

The plumbing industry is more than 

willing to get behind any proposal that 

reduces the risk of scalding. Innovations 

such as pressure balancing shower 

valves and single-handle faucets have 

gone a long way to reduce such injuries 

in Canadian homes. 

But there was a major problem with 

the Safe Kids proposal. The threshold 

for Legionella bacteria (Legionella 

pneumophila) is 55°C. It causes Legionnaire's 

Disease, a particularly deadly 

form of pneumonia. 

As a result, the industry suggested a 

compromise - that storage-type DHW 

tanks remain at 60°C, but a mixing 

valve or other anti-scald device be 

incorporated into the plumbing system 

at each fixture to reduce the DHW temperature 

to 49°C. As reported in the 

November/December issue of Plumbing 

& HVAC Product News, that compromise 

was approved by the Standing 

Committee on Building and Plumbing 

Services of the National Research 

Council. 

That should have been the end of it. 

The final stage - approval by the CCBFC 

for inclusion in the next edition of the 

National Plumbing Code - should have 

been a formality. And it would have 

HVAC Solutions! 

been, except that Safe Kids - despite the 

concerns over Legionella - kept pushing 

to have the minimum DHW temperature 

reduced to 49°C. 

By the time the CCBFC met in 

Victoria, B.C. in April, the requirement 

that DHW storage tanks remain at 60°C 

had been dropped from the wording. 

Once again, the industry lobbied to 

have this reinstated. The CCBFC 

appointed an ad hoc committee to 

study the issue. 

A month later, not only did the committee 

recommend reinstating the 60°C 

requirement, but they also wrote a letter 

to the Canadian Standards Association 

(CSA) urging a change in the water 

heater design standard that would make 

it impossible for the homeowner to 

turn the temperature below that point. 

The industry has survived another 

crisis, but for the working plumber the 

difficulties are just beginning. Never 

mind the $200 additional cost to install 

mixing valves in each new home, the 

biggest complaint will concern lukewarm 

water. The plumber, if he follows 

the code as required to do as a condition 

of holding a plumbing license, will 

be powerless to do anything. Unhappy 

customers will make the necessary 

modifications themselves or find an 

unlicensed contractor that will. 

The end result will be a boost for the 

unlicensed trade, the growth of which 

the industry is trying so hard to restrict, 

along with plumbing systems in many 

Canadian homes that don't comply 

with the National Plumbing Code. That 

isn't good for the industry and it certainly 

isn't good for the children that 

Safe Kids Canada is trying to protect. 

We can provide a cost effective solution for all your heating ventilation and air conditioning needs. From exceptional quality 

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Incorporating 

Plumbing Piping 

and Heating magazine 

and HVAC/Refrigeration 

magazine 

July/August 2004 

Volume 14, Number 4 

ISSN 1499-5271 

Editor 

Simon Blake 

(416) 614-5820 

sblake@nytek.ca 

Editor Emeritus 

Ronald H. (Ron) Shuker 

(416) 614-5816 

rshuker@nytek.ca 

Contributors 

Roy Collver 

John Carr 

Ron Coleman 

Warren Law 

National Sales Manager 

Jim Gillen 

(416) 614-5817 

jgillen@nytek.ca 

Design and Production 

Tim Norton 

production@nytek.ca 

Circulation Manager 

Pat Glionna 

Corporate Services 

Anthony Evangelista 

PLUMBING & HVAC PRODUCT NEWS Magazine is 

published six times annually by Nytek Publishing 

Inc. and is written for individuals who purchase/specify/approve 

the selection of plumbing, piping, hot 

water heating, fire protection, warm air heating, air 

conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration, controls and 

related systems and products throughout Canada. 

Head Office 

Nytek Publishing Inc. 

451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, 

Ontario, Canada M9W 5C4 

Tel: (416) 242-8088 

Fax (416) 242-8085 

POSTMASTER: Send all address changes and circulation 

inquiries to: Plumbing & HVAC Product News 

magazine, 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

M9W 5C4. Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product 

Agreement No. 400076296. Postage paid at 

Winnipeg, MB. Annual Subscription: $34.00 plus 

$2.38 GST, single copy $5.00 plus $0.35 GST in 

Canada; United States $40.00 U.S. One year subscription 

in U.S.: $40.00 US, One year subscription 

foreign: $65.00 U.S. 

Copyright 2004. The contents of this magazine 

may not be reproduced in any manner without the 

prior written permission of the Publisher. 

Movincool offers two distinct series of portable 

spot coolers with capacities from10,000 to 60,000 Btu's. Ideal 

for offices, heat sensitive electronics, schools, labs, assembly 

lines, warehouses and more. 

Xpediair offers its clients one of the widest 

variety of quality built fan coils and combination units 

available. If time is crucial and you needed equipment 

fast, no one can beat Xpediair. 

Ph. 905-820-1400 fax 905-820-1435 Toll Free 888-209-0999 

3250 Ridgeway Drive, Unit # 9 Mississauga, Ontario L5L 5Y6 

info@williamshvac.com www.williamshvac.com 

We acknowledge the financial support of the 

Government of Canada through the Publications 

Assistance Program toward 

our mailing costs. 

PAP Registration No. 10796 

A member of: 

Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating 

Canadian Circulation Audit Board 

Mechanical Contractors Assoc. of Canada 

Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association 

Hydronics Marketing Group 

American Society of Heating Refrigerating & 

Air Conditioning Engineers 

Heating Refrigeration Air Conditioning 

Institute of Canada 

Refrigeration Service Engineers Society of Canada 



Industry News 

New confidence 

Launch of $7.5 million marketing 

campaign boosts oilheat industry 

English Canada and Quebec will see distinctly different logos and marketing campaigns. 

By Simon Blake 

The mood among 275 delegates at the 

2004 Canadian Oilheat Conference June 

3-5 in Saint John, New Brunswick can 

only be described as buoyant. That's a big 

change for an industry that has seen tough 

times in the past 30 years. 

Slipping market share, an image as a 

'dirty' fuel (promoted by competitors) and a 

misguided federal government 'off-oil' program 

had left members of the oilheat community 

with little to smile about. 

All that changed this spring with the 

announcement of a $7.5-million marketing 

fund. Funded by oil companies (75%), independent 

oil dealers (15%) and manufacturers 

(10%), the details were outlined at the 

conference. 

COHA has hired advertising agency 

Campbell, Michener & Lee of Toronto to 

spearhead the campaign in both English and 

French. The company has developed a strategy 

based on a survey of 1,500 oilheat homeowners 

and 200 COHA members. 

Beginning in September, advertising will 

target the public through television, radio 

and print media. A new web site - 

www.todaysoilheat.com - will further educate 

web-savvy homeowners. 

“That's just the start … the first three 

years are aimed at stopping the erosion,” 

remarked Bob Michener, agency president. He 

added the next five to ten years will be key for 

building the industry. 

The media program includes promotional 

materials - brochures, posters and stickers - 

that COHA contractors/dealers can use to 

promote oilheat in their area. An online marketing 

centre will allow members to customize 

the material to suit their needs. 

The agency unveiled a 

new slogan: Today's 

Oilheat: Clean Burning - 

Scott Andison 

House Warming, along 

with a new logo. 

The agency's Quebec 

strategic planner, Andre 

Bouchard, outlined a very 

distinct program and 

theme aimed at the Quebec market - Quebec 

delegates praised the program for, among 

other things, not being 'made in Ontario'. 

Marketing committee chairman Fred 

Gowland, Imperial Oil, received a huge 

round of applause when he asked delegates 

what they thought. 

Dave Wilson, 75, chairman of the Wilson 

Group of Companies (Kerr Heating 

Products, Parrsboro Sheet Metal, Wilson 

Fuels), was elated. “I couldn't have imagined 

that in my lifetime the entire oil industry 

would come together … I'm just thrilled.” He 

urged everyone in the industry to get behind 

the program. 

New COHA president and CEO, Scott 

Andison, who took over from the recently 

(Please see ‘Oilheat’ on page 8) 


ATMOSPHAIR 

COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL 

REFRIGERATION, AIR-CONDITIONING 

& HEATING 

795 Warden Avenue, 

Scarborough, Ontario, M1L 4C4 

COOLING PRODUCTS 

◗ Condensers 

• Shell & tube 

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◗ Condensing units 

• Air cooled 

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◗ Packaged chillers 

• Air cooled 

• Water cooled 

• Outdoor 

• Remote condenser 

◗ Chiller vessels 

• 2-225 tons 

◗ Compressors 

• Hermetic screw 

• Open drive screw 

• Hermetic reciprocating 

• Open drive reciprocating 

◗ Custom coils 

• Chilled water 

• Glycol 

• Direct expansion 

PUMP PRODUCTS 

◗ Boiler feed pumps 

◗ Steam condensate pumps 

◗ Steam vacuum pumps 

◗ Circulating pumps1/4-200 HP 

• Close coupled 

• Base mount 

• Inline circulator 

• Double suction 

HEATING PRODUCTS 

◗ Thermostatic valves 

◗ Balancing valves 

◗ Steam specialties 

• Low pressure thermostatic 

traps 

• High pressure thermostatic 

traps 

• Float and thermostatic traps 

• Bucket traps 

Extra! Extra! Extra! 

◗ Radiation products 

• Walvector 

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◗ Unit heaters 

• Steam or hot water 

• Horizontal 

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◗ Custom coils 

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Steam Specialties, Condensate/Boiler Feed Pumps . . . . . . .Stock to 2 Weeks 

Unit Heaters (Vertical, Horizontal, Cabinet or Gas type) . . . . .Stock to 2 Weeks 

Fan Coil Units and Air Handlers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stock to 2 Weeks 

Packaged Chillers and Chiller / Condenser Vessels . . . . . . . . . . .1 to 9 Weeks 

Dunham-Bush Condenser Gkts & UC Defrost Heaters . . . . .Stock to 3 Weeks 

Heating/Cooling Coils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 to 4 Weeks 

◗ Vari-Vac® 

• Vacuum differential heating 

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Formerly Dunham-Bush Inc. 

Tel: (416) 751-7777 • Toll Free: 1-800-387-8059 

Fax: (416) 751-5637 or 757-1557 • Toll Free Fax: (888) 751-5637 

Formerly Dunham-Bush Inc. 



Industry News 

Oilheat 2004 

(Continued from page 7) 

• Smaller footprint for 

tighter spaces 

• Just 57" overall height 

• Perfect for large residential 

and smaller commercial 

applications 

The new 60 Gallon eF Series water 

heater from Bradford White doubles 

the selection of the ultimate in 

super-efficient tank-type commercial 

water heaters. 

The eF Series now offers four 100 

and three 60-gallon models. All 

feature remarkable thermal efficiency 

ratings - as high as 99.1%. Secondto-none 

in installation flexibility, all 

models can vent vertically, 

horizontally and are approved for 

unbalanced, direct-vent closed 

combustion applications. 

The eF Series is also ultra-quiet. 

Building owners, managers and 

retired John Butt, noted that the industry 

is today in a much better position to 

work with EnerCan, which has 'trashed' 

oil heat in the past, and to promote oil 

heat to home builders. The strength of 

the organization and the improvement 

in oil heat technology are major factors, 

he added. 

Oil heat is in a battle for customers in 

New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with 

the natural gas industry offering incentives 

to homeowners. 

But delegates received encouraging 

news from Bruce Fitch, New Brunswick 

Minister of Energy, who gave the opening 

address at the conference. “We are 

encouraging people to get off electricity 

and move to oil,” he said, noting that 60 

per cent of the province's energy needs 

are met by electricity. That is putting a 

strain on the system's capacity, he added. 

He also noted that the province is 

updating its energy efficiency regulation 

and will set new minimum efficiency 

standards for appliances including 

oil-fired furnaces, boilers and hot 

water heaters. 

At the annual general meeting June 5 

members formally approved the reorganization 

of the almost 300 Ontario 

members into an Ontario chapter. 

Previously, because COHA is based in 

Ontario, the national office represented 

Ontario interests. Total COHA membership 

is over 400. 

With the change comes a new funding 

structure that will see membership 

fees from oil companies and manufacturers 

used to fund the national office, 

with local chapter fees going primarily 

to support chapter activities. 

Delegates elected 

Russ Hollamby of 

International Comfort 

Products (ICP) as 

chairman for the coming 

year. He took over 

as interim chairman 

last January when Russ Hollamby 

Claude Lambert left the industry. 

For more information, visit 

www.coha.ca, e-mail oilheat@coha.ca 

or call (905) 946-0264. 

B R A D F O R D W H I T E ® 

smaller but oh so mighty! 

Introducing 60 GALLONS of unequalled, eF Series power 

Mississauga, ON 

866-690-0961 

occupants will appreciate the 

difference. Plus, eF Series water 

heaters feature the Hydrojet ® 

Sediment Reduction System, a selfcleaning 

feature that helps extend the 

life of the water heater. 

When you need a water heater that 

meets high hot water demand, saves 

energy and installs in difficult 

locations, think eF Series. It’s the 

ultimate good idea. 

www.bradfordwhite.com 

www.bradfordwhitecanada.com 

In Brief 

N.S. gas rebates 

Nova Scotia residents and business 

owners are being urged to 

switch to natural gas in the predominately 

oil-heated province. 

The joint government/industry 

sponsored Nova Scotia Natural 

Gas Equipment Rebate Program 

will provide customers of Heritage 

Gas Ltd. with up to $1,400 per 

household or small business if 

they make the switch. The incentives 

apply to ENERGY STAR®qualified 

(90%+ efficient) natural 

gas furnaces and residential natural 

gas boilers, natural gas fireplaces 

with a minimum efficiency 

of 60%, and sealed-combustion 

natural-gas DHW heaters. 

Offshore natural gas producers 

provide funding through the Gas 

Market Development Fund 

(GMDF). 

Do-it-for-me 

The trend towards 'do-it-yourself' 

may be fading, if a move by 

Home Depot is any indication. 

Home Depot chief financial officer 

Carol Tome recently told 

investors that the company would 

expand its services to cater to the 

'do-if-for-me' market. She reports 

that the fastest growing market 

segment are aging baby boomers 

who prefer - surprise, surprise - to 

have someone else do the work. 

As well, the company plans to 

open 15 more stores in Canada 

this year, including the first location 

in Newfoundland, bringing 

the total to 102. 

Boiler piping certification 

All organizations performing piping 

fabrication, installation, repair 

and alteration of boilers and other 

pressure vessels in Ontario were 

required to have a Certificate of 

Authorization from the Technical 

Standards & Safety Authority 

(TSSA) by May 1. As well, all 

organizations must have their 

quality system surveyed and 

accepted by Dec. 31. Contact: 

Larry Calvert, (416) 325-0595. 

SaskEnergy attracts $8.5 

million in heating sales 

An incentive program to promote 

the purchase of high efficiency 

heating equipment by SaskEnergy 

and Natural Resources Canada 

resulted in 2,054 customers 

installing more than $8.5 million 

in equipment from Sept. 8 to 

March 31, SaskEnergy reports. 

The utility funded the buy-down 

of the loan, an average of $300 

per customer, and NRCan provided 

$150 for every EnergyStarqualified 

piece of heating equipment 

that was financed. 

P R O D U C T S O N L Y F O R P R O F E S S I O N A L S 

©2004, Bradford White Corporation. All rights reserved. 


www.plumbingandhvac.ca

Building committee urges 60°C 

low-limit controls on DHW tanks 

The minimum operating temperature 

for domestic hot water heaters 

should remain at 60°C, says an ad 

hoc committee struck by national 

building code officials. The move followed 

a protest from Quebec over a 

last-minute plan to reduce the allowable 

tank temperature to 49°C, reported in 

the last issue of P&HVAC. 

In fact, according to documents 

obtained by P&HVAC, not only did the 

ad hoc committee recommend that the 

Canadian Commission on Building and 

Fire Codes (CCBFC) keep the minimum 

water tank temperature at 60°C, 

but it has written a letter to the 

Canadian Standards Association recommending 

that water heater standards 

be revised so that neither the homeowner 

nor plumber can turn the temperature 

below that figure. 

This runs directly counter to recommendations 

from Safe Kids Canada, 

which has been pushing the move to 

49°C DHW. In a press release dated Feb. 

26 the organization - 'the national 

injury prevention program of The 

Hospital for Sick Children' in Toronto - 

urged homeowners to '…lower their 

hot water thermostats to 49°C or to 

purchase anti-scald devices and always 

check their hot water temperatures in 

order to prevent burn injuries.' 

The industry, led by the Canadian Institute 

of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH), 

has been fighting any plan to reduce hot 

water temperature at the tank. The major 

concern, as reported in previous issues, is 

legionella bacteria proliferation. Legionella 

can survive in DHW to 55°C. 

The industry made a counter proposal 

that mixing valves or other anti-scald 

devices be installed at the fixture to reduce 

the water temperature. That was accepted, 

but the requirement that DHW tanks 

Industry News 

remain at 60°C was dropped in the final 

wording that went to the CCBFC in April. 

The CCBFC has now approved the 

modified proposal (Sect. 2.10.7, 

Maximum Hot Water Temperature, 

National Plumbing Code) as recommended 

by the ad-hoc committee. A 

third sentence has been added: 

'Adjusting the temperature of water 

stored in a storage tank water heater 

shall not be considered to satisfy the 

(49°C at the fixture) requirement.' An 

exception to the 49°C temperature 

required at the fixture has been allowed 

for dish and clothes washers. 

In addition, the CCBFC is urging 

CSA technical committees 'to add 

requirements for low limit controls preventing 

thermostat settings lower than 

60°C' on storage-type DHW tanks. 

In Brief 

HVAC shipments rise 

Unit heater shipments topped all 

categories of HVAC equipment 

shipments in the first quarter of 

2004 with a 27% increase over 

2003, the HRAI Statistics 

Committee reports. Shipments 

went from 6,023 in 2003 to 

7,668 this year. Chiller bookings 

also rose, up 19%, from 161 last 

year to 191 in the Jan.-March 

period this year. 

Commercial air conditioning products 

shipped climbed 6% to 

7,603 this year from 7,184 in 

the first quarter of 2003. 

Residential furnace shipments 

also increased, by 11%, from 

54,977 to 60,855 in the same 

period. However, residential air 

conditioning shipments fell 21% 

from 57,061 last year to 45,133 

in the Jan.-Mar. period of 2004. 

Venmar HRVs recalled 

CSA International and Venmar 

Ventilation have jointly announced 

a recall of an estimated 6,200 

Venmar, Flair and Heil Air 

Exchangers manufactured in 

Canada between 1994 and 1997. 

Full details and model numbers 

are available at www.csa-international.org/product_recalls. 

Venmar 

will provide a cover without 

charge to prevent water hitting an 

electronic circuit board. 

2009 Skills in Canada 

WorldSkills announced in Hong 

Kong in May that Calgary will host 

the 2009 WorldSkills Competitions. 

Held every two years with 

more than 40 countries participating, 

it was held in St. Gallen, 

Switzerland last year. The 

Southern Alberta Institute of 

Technology is one of the supporters 

of the bid and has had success 

in sending SAIT students to 

national and world competitions. 

Someone Put a Cap on R-22? 

Beginning January 2004, Environment Canada will implement a “cap” on the amount of HCFC 

that can be either manufactured or imported in Canada. Yet the demand for R-22 could continue 

to increase due to higher residential SEER requirements. 

If you service, manage, or specify air-conditioning systems we invite you to learn more about the 

quiet operation and outstanding reliability of systems charged with R-410A... because you can teach 

an old dog a new trick. 

St. Lawrence Chemical 

Exclusive distributor of Genetron refrigerants in Canada 

Ontario and Western Canada Tel: (416) 243-9615 Fax: (416) 243-9731 

Quebec and the Maritime Provinces Tel: (514) 457-3628 Fax: (514) 457-9773 

Find us at genetron.com 

www.plumbingandhvac.ca July/August 2004 – Plumbing & HVAC Product News 9 


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designed to please your clients for years. We rigorously test and 

thoroughly hand-inspect them to ensure superior performance and 

Signature ® Pull-Out 

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durability. Sure it’s extensive, but it virtually eliminates the follow-up 

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Waterfall ® Pull-Out 

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(model #473-SS) 

To learn more about how Delta Faucet can help your business, 

visit www.deltafaucet.com or call 1-800-345-DELTA (3358) 


A Masco Company

Letters 

Ontario HVAC trades 

over-licensed 

Gentlemen: 

Regarding the letter: 'Hydronics ticket 

needed', P&HVAC, page 8, May/June, 

2004: 

I am really upset with the statement 

'This trade needs to be licensed' in the 

above letter. This trade is licensed. I am 

a licensed tradesman and a licensed 

contractor who pays an ever increasing 

amount of money for licenses to the 

Technical Standards and Safety 

Authority (TSSA), the City of Toronto 

and various other municipal levels of 

government just for the privilege of 

working in the trade. The heating and 

HVAC trades are the most overlicensed, 

over-certified and over-controlled 

sector. 

Over the past several years the TSSA 

has required all certificate holders 

(steam and hydronic heating related) to 

upgrade their certificates or lose them, 

that simple. Many individuals and contractors 

have not been able to qualify 

for the necessary upgrades and have 

fallen by the wayside. 

The licensed installing trades person/contractor 

must follow the procedures 

set forth in the manufacturer's 

documentation, which must accompany 

the equipment being installed. These 

procedures spell out the minimum code 

requirements and basic installation 

schematics. Failure to follow these simple 

requirements may result in an unsafe 

installation and this should then be 

reported to the TSSA. 

The TSSA will then visit the site and 

determine the magnitude of the infractions 

and issue the necessary fines to the 

contractor and the installing trades person. 

Local fuel suppliers (fuel oil, 

propane, natural gas) are also required 

to inspect a new installation before 

delivering fuel to that site. 

Those of us who are qualified are 

fighting tooth and nail with the nonlicensed, 

one-man operations, who get 

all these jobs just because they are 

cheaper. Customers should be checking 

the validity of the contractor's qualifications, 

licenses, trade references, certificates 

of insurance and Workplace Insurance 

Safety Board (WISB) standing. 

After completion, the installer must 

leave, attached to the heating equipment, 

a tag or printout of the combustion 

analysis along with his address, phone 

number and registration number. 

No longer can the consumer hire a 

local plumber or handyman to install a 

heating boiler. A licensed plumber is no 

longer certified to install equipment 

that uses a hydrocarbon-based fuel to 

produce heat. There are many issues 

with carbon dioxide, venting, combustion 

air and fuel safety that the installer 

must know. 

In conclusion, there are sufficient 

trades people to do all the installation 

and service work presently available. 

Customers must do their homework 

before choosing a contractor - cheaper 

is not necessarily the best. Get three or 

more prices, discard the highest and the 

lowest quotes and only work with those 

contractors in the middle. Demand to 

see the contractors TSSA registration 

number/certificate and request a certificate 

of insurance. 

These few simple steps will guarantee 

that the best possible installation will be 

achieved. If not, call the authorities and 

let them do their work. Do not bite the 

bullet and have another contractor make 

alterations for you at additional cost. 

Mike Tate 

Service Department 

M.E.S. Controls 

Richmond Hill, Ont. 

PS: 

Sorry I got so wound-up, but this has 

been a pet peeve of mine for many years. 

I take on young people from my local 

area, train them for a minimum of 4,000 

hours, help get them licensed and give 

them the experience required to be honest 

and capable tradesmen. All around me so 

called ‘mechanical contractors’ that are 

raping customers blind and giving the 

industry a bad name. Unfortunately, we 

are seeing more general contractors and 

jobbers getting jobs and sub-letting the 

jobs to non-licensed people. I am sure we 

will have to experience a big disaster 

before the authorities take notice and 

really clamp down on the not so honest 

contractors. 

THIS IS NO LONGER 

A TWO DAY WAIT. 

IT’S A TWO MINUTE JOB 

RIGHT NOW. 

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Letters Policy 

Plumbing & HVAC Product News 

welcomes letters to the editor. Letters 

should include the writer’s name, 

name of business, town/city and telephone 

number (for verification only). 

The editor reserves the right to edit 

for grammar, spelling, length, etc. 



Environmental Solutions 

Drinking water systems 

Correct installation key in making reverse osmosis effective 


Just over four years ago the tainted 

water tragedy in Walkerton, Ont. 

made all Canadians view their municipal 

water supply with suspicion and 

drove a mass movement to bottled water. 

That trend shows no sign of abating 

despite measures taken by municipalities 

to ensure the safety of their supply. 

For many Canadians, it’s not just a 

safety issue. They are no longer willing 

to put up with poor taste, funky odours 

and distasteful colours. As a result, water 

treatment has quickly become a growth 

area for plumbing contractors. “In the 

last few years we have been seeing more 

plumbers get more involved in water 

treatment … because the plumbers’ customers 

are asking for these services …” 

reports Bryan Gilbart, vice president, 

marketing and sales, for Envirogard 

Products Ltd., Richmond Hill, Ont. 

Where the water supply is known to 

be safe, treating drinking and cooking 

water only – about two per cent of the 

typical family’s water use – is an effective 

remedy. (Fifty per cent of a home’s water 

use typically goes down the toilet.) 

Reverse osmosis 

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems have 

become the solution of choice for many 

contractors. The margins are good and 

they are not generally perceived as a ‘doit-yourself’ 

product. 

RO systems remove 95 to 98 per cent 

of organic and inorganic impurities 

through a combination of mechanical 

and RO filtering, reports Damon 

Seheult, customer service technical representative 

for EcoWater Canada Ltd., 

Mississauga, Ont. This puts the quality 

of RO water very close to distilled water. 

However, a big part of selling RO is 

educating the customer, who believes 

that removing minerals is a bad thing. 

“The most important thing to understand 

is that we don’t get the minerals 

we need from the water we drink. We 

drink water to cleanse our system and 

flush toxins, so the purer the better…” 

reports Denton Gaiser, national sales 

manager for USF WaterGroup Inc., 

Regina, Sask. 

Gord McFaul, EcoWater general 

manager, elaborates: “There are two 

Greg MacDonald installs an undersink RO unit in a church kitchen. 

types of minerals – organic and inorganic. 

Your body processes the organic 

minerals (from food) and doesn’t 

process inorganic minerals. The minerals 

in water are inorganic.” 

more like manufacturing water than 

filtering it, notes Gaiser. If the storage 

tank is drained, it takes time to refill. 

Therefore, the contractor should advise 

the customer to keep a jug of drinking 

water – from the RO unit – in the 

fridge. 

Like so many technologies, there are 

many different RO systems. Finding the 

right combination of filters for the particular 

water issue can be a challenge. 

Membrane separation 

Reverse osmosis works through a 

process called membrane separation. 

Raw water is forced through a semi-permeable 

membrane. It can reject particles 

as small as an atom. Impurities are 

flushed down the drain. 

Test the water 

A basic system consists of a pre-filter, Success in water treatment begins with 

the RO membrane, a post-filter and a a relatively simple, but critical, first step. 

storage tank. Additional filters and “The proper application of water treatment 

products begins with a water 

Individually, our brands have been 

options deal with various water quality 

well known in the HVAC community 

problems. The pre-filter is typically a analysis to determine what is in the 

for many years.Together, they 

sediment filter and there is also usually water,” noted Gaiser. “Only then can 

comprise the ECR International 

a carbon filter to remove chlorine. A you properly apply equipment …” In 

family of quality products, providing 

bladder-equipped storage tank holds fact one of the most common errors is 

you with a seamless, integrated 

two to three gallons and refills automatically 

as water is used. 

deal with the specific contaminant, he 

supplying equipment not designed to 

source for all your heating and 

cooling project requirements. ECR 

Residential systems typically produce added. 

makes specifying easier while giving 

from 12 to 50 gallons per day (GPD). A Suppliers offer testing for things like 

you more cross-selling flexibility. 

With extensive training programs, 

35 GPD unit is more than adequate for iron, hardness, PH, manganese and 

marketing & technical support, plus 

most homes, reports McFaul. 

other contaminants. Municipal waterworks 

on-going research and development, 

Plumbing is basically water-in, waterout 

departments may also be able to 

ECR International offers all the 

and a wastewater line plumbed into provide a water analysis. In rural areas, 

advantages of a solid partnership. 

the drain. An air-gap faucet prevents local health officials test for bacteria 

reverse flow into the RO unit if the and cysts. 

drain backs up. 

There are a couple of drawbacks to Installation issues 

RO. First, while excellent for removing The experts that spoke to P&HVAC 

dissolved materials, RO is not a good offered a number of suggestions for 

choice for removing bacteria such as e- effective installations of RO systems: 

Tel: 888-259-7253 

Fax: 519-627-4719 

coli or cysts. A whole-house ultra-violet • Iron in the water will damage the RO 

www.ecrltd.com 

filter should be installed before the RO membrane. This must be removed with 

unit where the water supply is contaminated. 

an effective pre-filter. 

Even where it’s not, this is a typi- 

• Calcium and magnesium can also 

Gas & Oil-Fired Furnaces / Residential Split Air-Conditioning Systems / Gas & Oil-Fired Hot 

cal safeguard on rural systems. 

damage the RO system. This can be 

Water Boilers / Hydronic Controls / Baseboard Radiation / Indirect-Fired Water Heaters 

Ductless Mini-Split Air-Conditioning Systems / Hydronic Air Handlers / Heat Pump Water Heaters 

Secondly, producing clean water prevented with a whole-house water 

through RO can be a slow process – it’s softener. 


12 Plumbing & HVAC Product News – July/August 2004 www.plumbingandhvac.ca

• The most difficult part of the installation 

is the drilling of the kitchen sink or 

counter top. If using an air gap faucet, 

this hole has to be 1-1/8" to 1-1/4" in 

diameter. 

• The RO unit can be installed in a 

basement or a remote location by 

extending the tubing supplied with the 

unit to reach the faucet. 

• Supplying refrigerator icemaker and 

water dispensing systems can be a problem. 

The solenoids, which activate 

internal valves to supply water to these 

systems, usually require a higher water 

pressure than an RO system provides. A 

booster or demand pump will solve the 

problem. 

• The supply line should be non-metallic 

tubing (polyethylene, PEX, etc.) RO 

water is aggressive and will dissolve 

copper. 

• Any water treatment equipment installed 

in Quebec must be NSF certified. 

This is not required in other provinces – 

yet. 

Maintenance 

Typically on a reverse osmosis unit the 

pre-filters are changed once a year and 

the membrane every three years. This 

offers the contractor an opportunity to 

sell a service contract. (This after-installation 

service is the bread and butter 

of most water treatment equipment 

dealers.) 

Less expensive solutions 

It should be noted that there are less 

expensive options for the customer. The 

solution to high chlorine content that 

makes tea and coffee taste like swamp 

swill can be a simple $50 carbon filter. 

While the equipment may not be 

expensive, the cost of the service call, 

future service opportunities and the 

goodwill from the customer can make 

these small jobs worthwhile. “These 

devices may be available at retail, but 

many of today’s homeowners still are 

reluctant to tackle the plumbing,” notes 

Gilbart. 

But today’s customers do expect their 

plumber to be an expert. Time spent 

learning effective water treatment will 

pay off on the bottom line. 


Belt, suspenders approach makes rural systems safe 

On a rainy Monday morning on 

the last day of May journeyman 

plumber Greg MacDonald and 

apprentice Russ Bateman of 

Lodder Brothers Plumbing are 

busy installing a complete water 

treatment system at Everton 

Presbyterian Church in the village 

of Everton, Ont., 25 kilometres 

east of their home base 

in Guelph. 

Neither the church nor the 

Ontario Ministry of the Environment 

is taking chances these days. 

Any church, school or community 

hall – anywhere the 

pubic gathers – where water is 

provided by a well system must 

have a state-of-the art water 

treatment system. 

The system at the church is 

typical. From the well pump pressure 

tank, the water flows through 

a water softener, which is critical 

to ensuring long service from the 

UV and RO filters. “They deteriorate 

quickly from water hardness,” 

notes MacDonald. 

From the softener the water 

travels through progressively 

smaller sediment filters – a 20- 

micron unit and then a fivemicron 

unit. It then goes into a 

15-gallon per minute ultra-violet 

(UV) filter that neutralizes any 

cysts or bacteria. The Wedeco UV 

unit includes a sensor that is connected 

to a control box. As well as 

telling the user things like the status 

of the bulb, it will shut down 

the water system if contaminants 

are detected. 

In the kitchen, an under-counter 

reverse osmosis unit provides 

further protection for drinking and 

cooking water. 

Like anything, effective operation 

can only be maintained 

through regular service. While 

none of the equipment is difficult 

to service, most customers prefer 

to have the plumbing company 

maintain the equipment through 

a service contract, noted 

MacDonald. 

A technician will come in once 

a year and replace the sediment 

filters along with the UV bulb and 

service the RO unit. 

Lodder Bros. service manager 

Dan Bernard reports that the 

company has seen water treatment 

grow to the point where it now 

makes up 10 per cent of its 

business. 

The company installs many 

drinking water only systems – 

typically reverse osmosis units – in 

the cities of Guelph, Kitchener 

and Waterloo. Whole house/building 

systems are the rule in rural 

areas. 

Russ Bateman, left, and MacDonald install controls for the ultraviolet system. 

This rural church is on a well system. Therefore, the system includes a water 

softener, sediment filters and the UV unit in addition to the RO unit for drinking 

and cooking water. 

 

 

 

 

MacDonald demonstrates his threehanded 

soldering technique. 




Drinking water system 

The North Star NS-435 reverse osmosis 

drinking water systems features fourstage 

filtration, 45 gallons per day water 

production with a 3.6-gallon storage 

tank. Quick-connect fittings and 

coloured tubing allows easy installation. 

This unit can be connected to refrigerator 

icemaker and water dispensing 

systems. This unit reduces lead 99%, 

cysts 99.99% and removes all dissolved 

solids. 

EcoWater Canada Circle no. 301 

Reverse osmosis 

Novatek drinking water systems from 

USF WaterGroup combine mechanical 

filtration with reverse osmosis for effective 

water treatment in point-of-use 

applications. All models include thinfilm 

composite RO membrane, sediment 

filter, activated carbon pre-filter, 

carbon post-filter, automatic shutoff, 

air gap faucet and polypropylene storage 

tank. Smartap faucet or push button 

monitored systems compare the quality 

of feed water to product water. 

USF WaterGroup Circle no. 302 

UV system 

Wedeco DLR Series ultraviolet disinfection 

systems are designed for residential 

and commercial point-of-entry 

systems. The unit is available in 12 

models in three configurations – the 

Model A with LED power and lampout 

indicators, the AP 

models with microcomputer 

controller 

providing automatic 

lamp replacement 

notification and the 

Model M that also 

includes a UV specific 

lamp output intensity 

monitor and status 

indication to meet 

stringent NSF Standard 

55 Class A requirements. 


Three-stage filter 

The Rainfresh DS2 drinking water system 

provides three-stage filtering which 

includes a replaceable 

activated 

carbon 

cartridge and 

silver impregnated 

cleanable/reusable 

ceramic cartridge. 

It traps 

and kills bacteria 

such as 

coliforms, faecal coliforms, E. coli to 

99.9999%, cysts to 99.9%, reduces 

chlorine taste and odours, and filters 

sediment as small as .3 microns. 

Envirogard Products Circle no. 304 

We put the pressure on 

so you’ll keep your cool. 

Certified Copeland compressors undergo a rigorous 

pressurized “burst test” to ensure they meet, and even 

exceed, UL standards. “Burst tests” are our way of guaranteeing 

you and your consumer receive the best service 

compressor available. It’s also one of the reasons why 

Copeland is a global leader of the HVAC industry. 

So relax – our “burst tests” ensure Copeland compressors won’t 

melt under pressure. 

Give Copeland your toughest test. We’re built to take it. 

Under-sink water filter 

The Rainfresh FC200 is a standard 

under-sink activated carbon water filter 

ideal for use where the drinking water, 

although 

safe, tastes 

like swamp 

water. This 

unit reduces 

chlorine taste 

and odours 

along with 

sediment. 

The replaceable filter is a CF2 20 micron 

(nominal) activated carbon, dual duty, 

taste odour, chlorine, and sediment cartridge. 

It is recommended for use on 

one drinking water outlet. 

Envirogard Products Circle no. 305 

Point-of-use 

Novatek Ultra 3 advanced multi-stage 

filtration systems are available in standard, 

faucet flow and push-button 

monitored systems. Monitored systems 

indicated cartridge status with coloured 

lights. NSF-listed systems are certified 

Certified Copeland compressors are only available at Copeland Primesource Wholesalers. 

www.copeland-corp.com • 145 Sherwood Drive • Brantford, Ontario N3T 5S7 • 519.756.6157 


to reduce turbidity and filterable cysts. 

Chemical reduction within the capacity 

of 1750 gallons includes volatile organic 

compounds, lead and chlorine reduction 

when used with monitored models. 

Quick connect fittings and coloured 

tubing makes installation a snap. 


www.plumbingandhvac.ca

Hot Water Heating 

Part I 

Water quality in 

hydronic systems 

High efficiency boilers require special care 

By Roy Collver 

There is much 

confusion in 

the industry 

over water quality 

requirements for 

hydronic system fill. 

How do you test 

water, what do you 

test for, what do you do if it’s not up to 

snuff and how do you keep it good once 

you get it there? 

Unfortunately, the major boiler and 

component manufacturers are in large 

part surprisingly silent on the water 

quality issue. In a typical installation or 

technical data manual, you read vague 

statements such as: “In areas of known 

problems, treatment for boiler feed 

water should be considered.” 

Some manufacturers have had severe 

damage done to their equipment due to 

corrosion from oxygen contamination 

(not really a feed water quality issue) 

and include statements specifically 

addressing this issue. They all fall short, 

however, of what I would like to see in 

manufacturers’ literature. This should 

include a list of water quality parameters 

acceptable for use as system fill with 

their equipment – parameters such as 

maximum/minimum pH levels, maximum 

dissolved minerals, etc. 

However, it should probably be noted 

that this lack of detail makes one 

important point: There is not a major 

problem with damage from poor water 

quality in the vast majority of hydronic 

heating systems, so you can relax a little. 

However, if a manufacturer does 

include specific instructions as to 

required water quality parameters, pay 

very, very close attention and do what 

they say. The increase in low mass, small 

water passage, high efficiency boilers, 

often with heat exchangers made of different 

materials than typically used in 

North America (like aluminum), manufacturers 

are starting to spell out 

details specific to their equipment. 

Don’t assume anything without thoroughly 

reading the literature for these 

details. 

made selling water treatment chemicals. 

The good news is that most of this stuff 

is for process steam boilers that are 

using 100% make up water, and not 

really of concern to us. Most closed loop 

hydronic systems will never need chemical 

treatment. 

The four most serious problems that 

show up in boiler feed water (which can 

adversely affect the components in a 

closed loop system) are: 

1) Aggressive water as related to: 

pH level: slightly alkaline is good for 

ferrous components; acidic is bad 

(acidic water will eat metallic components). 

Aluminum can be attacked on 

both sides of the pH spectrum – below 

4 or above 8.5. 

Ion content (softness): Mountain 

water, de-ionized water and reverse 

osmosis water are bad because they 

don’t have many metal ions in them and 

therefore are aggressive to the metallic 

components of your system. 

Electrical conductivity: This is a 

function of the amount and types of 

dissolved minerals and chlorides in the 

system. 

Aggressive water leads to corrosion of 

metallic components through a number 

of chemical and electro-chemical reactions, 

mostly to do with ion exchange 

(like in a battery) from the metal 

(anode) into the electrolyte (water). 

Two bad things happen – the metal ions 

dissolve into the water (thinning and 

pitting the metal) and then they combine 

with other ‘stuff’ in the water to 

form nasty deposits. 

2) Dissolved minerals 

The most common mineral found is 

calcium carbonate. Often called ‘lime’, it 

precipitates out of the water and, especially 

at high temperatures, forms a 

scale deposit on heat transfer surfaces, 

thus reducing their effectiveness and 

contributing to premature failure. 

Other common minerals of concern are 

silica, soluble iron and sulfates. 

Water quality hasn’t traditionally been a major concern in most boiler 

installations. However, as efficiencies increase, so too does the need for 

clean feedwater. (File photo) 

can easily thrive in medium to low 

temperature glycol solutions that have 

low or depleted inhibitor levels or in 

uninhibited water with a high level of 

other organic solids. Bacteria create 

organic acids to eat away your system 

components. 

Sounds pretty scary right? What to 

do? Well, surprisingly enough, there are 

some really simple rules. Put on your 

common sense hats here and have a 

hard look at what you are putting in 

your system. I will cover some of the 

standard fixes for feed water quality 

problems in the next issue, but I will 

leave you with a hint as to the best solution 

– why put bad stuff in your boiler 

in the first place? 

 

 

3) Un-dissolved particulate 

Water quality basics 

matter (suspended solids) 

So what do we need to know about This can include organic or inorganic 

water quality? There is a lot to learn if 

solids. Inorganic solids like silt and 

you want to be an expert. Read Chapter fine clays can settle out in areas of low 

47 of the ASHRAE Applications velocity and plug up the system. Coarse 

Handbook for starters and branch out solids like sand can cause serious pitting 

 

from there. The chemistry is far too of components in areas of high velocity. 

complex to go into in this article, but I Organic stuff such as algae and other 

will try and cover the basics and then plant material can plug components as 

zoom in on some specifics of closed well as become a breeding ground for 

loop hydronic systems. 

bacteria. 

 

 

An Internet search for ‘boiler water 

 

treatment’ netted 201,000 results – 4) Bacterial growth 

 

mostly from chemical suppliers. This Uncommon in high temperature 

tells me that there’s a lot of money to be (over 160°F) heating systems, bacteria 



Once we installed the new three-valve 

Triton V- 8 , we had to strengthen the 

headrests. 

Three valves instead of two – who 

would have thought? 

It’s an amazing thing, blank paper. 

When it’s given to the right people, 

great things can happen. 

Someone says, “Hey, let’s use three 

valves instead of two.” Then someone 

else says, “We can use a longer spark 

plug to deliver a spark 

deeper into the combustion 

chamber.” 

So it was done. The 

seeds of the 5.4L threevalve 

Triton V-8 had been 

300HP TRITON 

planted. The result is a 

motor that delivers 365 

1 

foot pounds of torque – 

80% of which is available 

at just 1000rpm. 

Now with the added goodness 

of torque. 

Our engineers managed to 

coax every single, tiny, little foot 

pound of torque from every nook, 

cranny and crevice of this engine. 

There’s nowhere torque can hide. The 

three-valve design allows approximately 100 

cubic feet per minute of additional airflow. 

The pistons have longer side skirts for quieter 

operation. 

The cast-iron block is perfectly balanced 

for impressive power yet better fuel 

efficiency. And we haven’t even begun to 

• 3-VALVE 5.4L 

TRITON V-8 

• 300 HORSEPOWER 

• 365LBS. OF TORQUE 

• 80% TORQUE 

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• 3 VALVES FLOW 

100 CU. FT./MIN. 

MORE AIR 

• CAMSHAFT 

TIMING ADJUSTS 

TO SPEED/LOAD 

3 

2 

tell you about our new 

camshaft technology yet. 

Variable Camshaft Timing. 

The multiple personality 

camshaft. 

It’s kind of like the 

Swiss Army Knife theory 

but applied to camshaft 

technology. 

Or, like having a 

different camshaft for every 

job without the headache 

of constantly changing the 

camshaft. 

Basically, Variable 

Camshaft Timing (VCT) 

allows the valves to operate 

at the most optimal points 

in the combustion cycle. 

The result? 

The perfect cam profile for your specific 

engine speed and load. 

It’s the most technically advanced engine 

management system that we’ve ever put 

into a pickup truck. 

Couldn’t just leave well-enough alone now 

could we? 

We could’ve just left 

everything the way it was. 

But you know what they 

say about resting on your 

laurels. That’s right, you 

shouldn’t. 

THE F-150 

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Heating 

Wet base boiler 

The Newmac NBR 3001 lowboy steel 

boiler features a three-pass wet base-wet 

back design with 16 two-inch boiler 

tubes for high 

efficiency. 

Other features 

include frontrear 

return line, 

rear flue connections 

and an 

internal mixing 

baffle on the 

return line. Burner options include 

Riello F10 and Beckett CF 375 oil burners 

with Delevan/Hago nozzles. 

Available in capacities from 179,000 to 

300,000 Btuh, efficiencies range from 

80.8 to 85.4 AFUE. 

Newmac Mfg. Circle no. 307 

Hydronic scrubber 

Taco offers two models of scrubber separators, 

which are installed before a centrifugal 

pump. The 4900-A model 

removes air and microbubbles and the 

4900-AD model removes air and dirt 

from hydronic 

heating and 

chilled water 

systems. Features 

include 

PALL rings for 

effective separation 

of 

solids from 

system fluids 

and an enlarged 

bottom/ 

non-turbulent zone for effective particle 

removal. These units meet ASME 

standards. 

Taco Canada Circle no. 308 

Dissolves scale 

RYDLYME dissolves tough water scale, 

lime, mud, and rust deposits from 

almost all water-based equipment, including 

boilers, chillers, and heat exchangers. 

The manufacturer reports that 

Tankless water heater 

EverHot on-demand gas water heaters 

from Bradford White are available in 

two residential and two commercial 

versions, from 15,000 to 180,000 Btu/hr 

for indoor models and 15,000 to 199,000 

Btuh/hr for 

outdoor models. 

Features include 

an integrated 

digital 

controller on 

indoor models 

and a remote 

controller for 

outdoor models. 

Bradford White Canada Circle no. 311 

Hi-intensity IR heaters 

The Classic Series S high intensity 

infrared heaters provide directed, costeffective 

heat for cold spots. Features 

include noncorrosive 

aluminized 

steel 

construction, 

unique pattern 

high output 

ceramics, 

performance 

enhancing screens, modular head construction, 

in five sizes from 33,000 to 

160,000 Btuh (natural gas) and 30,000 

to 120,000 (LP). 

Superior Radiant Products Circle no. 312 

Geothermal systems 

Enertran ground-source heat pumps 

and hybrid systems are available with 

six underground loop designs in liquidto-liquid 

or liquid-to-air versions. 

Applications include partial or ondemand 

DHW, pool water and other 

heating applications with heat recovery. 

Other features include dehumidification 

control, seven access doors and 

LED diagnostic lights. Pumps are built 

in and pre-wired. Backup heating in 10, 

15 or 20 kW is available. 

Enertran Technologies Circle no. 313 

Thermostatic valves 

MEPCO THV valves feature integral 

union tailpieces, internal remote bulb 

wall-mounted and dual capillary sensor 

configurations, fail open or fail closed 

operation, valve inserts that permit 

Schwank offers the widest selection 

of heaters in the industry for 

wide-open patios, “tight spots” 

and even under canopies. And 

only Schwank offers portable or 

fixed options for either propane 

tank or natural gas connection 

with all of our models. 

So choose one of our patio 

heaters and raise a glass to 

patioSchwank. 

Patio customers are staying 

for last call. 

Bernd Schwank, 

Chairman 

Schwank International 

Group of Companies 

Heat Transfer Coils & 

Corrosion Protection Coatings 

operation with steam pressure to 15 

psig and 

250° F, 

optional 

guards. 

They are 

available in 

all common 

patterns 

and 

connection 

configurations, from 1/2-inch through 

1-1/4-inch, for residential, commercial 

and industrial comfort heating systems. 

Atmosphair C&I Circle no. 314 

patioSchwank 

S E R I E S 2 3 0 0 

patioSchwank 

S E R I E S 3 0 0 0 

Authorized Schwank Stocking Distributors 

patioSchwank 

S E R I E S 4 0 0 0 

patioSchwank 

S E R I E S 1 1 0 0 

BOUTETTE & BARNETT 

S. ONTARIO WOLSELEY MECHANICAL GROUP W CANADA 

NIAGARA PLUMBING SUPPLY S. ONTARIO B.A.ROBINSON CO 

MANITOBA 

MARKS SUPPLY 

S ONTARIO G.MITCHELL 

QUEBEC 

SINCLAIR SUPPLY 

W CANADA MACLEOD & GRANT 

MARITIMES 

ECCO HEATING PRODUCTS W CANADA LENNOX 

NATIONAL 

YORK 

ONTARIO 

Schwank Ltd. • Tel.: (905) 712-4766 • Fax: (905) 712-8336 • www.schwankheaters.com 


this powerful liquid is non-toxic, noninjurious, 

non-flammable, non-hazardous, 

non-corrosive and biodegradable. 

In other words, it won’t harm personnel, 

equipment or the environment. 

Ontor Ltd. Circle no. 309 

Temperature gauge 

The Digit-Stat DS-60P LED dual digital 

temperature gauge for hydronic heating 

systems display supply and return temperatures. 

It 

features 

minimum/ 

maximum 

memory. A 

universal 

sensor (thermistor) probe is designed to 

strap on a pipe or insert in a temperature 

well. Power for this Canadianmade 

instrument is either 24 volt AC or 

a lithium battery. The company is seeking 

distributors. 

Azel Technologies Inc. Circle no. 310 

Madok Manufacturing is the 

Canadian licencee for 

Heresite Protective Coatings Inc. 

Manitowoc, WI 

■ New Coil Applications 

■ Exact Coil Replacements 

■ Rapid Delivery 

■ Heresite Protective Coatings 

MANUFACTURING LIMITED 

50 Morrell St., Brantford, Ontario N3T 4J5 

Tel (519) 756-5760 Fax (519) 756-5768 

mail@madok.com www.madok.com 



Ventilation 

Air filter monitor 

The Air Filter Alert monitor tells homeowners 

when to change or clean an air 

filter. It features 

a photo sensor 

and computer 

board, which 

counts the revolutions 

of a pinwheel 

to a baseline 

speed at 

startup. This 

then activates an 

alarm when the 

filter clogs with dirt and the revolutions 

per second slow by 20 per cent, or to a 

pre-set time. It can establish and monitor 

up to eight baseline speeds simultaneously. 

Evolution Air Circle no. 315 

A/C balancing manual 

This field practice manual for testing, 

adjusting and balancing air conditioning 

systems from HRAI features basic 

formulas for 

air flow and 

fans. It also 

includes information 

on 

adjusting belts, 

pulleys, motors 

and fans; duct 

pressures; air 

mixtures at the 

coil; use of 

basic instruments; 

testing exhaust hoods and trouble 

shooting fans, charts and reference 

tables. 

HRAI Canada Circle no. 316 

Bypass ERV 

Breeze residential static plate energy 

recovery ventilators (ERVs) by Renew- 

Aire mount directly to the furnace or air 

conditioning return air duct. Installation 

requires only two collar connections. 

Features include an adjustable 

built-in proportional run time control. 

This unit complies with the ASHRAE 

62.2 residential ventilation standard. 

Mitsubishi Electric Circle no. 317 

Air conditioners 

Chigo, China’s third-largest air conditioning 

manufacturer, offers mini-splits 

in 9,000 and 12,000 Btuh sizes, integrated 

heat pumps, active enzyme technology, 

remote control, intelligent defrost, 

independent dehumidification, poweroff 

memory, timers and quiet compressors. 

A portable unit provides 9,000 

Btu/hr of cooling and electric heating. 

Evolution Air Circle no. 318 

Heat pumps upgraded 

KeepRite SoftSound 1200+ 12 SEER 

split-system heat pumps now feature a 

thicker fan coil and a metal capacitor. 

Models are 

available 

from 1.5 to 5 

tons with efficiencies 

up 

to 8.6 HSPF. 

Features 

include easy 

access control 

panel, 

longer service valve stubs (3.5-in.) and 

scroll compressors with a 10-year warranty. 

These units can be installed within 

six inches of the house. 

ICP Circle no. 319 

Personal space cooler 

The PC7, MovinCool’s first personalsize 

portable commercial self-contained 

space cooler, includes 

a remote 

control, runs on 

110 volts and provides 

up to 7,000 

Btuh performance. 

The Office 

Pro, recipient of 

several industry 

honours, services 

larger areas with 

10,000 Btuh and a 

fully integrated air exhaust system. 

G. R. Williams Circle no. 320 

Belt-drive blower 

Continental Fan’s TCB belt-drive 

blower meets the AMCA ‘B’ sparkresistant 

code. It combines TEK 

efficient backward-curved airfoil 

wheels with high efficiency NEMA single 

or threephase 

TEFC 

frame motors. 

Features 

include a 

BCA glassreinforced 

polyamide 

impeller 

that is stronger 

than steel but half its weight. It 

offers clockwise rotation in five positions 

at capacities to 8,000 cfm. 

Continental Fan/Aeroflo Circle no. 321 



Air Conditioning 

Home air cleaner 

The IQAir HealthPro exceeds the most 

stringent certified HEPA filter test, EN 

1822 for hospitals-laboratories, the 

manufacturer reports. Features include 

a cleanroomgrade 

Hyper- 

HEPA filter, 

pre-filter, 

five-chamber 

gas and odour 

V5-Cell with 

activated carbon 

and impregnated 

active alumina 

filters. 

This Swiss-made unit includes a powerful 

fan with six speeds, programmable 

timer, double housing walls, eight shock 

absorbers, filter life monitor, EvenFlow 

diffuser, and five-year warranty. 

IQAir Group Circle no. 322 

filter. Both handle 0.8 gph at 26-ft. 

head, operate on 115 or 230v AC and 

include a water level sensor. 

EZ Trap Inc. Circle no. 325 

Heating/cooling valves 

Oventrop of Germany introduces a 

range of valves for automatic and manual 

balancing of hydronic and cooling 

systems. The Hycocon and Hydrocontrol 

Series include double regulating 

and commissioning, regulating, differential 

pressure and flow regulator, and 

isolating and orifice valves. One valve 

provides for pre-setting, measuring, 

isolating, filling or draining. Each 

model is supplied with mounted pressure 

test point and drain valve, and 

install in supply or return. 

Atmosphair C&I Circle no. 326 

Humidity/temperature 

transmitter 

Rotronic M2-series HygroClip transmitters 

feature digital signal processing, 

interchangeable probes, sensor accuracy 

of ±1.5% RH / ±0.3° C and stability of 

1%+ RH per year. They are easily calibrated 

and validated on-site using the 

HygroPalm 3 calibrator. They are available 

in two-wire loop-powered or 

three-wire, duct, wall, and remotemount 

versions. 

Alpha Controls Circle no. 327 

12-SEER air conditioner 

The Tempstar SmartComfort Enviromax 

2200 air conditioner by ICP is 

rated at 12-SEER. This high efficiency is 

achieved with Copeland scroll compressors, 

twospeed 

fan 

motors, and 

R-410A refrigerant. 

An 

enhanced 

control panel 

cover allows 

access to refrigerant 

ports 

and connections without removing the 

cover. Other features include a thicker fin 

coil and enhanced coil guard inlet grille 

protection. 

ICP Circle no. 323 

PTAC controller 

The DigiSmart digital control board for 

Amana PTACs features energy management 

system programs on-board that 

connect to wired and radio-frequencybased 

wireless EMS systems. Features 

include button activated LED, digital 

programming interface, control via 

touch-pad, a wired remote thermostat 

or a remote wireless thermostat, front 

desk control, 18-hour automatic setback 

and enhanced dehumidification 

and diagnostics. 

Goodman Canada Circle no. 324 

Condensate pumps 

Aspen Pumps (UK) offers two condensate 

pump kits for 24,000, 30,000 Btu/hr 

mini-splits: The Mini Orange model 

offers two reservoir options and above 

ceiling or inside lineset cover. The Mini 

Lime pump features left or right lineset 

cover. Both are self-levelling and/or selfpriming 

with a cleanable stainless steel 



Professional, responsive 

customer service 

Faster installation 

More adaptable connections 

Easier maintenance 

Most complete package of pipe 

connectors and hangers 

For the most painless pipe installation and greatest cost 

savings, choose the Gruvlok ® system. The advantages of 

grooved-end couplings, flanges and 

fittings that install quickly means 

you can significantly reduce labor 

time and cost. Later on, maintenance, 

retrofit and expansion can be 

accomplished more easily and in 

much less time than with conventional 

flanged or threaded systems. Plus, working with Mueller 

Flow Control means you will have 

solid product support when and 

where you need it from the manufacturer 

with unmatchable experience 

in piping systems. Experience the 

Gruvlok ® difference and save more 

than just the headaches – save time 

and expense. 

Tel: 877-GRUVLOK 

(877-478-8565) 

www.gruvlok.ca 

Check Out New Website at www.gruvlok.ca 


Drain Tech 

Ouch! Nasty diseases 

can lurk in drains 

Taking the correct safety precautions a must 

By Warren Law 

As a drain cleaning 

specialist, are 

you in danger of 

contracting diseasecausing 

bacteria and 

viruses? 

Every day we hear 

of old diseases returning 

and hear names of 

new viruses, many of them unpronounceable. 

HIV and AIDS are the most 

mentioned, but there are many others. 

When we watch the medical and 

police/crime investigation shows on TV 

we see everybody wearing latex gloves. 

One police show asked those investigating 

to be double-gloved. This is definitely 

not a fashion statement. 

Workers in the drain cleaning industry 

can also be exposed to many of the 

same infections and viruses that police, 

ambulance and health workers fear. It is 

not a common occurrence, but as diseases 

become more resistant the chance 

of contracting something grows. 

Should you be concerned? Without 

wanting to raise undue alarm, anyone 

who works around drains should be 

aware of the diseases that can be transmitted 

through sewage. Following are 

some of the key dangers: 

• Hepatitis A and B is a serious inflammation 

of the liver. 

• Amoebic dysentery is an inflammation 

of the colon that leads to painful 

passage of bloody, mucoid stools. 

• Infectious jaundice produces headaches, 

severe muscle aches, chills and fever. 

Reduce your 

hot water bill. 

Buy a Bosch WR400-7K 

• Tetanus is an acute infection that produces 

intermittent spasms of muscles. 

• Typhoid fever is a lymphatic tissue 

infection characterized by fever and 

intestinal disorders. 

• Paraphoid fever is a milder form of 

typhoid fever. 

If you are properly protected on the 

job then you can minimize or prevent 

the threat. Proper protection includes: 

• Proper inoculation. This is common 

for hepatitis B in our industry. 

• Wear safety goggles. Bacteria on dirty 

hands that touch the eyes can cause illness. 

Goggles also protect your eyes 

from flying debris and acids. 

• Hand protection. Gloves keep contaminated 

water from getting into cuts 

or scrapes on your hands. 

• Wear coveralls. The fewer openings 

for contamination to enter, the less the 

risk. It is difficult to cut clothing-covered 

skin. Cover the arms and hands 

also to prevent injury. 

• Don't touch your face. Don't touch 

your eyes, ears or mouth. And do not 

touch anyone else. 

• Your first line of defence is your skin. 

Treat cuts and abrasions, then cover 

them. Consult a doctor to be on the safe 

side. 

• Wash up. Use an anti-bacterial soap 

and hot, soapy water. Some microorganisms 

may go on living on your skin 

if you do not remove them. 

• Eat right and stay active. This helps 

fight off any infectious organisms. 

Following the above suggestions will 

reduce your risk of contracting 

bacterial infections or viruses. 

Latex gloves are becoming 

more widely used because they 

are durable, but at the same 

time are thrown away after each 

job. This means not having to 

keep a smelly set of gloves in 

the truck. However, latex gloves 

can also be worn under the 

leather gloves provided with 

the machines. 

Every drain cleaning contractor 

should have procedures in 

place to prevent workers from 

being exposed to contamination. 

It is the responsibility of every 

drain cleaning technician to follow 

them. It is their health that is 

at stake. 

ANSI Z358.1-1998 compliant 

Thermostatic Water Mixing Valves 

for Emergency Showers 

Disposable latex gloves are quickly gaining 

acceptance among drain cleaning workers. 

Leonard Valve Company produces 

the world’s most complete line of 

thermostatic mixing valves for 

emergency eyewash, eye/face 

wash, drench and combination 

showers. The new TM-5100 

model, thermostatic mixing 

valve, provides tepid water up 

to 126 GPM (477 1/min) and 

includes an integral cold water 

by pass, locked temperature 

adjustment set for 85°F, integral 

hot and cold supply checkstops, 

outlet dial thermometer and wall support, all 

factory assembled and tested. 

1360 Elmwood Avenue, Cranston, RI 02910, 888-797-4456, Fax 401-941-5310 

www.leonardvalve.com info@leonardvalve.com 


Tankless Hot Water Heater 

• No standing pilot • Saves space 

• Reduces CO2 emissions • Saves $'s 

80% Energy Efficient 

Call 1-800-663-8405 

Astravan Distributors Ltd. 

website: www.astravan.com 

Circle Number 125 for More Info 



Faucets & Fixtures 

Bath Accessories 

Moen’s Creative Specialties division has 

launched three accessory lines – Emery, 

Henley and Reed. Reed’s distinctive eyelets 

attach the 

towel bar and 

ring to the 

contemporary 

posts to 

enhance the 

décor. They 

are available 

in bright 

chrome or a polished nickel finish with 

brushed nickel accents. All three lines 

offer a robe hook, pivoting paper holder, 

towel ring, glass shelf, and two towel 

bars. The convenient pivot arm replaces 

the spring-mounted roller for loading 

rolls. 

Moen Inc. Circle no. 328 

Decorative panels 

Swanstone offers 36 x 96-inch decorative 

panels for bath walls, shower stalls, 

wainscoting and kitchen back splashes. 

Twenty-nine colours are available in 

three-dimensional 

textures 

and patterns, 

vertical 

bead board, 

variegated 

vertical and 

horizontal brushed squares, textured 

pebble look and a geometric design of 

textured squares surrounded by vertical 

and horizontal rectangles. 

G.F. Thompson Circle no. 329 

Fresh new look 

Moen’s popular Chateau line now features 

consumer-preferred softer, cleaner 

style lines, high arc spouts (shown) and 

new handle options, including updated 

one and two-handle acrylic knob handles 

and new lever handles with 

red/blue, hot/cold indicators. Other 

components include a streamlined side 

sprayer, new 

bar and laundry 

faucets, 

three and 

four-hole 

Roman tub 

faucets, 

bidets and 

shower suites 

with Posi-Temp pressure-balancing 

control valves. 

Moen Inc. Circle no. 330 

Wash basins 

Meridian wash basins from Acorn come 

in stainless steel and Corterra solid surface 

materials. Models include the 

Kurve 3793 curved front multiple wash 

basin units, the 3713 and the 3714 

stainless steel multi-basin units with 

arching faucets and soap dispensers. 

Acudor Acorn Circle no. 331 

Hand dryer 

Jet Towel is a high-speed hand dryer 

with dual arc-shaped nozzles and jet 

airflow at 90 metres per second which 

blows water off 

the hands in 

the drying cavity 

to quickly 

dry them (in 

5-12 seconds). 

Operating cost 

is less than 

with conventional 

hand 

dryers, the 

manufacturer reports. These units are 

available in wall-hung or floor stand 

models. 

Mitsubishi Electric Circle no. 332 

Product Profile 

TOTO enters faucet market 

TOTO has launched three new 

faucet lines into the North 

American market. The introduction 

of the Nexus, Mercer and Baldwin 

collections mark the first move 

into faucets by the Japanese 

fixture giant. 

The Nexus line of tub and lavatory 

faucets features minimalist 

design that ‘invokes nature’s elemental 

beauty’, reports the manufacturer. 

Tub spout height allows 

deck or bath mount. 

The Mercer Collection offers a 

classic look that is designed to coordinate 

with the TOTO Mercer Bath 

Suite. The finish is polished 

chrome. 

The Mercer collection offers a 

classic look in chrome. 

Compact toilet 

The Newport 17-inch Space-Saver onepiece 

elongated 

toilet features a 

floor-to-tank 

height of 26-1/4- 

inches, wall-tofront-of-rim 

length of 28- 

1/2-inches, same 

December 17, 1903, the 

Wright Brothers soar 

into history with the 

first powered flight. 

Already in business for 

283 years, by 1903 

Wirsbo was producing 

steel pipe. Today Wirsbo 

continues to pioneer 

new technologies with 

the manufacturing of 

PEX tubing for 

The Baldwin shower mixer flows 

14-16 gpm. 

Also in chrome, the Baldwin lavatory 

and bath-shower mixer combine 

traditional elements with modern 

design. The deck-mount shower 

mixer has laminar flow at up to 16 

gpm, as do the tub spouts for the 

Mercer and Nexus lines. 

All faucets, available in centreset, 

widespread or mini-spread configurations, 

feature solid brass valves 

with a 90-degree turn ceramic cartridge. 

Flexible connections and top 

mounting makes for quick and easy 

installation. 

space as standard-rim models, plus a 

16-1/8-inch rim height, with Eljer’s E- 

Force gravity flushing system, two-inch 

trap size, colour-matched premium 

seat, chlorine-resistant flapper and 7-1/2 

x 8-1/2-inch water surface. 

Eljer Circle no. 333 

Kitchen pre-rinse 

The LK7420 residential-scale dish spray 

features a single-control joy-stick-like 

handle to 

t o g g l e 

between the 

standard 

stream and 

spray modes, 

an eightinch 

reach, 

a stainless 

steel braided hose that can be handheld 

for a pre-rinse or secured for 

hands-free operation. 

Elkay Circle no. 334 

Pedestal lav 

The Tosca pedestal lavatory features a 

4-inch or 8-inch centre, providing customers 

with a 

wider choice of 

faucets, in white 

and biscuit colours. 

It is from 

the Tosca Collec- 

plumbing and radiant 

tion with a countertop 

floor heating systems. 

lavatory 

and a toilet, 

Visit us at www.wirsbo.ca for more information, or call 1-888-994-7726 

available in white, onyx, natural and 

biscuit finishes. 

Eljer Circle no. 335 



Top 100 

Innovation key in Top 100 

Some industry critics accuse contractors 

of being set in their ways 

and resistant to new technologies. 

If the results of the Plumbing & HVAC 

Product News Top 100 product survey 

for 2003/04 are any indication, nothing 

could be further from the truth. 

Compiled from the number of 

requests for information that each 

product received on the P&HVAC 

Reader Service Card from July 2003 to 

June 2004, the only thing that the top 

three products have in common is that 

they a) involve plumbing and b) they 

fulfill a need. 

The number one product for the past 

1 

Rough-in RFH 

The Rough-In Ready RFH piping system 

from Waterline Products took top spot in 

this year’s survey. This system is installed 

into the floor slab of new homes or commercial 

buildings before the concrete is 

poured for connecting later to a heat 

source when the basement is finished. 

Waterline Products Circle no. 336 

2 

year, as chosen by our readers, was the 

Rough-In Ready radiant floor piping 

system from Waterline Products. 

Featured in the November/December, 

2003 issue, this packaged radiant floor 

system is installed in the floor slab prior 

to pouring concrete. 

Residential fire sprinklers are drawing 

considerable interest these days. 

Featured in the January/February issue, 

the Uponor/Wirsbo AquaSafe residential 

fire sprinkler system placed a close second 

in reader requests for information. 

The third place winner solves a difficult 

problem that plumbers often face - 

how to replace a buried line without 

The Top 100 

New Product 

Awards 

COMPANY 

1 Waterline Products . . . . . . . . . . . . Rough-In-Ready RFH System 

2 Wirsbo Div. Uponor Canada . . . . . Aquasafe Fire Sprinkler System 

3 Wheeler Rex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pipe Slice System 

4 Takagi Industrial Co. . . . . . . . . . . T-Kd20 Water Heater 

5 Britech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nexan Electric Radiant Heating 

6 Roth North America . . . . . . . . . . . Radiant Panel System Manual 

7 Mag Tool Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lightwave Led Flashlights 

8 Sanuvox Technologies . . . . . . . . . Ultraviolet Bio-Wall Air Purifier 

9 Myson Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New European Radiators 

10 Solatube International Inc . . . . . . Solar Star Attic Ventilator-Light System 

11 CGF Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tjernlund In-Forcer Vent System 

12 Rheem Canada Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . RTG Series Tankless Water Heater 

13 Mag Tool Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plumbers' Hot Dam 

14 AMTS Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ADP Hydronic Air Handler 

15 Tjernlund Products Inc . . . . . . . . . In-Forcer Vent System 

16 Mag Tool Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mill-Rose Ringbuster 

17 Evolution Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bio-Fighter Ultraviolet Triad 

18 TSI Inc Health-Safety Instruments HVAC Assessment Handbook 

19 Kamco Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pro-Tec Plus Fuel Oil Tubing 

20 Rehau Industries Inc . . . . . . . . . . Raupanel RFH System 

21 Field Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ultraviolet-Air Purifier 

22 Gas Solutions Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . Superstor Ultra Indirect Water Heater 

23 Evolution Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bio-Fighter Ultraviolet Xl 

24 IBC Technologies Inc . . . . . . . . . . Vfc Fixed Fire Boilers 

25 Niagara Flapperless Inc. . . . . . . . N2226, N2216 Tip-Bucket Flush 

26 Rheem Canada Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . Pronto Rtg-42pv Water Heater 

27 UV Pure Technologies Inc. . . . . . . Hallet 13 & 30 Water Purifiers 

28 Slant/Fin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harmony Series Towel Warmers 

29 Bradford White Canada Inc . . . . . Powerstor DHW Heaters 

digging. The Pipe Slice from Wheeler 

Rex was also featured in the November/ 

December issue. (Please see full details 

of these products at left. 

On-demand water heaters dominated 

last year's survey. Considerable interest 

remains this year, with Takagi's T- 

KD-20 model taking fourth spot. 

An electric radiant system - the 

Nexan system from Britech - took fifth 

spot. Critics often say technicians don't 

read instructions, but the Radiant Panel 

System Manual from Roth North 

America took sixth spot anyway. 

Even the simplest products are constantly 

being upgraded. A not-so-common 

flashlight - the Lightwave LED 

model from Mag Tool - captured 

seventh spot. 

The Top 100 

PRODUCT 

COMPANY 

PRODUCT 

30 AMTS Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Healthy Solutions Ultraviolet IAQ System 

31 Marathon International . . . . . . . . Luna Gas Boilers 

32 Liberty Pumps Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . Model 331 Portable Pump 

33 Fantech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fantech HRV & ERV Line 

34 Graywolf Sensing Solutions . . . . . Direct Sense IAQ Ppc Kit 

35 Evolution Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pro 3000 Pulsed Humidifier 

36 Electro-Air Canada Ltd . . . . . . . . . HEPA Air Cleaners 

37 Little Giant Pump Co . . . . . . . . . . Pit Plus Sewage Basin Systems 

38 Allanson Environmental Electrics . Swordfish UV Air Treatment System 

39 Enerzone Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DMH HEPA Filters 

40 Ultraviolet Devices Inc . . . . . . . . . Altru-V V-Flex Ultraviolet System 

41 Aqua Distribution Plus Inc. . . . . . Quick-Heat Pool Heater 

42 Fluidmaster, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wax-Free Bowl Gasket 

43 Honeywell Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T8775 Round Thermostat 

44 Kovacs Enterprises Ltd. . . . . . . . . Reflecto-Foil RFH Insulation 

45 Mag Tool Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plumber's Bread Kit 

46 Nelco Products, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . Ductmaster Support Strap 

47 Aube Technologies Inc. . . . . . . . . . Th144 Pro Slim Thermostats 

48 Slant/Fin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victory Ii Vhs Series Boilers 

49 Digi-Cool Industries Ltd. . . . . . . . Digital Refrigeration System Analyzer 

50 R-Can Environmental . . . . . . . . . . Sterilight Platinum Ultraviolet System 

51 Amaircare Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6000v HEPA Filter 

52 Jackson Industries Inc . . . . . . . . . Copper-Bond Chemical Welding 

53 Rheem Canada Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . Eclipse Commercial DHW Heater 

54 Amtrol Canada Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . Watersoft Filters, Cartridges 

55 AMTS Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cayenne Unit Heater 

56 Sensible Life Products . . . . . . . . . Benefect Disinfectant 

57 Liquiplus Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . Electronic Water Descaler 

58 Regin HVAC Products Inc. . . . . . . Smoke Pen Airflow Tester 

59 Hardcast Products Group . . . . . . . Foil-Grip 1402 181bfx Sealant 

60 Sanuvox Technologies . . . . . . . . . R1500x& R3500x Air Purifiers 

61 Aerco International Inc. . . . . . . . . Aerco Kc 1000 Modulating Units 

62 Wirsbo Div. Uponor Canada . . . . . Joist Trak Channel System 

The ultra-violet Bio-Wall Air Purifier 

from Sanuvox Technologies, featured in 

the July/August, 2003 issue, took eighth 

spot in the summer that Toronto suffered 

the SARS outbreak. 

European-style hydronic heating 

radiators are becoming popular. Myson 

Inc. took ninth spot with its offerings. 

A really unique product, the Solar 

Star line of solar power attic ventilators 

from Solatube International, holds 

down the tenth spot. 

So what do all these products have in 

common? They are new and they solve 

a problem or deal with an issue that is 

not easy to deal with. 

Congratulations to the winners! 

Please see the full listing, from one to 

100, below: 

COMPANY 

PRODUCT 

63 Bradford White Canada Inc . . . . . Ef Series DHW Heater Line 

64 Devcon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deep Pour Grout 

65 Aqua-Tech Sales & Marketing Inc . Lochinvar Shield Combination System 

66 Superior Radiant Products . . . . . . Superior Series Re Infrared Heaters 

67 W & F Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . Braided Water Connectors 

68 Irwin Industrial Tool Co. . . . . . . . . 600d Tool Bags, Carriers 

69 Lochinvar Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shield Combustion System 

70 York International Ltd . . . . . . . . . Whole House Hepa Filter 

71 Stove Builder International . . . . . . Boreal-Mistral Oil Stoves 

72 Grundfos Canada Inc . . . . . . . . . . Super Brute Ups15-58 Fc Circulator 

73 Lochinvar Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intelligent Venting Solutions 

74 Wolseley Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . Takagi Mobius T-M1 Water Heater 

75 Burnham Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alliance G Indirect DHW Heaters 

76 Lennox Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . G61v Gas Furnace 

77 Takagi Industrial Co. . . . . . . . . . . Mobius T-M1 Water Heater 

78 Moen Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Freehand Electronic Faucets 

79 Mag Tool Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plug-A-Tank Ballcock Changer 

80 American Standard . . . . . . . . . . . Champion Toilet 

81 Kamco Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Copper Stopper Flange 

82 Amtrol Canada Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . Storagemate DHW Tanks 

83 Fujitsu General America Inc . . . . . Partners For HVAC Solutions Products 

84 Ultraviolet Devices Inc . . . . . . . . . Altru-V Series Of Ultraviolet Products 

85 International Comfort Products . . Tempstar Smartcomfort Vs90 

86 Broan Nutone Canada Inc . . . . . . Venmar Thh 1.0 HRV With HEPA 

87 W & F Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . Brass Gas Ball Valves 

88 Boshart Industries Inc. . . . . . . . . . Flare-Compression Fittings 

89 Research Products Corp. . . . . . . . Model 400 Humidifier 

90 Icor International Inc . . . . . . . . . . Nu-22 Refrigerant 

91 Triangle Tube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Delta-Elite Combination Heater 

92 Lennox Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . HSX19 Air Conditioner 

93 Roth North America . . . . . . . . . . . Radiant Floor Heating Panels 

94 Wirsbo Of Canada Ltd . . . . . . . . . Propanels & Pro Series Control 

95 Camus Hydronics Ltd. . . . . . . . . . Dynaflame Series Boilers 

96 CGF Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hugo Var. Flow/Bypass Nozzles 

97 S A Armstrong Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . Armflo E Series Circulators 

98 Gas Solutions Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . Precision Hydronics Manifolds 

99 Delta Faucet Canada . . . . . . . . . . Monitor 1800 XO Shower 

100 Takagi Industrial Co. . . . . . . . . . . Fresh Seat Bidet 

Home sprinkler system 

In the number two spot, the AquaSafe 

residential fire sprinkler system from 

Uponor/Wirsbo gives plumbers a quick 

and easy way to make their customers’ 

homes safer. The system uses heat-activated 

Reliable sprinkler heads, AquaPex 

1/2” tubing and an innovative multi-port 

sprinkler fitting. 

Uponor Circle no. 337 

3 

Slice, replace pipe 

The Pipe Slice from Wheeler-Rex will 

split 3/4 to 2” polyethylene and copper 

lines and push out 3/4 to 1” lead or galvanized 

lines while pulling in a new pipe. 

Power can be provided by a winch, service 

truck or backhoe. 

Wheeler-Rex Circle no. 338 

BEFORE 

AFTER 

Install a basement bathroom without breaking the floor 

(or the bank) 

• You decide where to put a toilet or bathroom, it is not dictated by the drainage situation. 

• Easy installation, do it yourself. • Your floors stay intact. No breaking, no mess. 

• Can be installed up to 12’ below the sewer level and/or 150’ away from a soil stack. 

• You only need small diameter 3/4” discharge pipe, which can be run virtually anywhere. 

• Over three million sold worldwide. • Clean, reliable, and virtually maintenance free. 

Add convenience • Add luxury • Add value to your home 

For a FREE brochure please call: 1•800•363•5874 

To see the entire family of Saniflo products visit: 

www.saniflo.com 



DHW 

Priority 

Setpoint 

Loads 

Floor 

Warming 

Cooling 

Outdoor 

Reset 

Two-Stage 

Heating 

Mixing 

Slab 

Temperature 

Limiting 

Two Control Options to Suit Your Needs: 

Stand Alone reset control solutions allow you to use traditional thermostat 

and endswitch technology. 

Integrated reset control solutions use tekmar developed integrated technology that 

improves the operation, efficiency and comfort of the system. 

Stand Alone Controls 

Universal Reset Control 374 

The 374 operates the system pumps, 

Mixing device, DHW Priority and 

allows for Setpoint Loads. The boiler 

is operated using Outdoor Reset. 

Traditional endswitches are used to 

indicate that the system requires heat. 

Thermostat 507 

The 507 is ideal for those areas that 

require an attractive thermostat with a 

large display and single stage of heat. 

Thermostat 508 

The 508 is for those areas that 

require the features of the 507 with 

the addition of a slab sensor to 

provide either Floor Warming and /or 

Slab Temperature Limiting. 

Programmable Thermostat 510 

The 510 is for those areas that require 

the features of the 508 plus the ability 

to provide a 7 day setback schedule 

with Early Start. 

Programmable Thermostat 512 

The 512 is for those areas that require 

the features of the 510 plus the ability 

to provide either Two-Stage Heating or 

Heating / Cooling operation. 

For more information on the operation 

of Stand Alone Controls and Integrated 

Controls, read the following article. 

Integrated Controls 


The 364 provides the same features 

as the 374 and accepts the feedback 

signal from the tekmar Zone Control 

that continuously fi ne-tunes the water 

temperatures of the system based on 

the requirements of the zones. 

Zone Control 369 

The 369 continuously monitors the 

zones in order to coordinate and 

synchronize their operation to provide 

a consistent load on the system. The 

control also allows for one and / or Two- 

Stage Heating as well as Cooling and a 

7 day setback schedule with Optimum 

Start / Stop. 

Room Temperature Unit (RTU) 062 

The 062 provides a large, attractive, 

easy to use display with a built in air 

sensor. 

Room Temperature Unit (RTU) 063 

The 063 provides the same features 

as the 062 with the addition of a slab 

sensor that allows for Floor Warming 

and / or Slab Temperature Limiting. 

tekmar Control Systems Ltd., Canada, tekmar Control Systems, Inc., U.S.A. 

Head Offi ce: 5100 Silver Star Road, Vernon, B.C. Canada V1B 3K4 Phone: (250) 545-7749 Fax: (250) 545-0650 Web Site: www.tekmarcontrols.com 


Circle the reader service number for tekmar at the back of this magazine to receive free literature.

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Stand Alone and 

Integrated Control Systems 

By Cliff McNeill 

tekmar Control Systems offers you two options for controlling hydronic 

heating systems. The systems can be controlled using either Stand Alone 

Controls or Integrated Controls. 

In a stand-alone control system, each zone is controlled by a thermostat 

and acts independently. When a zone requires heat, the 

thermostat in the zone operates either the zone valve or 

zone pump. This allows for systems with the maximum 

amount of flexibility when it comes to zoning. If an additional 

zone is required in the system, adding another thermostat 

and zoning device provides an additional zone. 

In stand-alone systems, the zoning is handled by thermostats 

while all other aspects of the system are handled 

by the system controls. The system controls operate the 

main pumps and the boilers. The system controls also 

operate the mixing devices that allow for the proper supply 

water temperature to be sent to the radiant floors. 

Additional heating loads, such as domestic hot water, 

pools, spas and snow melting systems, are also handled by 

the system controls. 

The system controls provide energy saving features to 

the system such as outdoor reset, warm weather shutdown, 

domestic hot water priority, and domestic hot water 

post purging. The system controls also provide features 

such as boiler protection and exercising in order to 

maximize the life of the system. 

In an integrated control system, all of the zones 

are controlled using Zone Controls and Room 

Temperature Units (RTU). The RTU is located in 

the zone and is used by the homeowner to set the 

temperature for the zone just like a conventional 

thermostat. The RTU communicates back to the 

zone control the current room temperature as well 

as the desired room temperature. 

The RTU even communicates how fast the room 

temperature is changing. The zone control reads this 

information from several RTUs in the system. Using 

this information, the zone control determines the best 

sequence of operation for these zones in order to provide 

a consistent load on the system. This is called 

Zone Load Coordination and minimizes short cycling 

of the overall system. After determining the best sequence of operation for 

the zones, the zone control turns on the proper zone pumps or zone valves 

to send heat to the areas that require heat. 

Not only do the Zone Controls co-ordinate the operation of the zones, but 

the zone controls also communicate with the system controls. The zone control’s 

signal allows the system control to continuously fine tune the water 

temperature in the system based on the outdoor air temperature as well as 

the actual requirements of the building. This is called Indoor Temperature 

Feedback. This can only be done with Integrated Controls. 

It is also easy to provide a cooling interlock in an integrated system since 

it is the Zone Control that operates the zone valves or the zone pumps and 

not the RTU. Once all of the zones are satisfied, the Zone 

Control can turn on the cooling system. If the user desires, 

they can put the system into a cooling mode. In this case, 

the Zone Control turns off the zones even if they require 

heat and turns on the cooling system. In a Stand Alone system, 

a cooling interlock would have to be done by manually 

turning off each thermostat and then turning on the 

cooling system. 

Integrated Control systems also allow the RTUs to 

share several pieces of information such as time, schedules 

and even temperature displays. By changing the 

time on one RTU, the time on all RTUs is changed. After 

a schedule is set up on one RTU, all of the RTUs can use 

the same schedule. The homeowner does not need to program 

each zone separately if they wish to have the same 

schedule in several zones. Also, if an outdoor sensor is 

attached to the Zone Control, this temperature can be 

viewed on any of the RTUs. 

Integrated systems can also provide features such as two 

stage heating, floor warming and slab temperature 

limiting. 

In integrated systems, the zoning is handled by 

zone controls and RTUs while all other aspects of the 

system are handled by the system controls. The system 

controls operate the main pumps and the boilers. 

The system controls also operate the mixing devices 

that allow for the proper supply water temperature 

to be sent to the radiant floors. Additional heating 

loads such as domestic hot water, pools, spas and snow 

melting systems are also handled by the system controls. 

The system controls provide energy saving features 

to the system such as outdoor reset, warm weather shut 

down, domestic hot water priority, and domestic hot 

water post purging. The system controls also provide 

features such as boiler protection and exercising in 

order to maximize the life of the system. 

Stand Alone Controls and Integrated Controls can be used to control the 

same type of hydronic heating systems. However, it is the Integrated 

Controls that have the logic to tie the operation of the system together so 

that it acts as one system. This ability improves the overall operation, efficiency 

and comfort of the system. 

(Editor’s note: This article uses some information from Cliff McNeill’s regular 

column in this month’s issue of The New Hydronics.) 

tekmar Control Systems Ltd. 

5100 Silver Star Road, Vernon, BC V1B 3K4 

Ph: 250-545-7749 • Fax: 250-545-0650 



Trucks for the Trade 

Fuel, insurance costs 

having an impact: survey 


It would appear that contractors are 

taking a hard look at their truck 

costs, if results from a recent 

P&HVAC survey are any indication. 

The survey, conducted in May, shows 

a significant increase in the number of 

smaller vans over the last survey conducted 

in 2001. 

This may partially reflect rapidly increasing 

fuel and insurance costs – neither 

of which were a major factor in 2001. 

Soaring fuel costs 

Fuel costs are a big concern. Most of the 

29 contractors that responded to the survey 

have passed on the cost to the customer 

in one way or another. A typical 

response was that of Norman Walker, 

Plomberie Lennoxville, Lennoxville, 

Que.: “When the fuel goes up, so do our 

hourly rates.” Likewise, Roy Ymker of 

Royal Plumbing Ltd., Ottawa, reports a 

www.wattsdrainage.ca 

Flow Rates from 4 to 75 GPM 

Grease Capacity from 8 to 150 LBS 

Bolt-on Extensions available in two 

configurations for flexibility 

$5.50 per hour rate increase over the past 

five months. Other contractors added or 

increased a truck fee, implemented a fuel 

surcharge or upped/added a per kilometer 

rate for jobs outside their local area. 

Contractors are also trying to reduce 

operating costs. Weight reduction 

through better control of truck inventory 

can help, reports Brian Huskinson, 

Huskinson Mechanical and Electric 

Ltd., Lansdowne (Ottawa), Ont. “We 

ensure that trucks are transporting only 

the material and equipment for that 

day’s job(s).” More efficient scheduling 

with an eye to efficient routing has also 

proven beneficial. 

Donald Grummett, service manager 

for MG Services in Ottawa, found a commercial 

gas card saved him 2.5 cents per 

litre or $2.00 per vehicle per fill up. 

Trucks are becoming more specialized. 

It is not unusual, for example, for a 

Authorized Schwank Stocking Distributors 

BOUTETTE & BARNETT 

S. ONTARIO WOLSELEY MECHANICAL GROUP W CANADA 

NIAGARA PLUMBING SUPPLY S. ONTARIO B.A.ROBINSON CO 

MANITOBA 

MARKS SUPPLY 

S ONTARIO G.MITCHELL 

QUEBEC 

SINCLAIR SUPPLY 

W CANADA MACLEOD & GRANT 

MARITIMES 

ECCO HEATING PRODUCTS W CANADA LENNOX 

NATIONAL 

YORK 

ONTARIO 

Schwank Ltd. • Tel.: (905) 712-4766 • Fax: (905) 712-8336 • www.schwankheaters.com 


Schwank invented the 

infra-red heater and we remain 

the leader over 50 years later. 

With our unmatched selection of 

pressure or vacuum type tube 

heaters there are no forced fits. 

No compromises. 

Bernd Schwank, Chairman 

Schwank International 

Group of Companies 

contractor to own three small vans and 

one cube van to carry bulkier/ heavier 

tools and supplies. 

There were more small vans (33) 

than half-ton vans (27). Three-quarter 

and one-ton vans were still the most 

numerous at 51. 

“We have been switching to (GM) 

Astro/Safari vans from full-size,” notes 

Rick Taylor, general manager of Boehmer’s 

Home Services/Cronin Emery 

Mechanical, Waterloo, Ont. The Lennoxowned 

company operates 45 trucks. 

Many plumbing and HVAC/R contractors 

are also using pickup trucks 

with 29 represented. The advent of liftout 

shells complete with shelving has 

made the pickup a better option, even 

for service work, noted one refrigeration 

contractor. “We have a Fibreform 

lift-out canopy with lettering that we 

simply move from truck to truck.” 

Insurance woes 

For many contractors, soaring insurance 

rates have increased costs dramatically. 

The numbers vary across the country, 

with Alberta contractors reporting no or 

minimal increases, Ontario typically up 

20-40 per cent and contractors in the 

Maritimes – New Brunswick in particular 

– up as much as 100 per cent. 

It’s a difficult issue because there are 

no obvious solutions. Some contractors 

reported shopping around with little or 

no success. Huskinson, who has seen his 

rates jump 18 per cent, can no longer 

permit employees under age 25 to drive. 

In provinces with government insurance, 

truck insurance costs have remained 

relatively stable, notes Harry 

Pellaers, Pellaers Ventilation, Winnipeg. 

The primary inflationary factor is the 

increased cost of vehicles, with a typical 

3/4-ton van now costing about $35,000, 

he added. He does receive a rebate of 

about $3,500 at the end of the year from 

INTRODUCING the NEW WD SERIES GREASE INTERCEPTORS... 

COMPETITIVE, COMPACT, AND UNPARALLELED FLEXIBILITY 

Bigger trucks carry more inventory and therefore minimize trips to the shop or 

wholesaler. This beauty belongs to Lodder Bros., Waterloo, Ont. 

the Manitoba Public Insurance Corp. if 

there are no claims. 

Twenty-nine contractors of 448 

surveyed sent in responses. This 6.6 per 

cent return rate was lower than expected. 

(It’s spring. Contractors are busy – 

at least that’s our guess.) 

Brand loyalty shift? 

Brand loyalty appears to have changed. 

General Motors had almost 80 per cent of 

the market in our 2001 survey. The figures 

this year were much closer, with GM 

still leading at 43 per cent, Ford at 41 per 

cent, Dodge at 12.5 per cent and others 

(everything from Freightliner propane 

trucks to flat decks and boom trucks to 

Mazda/Nissan 1/4-tons) at 3.5 per cent. 

Typically, contractors that responded 

owned 4-6 trucks. One thing that hasn’t 

changed is that contractors tend to keep 

their trucks for a long time – 5-8 years 

on average or “until they start costing 

too much to repair” or “as long as the 

appearance is good.” 

Most contractors own their trucks, 

citing reasons such as reduced cost over 

the long-term – they hope to get a few 

years use out of the truck once it’s paid 

for – and more control and less worry 

over how the truck is used (or abused). 

Only three contractors reported leasing 

vehicles and only one leases all of 

them. Boehmer’s /Cronin leases a fleet 

of 45 vehicles. This minimizes capital 

costs, reported Taylor. 

Contrary to concerns raised by many 

contractors, the company hasn’t faced 

restrictions on how they use the vans 

nor have they encountered problems 

when turning them in at the end of the 

lease, he added. The majority of company 

vehicles are Ford vans. 

Again, most contractors also do their 

own outfitting, although this often 

means simply moving the shelving units 

from the old truck to the new. Larger 

fleets are more likely to use a professional 

outfitter, according to survey results. 

WATTS INDUSTRIES (CANADA) INC. 

TEL: 1-888-208-8927 FAX: 1-888-479-2887 

Other Commerical Drainage 

Products Available. Contact Us Today. 

Careful organization of that inventory 

MADE IN 

Floor Drains Parking Area Drains Trench Drains Roof Drains Special Purpose Drains Drain Pro CANADA can reduce weight and improve fuel 

Floor Sinks Grease Interceptors Oil Interceptors Solids Interceptors Hydrants Fixture Carriers Cleanouts 

economy. 



Tools & Instruments 

Battery-operated crimp tool 

The RIDGID 320-E battery-operated 

crimp tool is designed for use with the 

copper ProPress 

System. It features 

a head that swivels 

90 degrees, weighs 

10-lbs., has nine 

inter-changeable 

jaws for crimping 

from 1/4 to 4- 

inch fittings and 

includes built-in diagnostics. Power is 

provided by a 14.4 volt nickel-metal 

hydride battery. 

Ridge Tool Co. Circle no. 339 

Refrigeration analyzer 

The newest generation of Digi-Cool’s 

Digital Refrigeration System Analyzer, 

DRSA-1100, features automatic superheat 

and subcooling display modes plus 

pressure max./min. tracking and powerful 

diagnostics, pressure bar graphs 

that show hidden 

system 

pressure fluctuations, 

Dynamic 

Offset 

bar graphs 

that display 

the smallest 

faults (hunting 

TEVs or smallest volumes of liquid 

floodback), shows saturation, bubble 

and dew points for 22 refrigerants. 

Digi-Cool Ind. Circle no. 340 

Pipe system software 

PipeDesigner 3D version 3.5 is a CADbased 

program that features new 

libraries, palettes and menus, tight integration 

with AutoCAD 2004 for 75% 

smaller file size at a 40% faster speed, 

featuring a high targeted heat output 

through swirl, adjustable ultra swirl and 

large diameter flames for faster soldering 

or brazing, with MAPP and propane 

fuel, rugged cast aluminum construction, 

self-igniting trigger start and lock 

buttons. 

Lenox Circle no. 343 

Gas cylinder safety 

Altop all-in-one cylinders provide a 

fixed safety cap that protects the valve, 

regulating 

device and 

gauges to safely 

transport 

oxygen (size 

44 - 6.9 cu. 

metres) and 

acetylene (sizes 

23 - 3.6 m3 

and 69 - 10.3 

m3) cylinders. 

Also, a flashback 

arrestor 

is attached to the torch outlet and a 

lever provides fast cut-off of gas. 

Air Liquide Canada Circle no. 344 

Mini gas leak detector 

The Mini Gas Sniffer is a rugged, compact, 

ergonomic and very sensitive natural 

gas (and 

related gases) 

detector. 

Features include 

a five LED 

scale indicator, 

beeper to pinpoint 

small gas 

leaks, 8-inch 

probe, range of 

0-640 ppm, 

sensitivity of 

40 ppm and 

response time 

of two seconds. 

E Instruments Group Circle no. 345 

Product Profile 

PEX ring remover 

The Easy Shear snaps PEX rings 

quickly. 

PEX piping along with crimp rings, 

fittings and a crimping tool provide a 

quick and efficient way to create a 

plumbing system. 

Removing a PEX ring due to a mistake 

or the need to remodel can be 

anything but. Usually the plumber will 

simply cut the joint right out and throw 

it away, fittings and all. However, where 

the PEX connection is part of a faucet 

or other piece of equipment, that’s not 

an option. The plumber then has to 

resort to cutting the ring with sidecutters, 

a grinder, or melting the pipe with a torch. 

“I used to use a hacksaw or wire cutters to cut the copper ring, but that 

took considerable skill and usually a lot of time and effort,” reports Mike 

Scheuerman, the Calgary plumber who, with friend Darren Wendzina, developed 

a tool to quickly remove crimp rings. “Other factors like fitting damage 

and skinned knuckles told me that a dedicated tool was needed – some kind 

of decrimper,” he added. 

The Easy Shear is available for 1/2-inch and 

3/4-inch tubing. Plumbing & HVAC Product News 

tested the 3/4-inch version. It proved dead simple 

to operate. The technician puts the Easy Shear over 

the PEX ring and squeezes the handles shut. The 

ring separates with a ‘snap’. He then simply flips 

the tool over and squeezes again, which pushes the 

ring apart. The pipe can then be pulled off the 

fitting and the ring pulled off the pipe. 

There was no damage to the fittings. In fact, in 

The plumber then flips 

our test there was no damage to the PEX tubing 

it over to spread the 

either, although the manufacturer makes no claim 

ring. 

that damage will not occur. The cutting blade is 

replaceable with one screw. 

The Easy Shear is made by Sargent Tools in Branford, Connecticut. 

Scheuerman is distributing the tool through his Calgary-based company, 

Wenman Ventures Inc. It is available at wholesalers across the country. 

Where a plumber or hydronic heating technician is working with more 

expensive fittings, manifolds or faucets with PEX connections, an Easy Shear 

is a useful addition to the toolbox. 

Wenman Ventures Inc. Circle no. 346 

upgraded AutoDesk accessories and 

QP-Dims toolbar for dimensioning 

commands. Point-and-click tab organization 

makes selecting graphic illustrations 

quicker. 

QuickPen International Circle no. 341 

Cutting, welding, brazing 

Master Port-A-Pack outfits by BOC 

provide all items for cutting, welding 

and brazing. Included are torches, components, 

tips, regulators, flowmeters, 

hose and accessories 

for 

use with acetylene, 

propane 

or natural 

gas. Brass 

torch handles 

come with a 

seven year 

warranty and 

feature in-head gas mixing. 

BOC Canada Circle no. 342 

Hand torches 

The Model LT92 is one of six hand and 

360-degree swivel torches from Lenox 



Western Update 

B.C. moves ahead with 

new training initiatives 

By Ron Shuker 

B.C.’s long sluggish economy is picking 

up, and so is the demand for skilled 

workers. But is traditional apprenticeship 

the best way to train enough new 

workers? 

The new Industry Training Authority 

(ITA), a Crown corporation in B.C., 

has just been launched by the provincial 

government to encourage the 

development of more flexible programs 

and new approaches to training. 

International Trade Show for Kitchen & Bath, 

Plumbing, PVF, Heating and Air Conditioning 

ISH North America 2004 is 

the best opportunity for: 

• Exploring a exhibit hall floor 

featuring hundreds of the industry’s 

leading international companies 

• Increasing your knowledge and 

skills at a comprehensive seminar 

program featuring tracks in HVAC, 

Hydronics and Radiant Heating 

• Discovering innovative new 

HVAC products at the New 

Product Showcase 

• Networking with thousands of 

industry professionals from across 

the US and around the world 

Living with Water, Warmth 

ISH North America 2004 

is the leading consolidated 

trade show event featuring: 

• Oil, Gas and Water Delivery Systems 

• Building Automation, Information 

and Communication Technology 

• Measuring, Testing, Control 

and Regulation Equipment 

• Facility Management 

• Chemicals and Solvents 

• Firestopping Products 

• Hydronics/Radiant Heating 

• Service and Repair 

• Software 

• Tools 

• Workshop Installations 

ITA’s goal is to offer more ways for 

students to get comprehensive training 

and to improve training outcomes. (An 

article on these initiatives appeared in 

the July/Aug, 2003 issue of P&HVAC.) 

The first new course approved, in 

May, by the ITA is the Residential Construction 

Framing Technician program 

created by the Canadian Home Builders 

Association of B.C., reports 

Brendon Farrell, ITA manager of operations. 

(A seven-page guide for new 

training proposals is available at 

www.itabc.ca.) 

It’s a start toward the government’s 

goal of a 30 per cent increase in the 

number of students pursuing industry 

training over three years. “We also 

need to train people for a 30-year 

career, not just for four or five years,” 

he added. 

New approaches could include 

& Air 

longer school days, more weekend and 

evening programs, private training, 

and expanded modular training versus 

one continuous overall program over 

four or five years. 

May revoke licenses 

He said one significant change already 

implemented by the B.C. government 

has been the elimination of compulsory 

trade designations from apprenticeship 

and training-related legislation. 

Safety and consumer protection is now 

being addressed through separate regulations 

and by agencies such as the 

B.C. Safety Authority and Workers' 

Compensation Board. The government 

is planning to give the B.C. Safety 

Authority a provision for revoking an 

individual’s compulsory trade certificate 

where an individual has created a 

dangerous situation through poor 

practices. 

Traditional apprenticeship programs 

in B.C. will continue to be supported, 

he added. But there will be 

more scrutiny of existing programs 

and other kinds of training will be 

added. “New funding formulas are also 

being considered.” 

So far, $38.2 million has been announced 

to expand trades training 

facilities in Prince George, Surrey and 

Kamloops, for example. 

The B.C. Institute of Technology in 

Burnaby has been “very busy over the 

past year, mainly in entry-level programs,” 

reports Bill Evans, chief 

instructor, pipe trades. “We are booked 

for the next two years for the spaces 

available in some courses.” 

The national Red Seal program will 

continue to be supported in B.C., 

Farrell added. “B.C. is the national host 

for seven of the Red Seal certificate 

courses recognized by most provinces. 

An average of 2,500 trade personnel 

are certified in various Red Seal programs 

annually with about 25 per cent 

test challenges,” he said. 

More on this next issue. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

Please call 866.984.8016 (toll-free) or 770.984.8016, 

e-mail ishna@usa.messefrankfurt.com 

or visit www.ish-na.com. 

Boston Convention 

& Exhibition Center 

Boston, Massachusetts 

October 14-16, 2004 

• TSSA Update Workshop 

• ODP Renewal 

the School of Applied Technology at Humber College 

Circle Number 135 for More Info 


4 www.plumbingandhvac.ca 

/

Atlantic Focus 

MEET show 

attendance jumps 

Anew approach to seminars along 

with an expanded building resulted 

in a substantial increase in the 

number of exhibitors and visitors at this 

year’s Atlantic Canada MEET mechanical/electrical 

show. In fact, a sold-out 

industry dinner helped make the 16th 

Mechanical Electric Electronic Technologies 

show the premier Atlantic 

social event for the industry as well. 

“We try to make it more than just a 

show,” reported show chairman Mike 

Patterson. 

The event took place at the newly 

expanded Moncton Coliseum (Agrena) 

Complex in Moncton, N.B. May 5-6. A 

third exhibit hall made this the largest 

MEET show ever with 404 booths 

among 313 exhibitors, up 10 per cent 

from the previous event. Total attendance 

included 4,025 visitors along with 

1,100 exhibitor personnel, reports show 

manager Jennifer Allaby. 

A sellout crowd of over 400 attended 

the dinner at the Delta Beausejour 

Hotel on May 5 for a first-rate roast beef 

dinner. Stand-up comic Bill ‘I don’t get 

it’ Carr entertained the crowd. 

Organizers have made considerable 

effort to ‘get the show right’ over the 

years, reported Patterson who, in his 

day job, serves as regional manager of 

plumbing and heating in the Maritimes 

for Emco Corp., London, Ont. 

“We have it figured out now in that 

it’s a two-day show, the hours are right 

and we have the industry dinner on the 

Wednesday night …” 

As well, organizers revised the seminar 

schedule with fewer seminars, but 

with topics that gave contractors and 

other industry leaders good reason to 

attend and/or send their employees. 

Two presentations by the National 

Research Council’s Raman Chauhan on 

changes to the National Plumbing Code 

were jam-packed. 

The 2004 event marked the third 

time that organizers had used a professional 

show management group, Master 

Promotions of Saint John, N.B. 

Because the show has grown so 

much, Patterson notes that many of the 

contractors that used to make an annual 

visit to shows in Montreal or Toronto 

are staying home. At the same time, 

“There were an awful lot of people in 

the region that never had the opportunity 

– or couldn’t afford the opportunity 

– to meet with our suppliers …,” he 

added. “(MEET) brings the show local. 

We are getting tremendous support 

from our contractors.” 

The event began as an electrical show 

in 1978. The Atlantic chapters of the 

American Society of Heating, Refrigeration 

and Air Conditioning Engineers 

(ASHRAE) joined the original show 

partners – the Electro-Federation and 

Illuminating Engineers Society – with 

an HVAC component in the late 1980s. 

The Canadian Institute of 

Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) 

brought the plumbing side on 

board when it joined in 1992. 

A highlight of this year’s 

event was a Plumbing Skills 

Competition where apprentices 

from across the region 

competed for a spot on the 

New Brunswick team that 

competed at the Canadian 

Skills Competition in 

Winnipeg May 27-30. 

Chris Kennedy of Cambridge-Narrows, 

N.B., took top spot. Jason 

Kranendonk, a student of New Brunswick 

Community College (NBCC) in 

Saint John placed second. Ricky LeBlanc 

Busy times in the smallest of three exhibit halls. 

of Irishtown, N.B. earned third place. 

The competition was organized by 

NBCC. 

The next MEET show will take place 

in May, 2006. 

Jonathan Harper of Miramichi Bay, 

N.B., competes in the plumbing skills 

competition. 



Events 

CIPHEX West opens with 

Construct Alberta 

CIPHEX West, Canada’s only western 

mechanical industry exhibition, will colocate 

with the Construct Alberta shows 

this fall in Calgary. This includes the 

Homebuilder & Renovator Expo, Build- 

Ex Calgary and Design Trends Calgary. 

The two-day event begins Tuesday, Nov. 

2 at the Roundup Centre in Stampede 

Park. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday 

and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. 

Pre-registration is free up to Oct. 

28, online at www.ciphexwest.ca. 

Featured events include the Gallery 

of New Products display, a Future 

Designers Display of bathroom designs 

from interior design and decorating 

students, and Alberta’s Best Public 

Bathroom Contest. 

Nominations for the Best Bathroom 

contest need only explain why their 

suggested public washroom has the best 

design and amenities in 40 words or 

less. They can fax their report to 416- 

695-0450, Email it to info@ciphexwest.ca 

or enter online. 

A panel of industry judges will select 

the best bathroom and announce the 

winner Oct. 29. There will be random 

draws from among the nominating 

contestants for a TV, barbecue and 

other prizes. The owner of the best 

bathroom will receive an official 

certificate and commendation from 

CIPHEX West. 

A free seminar and workshop program 

is being developed. Hydronic 

heating designer John Siegenthaler has 

confirmed two topics: ‘Piping Options 

for Panel Radiators’ and ‘How Length 

WESTERN CANADA'S PIPELINE FOR MECHANICAL, DESIGN, BUILDING AND RENOVATION PROFESSIONALS 

PRESENTED BY 

THE CANADIAN 

INSTITUTE 

OF PLUMBING 

& HEATING 

TO REGISTER GO TO 

WWW.CIPHEXWEST.CA 

EXPO & CONFERENCE 

TUESDAY, NOV. 2, 

10 AM TO 6 PM 

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 3, 

10 AM TO 4 PM 

ROUNDUP CENTRE, 

STAMPEDE PARK 

CALGARY, ALBERTA 

MAKE DIRECT 

CONNECTIONS 

WITH MORE THAN 3,500 

INDUSTRY MEMBERS 

30,000 SQUARE FEET OF 

PRODUCTS AND IDEAS 

UNDER ONE ROOF 

INFORMATION-PACKED SEMINARS 

PLUMBING, HYDRONICS, 

HVAC, PIPE, 

VALVE & FITTINGS, 

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT, 

WATER QUALITY, 

PUMPS, SOFTWARE, 

LUXURY BATHROOMS 

AND KITCHENS 

CIPHEX SHOWS ARE PRODUCED BY 

THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF 

PLUMBING & HEATING 

Representing Canada’s Plumbing 

and Hydronic Heating Industry 

for over 70 years. 

WWW.CIPH.COM 

Affects Radiant Floor Heating Circuits’. 

For more details, contact Elizabeth 

McCullough, general manager, CIPH 

Shows, at (416) 695-0447, toll free 1- 

888-275-2474, Email rcp@ciph.com. 

HRAI to meet in Kelowna 

The Heating Refrigeration & Air Conditioning 

Institute of Canada (HRAI) 

will hold its 36th annual conference in 

Kelowna August 19-21 at the Grand 

Okanagan Hotel. Seminar topics include: 

business and marketing strategies, 

pricing for profitability, building 

envelope systems, HVACR software, 

indoor air quality, business image and 

the media, priorities in customer care, 

trends in the design and installation of 

filtration systems for building HVAC 

security, selling commercial service 

projects and blueprinting for success. 

Contact: Heather Grimoldby-Campbell, 

1-800-267-2231, Fax (905) 602- 

1197, Email hraimail@hrai.ca. 

ASHRAE regional conference 

All ASHRAE members are invited to 

attend the Region II annual Chapters 

Regional Conference in Toronto August 

19-21 at the Toronto Hilton Hotel. The 

Toronto Chapter will host delegates 

from chapters across the East at workshops, 

chapter business meetings, technical 

sessions and tours. Contact: Doug 

Cochrane at (905) 405-3232 or Jim 

Ovens at (416) 499-8000. 

TSSA training seminars 

The Technical Standards & Safety 

Authority of Ontario has scheduled several 

seminars for this fall and winter. 

Repair and welding training will take 

place Nov. 9-10 in Toronto, March 8-9 

in Sarnia and April 5-6 in Kingston. 

B31.1 and B31.3 Codes & Standards 

Safety seminars will be held Sept. 15-16 

and Feb. 22-23 in Toronto; and Oct. 19- 

20 in Ottawa. Contact: Larry Calvert at 

(416) 325-0595. 

CHES in Richmond 

The Canadian Healthcare Engineering 

Society will hold its 23rd annual Education 

Forum and Trade Show Sept. 12-14 

at the Richmond Hotel & Convention 

Centre, next to the airport in Richmond, 

B.C. Contact: Donna Denison, 

(613) 531-2661, Fax (613) 531-0626, 

Email: ches@eventsmgt.com. 

SEPT. 19-22: Ontario Plumbing Inspectors 

Association 74th annual meeting, educational 

seminar and sponsors exhibits, 

Highland Inn & Conference Centre, 

Midland, Ont. Contact Doug Flucker at 

(705) 739-4220, ext. 4359, dflucker@ 

city.barrie.on.ca. 

SEPT. 22-25: MCAC Annual National Conference, 

Delta Bessborough Hotel, 

Saskatoon, Sask. Contact: (613) 232- 

0492, fax (613) 235-2793, e-mail 

mcac@mcac.ca, or go to www.mcac.ca. 

SEPT. 30-OCT. 2: 67th Annual RSES Conference 

and Exposition, RSES International, 

Westin Calgary, Calgary, Alta. 

Contact: Kirby Kirkpatrick, (317) 718- 

5910, (800) 310-6853, www.rses.org. 



People & Places 

Industry poster boy 

HVAC mechanic Reg Williams, right, spent a day at the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning 

(HRAI) booth at the CMX show in Toronto last March, along with his likeness which appears in advertisements 

for the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors of Canada (HRAC). Originally a 

model was slated to play the role, remarked Martin Luymes, left, HRAC director of services and relations. 

However, that didn't work out and HRAC went to its members for the real McCoy. Bradley 

Mechanical Services, Mississauga, Ont., volunteered Williams, who also appeared on the cover of the 

January/February, 2003 issue of Plumbing & HVAC Product News. 

People 

Industry veterans honoured 

The Canadian Institute of 

Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) 

honored two industry veterans at 

the MEET Show industry dinner 

in Moncton, N.B May 5. Former 

CIPH Atlantic Region president 

Martin Karrel (Island Distributors) 

received a life membership 

- the highest CIPH award - 

for service to the industry. James 

Stack, outside sales representative 

for the Wolseley Mechanical 

Group, received a 50-year service 

award. He joined the industry in 

1951. 

Oilheat supporters recognized 

A number of individuals and 

companies were recognized for 

their support of the oil heat 

industry at the Canadian Oilheat 

Association (COHA) annual 

conference, Oilheat 2004, in 

Saint John, N.B. June 3-5. Those 

receiving Delivering the Goods 

Awards included: 

Virgil and Joe Fala of 

Thermoshell, Wardlaw Fuels, 

Fred Chalmers of Wilson Fuel 

Co., Debbie Jamieson of Scotia 

Fuels, Don Boland of Eastern 

Sheet Metal Works Ltd., Bruce 

Meacock of HPAC Magazine, 

North Atlantic Petroleum, Jon 

Oulton of Oulton Fuels and 

Cajmo Comfort. 

The Deschênes Group Inc., 

Montreal, has appointed Martin 

Deschênes as CEO. Jacques 

Arthur Irwin 

Christensen, a B.C. Institute of 

Technology student, with the 

Orvil L. Davie Memorial Bursary 

Award. 

S.A. Armstrong, Toronto, 

Ont., has appointed Chris Hartwick, 

to technical sales representative, 

Ontario Sales Group. 

Scott Andison has been 

named president and CEO of the 

Canadian, Oilheat Assoc., 

Markham, Ont. 

Arthur Irwin, columnist for 

P&HVAC, Toronto, 

has been 

named president 

of the Halifax 

chapter of the 

American Society 

of Heating, 

Refrigeration 

and Air Conditioning Engineers 

(ASHRAE). 

Elkay Mfg Co., Oak Brook, Ill., 

has presented its 2003 Canadian 

Rep of the Year Award to Jean- 

Pierre Sylvain, Pierre Sylvain 

Agencies, Boucherville, Que. 

CSA International, Toronto, 

has appointed 

Randall W. 

Luecke to the 

newly created 

position of 

president. 

Randall Luecke Trish Almeida 

of Best 

Plumbing & Heating Supplies, 

Edmonton, Alta., was the big 

winner at the Evening in the Park 

reception hosted by Elkay in 

conjunction with the recent 

Kitchen & Bath Industry Show 

(KBIS) held in Chicago. Sylvia 

Hill of Andrew Sheret Ltd., 

Victoria B.C., took home third 

prize. 

Companies 

Wolseley Canada, Burlington, 

Ont. acquired luxury bath showroom 

Salles de Bain du 

Coteau Inc., Terrebone, Quebec 

in March. In May, Wolseley 

acquired Murray Industrial 

Ltd., St. John's, Nfld., with 

branches in St. John's, Stephenville 

and Grand Falls/Windsor. 

Viconics Inc., Montreal, has 

received ISO 14001: 1996 certification 

for its environmental 

management system. The company 

already had ISO 9001:2000 

quality system certification. 

BW Technologies, Calgary, 

Alta, was sold to First Technology 

PLC and First Technology 

Acquisition Canada Inc. in 

June for $260 million, reports 

president and CEO Cody Slater. 

Mechanical Systems 2000 

Inc., Calgary, will move its 

Calgary location to a new 

address at #52, 2333-18th 

Avenue N.E. Phone - (403) 291- 

1244 - and fax numbers remain 

the same. 

Redmond Williams, Mississauga, 

Ont., will move to a larger 

location Aug. 1 at 5605 

Timberlea Blvd. Call (905) 602- 

4588 or 1-888-571-2627. 

Niagara Plumbing Supply, 

Niagara Falls, Ont., has changed 

its corporate name to the 

Niagara Supply Group. The 

company has also opened a new 

branch at 67 Frid St., Hamilton, 

Ont. Call (905) 525-5238. 

LynCar Products Ltd., 

Mississauga, Ont., has relocated 

to 30 Hedgedale Road, Brampton, 

Ont. Call (905) 453-2400, 

fax (905) 453-2404. 

Plumbing & HVAC 

editors recognized 

The occasional appreciative 

comment from a reader goes 

a long way for the two 

scribes that put together 

Plumbing & HVAC Product 

News. 

However, editor Simon 

Blake and executive editor 

Ron Shuker found themselves 

somewhat overwhelmed 

in June with 

recognition from the 

industry and from their 

peers in the trade press. 

On June 7 the Canadian 

Business Press honoured 

Blake with a Kenneth R. 

Wilson Gold Award - the 

highest honour in Canadian trade press writing - for 

Best News Coverage. His article - 'Fuel oil tank shortage 

severe' - from the January/February 2003 issue 

of P&HVAC earned the award. 

Selected from among over 600 entries in 13 

writing categories, this article beat out other top-ten 

finalists from heavy-hitters such as Marketing Magazine, 

The Medical Post and Canadian Electronics. 

The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating 

honoured executive editor Ron Shuker at its 72nd 

Annual Business Conference June 20- 

23 in Kelowna, B.C. with a special 

award recognizing his contribution to 

the industry. Shuker has been reporting 

on the Canadian plumbing, heating and 

Ron Shuker 

905-760-1527 

1-877-836-7772 

Replacement Heat Exchangers for… 

Raypak, Rheem Rudd, RBI, Teledyne-Laars, 

Lochinvar, Power-Finn, Patterson Kelly and more. 

Call us for Tube & Shell 

Heat exchangers. 

Simon Blake accepts the 

Kenneth R. Wilson Gold 

Award for Best News 

Coverage from Christine 

Simpson, vice-president 

of award sponsor Indas 

Ltd. of Toronto 

refrigeration industries for 26 years as 

executive editor of Plumbing & HVAC 

Product News and Plumbing, Piping & Heating, and 

as editor of HVAC/Refrigeration, Mechanical Buyer and 

Specifier and HPAC magazine. 

The ever-youthful Mr. Shuker, who celebrated his 

65th birthday in June, will remain involved with 

Plumbing & HVAC Product News on a part-time basis 

and will take on a new title as Editor Emeritus. 

Both editors credit their ability to write articles 

that matter to P&HVAC readers to the openness and 

co-operation of the people who work in the plumbing 

and mechanical industry. 

WHEN YOU NEED 

HYDRONIC REPLACEMENT 

PARTS YESTERDAY!! 

T.H.S. is a Manufacturer and Supplier of 

Replacement Parts for the Hydronic Industry. 

Our own line of “Thermal Cast” 

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Raypak (Raytherm), Rheem 

Ruud, Teledyne-Laars, 

Lochivar, RBI and more 

With the aid of computer numeric 

control (CNC) technologies, our 

machinery centre can produce 

intricate and precise machining of 

ceramic fibre board, with use limits up 

to 3000F (649C) and densities up to 50lbs/sq.in. 

Thermal cast, through tests will outlast regular 

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thermal cast will minimize the risk of shipping, 

handling and installation damage, as well as 

enhance the performance of your boiler. 

Call us for full specs. 

No cracks or collapsing! 

Sold by the brick or the set. 

T.H.S. Thermal Hydronic Supply means Competitive Prices and Quality Standards 

Deschênes will continue as 

357 Edgeley Blvd. Unit 3, Concord, ON • Phone: 905-760-1527 Fax 905-760-1528 

Chairman of the Board. 

NEW LOCATION - 6750 Davand Drive, Unit 4, Mississauga, ON L5T 2L8 • Phone 905-565-0011 Fax: 905-565-1599 

Authorized distributor for S. A. Armstrong, Teledyne Laars, Lochinvar, Johnson Controls, White 

The Heating Refrigeration & 

Rogers, Conbraco, Winters Instruments & Voyageur. Distribution of Honeywell, Tekmar Systems, 

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Air Conditioning Institute of 

Toll Free: 1-877-836-7772 • e-mail: info@thermalhydronics.com • www.thermalhydronics.com 

Canada (HRAI) presented Peter 


www.plumbingandhvac.ca July/August 2004 – Plumbing & HVAC Product News 31 

Member 

HYDRONICS 

MARKETING 

GROUP

Literature Showcase 

Following are some of the latest catalogues, manuals, software and product brochures from the industry’s 

leading manufacturers. To receive a copy, please circle the corresponding number on the Reader 

Service Card in this issue, fill out your contact information, and mail it or fax it to (416) 620-9790. Your 

requests will be forwarded to the appropriate companies. They, in turn, will send you the information. 

New industrial catalogue 

Leonard Valve Co. has introduced an all-new 

Industrial Catalog which details the manufacturer’s 

water temperature control products designed for 

industrial and process applications. Selected models 

include washdown stations, hot and cold water thermostatic 

mixing valves, drench and emergency 

shower mixing valves, steam and water mixing 

valves, point-of-use mixing valves and wall-mounted 

shower systems. Leonard Valve has been a worldwide 

leader in water temperature control valves and 

systems since 1913. Call (888) 797-4456, Fax (401) 

941-5310, Email: info@leonardvalve.com. 

Leonard Valve Co. 

Circle no. 347 

Boiler Control 268 

tekmar’s Boiler Control 268 is a Multiple Boiler 

Control that can operate up to nine boiler stages (1, 

2, 3 or 4-stage boilers) and uses outdoor reset to 

improve the seasonal fuel efficiency of a system by 

operating the boilers at the lowest practical temperature. 

The control provides equal run time rotation 

of each boiler to increase the system’s service life. 

Outputs are included for primary pump control, 

boiler pump control and combustion air or alarm. 




The 374 is capable of controlling two mixing reset 

loops (variable speed pump injection or mixing 

valves), a DHW load, a setpoint load and two boiler 

stages. This control also features a built in clock with 

a seven-day programmable setback schedule. The 

374 can also be set up to operate with a tekmar boiler 

staging control for systems that have more than 

two boiler stages. 



Professional development courses 

Accubid offers a wide range of professional development 

courses for contractors. These are led by 

industry professionals who impart to the novice or 

experienced contractor the principles and techniques 

of estimating and project management. The 

five-day Level 100 estimating course is specifically 

designed to teach prospective estimators the concepts 

and methodologies of modern-day computerized 

estimating. You can take this course on its own 

or as part of Accubid’s three-course Computerized 

Estimating Certification program. Contact Accubid 

at 1-800-ACCUBID (222-8243). 

Accubid Systems 


Steam humidifier 

The Elite Steam Humidifier for hydronic-heated 

homes is an investment that pays dividends for your 

customer every day. The GeneralAire Elite Steam 

humidifier was developed to provide a solution for 

dry winter air in homes heated with radiant heat or 

where other types of mechanical humidifiers just do 

not fit the application. Available in three installation 

options including a duct injection model, a direct 

room injection model for homes with no ductwork 

and – coming soon – a closet wall-mounted model 

for homes/offices with no ducts or basement. 

CGF Products 


Twelve reasons 

This eight-page full-colour brochure describes in 

colourful detail 12 reasons to select a De Dietrich 

boiler: their history starts in 1684, flexible eutectic 

cast iron, 88 per cent-plus efficiencies, modulation 

with indoor-outdoor reset, low noise and NOx levels, 

an industry-leading 95 psi working pressure, bispherical 

push nipple assembly to ensure a perfect 

fit, and other benefits. Also included are details on 

the four De Dietrich boilers in the GT Series with 

input ranges from 107 to 6,206 MBH. 

Flexible Eutectic 


Affordable, efficient ventilation 

Finally, there is a simple ventilation solution for production 

homes, condos and apartments. The Breeze 

line by RenewAire includes the BR70 for up to 1500 

square feet of living apace and the BR130 for up to 

2700 square feet of living space. As a ‘balanced ventilator’, 

the Breeze unit simultaneously exhausts stale 

air and delivers an equal amount of fresh air back 

into the home. The Breeze mounts directly on furnace 

or AC return ductwork in half the time of conventional 

air exchangers. 

MITS Airconditioning Inc. 


The Safer Tank 

Fiberglass heating oil tanks from ZCL are built to 

provide long term peace of mind service. They simply 

will never rust! Our Heating Oil Storage Tanks 

are completely liquid tight and weather proof, and 

do not require any containment devices. They can 

be easily installed either indoors or outside due to 

their lightweight design. Send for your information 

package today! The heating oil tank that virtually 

eliminates the risk of costly corrosion leaks! 

ZCL Composites Inc. 


High-Speed Hand Dryers 

The Jet Towel High-speed Hand Dryers make drying 

hands about six times faster than conventional 

warm air hand dryers. Unlike traditional hand dryers, 

this unique technology dries hands thoroughly 

and is both sanitary and convenient to use. Conventional 

hand dryers make use of warm air to evaporate 

water from your hands; this can take 30 to 50 

seconds to dry your hands. The Jet Towel makes use 

of high-speed air to instantly blow the water from 

your hands which is much faster than the evaporation 

method. 

Mitsubishi Electric 


 

Circle Number 139 For More Information 

Circle Number 140 For More Information

Mechanical Marketplace 

The bulletin board of products, services, professionals, employment opportunities 

and more for Canada’s Mechanical Contracting Industry. 

Fabric Air Diffuser Systems 

INDUSTRIAL 

MAKEUP AIR 

FLOWCON Air Diffusers 

are being used as a 

highly effective system 

for dispersing and mixing 

outside makeup air and 

are reversible. 

Patron Products Inc, Scarborough, Ont. M1V 5G4 

1-800-361-5451 Fax: (416) 298-1412 


NATIONAL SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER 

www.hytekplastics.com 

You are a sales professional with a high energy level, who understands the 

need and has the desire to create new sales opportunities by leveraging past 

and present contacts and establishing new ones. 

You will apply your financial acument to accomplish strategic objectives. You 

are a self starter and leader with industry experience who is capable of motivating 

and training others. You have proven customer relationship building, 

organizational and communication skills. 

Please fax your resume to 416 352 5688 or email 

ctadres@hytekplastics.com 


Watts Has the Right Mix 

Presenting Watts Full Line of CSA B125-01, 

ASSE 1016 and 1017 Listed Thermostatic Mixing Valves 

Next time you specify a thermostatic mixing valve, play it safe 

with Watts. Our full line of valves provide precise temperature 

control and high reliability. Our CSA B125-01/ASSE 1016 listed 

point of use mixing valves are ideal for single fixture 

applications, with the capacity to service multiple fixtures. They 

can be preset to any temperature between 80˚F and 120˚F. Our 

CSA B125-01/ASSE 1017 listed source of supply mixing valves 

are ideal for use at the hot water source to maintain and limit the 

temperature in domestic and radiant systems. 

Sales Person 

Aggressive plumbing and drain service company needs a well 

spoken individual with a plumbing and drain cleaning background 

to help make our business grow. 

Coming in the Next Issue! 

Fall Heating Spectacular 

• High efficiency forced air 

• Water treatment for boilers 

• Oil heat update 

They can be preset to any temperature between 

100˚F and 180˚F. For literature on Watts full 

line of thermostatic mixing valves, call 

1-888-208-8927 or visit our website at 

www.wattscanada.ca. 

ISO 9001:2000 REGISTERED 

Call Greg or Stan 

Tel. 416-503-4444 Fax 416-503-1858 


www.wattscanada.ca 

Our Advertisers 

Advertisers 

Page 

Accubid Software 7 

Astravan Distributors-Bosch 21 

Atmosphair C&I 7 

A. Y. McDonald 18 

Bradford White Canada 8 

Camus Hydronics 33 

CIPHEX West-Calgary 30 

Delta Faucet Canada 10 

ECR Int’l, Olsen Div. 12 

Emerson Climate Technologies 14 

Ford of Canada 16 

Fujitsu General America 19 

General Pipe Cleaners 6 

Gordon R. Williams 5 

Honeywell, Genetron Div. 9 

Humber College HVACR Div. 28 

IKK 2004 - Nürnberg 21 

ISH North America – Boston 28 

Lennox Industries 4 

Leonard Valve 21 

Madok Mfg 17 

Mag Tool 32,34 

Mitsubishi Electric 3 

Moen Canada 2 

Mueller Flow Control 20 

Ontor Ltd. 27 

Roberts Gordon 32 

Rogers Wireless 11 

Schwank Ltd. 17,26 

SFA Saniflo Inc. 23 

tekmar Controls 24,25 

Thermal Hydronic Supply 31 

Thermo Manufacturing 29 

Topog-E-Gasket 34 

Uponor Canada, Wirsbo Div. 22 

Urecon Pre-Insulated Pipe 33 

Victaulic Co. of Canada 13,15 

Watts Industries Canada 26,33 

Wolseley Mechanical Group 36 

Wolseley HVAC/R Group 35 

Literature Showcase: 32 

Accubid Software, CGF Products, 

Flexible Eutectic Boilers, Leonard 

Valve, Mitsubishi Electric, MITS Air 

Conditioning, tekmar Control Systems, 

ZCL Composites. 





Shop Management 

The one-man show 

Or why the grass isn’t always greener on the other side 

By Ron Coleman 

Many service 

technicians 

decide to become 

contractors instead 

of working for 

other contractors. 

The attraction of 

being their own boss 

– the ‘entrepreneurial 

seizure,’ as Michael Gerber refers to it 

in his book The E-Myth Revisited, Why 

Most Businesses Don’t Work and What 

to Do About It – can be too much for 

many of us. 

Based on my discussions with independent 

one-man shows, I find that 

they went on their own because they 

didn’t feel fully appreciated by their 

employer and believed they could do 

better on their own. They believe selfemployment 

means less stress, more 

money and more freedom. They may be 

disappointed. 

The bottom line? A forty-hour week 

becomes a sixty-hour week and you have 

exchanged one set of problems (an unappreciative 

boss) for a myriad of problems 

relating to administration, accounting, 

cash flow and sales/marketing. 

Billable hours 

Take billable hours, for example: As an 

employee you are expected to bill out 

almost 100% of the hours you are paid. 

As self-employed you would be lucky to 

bill out 60% of your time. The rest will 

be taken up with all those necessary 

support activities. 

If you wanted to make, say, $40 per 

hour for yourself you would have to 

recover as follows: $40 x 160 = $6,400 

divided by (60% of 160 hours) = $66.67 

per hour. That covers your base wage. 

Now add your payroll burden, vacation 

pay, statutory holiday pay, CPP (no EI 

because you are not covered) and WCB. 

This will add at least 20% to your 

labour cost for a total labour of $80.00 

per hour. 

Now you need to recover small tools, 

shop supplies and labour warranty for 

another 5% of your labour cost. This will 

add another $3.33 per hour. Another 

direct cost you have is a truck cost. 

Here is an example of a truck cost 

You can plug in your own numbers to 

compare: 

Truck Costs 

(One truck for one year) 

Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 4,800 

Repairs and maintenance . . $ 2,000 

Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,200 

Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 300 

Depreciation/finance 

charges or lease payments . . $ 6,900 

Signage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 200 

Modification . . . . . . . . . . . $ 200 

Parking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 100 

License & registration. . . . . $ 50 

Total cost for the year. . . . . $16,750 

Cost per month . . . . . . . . . $ 1,396 

Cost per hour, based on 

96 billable hours per month . $14.53 

Cost per hour, based on 

120 billable hours per month $11.63 

In the following chart is a summary 

without any administration & accounting 

or sales & marketing expenses or 

without the profit you will make on 

materials: 

Item Per month Per hour Per hour 

60% recovery 75% recovery 

(96 hours) (120 hours) 

Wages $6,400 $66.67 $53.33 

Burden 20% $13.33 $10.66 

Small tools/labour warranty 5% $ 3.33 $ 2.66 

Labour cost $83.33 $66.65 

Truck charge (see table) $1,396 $14.53 $11.63 

Total $97.86 $78.28 

The above costs are based on a recovery 

of 96 billable hours per month 

(60% of your time) and 120 hours 

(75% of your time) respectively. 

Remember, we still haven’t recovered 

any overhead nor have we recorded any 

profit on materials and equipment. You 

will make profit on materials and equipment. 

If the profit on materials and equipment 

covers your overhead and profit, 

then the above charge-out rates would be 

realistic. What rates are you using? 

In the above example labour cost is 

approximately $8,000 per month ($83.33 

times 96 hours). The ratio of materials 

Overhead 

Advertising & promotion 

Bad debts 

Communications 

Depreciation of equipment 

Subscriptions 

Interest and bank charges 

Professional fees 

Office expenses 

Rent 

Repairs & maintenance 

Travel 

Utilities 

Other overhead 

Office salaries 

and equipment to labour is about 1.3-1. 

Thus your materials and equipment at 

cost would be $10,400. With a 25% average 

markup this would generate $2,600 

per month towards overhead and profit. 

Make a profit! 

Your time for sales and estimating, 

administration and project coordination 

are all covered off in the reduced 

percentage of hours you are billing. In 

these examples I have used both 40% 

and 25% for those activities. 

One of the ways to reduce unit costs 

and to make more money is to have 

more than one technician. By combining 

two one-man operations the numbers 

change dramatically. When a oneman 

company combines with an existing 

company, the cost structure changes 

substantially. Learning to live within the 

bigger organization and finding a ‘boss’ 

who will appreciate your talents is more 

productive than going on your own. 

What normally happens in real life is 

that because we can’t generate these 

charge-out rates, we subsidize our 

labour recovery out of our materials 

and equipment profit, we keep our 

overhead low by working crazy hours 

and not spending money on growing 

our businesses or managing it effectively 

and we make no profit and less wages 

than when we were fully employed. 

Whatever happened to ‘less stress’? 

More write-offs? 

The question of income tax and writing 

off expenses always creates some excitement. 

Many people think that because 

 

 

they are self-employed they can substantially 

reduce their income tax liability. 

This is a myth. 

First of all, the rate of income tax needs 

to be identified. If you are earning (these 

are approximate figures) between $30,000 

and $60,000 and you write off expenses of 

 

$10,000, your tax saving will be approximately 

$3,200. 

 

 

Going into business to incur expenses 

so that you can write them off for tax 

 

 

does not make sense. The only reason to 

 

go into business is to make money! You 

 

also have to offset the cost of record 

keeping, personal liability and the cost 

 

 

of filing tax returns against the savings. 

Of course these costs are tax deductible. 

 

 

Happy contracting 

Ronald Coleman is an accountant, business 

 

management consultant, author and educator 

specializing in the construction industry. He 

 

can be reached at rcoleman@coleman.bc.ca. 




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