Why participate? What are utilities concerned about?

Multiple studies have confirmed that HVAC contractors are not paying attention to simple design principles, and routinely leave units running far less efficient than manufacturers designed intentions.

Some startling facts: 70% of systems installed have insufficient airflow. Airflow is a first order property of capacity, yet most systems move less than 325 CFM per ton of capacity. A recent survey over the winter of 2006-2007 produced results of 283 CFM per ton. As a rule of thumb, airflow for air conditioning needs to be close to 400 CFM per ton to provide the capacity that units/systems are rated for.

A primary reason why this occurs is because almost 90% of the contractors and technicians providing these services do not have NAY tool for measuring and evaluating airflow. And the few that do, do not use them regularly.

Regarding charge: 60% of the systems evaluated in studies showed that systems were incorrectly charged with an almost even split (30% each) of either being undercharged or overcharged. There is also an alarming number of systems that appear to be operating with high head - caused by non-condensable (contaminates) gasses in the refrigerant.

This is caused by a number of factors: technicians solely relying on refrigerant gauges to evaluate systems and using poor purge techniques to clear manifold and hoses, using un-calibrated gauges to evaluate refrigerant systems, using rules-of-thumb to evaluate charge levels and not OEM specifications, using pressure charts alone to predict charge, NOT waiting for systems to get into steady-state when adjusting charge, improper airflow (which affects suction temperatures and pressures).

Another duct related problem is “Duct Leakage”. The average duct leakage rates across the entire country are 30% total duct leakage with 20% duct leakage to the outdoors. This essentially means almost 1/3 of a systems capacity never reaches or comes from where it is supposed to! Combined with low airflow and one can reasonably argue that consumers are only getting 50% of the product and services they think they are bargaining for.

ALL of this adds up to unnecessary waste. In particular, your electric utility has to build power plants and transmission lines to meet the markets needs at peak times: which is solely caused by Air Conditioning use in the summer.

The entire global Marketplace needs you to step up to the plate.

How do I participate?

There are currently several major platforms used in various program markets at this time. These platforms can cost well over $3,000 per technician. With the Get-Cool software any reliable and reasonably accurate tools can be used to analyze an HVAC system.

There are many benefits to your business - including consistent analysis and documentation by all your technicians. This point is often assumed by most HVAC business owners, when in fact most mechanical firms have no standards for tool accuracy, capabilities or procedures for maintaining calibration or accuracy of technician tools over time. This essentially means two well trained technicians from the same company can analyze a customers system on the same day and end up with different diagnosis of problems. Without good tools, and more importantly the ability to see if your measurements make sense, then it is impossible for a business to be able to state with any certainty that any one of their technicians is providing a proper analysis!

The investment in this software and practice can pay for itself in 1 call! Furthermore it allows for objective analysis by service managers and allows a more visual discussion with customers and decision makers.