MCAA

Home | Smart Solution Landing Page | Smart Solutions – Winter 2017 Issue

Winter 2017 Issue

Download Issue

Share this content

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email

Filters

Category

Manufacturer

Contractor

Clear Filters

Appion Inc. Offers Tips on Removing Restrictions for Fast Refrigerant Recovery

While refrigerant recovery is accepted as a fact of life for today’s air conditioning and refrigeration (AC/R) technicians, it remains one of the most time-consuming steps in servicing an AC/R system. This can make it tempting for a technician on a tight schedule to skip the recovery process. However, with the proper understanding of equipment and methods, refrigerant recovery can be faster and easier than venting. Just like tires can affect a car’s performance, the hoses, fittings, manifold, and recovery cylinder all play a role in how quickly and efficiently the recovery process is completed.

Appion Inc.

Honeywell’s Detailed Guide to Retrofitting R-22 AC Units

With the phase out of R-22 by 2020 driving up pricing, contractors are looking for more options to retrofit R-22 air conditioning (AC) units without having to change the oil. “Generally speaking, you can see system improvements after a retrofit as a result of recommissioning the equipment,” said Ron Vogl, global technical marketing and services manager for Honeywell Refrigerants.

Honeywell Refrigerants

CNA Provides Tips for Mitigating Material Handling Risks on Construction Sites

Manual material handling is the largest single cause of lost workday injuries in construction. One out of every four work injuries happens because someone lifted, carried, pushed, or pulled something the wrong way or lifted beyond his or her capacity. Workers should be trained on proper and safe material handling techniques either manually or by using mechanical means. The use of correct handling techniques is one of the ways to help reduce injuries.

CNA

With History of Success, John E. Green Selects Aquatherm PP-R Piping for School Expansion

John E. Green Co. of Highland, MI, cut labor and installation time by using Aquatherm’s polypropylene-random (PP-R) pipe systems for a 2013 project at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy (U of D Jesuit). The project went so well that when U of D Jesuit and John E. Green teams reconvened in 2014 to plan the school’s new science building, no other piping options were considered.

Aquatherm

Team Industries Decreases Training Time, Increases Efficiency with Miller PipeWorx Welding System

Since they started using the Miller® PipeWorx 400 welding system, Team Industries has reduced rework—saving time and money—because of the system’s ease of use and consistent arc quality. “We have seen a decrease in X-ray failure. The consistency of the arc definitely plays a role in that,” said Jim VanZeeland, shop superintendent. “It’s just been a great machine for us.”

Miller Electric Mfg. Co.

Western Mechanical Cuts Days Off Complex Restoration with Victaulic Project Management

Victaulic’s project management, coordination, and new 3D scanning technology allowed Western Mechanical Contractors, Inc. to cut days off the schedule for a historic building renovation, cutting labor costs and keeping the project on time and within budget. The 100-year-old Detroit News Building in downtown Detroit, MI, posed several challenges to restoration—including one tenant who remained in the building throughout the project.

Victaulic

T.H. Eifert Closes Over $400,000 in PM/Projects in First 12 Months with BuildingAdvice

Just one year after investing in the BuildingAdvice Energy Services Delivery platform, T.H. Eifert Mechanical Contractors has generated in excess of $400,000 in new preventive maintenance (PM) contracts and pull-through sales, providing a sizable, early return on investment. The energy assessment and tracking tools from BuildingAdvice help T.H. Eifert make a solid case for installing and maintaining energy-efficient products.

AirAdvice

Smooth Sailing for Seattle’s Floating Bridge Thanks to Anvil Products

For Seattle’s new State Route 520 Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, Diamond B Constructors, Inc. knew they could count on Anvil International for flexible couplings and fittings for the Schedule 40 pipe of the bridge’s wastewater removal system. In addition, because Anvil’s products used on this project were manufactured in its U.S. plants, they satisfied the requirements of the Federal Highway Administration for American-made construction supplies.

Anvil International

L.J. Kruse Company Increases Profits and Reduces Errors with MobiliForms

By transitioning from paper forms to iPads using MobiliForms from iBusiness Technologies, L.J. Kruse Company saved time, increasing its billable hours. “We have dramatically reduced the time spent transporting and handling paperwork as well as eliminated mistakes,” said Nathan Kruse, vice president, L.J. Kruse Co. “MobiliForms has already paid for itself in time savings and eliminating errors.”

iBusiness Technologies

With KEY2ACT Software, Customers See What MacDonald-Miller Sees

MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions partnered with KEY2ACT to create See, software that allows contractors to use smart glasses on job sites to capture photos and videos of their work. The new technology helped MacDonald-Miller speed up customer payment and dramatically cut down the time spent explaining work that was done to customers disputing charges. It also increases customer engagement, building trust and leading to new work.

Key2Act

10 Things You Need to Know About Commercial HVAC Regulations

Emerson conducted a survey in 2015 of more than 450 HVAC professionals and found that only 11 percent are aware of upcoming commercial HVAC regulations and many don’t understand how those regulations will impact their business. Here are 10 things you need to know about the changes affecting the commercial air conditioning (AC) market.

Emerson