Viessmann Air-to-Water Heat Pump

In this episode of the Make Trades Great Again podcast the guys talk about the recent installation of a new air-to-water heat pump. Andy flew to Minnesota to join Eric on one of his jobs, the #duluthbuild in Northern Minnesota where they added to an existing whole house hydronic system by installing the Viessmann Vitocal heat pump.

This cold climate heat pump will reduce/eliminate the use of LP for space heating in the home, possibly by more than 50%.

The 5 ton air-to-water heat pump consists of three major components, the outdoor unit, indoor unit with electric backup and a buffer tank.

There will be video of the install posted to the MH Youtube channel soon.

A new convenient design and versatile tap system makes delivering and serving beer fun and easy!

Las Vegas—Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc., distributor of America’s best-selling low cab forward trucks, announced the development of a new craft beer truck in collaboration with Summit Truck Body.

Isuzu’s Ultimate Craft Beer Truck debuted in 2019 and has grown in popularity over the years—much like the craft beer industry it serves. Recent studies show that in 2023 craft beer sales are back to pre-pandemic levels and the industry is growing again. Craft brew pubs are commonplace and many local restaurants serve craft beers from their local breweries.

Most craft brewing operations are small businesses that brew and self-distribute in their local communities. Craft breweries are also known as very good marketers. They know how to reach their audience with beer at their pub or at local music festivals, street fairs, and other live events. They use social media to promote their vibe, new products, and the community they serve.

Drinking craft beer is more than just having a tasty beverage. It is also an experience that involves appreciating the craftsmanship and artistry that goes into creating the beer. Overall, drinking a craft beer is a multi-faceted experience that encompasses taste, culture, and community. Isuzu’s Ultimate Craft Beer Truck is a dual-purpose vehicle that helps connect all of these facets of the craft brewery business. It gives these breweries the ability to make their regular deliveries, and to promote their beer at live events – a weekday workhorse and a weekend party machine.

Craft breweries, casinos, and party rental companies have bought a number of these trucks for serving at events and have successfully used them to promote their businesses. The truck’s unique design and features often draws the public’s interest and owners regularly must give show-and-tells of the truck. With their branding on the truck, owners regularly benefit from being the star at the festivals and their customers’ social media posts.

Shaun Skinner, President of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, agrees that this truck is a great delivery tool and marketing piece for small businesses.  Skinner said, “This has been one of the most intriguing products we have been behind. Most people associate work trucks with box trucks, sweepers, and dumps, but the Ultimate Craft Beer Truck is synonymous with delivering fun. The customers that have bought them have enjoyed a lot of success and we constantly get questions about the truck and if there’s one available. It remains an exciting product.”

Isuzu collaborated with Summit Truck Body, a known body builder in the Pacific Northwest and “brewed” up something special.

“Collaborating with Isuzu on this project has been really exciting,” says Ted Croce, President of Summit Truck Body, “It has challenged us (Summit) to think about how we engineer our insulated body for a new market, make it exciting, and maximize the features and convenience for those serving from it.”

The Isuzu Ultimate Craft Beer Truck starts with a Class 5 (19,500-lb. GVWR) diesel-powered Isuzu NRR. The powerful, efficient, and reliable 5.2-liter I4 turbocharged engine generates 215 horsepower and 452-lb.-ft. of torque. Its robust B10 durability rating of 375,000 miles is evidence of the engine’s long-term dependability. The Class 5 chassis provides plenty of payload for weekly deliveries and does not require a commercial drivers license to operate.

The truck’s low-cab-forward design provides drivers a view of the ground as little as eight feet from the front of the truck. Even better, the truck’s best-in-class maneuverability makes navigating tight city quarters a breeze, something that is much more challenging in a conventional cab.

Just like a mullet hairstyle, the chassis is the business in the front and the body is the party in the back:

• A 16-ft. Summit insulated body (16’L x 90”H x 96”W) that is cooled with a Thermo King 690R with electric standby. The walls are made with compressed foam panels that are durable and have an excellent R value. Inside, the smooth walls, keg-height e-track, and insulated aluminum floor has ample space for kegs and crates while keeping the product refrigerated. The electric standby provides flexibility in loading the truck in the evening for the next morning’s delivery, all while keeping the product cold.
• A 2,500-lb. Maxon TE-25L tuck-away liftgate with side steps helps ease loading and unloading. Its capacity and platform are large enough for a loaded pallet jack.
• Two toolboxes (one each side) provide storage for the reefer power cord, and event materials.
• On the driver’s side, a 13-ft. power retractable awning providing shade on sunny days and when the sun starts setting, LED lighting keeps the area below illuminated.
• Convenience is at the heart of the design!  The new tap system’s insert has been redesigned to incorporate the Isuzu logo and a numbering system for the 8 Perlick 650SS taps. It is taller than previous generations to accommodate larger tap handles, and it is deeper so the drip tray can catch the overpour easier. This also gives more room for pitchers and glasses. Speaking of the drip tray, it incorporates a glass rinser that uses a 5-gallon Corny keg hooked to the system’s gas and drains to a 15-gallon grey water tank that can later be dumped. All these features provide an immense amount of convenience for a quick and easy setup, for ease in serving, and best of all, an easy teardown for when the party is over. The tap door is locked with two latches and the lights and awning are controlled with switches — allowing setup or tear down in 10 minutes or less. Saving time and lessening the cleanup are key benefits of this design.
• Breweries can pour a larger variety of beverages thanks to the truck’s new dual-gas tap system! This new system lets servers pour with CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) or N2 (Nitrogen) simultaneously. One can setup each of the eight taps to pour whatever one likes. With individual pressure gauges on each tap, you dial in the right pressure for each beverage. And if the audience prefers a bomber or a can, the new body incorporates a “Bomber Door” for quick access to cold packaged beverages inside the refrigerated body.

When you own your home, there are a lot of things you are responsible for, and ensuring that your home is habitable and safe for each occupant is one such responsibility.

Neglecting repairs can lead to a multitude of problems and impact your quality of life. 

However, with prices for everything on the rise, it can be a huge outlay to undertake repairs and call in the contractors for every little thing that needs doing.

This is where DIY comes in handy. Being able to take care of some home maintenance tasks yourself can save you a whole heap of money over the years, and you can create a bespoke home that is perfect for your needs at a fraction of the cost. But there are some types of jobs you probably should not undertake, and this is where you need to invest in paying a service provider to come in and take over for you.

So, how do you determine what you should and shouldn’t be doing yourself and what the best home tasks are to get the pros in for?

HVAC

Your home’s heating and cooling systems are most definitely one of those tasks you should not be DYing. The system as a whole has many intricate parts that all need to work cohesively to operate and maintain function and effective heating and cooling. While cleaning the units exterior, changing filters, or cleaning ducts can and should be done by yourself on a regular basis, anything more complex than this should be a strict hands-off job and one of those repairs that are handled by someone with the qualifications, knowledge, and experience of identifying the problem and fixing it correctly.

Roof

Your roof has a lifespan of around 15 to 25 years, depending on the construction and materials and how often you care for it. A small issue with your roof can quickly turn into a massive problem if neglected, so while you should be doing periodic inspections and checking internally for damage, when it comes to climbing on the roof to carry out repairs, it’s advisable to call in expert roofers who have the tools, equipment, and training to undertake all roofing work from replacing a few slates to complete new roofing systems. An insurance company can cancel your policy if you neglect roof repairs or you try to claim for additional damage because you didn’t keep up with roof repairs, but your roof is covered under your policy, so check the terms carefully.

Electrical System

Sure, you can change an outlet, sockets, and lighting fixtures, but should your home need the electrics upgraded or replaced, it’s time to call in an electrician. Any issue with your electrics should be addressed ASAP, and while it can be costly to book an electrician to find the issue and rectify it, the result of doing nothing can be higher. Faulty electrics can not only cause damage to appliances, fixtures, and fittings but also cause a rise and are a threat to life. Choosing to fix any significant electrical faults yourself also increases these risks, especially if you have no prior knowledge of electronics or even electrical codes and systems that you must adhere to to be safe. So step back, call the electrician, and ensure the complete safety of your home and all its occupants.

• The latest heat pump technologies increase application range, empowering electrification and decarbonization
• Sophisticated digital platforms and smart technologies advance digitization, help optimize building performance and reach net zero goals

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, will highlight key trends facing the HVAC industry and solutions to meet evolving customer needs at the leading trade show for HVACR professionals, the AHR Expo, Jan. 22-24, 2024. To assist contractors and business owners in navigating the upcoming year, Johnson Controls will present innovative solutions that improve efficiency, promote electrification, advance digitization and ensure compliance with refrigerant regulations.

“The critical conversations taking place at this year’s conference will focus on the major transformations in our industry, driven by the demand for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings,” said Lei Schlitz, president, Global Products, Johnson Controls. “The most significant commitment any commercial or residential property can make is to incorporate more efficient and electrified systems into their building, all digitally connected for increased insight into system performance. This is more important than ever to address the world’s most pressing challenges.”

Greater Efficiency 

The HVAC industry’s focus on sustainability continues to grow. The speed of this growth is driven by multiple factors, including governmental energy efficiency regulations, corporate initiatives and an increasing number of environmentally conscious consumers.  In fact, according to a recent study by Johnson Controls and Forrester Consulting, one-third of respondents said they need to accelerate their efforts to meet pending net zero goals.

For homeowners, Johnson Controls offers numerous options for hybrid system including the YORK® YH5 15.2 SEER2 Single-Stage Heat Pump and Y92E 97% AFUE 2-stage furnace that allows homeowners to use the most efficient fuel source based on temperature conditions. As the primary heating and cooling source, the YH5 heat pump is optimized to meet 25C tax incentives through the IRA. During the few times a year when temperatures are too low for efficient electric heating, the Y92E furnace provides efficient backup heating and is also optimized to meet 25C eligibility requirements.

To help hyperscale data centers and improve cooling efficiency while maintaining uptime, Johnson Controls developed solutions that reduce energy consumption and total cost of ownership. Specified for the unique needs of mission-critical applications, the YORK YVAM Air-Cooled, Magnetic-Bearing Centrifugal Chiller is one of the most efficient options for data center cooling.

Widespread Electrification 

Electrification continues to gain momentum due to the acceleration toward decarbonization and the use of renewable energy sources. At the same time, incentives such as the IRA are making high-efficiency HVAC systems, including heat pumps, more accessible to a wider population. These factors are making it easier for contractors to talk to customers about new systems and get buy-in.

According to Schlitz, “Electrification is a critical pillar of decarbonization, and innovative heat pumps are essential to strategically electrify heating and cooling. Johnson Controls is at the forefront of evolving heat pump technology to push the limits of what is possible and reduce the use of inefficient backup sources even in the coldest climates.”

For example, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning will soon launch a new variable refrigerant flow (VRF) cold-climate heat pump. The air365 Max Heat Pump is designed to efficiently cool and heat buildings in cold climates down to -22°F for reduced energy costs year-round.

In partnership with the DOE Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, Johnson Controls recently announced an initiative to accelerate the production of domestic heat pump manufacturing – including cold climate air source heat pumps – by expanding three of its U.S.-based factories. Combined, these facilities will be able to produce approximately 200,000 electric heat pumps per year. This substantial volume will help drive energy affordability and energy security, while helping combat climate change and creating new jobs.

Advanced Digitalization 

Homeowners and building managers are increasingly recognizing the advantages of integrating smart technology into building systems. In commercial buildings, operational technology (OT) systems, including chillers, BAS & Controls, video monitoring, and access control, as well as information technology (IT) systems and external sources such as weather forecasts and utilities, are seamlessly connected using Internet of Things (IoT) and secure cloud technology.

The suite of apps offered by Johnson Controls OpenBlue Enterprise Manager continuously monitors data streams, offering users informative dashboards that display system status and health. Leveraging AI, advanced analytics, digital twin technology, and insights from expert engineers, these apps provide valuable recommendations to customers to save energy, minimize costs, reduce carbon emissions, improve indoor air quality and enhance occupant comfort. The OpenBlue suite also incorporates predictive analytics and remote diagnostics, enabling system condition assessment, anticipation of service requirements, and accelerated troubleshooting. This proactive approach effectively mitigates failures, minimizes unplanned downtime, and prevents inconvenient – and costly – emergency repairs.

Verdantix, an independent industry analyst firm, recently recognized OpenBlue as a market-leading Energy Management Software. Additionally, OpenBlue’s strategic acquisitions, including FM Systems, a leading IWMS provider, further strengthen its ability to support customers on their path towards intelligent, sustainable, and healthy buildings.

Low-GWP Refrigerants 

The most significant phase to date of the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, which mandates an 85% reduction in hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gases by 2036, went into effect at the beginning of January 2024. This phase reduces HFC production by an additional 30% (40% total reduction), directing the industry to transition to low-GWP refrigerants.

While Johnson Controls is helping industry professionals adapt to the refrigerant transition through its world class technical training and educational resources (on-line and in person), the company is adding product features that make working with these new low-GWP refrigerants even safer and easier to service. For instance, YORK commercial rooftop units utilizing R-454B refrigerant will offer a new refrigerant detection system (RDS) to detect refrigerant leaks within the unit cabinet. The RDS will be required by code in certain applications and optional in others, which will help customers understand when it is required. Johnson Controls has also developed a unique and innovative RDS Calculator tool that will be available in both the product selection tool and in the Ducted Systems Solutions App.

Johnson Controls has added additional ultra-low GWP refrigerant options to its applied products. For instance, the YORK YVWH Water-to-Water Dual Variable-Speed Screw Heat Pump was the first screw heat pump in North America to use R-1234ze refrigerant. R-1234ze has an ultra- low GWP of 1, which enables the YVWH to far exceed the EPA’s refrigerant regulations that go into effect starting Jan. 1, 2025.

To learn more, visit Johnson Controls at the AHR Expo at booths S6236 and S7529 or go to https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/events/ahr.