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Top 50 Distributors Projecting Spike in 2013
The Top 50 HVACR distributors listed here represent more than $11.5 billion in HVACR sales. All responding distributors to the survey represented $12.4 billion. Who made the list and what is being said about distributor business and sales?
by Pat Lenius
Preventing Costly Wage and Hour Problems
Wage and hour issues can be complicated for distributors and costly for their businesses. What rights do you as the employer have? In the first part of this two part series, Nancye Combs, human resources consultant with HR Enterprises Inc., explains wage and hourly solutions for your business.
by Nancye Combes
Regional Standards Stay Updates and Timeline
A legal stay of the furnace regional standards has been granted by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The stay deems that the Department of Energy (DOE) cannot legally enforce regional standards until the litigation is resolved.
by Angela D. Harris
Breaking News RSS Feed Available
TRC Releases Training Videos
Thermostat Recycling Corporation released new training videos to provide step-by-step guidance to its mercury thermostat recycling program.
Hercules Partners With PennBarry
Hercules Industries expands product offerings with PennBarry ventilation lines.
Senate Passes Online Tax Bill
The Senate has passed the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 and changes to the tax structure of online sales and e-commerce could come if it passes the House.
Commentary
Wrestling Gators and Health Care
by Angela D. Harris
As distributors, I am sure you have spent more than a few hours wrestling with the new health care laws. Is it conquerable, or will it eat you up like a nasty gator? Here is some information that could help.
Countertalk RSS Feed Available
HR Sneak Peek: Top 10 Wage and Hour Errors
by Nancye Combs
Nancye Combs is a human resources professional and consultant. She has spent years honing her skills in multiple businesses and as an expert witness in high profile court cases involving HR issues. The first part in her two part series about avoiding costly wage and hour problems isn’t due out until the May 15 issue of DC. Get a sneak peek at what practical steps you can use to avoid ending up with fines.
DOE Elects Not to Enforce Regional Standards Rule
by Herb Woerpel
A rule requiring all nonweatherized gas furnaces in the northern region adhere to a minimum 90 percent AFUE standard beginning May 1 will not be immediately enforced.
Solar Supply Grants Boy’s Wish
Solar Supply Inc. in Harlingen, Texas, along with Make-A-Wish® and Luxaire® provided nine-year-old Christian, who suffers with leukemia, his prehistoric wish. What did he get to do?
Ferguson and Wolseley Swap Leadership
Keith VanderVennet, currently the senior vice president of Wolseley Canada, is returning to Ferguson, Wolseley’s U.S. operations, in the role of senior vice president of sales. When will this upcoming change take effect?
Danfoss Acquires Full Ownership
Danfoss has acquired full ownership of the joint venture company Danfoss Turbocor, in which Danfoss has had a 50 percent owner’s share since 2004. What will this acquisition do for the company?
Features
Training Helps Distributors With Geothermal
by Kyle Gargaro
A 30 percent federal tax credit and high levels of consumer knowledge have spurred growth in the geothermal heat pump market. While most estimates have the market at around 1-2 percent, distributors would be wise to educate their customers on geothermal as some predict as much as a 100 percent increase by 2017. Geothermal manufacturer ClimateMaster wants to make that process as easy as possible for distributors.
Manufacturer Hosts Plant Tours
by Angela D. Harris
Greg Dickerson walked in, sat down, and prepared himself for his first Emerson Product Managers’ Meeting at the Emerson Climate Technologies facility in Sidney, Ohio. The branch counter sales and Emerson Technical Specialist from Refrigeration Supplies Distributor in Roseville, Calif., was ready for whatever Bob Labbett and his team had to offer. What did he get out of the meeting?
Focus Conferences Kick Off on the Coasts
by Angela D. Harris
The first two Focus 2013 conferences are in the books and attendee feedback has been positive regarding the new format. Both gathered a strong mix of HARDI members and their key staff members that most closely related to the regional topics presented. What did they learn while there?
Products
Duct-Free Split Units
These duct-free mini-split models are available from 9,000 to 24,000 BTU in 13 to 20 SEER.
IAQ Monitor
The AMI300 has a large LCD display and ABS shock-proof housing. The unit is complete with data storage capacity as well as software interface capabilities.
Duct Cleaning Assembly
The new assembly allows the use of two air whips at the same time. Along with the dual whip tee assembly comes the two octopus whip heads and two tri-whip heads.
HARDI
Inaugural Unitary Study Released
HARDI released its first Unitary Market Share Report of 2013. The report details unitary sales by U.S. region, efficiency levels, furnaces, and boilers as well as refrigerant type for both ducted and ductless cooling equipment.