Goodman being sold to Daiken

I opened up the HVAC News this month and saw that Goodman has been sold to Daikan Industries.  Daikan is a Japanese manufacturer of Heating and Cooling products.  The companies will continue to operate until the sale is complete later this year, 2012.

The sale is for 3.7 Billion dollars.

Qwik System Flush is NOT flammable!

When you can't beat them....some people just LIE!  It has been found out that competitors to Mainstream enginnerings Qwik Flush system have been desperately grasping at straws and are saying the product is Flammable.  It is not and they have the documentation to prove it.

They also have the test results to prove that the product is also better than the competition.  See the
following link for more information: http://www.qwik.com/testresults

For more information please contact Winstel Controls @ 513-251-4343 or visit the website at www.winstelcontrols.com

Reklaim your Refrigerant and get STUFF!

Now that the government is full on involved in the price of R-22; prices are skyrocketing.  And instead of paying someone to evacuate your old tanks like in the good old days, you can actually be paid for the refrigerant.  Winstel Controls a wholesaler in Cincinnati, Ohio is paying your for refrigerant and providing a new tank as well.

And on top of that for a limited time they are even giving a $10 credit for each tank that is returned to be used on Lennox tools.  Talk about a deal.  For more information call Winstel Controls at 513-251-4343 or visit www.winstelcontrols.com.

For larger quantities call for a quote.

Stainless Steel vs Aluminum Heat Exchangers

Contrary to the belief that stainless steel heat exchangers are the newest and greatest things ever...

ALUMINUM conducts heat better and when you are transferring heat from the metal to the water in a boiler Aluminum is a better conductor.  They both work fine and have similar problems and positives however one isn't necessarily better than the other.  And for anyone who thinks aluminum is cheaper than stainless steel call you local metal recycling plant and see which is more expensive.

Don't let the power of Sears, Lowes, and Home Depot and unknowledgable consumers sway your opinions.

For more information on Stainless Steel and Aluminum Heat exchangers you can visit www.winstelcontrols.com or call Winstel Controls at 513-251-4343.

Install a Furnace and get arrested???

You may have heard that the DOE has decided to make the effective dates for the new Regional efficiency standards (May 1, 2013 for gas furnaces which are less than 90% AFUE in the Northern Region) an installation ban.

Yes you heard that right...if you install a furnace that has been sitting in your shop that is less than 90% efficient on or after May 1, 2013 you are breaking the law.  So check those shops and warehouses and get them in or send them south!

You think that the R-22 mess has them standing a little more firm.  Thanks manufacturers who started the whole "dry unit" situation! For more info visit the DOE letter Here or call Winstel Controls @ 513-251-4343 or visit www.winstelcontrols.com.

Should we call it a Boiler?

Random thought....

Why do we call it a Water Boiler when we are actually trying to avoid boiling water??  Think about it.  Steven Wright would be proud.

Just a thought pointed out by John Siegethaler in the Supply House Times June 2012 Edition.

Help I have more parts stuck in my Backflow

In a follow up to my last post about Hydraulic Lock here is another tip on stuck backflow parts.  If you ever come across an Ames 2000/3000/4000/5000SS Series backflow (which is the same as the Watts 774 and 994 Series) that the checks are stuck in here is another trick.

The problem is the stainless steel body is a softer metal than the iron valves and can become "twisted" in line.  The body gets torqued just enough to stress the threaded connection of the plastic checks and you can't unthread them.  To alleviate the stress "pop" the bolts or unthread them just enough to loosen the connection.  There is no need to totally take the nut off we are just removing the torque not the backflow.  Now attempt to unthread, many times this makes all the difference.  ***Remember to tighten the connections when the repair is complete.

For more information call Winstel Controls @ 513-251-4343 or visit www.winstelcontrols.com

Help I can't get this part out of my backflow preventer!

If you have ever been working on a Backflow Preventer and couldn't get the parts out you may have encountered what is called HYDRAULIC LOCK.  What is that you say?  Well think of a suction cup being pressed down against a seal, the pressure creates a seal and the suction cup holds tight.

If you are dealing with a check that will not pull out it may be the same phenomenon of a pressure (think back pressure on a backflow) creating a suction between either a closed valve or another check seal.  The way to alleviate the vacuum is to open the test cock in the zone ahead of whatever part will not budge to let air into the zone and voila your part is free.

For more information or a more complete explanation call Winstel Controls at 513-251-4343 or visit www.winstelcontrols.com

AO Smith Water Heater Nugget

Did you know that you can tell if an AO Smith Water heater was designed for LP or Natural Gas just by looking at the nameplate.  On an AO Smith Water with an series number the tank was originally designed for LP Gas.  This is not to say it couldn't have been converted but if you know a tank has never been modified that is how the nomenclature works.  See below for an example of where to find the information.

If you have other questions or are in need of AO Smith Water Heater parts call Winstel Controls at 513-251-4343 or visit www.winstelcontrols.com for more information.

What is a BTU?

A BTU is a unit of measure invented by Thomas Tredgold from England in the early 1800's.  It stands for a "British Thermal Unit".  He defined it as the energy it takes to increase 1 pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit.  For example he took 62F water and heated it to 63F.*  The energy exerted to heat that scenario was one BTU.

For more information on hydronics in general you can visit www.winstelcontrols.com or call 513-251-4343.  They are a supplier of Bell and Gossett Hydronic products as well as many other manufacturers.

*This information was taken from an article called "Coming to terms with common hydronic TERMS" written by George Carey in the May 2012 edition of ICM.

Honeywell WebStat Controller

Have you ever wanted a simple building automation system for your commercial building but didn't want to pay an arm and a leg.  Well Honeywell has an answer in the form of their WebStat Controller.  With a simple controller and thermostat interface, you can:

1. Monitor the building
2. Change setting remotely from anywhere in the world.
3. See history and trending in the building
4. Receive alarms as soon as an issue arises. (no more people messing with your thermostats)

The results are a more comforable building and the opportunity to reign in wasteful energy costs.  With a price that is a fraction of a full blown automation system, this could be an answer for you.  If you have questions Winstel Controls in Cincinnati, Ohio has answers for you.  Call 513-251-4343 or visit www.winstelcontrols.com for more information.

Sentinel Cleaning Products

Sentinel Cleaning Products

Many hydronic heating systems have never been cleaned and therefore will be operating below their optimum efficiency level.  Cleaning a dirty system can improve effectiveness by up to 15%, as shown by independent tests.  Fitting Sentinel into your system will help ensure it is running as effectively as possible.

Sentinel X400 can be used to clean the system while Sentinel X100 Inhibitor can be used to protect your system from future problems.  All Sentinel products can be used on any type of heat exchanger including stainless steel and aluminum.

To purchase Sentinel products you can visit www.winstelcontrols.com or call 513-251-4343.

Or for more information visit www.sentinel-solutions.net.

Regional Efficiency Standards

Did you know starting in as early as May 2013 you may legally not be able to install an 80% efficient furnace.  The department of Energy released its new standards on October 25, 2011 and there are some significant changes.  So if you work in what is considered the North Region you will be breaking the law if you install an 80% efficient furnace.  For more information see the following link http://www.achrnews.com/articles/print/118250 .

Or you can contact Winstel Controls via phone at 513-251-4343 or www.winstelcontrols.com for more information.

New Wilkins 300 Series Backflows

Wilkins, a Zurn company, now sells a backflow preventer that can be removed without having to take it out of the pipe.  I know how is that possible???  The answer is an innovative cartridge design that lifts out of a valve box that stays in line all year round.  Get the safety of removing your backflow in the cold winter months and the convenience of leaving it in line all year round!!  Add in a blow out fitting and you also have a place to blow out the rest of your system without added fittings.

These backflow detectors can be seen or purchased at Winstel Controls.  Visit www.winstelcontrols.com or call 513-251-4343 for more details.