Industry News

PRODUCT CATEGORY: RESIDENTIAL; SINGLE-FAMILY Homes
APPLICATION: DOMESTIC HOT WATER RECIRCULATION

The new Grundfos COMFORT PM AUTO® range of residential circulating pumps set the standard for intelligent and energy-efficient hot water recirculation through its AUTOADAPT function, which learns the household’s consumption patterns and then adapts to it.

When using the AUTOADAPT mode, average run times are only 3 hours per day, yielding up to an 85 percent power and 48 percent heat/energy savings over conventional constant-speed circulators.

The single phase, 115V pump motor yields up to 6.5 GPM and uses two temperature sensors; one within the pump and another connected by a cable installed in the hot-water flow pipe.

Grundfos is the only manufacturer to offer a variable-speed electronically commutated motor (ECM)-based circulator that uses an integrated logic algorithm to “learn” the varying energy-usage patterns of an application over time, enabling the software to automatically determine the lowest possible operating‐ efficiency point to meet ever-changing demand. By continuously fine‐tuning power consumption and flow rates to meet the dynamic needs of the system, this AUTOADAPT function saves both energy and money.

The AUTOADAPT function is so powerful that eight out of every ten installations can rely on this feature to automatically select the optimal setting, with no additional human intervention. For the installer, that simply means plug and play and walk away.

For technical details, visit www.grundfos.us/comfortpm

Uponor North America has been named one of the Top 150 Workplaces in Minnesota by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, ranking 37th on the mid-size company list.

The Star Tribune’s Top Workplaces recognizes the most progressive companies in Minnesota, based on employee opinions measuring engagement, organizational health and satisfaction. The analysis included responses from more than 69,100 employees at Minnesota public, private and nonprofit organizations.

“It is an honor to be named as a top workplace in Minnesota for the fourth year in a row,” says Bill Gray, president, Uponor North America. “I am very proud to lead such an incredibly passionate group of talented professionals who believe in what we do.”

Gray credits Uponor North America’s culture and the foundational values — Connect, Build, Inspire — to ensuring it is a great place to work. These are more than words; these are behaviors that outline what employees can expect from Uponor North America and what is expected from its employees.

“It is well documented that a strong culture enables and encourages engagement, and that engagement encourages discretionary effort, and discretionary effort yields superior results,” he says. “We’ve learned that the soft stuff and the hard stuff are becoming increasingly intertwined. A company’s values – what it stands for and what its people believe in – are crucial to engagement and competitive success.”

Uponor CEO and President Jyri Luomakoski agrees. “Uponor’s North American team consistently shows a commitment to our core values, resulting in success in the marketplace and an engaging and motivating working environment,” he says. “The team is fundamentally doing all the right things in all the right places – a winning model of passion, dedication and loyalty that is inspiring for everyone at Uponor as well as other organizations.”

Gray adds, “We strive to make sure that Uponor North America is a place where people feel valued, trusted and empowered – a place where people want to invest their time, expertise and energy.”

Star Tribune Publisher Michael J. Klingensmith says, “The companies in the Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces deserve high praise for creating the very best work environments in the state of Minnesota. My congratulations to each of these exceptional companies.”

The Top Workplaces special section was published in the Star Tribune on Sunday, June 14. The report can also be found at http://www.startribune.com/2015-top-150-workplaces/307123441/.

The rankings in the Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces are based on survey information collected by WorkplaceDynamics, an independent company specializing in employee engagement and retention. To qualify for the Star Tribune Top Workplaces, a company must have more than 50 employees in Minnesota. More than 2,100 companies were invited to participate. Rankings were composite scores calculated purely on the basis of employee responses.

Pump neutralizes and discharges condensate from high-efficiency furnaces, AC equipment, dehumidifiers, ice machines and other applications that lack below-floor drainage.

The SANICONDENS® BEST condensate water pump from SFA Saniflo incorporates a pH neutralizing granule tray that increases the pH of the acid water before discharging it to the drain line. With four inlets, the pump can accommodate multiple condensing mechanical systems, both residential and commercial, including boilers, water heaters, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems and other appliances.

Many times, condensate is not able to drain adequately via gravity, usually because the application lacks conventional, below-floor drainage. This problem may, in turn, cause property damage or even create health hazards by adversely affecting indoor air quality. The SANICONDENS BEST, whose built-in pump activates automatically, is designed to quickly remove condensate by pumping it upward to a drainage line where it can be carried safely away from the unit, through gravity.

While neutralizers and condensate pumps were previously built separately, the SANICONDENS BEST combines them into one system, creating a less expensive and space-saving solution.

The built-in neutralizer will defuse condensate from appliances with inputs up to 100,000 BTU/hour, preventing the corroding of drains and sewer systems. Made of a durable polypropylene, the eight-pound condensate pump may be wall-mounted, using the tabs on the tank, or installed on a level floor surface.

Key features: The SANICONDENS BEST also offers these distinguishing features:

Built-in acid neutralizer: The neutralizer raises pH levels for harsh HVAC applications, meeting many local and state codes that require condensate to be neutralized before being discharged to prevent corrosive damage to the sewer system.

Four inlets: Suitable for new or existing applications, the SANICONDENS BEST can handle condensate from multiple pieces of equipment simultaneously. Condensate water entering the unit triggers a float, which activates the pump motor.

Discharge line: The pump moves the condensate through a flexible hose to a large-diameter PVC discharge pipe. The SANICONDENS BEST comes with 20 feet of vinyl hose, measuring 3/8-inch in diameter, that easily connects to the discharge line, using a 3/8-inch barbed x 3/4-inch male end plastic reducer, also provided with the system.

Long pumping distances for greater installation flexibility: The unit can discharge condensate 15 feet vertically and 150 feet horizontally – or a lesser combination of these two distances. (A vertical run of three feet is equal to a horizontal run of 30 feet.)

Factory-installed check valve: The discharge line is connected to a non-return check valve built into the SANICONDENS BEST unit to keep water from flowing back into the reservoir and reactivating the pump. This factory-installed valve saves the installer time and extra expense on the job site.

Excess water alarm: The unit comes with provisions for a ready-to-wire connection to an external overflow switch that will shut down an appliance or alert the homeowner if the water level rises too high.

The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) has awarded accreditation status to Noritz America. IACET Authorized Providers are the only organizations approved to offer IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs). The accreditation period extends for five years and includes specially designated CEU programs offered or created by Noritz during that time.

“Noritz America is proud of our education programs, which train thousands of engineers, plumbers and HVAC professionals each year in important technical skills, so that they and our staff stay on the cutting edge,” states Jason Fleming, Senior Marketing and Customer Care Manager at Noritz.

“Our new partnership with IACET is a demonstration of our commitment to lifelong learning and high standards for all of our programs,” Fleming continues, “and we are very pleased to join such a prestigious organization, as well as an elite group of organizations that offer excellent continuing education and training programs.”

“We are pleased to continue our relationship with Noritz as an Authorized Provider,” says Sandra L. Williams, PhD, president of IACET and assistant professor and consultant at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, Ill. “Noritz joins nearly 500 organizations around the globe that have had their programs vetted by third-party experts in continuing education to ensure the highest possible standards are met.”

To achieve Authorized Provider accreditation, Noritz completed a rigorous application process, including a review by an IACET site visitor. The tankless water heater manufacturer successfully demonstrated adherence to the ANSI/IACET 1-2013 Standard, addressing the design, development, administration and evaluation of its programs.

Noritz has pledged its continued compliance with the standard and is now authorized to use the IACET name and Authorized Provider logo on promotional course material. In addition, Noritz is now linked to the IACET web site and is recognized as offering the highest quality continuing education and training programs.

Noritz is dedicated to being the world leader in tankless water heating technology, notes Fleming. “Our company’s focus on customer satisfaction, innovation, and responsible business practices continues to drive us in the marketplace.”

For more information on Noritz tankless water heater training, visit Noritz University online at http://training.noritz.com.

For more information on the full line of Noritz tankless water heating products, visit www.noritz.com. You can also telephone us at 866.766.7489 or e-mail us at support@noritz.com.