ECR International, headquartered in Utica, NY, recently appointed Michael Klas to Director of Sales and Marketing. Klas’ responsibilities include overseeing the company’s brand and channel management as well as to lead the North American sale team. Klas comes to us from Uponor, a world leader in PEX tubing, where he held the title Director of Read more
boilers
ECR International, headquartered in Utica, NY, recently appointed Michael Klas to Director of Sales and Marketing. Klas’ responsibilities include overseeing the company’s brand and channel management as well as to lead the North American sale team.
Klas comes to us from Uponor, a world leader in PEX tubing, where he held the title Director of Sales for the Eastern region. He was responsible for both the heating and plumbing sides of the business with P&L responsibility, and led a team of RSMs, Commercial Managers, FSRs and manufacturer’s reps.
Prior to joining Uponor, Klas spent five years with Viessmann in New England and previously held similar sales management positions with HTP and Lochinvar.
Mike is a degreed engineer from North Carolina State and comes to us with a wealth of experience in hydronics with much of it focused on condensing boilers and in-floor heating. His background, technical knowledge and experience will allow him to quickly contribute to ECR and serve our customers.
“Michael’s multi-faceted background in the hydronic industry and his significant experience within the high efficiency segment will serve him well in leading our North American sales and marketing teams,” said Ron Passafaro, CEO, ECR International. “Mike has experience in all steps in our distribution channel and understands the needs of distributor and contracting customers. We look forward to his leadership to increase market penetration throughout North America across all of our brands and products.”
As we work out our first few installs of the the ADEY MagnaCleanse I wanted to share a few quick videos ProStaff’er Andy Mickelson has posted on his Instagram account. Andy has a older radiant system he’s been working on in Montana that has thousands of feet of Onyx tubing and some major corrosion with Read more
As we work out our first few installs of the the ADEY MagnaCleanse I wanted to share a few quick videos ProStaff’er Andy Mickelson has posted on his Instagram account. Andy has a older radiant system he’s been working on in Montana that has thousands of feet of Onyx tubing and some major corrosion with a terrible buildup of iron oxide within the heating solution.
The ADEY products; the MagnaClean magnetic filter, MagnaCleanse magnetic filter flush station and chemicals all work together to filter an entire hydronic system of efficiency-robbing elements. The magnetic sludge, as you’ll see in the short 60 second video posts can cause failure of system components such as circulators, valves, air eliminators and flow controls; depending on the type of heat-exchanger used at the heat source the debris can even cause total failure from restricted flow and over-heating. Please watch for future posts here on The Hub and our social media pages as I will be installing and using the ADEY products on some of my installs as well.
The owner of a 2,800-square foot home in New Milford, Penn., was experiencing uneven heat throughout the residence, limited hot water and high utility costs. The installation of a new hydronic heating system helped drive home significant energy savings and ensure that “no place like home” feeling. Kirk Walthers, owner of the two-story residence on Read more
The owner of a 2,800-square foot home in New Milford, Penn., was experiencing uneven heat throughout the residence, limited hot water and high utility costs. The installation of a new hydronic heating system helped drive home significant energy savings and ensure that “no place like home” feeling.
Kirk Walthers, owner of the two-story residence on Main Street, sought a quick solution to alleviate his heating woes – not only for the comfort of himself and his family, but also because he rented space in the home to a hair salon business.
“We had an old steam boiler with a cracked block, and hot water heaters that were not providing adequate warm water,” said Walthers. “We figured it was time upgrade to a more efficient system to make the home more comfortable for us and guests – with the hope of reducing our utility bills in the process.”
Walthers contacted Jay Haggerty, owner of Haggerty’s Comfort Plus in New Milford, Penn., to handle the upgrade.
“An older model oil-fired steam boiler had exceeded its useful operating life and was not providing even heat throughout the home,” said Haggerty. “Additionally, an electric hot water heater was aging and inefficient.”
With the city planning to upgrade his neighborhood to natural gas in the near future, Walthers requested specification of a boiler that could operate on propane now and convert to gas later.
Haggerty recommended replacement of the old boiler and installation of a WM97+® 100K BTU boiler from Weil-McLain® – a unit that operates via propane or natural gas. The WM97+ is a wall mount boiler featuring a condensing stainless steel fire tube heat exchanger design and up to 95% AFUE.
Haggerty also specified a new Aqua Plus® indirect fired water heater to replace an electric 50-gallon unit.
Haggerty and team removed the old boiler and installed all new connections and ran copper piping in the boiler area. Installing the piping in some areas proved challenging.
“Part of the house was situated over a crawl space and navigating that space was challenging,” said Haggerty. “The house was built on large 8 x 8 square beams all the way around and we had to drill holes to get the pipe and tubing through the spaces.”
Walthers handled the removal of all of the steam radiators himself and Haggerty’s team installed the hot water baseboards.
The entire project was completed in less than two weeks.
“I’ve been using Weil-McLain systems since I’ve been involved in the heating business, and I’ve always liked them,” said Haggerty. The company provides great tech support and we’ve never had any issues with warranties.”
Walthers has experienced several benefits from the new Weil-McLain boiler and hot water heaters.
“The installation was a smooth process,” said Walthers. “And, the new water heater provides enough hot water for us and meets the needs of the salon.”
Walthers also appreciates the improved comfort in the home.
“The new heating system is quieter, takes up less space than the steam unit and produces a much nicer warmth,” said Walthers. “In fact, the house has never before been so comfortable.”
Most importantly, expensive heating bills are a part of the past.
“We’ve experienced drastically lower heating costs since the boiler installation – nearly 50% or better savings on those expenses,” added Walthers. “We actually have a credit on our propane bill now because we had paid ahead.”
Energy-efficient, reliable, space-saving unit features leading-edge condensing technology for residential applications Burr Ridge, Ill. – (September 26, 2016) – Weil-McLain® introduces the new AquaBalance™ combination boiler, featuring leading-edge hydronic technology for smaller space residential applications. The state-of-the-art unit combines the warmth of high-efficiency space heating and the convenience of on-demand domestic hot water in a Read more
Energy-efficient, reliable, space-saving unit features leading-edge condensing technology for residential applications
Burr Ridge, Ill. – (September 26, 2016) – Weil-McLain® introduces the new AquaBalance™ combination boiler, featuring leading-edge hydronic technology for smaller space residential applications. The state-of-the-art unit combines the warmth of high-efficiency space heating and the convenience of on-demand domestic hot water in a reliable, space-saving, easy-to-install package.
With a capacity of 155,000 BTUH input, the AquaBalance combi-boiler produces a constant supply of hot water with up to four gallons per minute (GPM) at 70 degrees F. temperature rise.
Featuring 94.4% AFUE energy efficiency, and the industry’s latest stainless steel, titanium-infused heat exchanger technology, the AquaBalance is ENERGY STAR®-rated to deliver maximum operational cost savings to homeowners and provide qualification for local utility rebates, if available.
The unit is ideal for retrofits or new construction in single-family homes, apartments or condominiums.
“The AquaBalance has a wide range of advanced features to deliver energy efficient, worry-free space heat and domestic hot water in a sleek, compact design that’s small enough to fit in a closet,” said Mike Boyd, product manager with Weil-McLain. “The unit’s high-efficiency condensing technology has the power to supply hydronic heat for up to a 2,500 square-foot home and enough hot water to run two showers and a dishwasher simultaneously.”
The combination boiler features an aesthetically pleasing design and simple, user-friendly controls to make installation and operation easy for contractors and homeowners.
“The AquaBalance unit also streamlines the installation process as it eliminates the need to hook up a separate boiler and hot water tank,” said Boyd. “Fewer pipes and less connection points translate into reduced set up time and a more efficient installation.”
Other features of the AquaBalance include:
- Low NOx rated – low emissions level achieved South Coast certification
- Proven Honeywell® boiler controls with digital display
- Unique 3-in-1 vent adapter approved to accept PVC, CPVC, stainless steel or polypropylene vent materials
- Easy electrical connection points and plug in cord
- Heavy gauge insulated jacket for quiet operation
- Removable sides for easy service
- Available as natural gas or propane (LP) gas operation with conversion kit
The AquaBalance joins the Weil-McLain family of boilers that includes the industry’s widest selection of high-efficiency gas and oil-fired boilers for residential and commercial needs.
To learn more about the AquaBalance boiler, visit http://www.AquaBalanceboiler.com or contact a Weil-McLain regional sales office at www.weil-mclain.com/en/weil-mclain/about-us/locations/.
About Weil-McLain
Weil-McLain® is a leading North American designer and manufacturer of hydronic comfort heating systems for residential, commercial and institutional buildings. Founded in 1881, Weil-McLain is based in the Chicago suburb of Burr Ridge, Ill., with manufacturing facilities in Michigan City, Ind., and Eden, N.C., and regional sales offices throughout the United States.
Weil-McLain hydronic boilers and indirect-fired water heaters integrate the latest in advanced controls and materials using cast iron, stainless steel and aluminum with sophisticated heat exchanger technologies that deliver optimum energy efficiency and reliability. Architects, engineers, contractors, facility managers and homeowners rely on Weil-McLain to address a variety of comfort heating needs. Products are engineered with aesthetics, functionality, safety and structural tolerance in mind. Additional information is available at www.weil-mclain.com.
Weil-McLain Evergreen Boilers Key to Heating Overhaul Providing guests with an enjoyable and comfortable stay is of utmost importance to staff at the Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Penn. Utilizing Weil-McLain® boilers to upgrade the heating system at the club’s Weyhill Guest House helped meet that mantra and ensure that continued “home away from Read more
Weil-McLain Evergreen Boilers Key to Heating Overhaul
Providing guests with an enjoyable and comfortable stay is of utmost importance to staff at the Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Penn. Utilizing Weil-McLain® boilers to upgrade the heating system at the club’s Weyhill Guest House helped meet that mantra and ensure that continued “home away from home” experience for guests.
The Saucon Valley Country Club, founded in 1920, lies nestled in the Lehigh Valley one hour north of Philadelphia. Situated in the rolling hills of the Saucon Valley, the club’s 10,000 square-foot Weyhill Guest House operates as a historic boutique bed and breakfast, offering 12 guest rooms and a suite, and serving as a venue for corporate meetings, weddings and other events.
The building’s heating system consisted of a boiler nearly as old as the facility itself – a 1.15 million BTU steam boiler installed in the 1950s that was deteriorating rapidly.
“The steam boiler was the first automatic heating system installed in the structure and its longevity was quite remarkable,” said Fred Kauth, HVAC technician for Saucon Valley Country Club. “It had replaced the coal-fired units and fireplaces that were in operation when the facility was previously a farm house.”
With the boiler failing, Kauth saw an opportunity to improve facility comfort, improve access to hot water and reduce energy bills.
Kauth requested and reviewed several mechanical contractor company proposals and, after weighing his options based on timeline and allocated budget, chose Allentown, Penn.-based Dual Temp to handle the HVAC upgrade.
Tom Byrnes, director of service with Dual Temp, designed and oversaw the project.
“In addition to the steam boiler, the old system included a hot water steam bundle, an older model 600,000 BTU water heater with a 250-gallon storage tank, and air handlers with steam coils in guest rooms,” said Byrnes. “Our charge was to implement a more efficient and cost effective heating solution for the building.”
Byrnes worked closely with Brent Connolly and his team at Bath Supply in Bath, Penn. to help design a more efficient system for the Weyhill Guest House. Working together, they recommended installation of three Weil-McLain Evergreen® 399 boiler units.
At 96.5% AFUE, the Evergreen 399 from Weil-McLain is ideal for light commercial or large residential projects and offers simple controls, flexible functionality and durable design. Built with contractors in mind, it’s easy to install, use and maintain.
To complete the update, Byrnes also specified two 80-gallon Weil-McLain Aqua Plus® indirect fired water heaters and the necessary system pumps and valves.
Project Work Heats Up Amid Challenges
The HVAC upgrade project presented several logistical challenges. First, the conversion to the new unit had to occur while the Weyhill Guest House was still occupied.
“The entire installation took place while we were open for business with clients and guests staying at the house,” said Kauth. “This presented many logistical challenges such as making sure guests had hot water at all times and ensuring we didn’t interrupt meetings or other events.”
Dual Temp developed a detailed operational timeline over several weeks to ensure no disruptions took place.
Another challenge included moving equipment in and out of the building.
“The original gas-fired steam boiler was very large and had to be removed, which required a lot of manpower and effort on Dual Temp’s part,” said Kauth.
Dual Temp also engineered several modifications and enhancements to ensure optimal operation. These included installation of three-way valves and configuring the Evergreen units to designate one as primary for domestic water.
Piping changes were made to make the system more serviceable.
“We fed all of the equipment through a header and installed all new circulators,” said Byrnes. “For two existing areas that were steam we cut the coils out and replaced them with hot water coils so we could stay hydronic.”
In addition to installing and re-piping the new hot water heaters, Dual Temp ran a new hot water loop that connected all equipment and removal of the steam bundle to convert it into a dedicated hot water system with zones.
“With the automatic sequencing feature, the boilers communicate directly with one another so they sequence themselves and rotate as needed,” said Byrnes. “The units operate at the lowest rate to optimize efficiencies, a great feature of these boilers.”
Numerous Benefits Realized
The entire operation was complete and operational in just a few weeks. Kauth praised the experience with Dual Temp.
“Working together with Dual Temp was a seamless operation,” said Kauth. “We were very busy at that time with occupancy and they were very amenable to stopping work as needed to accommodate meetings or other events. It was a really great relationship and, as a result, the job was a complete success.”
With the new boilers in service, several benefits were quickly realized.
First, Kauth estimates that the facility has saved about 28% on energy expenses based on the new installation.
Additionally, the compact size of the Evergreen units has allowed them to save on floor space in the mechanical room.
According to Kauth, the new system in place also provides peace of mind.
“The set-up is completely redundant and the units modulate back and forth,” said Kauth. “The system is very reliable thus far and we haven’t experienced any faults or failures.”
And, most importantly, guest comfort is enhanced.
“The entire space is more comfortable than it has ever been,” said Kauth. “The combination of the Dual Temp effort and Weil-McLain products has restored this historic guest house to its former heating glory.”