ProTech HVAC

On 8/17/08, Protech HVAC <protechhvac@comcast.net> wrote:

Dear Tom,

In HVACR, “Green” Begins with Conservation

And conservation begins at the design phase of any HVACR system, with installation (of efficient equipment) and service completing the energy conservation triangle. With 28 years in HVACR design, installation, and service, I can credibly assure the reader that I have witnessed the reality that a startling number of HVACR systems are improperly designed, installed, or serviced, which perpetuates higher fuel consumption throughout the life span of the equipment.

or…

The Role of The HVACR Wholesaler in Keeping America “Green”

The installing HVACR contractor is the common thread that connects the Wholesaler to the consumer and, fittingly, the Wholesaler would be wise to seize upon this opportunity to promote energy saving devices to the consumer, vis a vis the contractor.  This, of course, would require that the Wholesaler target the demographic most likely to respond to the economic squeeze that high fuel costs have put them in - the middle class.

or…

Tips From An HVACR Master / Inventor That The American Manufacturer Should Consider

An attentive manufacturer, you’ve noticed a dramatic influx of European HVACR equipment in the U.S. in the past 2 decades.  HVACR manufacturers from Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and innumerable other foreign countries have set up shop in the U.S. to satisfy the demands of the American consumer that were not being satisfied by American manufacturers. Tip #1: Creativity and the desire to make a difference will ensure companies in the U.S. will find firm footing in the fertile ground of the emerging “Green” economy.

Tom, please see my website for my bio http://www.protechhvac.com/about/ , inventions http://www.protechhvac.com/protech-inventions/ , and examples of writings on my blog http://www.protechhvac.com/the-protech-blog/
I hope you will consider my submissions for publication in the HVACR Distribution Business Show Guide. I have a multitude of HVACR-related topics that I could write about in the future, as well.

Sincerely,
John Rocheleau
Protech HVAC, LLC
603-817-2754

…Keep in mind that the state plumbing license does not include specific training for fuel gas systems or fire code, just for wastewater, and the current program for fuel gas is only VOLUNTARY. That means there are over 10,000 people in the state working on our fuel gas systems and appliances without demonstrated ability. It is legal for anyone to install, repair, modify or remove your gas heating system or appliance. How safe does that make you feel? Our family, along with many others can testify that even when you think you’ve hired a professional (in our case, a clean up and repair firm that was nationally contracted with our insurance company); they do not have to be trained for fuel gas in NH.The explosion in our Moultonborough lake house that took the life of our 5 yr old daughter Amilia is not an isolated incident. MTI industries, tracks gas related accidents. Across the nation, there is a gas explosion occurring nearly every day. (see MTI Industries.com. In Enfield, NH, a woman received permanent brain damage and her son and boyfriend died because of carbon monoxide exposure when a gas repairman failed to put the system back together correctly. Two people died in a fire and explosion at the Lilac Falls Motel in Rochester, NH., because of an incorrectly repaired gas furnace. Recently, in Grantham, the gas company failed to recognize an improper venting situation, and an outside tennis court exploded, causing one death and injuring two others. Recently in Amherst, there was an emergency carbon monoxide call due to an improperly installed gas water heater. Another incident in Hanover was caused because of installer error, which caused an explosion with tens of thousands of dollars in damage. The Amerigas case involved a Belmont family whose son died after the gas company repaired an LP space heater. And just recently, Maureen Syr testified about a situation in her Concord development where improper gas conversion installations have caused numerous problems that have failed to be remedied, eventually causing evacuation for carbon monoxide. A number of people have come forward with similar issues. She felt compelled to testify when a plumber she hired to install a new system, because the original installer failed to correct the problem, told her, “you need a license to install piping to flush your toilet, but you don’t need a license to work on a burner that uses combustible material” All these incidents and many more were due to improperly installed or repaired gas systems or appliances. The need for certification and provable, demonstrated capability to work with these explosive materials is evident.

Sen. Kenney testified that there have been six bills before the House and Senate since 1989, the year our son Andrew was born. Andrew and our other daughter Anna survived the fire, not without emotional trauma. I’m not sure they will ever truly feel safe anywhere again. I know I don’t. Please don’t let another tragedy occur before you pass this important piece of legislation. Please vote in favor of HB1711. For more information, please go to www.amiliaslaw.org

Sincerely,
Craig and Michelle Luhrmann

Dear New-Home Owner:

I am writing to inform you of how builders and their subcontractors are circumnavigating New Hampshire energy and mechanical codes, and why local code enforcement officials (the building/mechanical inspector) turn a blind eye. This is happening in your neighborhood! Possibly, you’ve been a victim.

Heating and air conditioning systems that do not meet energy codes will end up costing you a lot more money to operate. Plus, contractors’ code violations can pose a serious threat of injury, even death. (See “Amilia’s Law”: www.amiliaslaw.org Amilia Luhrmann, a 6-year old girl, was killed in her home from a gas explosion, caused by the acts of an unqualified worker in her home. Prior to the passage of Amilia’s Law in 2007, there was no license requirement of any kind for installers of HVAC equipment! Still, today, only a license for gas equipment service and installation is required in New Hampshire.)

In April I mailed 2,000 letters to builders in New Hampshire offering my heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) inspection service, to ensure that their subcontractor was installing the HVAC equipment in compliance with the New Hampshire Energy Codes, which follow the International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC), and International Mechanical Codes (IMC), which New Hampshire ascribes to. To date, just one builder hired me, but then refused to pay me when I cited 13 code violations in one unit of the townhouse development he was constructing, in Hampton Falls. The reluctance of the recipients of my letter to reply indicates to me how interested builders are in seeing that their HVAC subs’ work is in compliance with relevant energy and safety codes. Builders know homeowners don’t know the codes, or how to spot violations, so they are not concerned. They also know how much the Local Inspector will allow them to get away with.

Unfortunately, municipal building/mechanical inspectors allow numerous code violations to pass. Why? Because New Hampshire does not require licensing of “residential and building inspectors”, and the Public Utilities Commission will not enforce their own codes - they leave that up to the “Local Inspector”, who is pressured for political reasons not to enforce all codes. Further, many inspectors do not have formal training in the HVAC trade, nor do they hold any licenses. Unbelievably, the New Hampshire Legislature shot down House Bill 763-FN, on March 3, 2008. That Bill sought legislation “establishing the licensure and regulation of residential and building inspectors”. Still, the consumer must rely on the old adage: “Caveat Emptor” - buyer beware!

Most homeowners (and often, builders) assume they are getting a job done well, but really have nothing to base that assumption upon, as they are not in the HVAC business themselves, and the installer will always promote and defend his work. This is why you may need an unbiased, second opinion from an HVAC master.

I’ve been involved in nearly every aspect of heating, ventilation/exhaust, air conditioning and refrigeration for 28 years - the last 20 self-employed as a system designer, estimator, installer, service technician, consultant, successful inventor, and expert witness in New Hampshire Superior Court. Please visit my website www.protechhvac.com for complete information about my background, qualifications, accomplishments, and visit my Blog if you’re interested in expert advice.

How can I help you determine if there are energy consumption and/or safety concerns with your HVAC systems? For $250 I will inspect the HVAC system(s) in your home for:

• Proper design and equipment selection
• Adherence to the equipment manufacturer’s installation instructions
• Code-compliant system installation(s)
• Safe installations
• Any significant installation defects
• Ways to improve the energy efficiency of your system(s)

Also, I will provide:

• A written report outlining my findings

• Enumeration of any code violations, including the code names and numbers
• The names, addresses, and phone numbers of the code officials responsible for prescribing and enforcing the codes that were violated
• My recommendations for remedying any code violations and/or system defects, including cost to repair

Please call me anytime if you would like a free consultation over the phone, as well as information that I may have about other jobs by your builder that I’ve inspected.

Sincerely,

John W. Rocheleau

By ANNMARIE TIMMINS
Monitor staff

A Canterbury couple who bought a house for $377,500 in 2005 to find a faulty driveway, a leaky roof, a dry well and no central air as advertised have won $185,000 from a Merrimack County jury to remedy the deficiencies.

The case, already more than two years old, isn’t quite over. But Hope Ralph said the money and the vindication meant a great deal to her and her husband, Tom.

“It’s a great relief to see that the system works,” Hope said. “To tell the truth, stand your ground and go forward and people will believe you.” Read the rest of this entry »

Got Flat Rate?

By John Rocheleau

The Advertising

You’ve probably seen them: six-wheel box vans with billboard-size ads on the sides, sometimes displaying a blown up picture of a white-toothed smiley-faced middle class woman on the phone, suggesting everything in life is better for her, now that she’s found a disposable-booties-wearing plumbing & HVAC company. Or perhaps you’ve called one of those colorful full-page ads in the Yellow Pages. You know the kind, they make you feel warm and fuzzy, and define everything you thought you wanted to hear. And what about their application of every credit card logo under the sun? Did that reassure you that if your unplanned plumbing emergency caught you short on cash, then you should, without further thought, simply use your plastic? Did the 800-number, blazing red as fire, subliminally suggest: “hotline straight though to the Maytag Man, who sits patiently awaiting to soothe your flustered mind”? Welcome to the world of Flat Rate plumbing and HVAC advertising! Read the rest of this entry »

In 1998 and 1999, I licensed 5 invention designs (flanges and valves for use as accessories to hot water circulators) to Taco, Inc., a manufacturer of heating components located in Rhode Island. (See, “Lessons in Invention Development” blog post, and links below.) Shortly thereafter, I discovered what appeared to be a production run of commercial versions of the “Freedom Flange” in Taco’s Cranston Factory while I was introduced to the VP of Engineering by the Residential Products Manager. Judging by the looks on their faces, the manager did not intend for me to see the room full of commercial flanges. Read the rest of this entry »

In August of 2005 I was asked by the buyer of a recently built house to evaluate the heating and cooling systems, which did not seem to be working. I obliged, and my evaluation of the systems turned up many issues. Among them, the furnace in the attic was vented into the sewer pipe; there were wall grilles installed in place of floor grilles, which their 2-year old managed to remove, then crawled into the duct; flexible duct was used in place of more rugged (and expensive) insulated metal duct, driving up fuel and electricity costs; the soft copper gas line was not adequately supported; a hole was chopped out of the inside of the blower compartment to provide air to the blower, given the return air duct was too small (the problem with that is attic air was drawn into the furnace then recirculated about the house); and the “central air” conditioning didn’t include the majority of components necessary for the system to provide cooling. Read the rest of this entry »

On Monday, July 14th, 2008, I will be addressing the Inventors Association of New England-IANE- (http://www.inventne.org), which meets at the Massachusettes Institute of Technology. The topic of discussion will be:

“John Rocheleau will discuss his 10-year experience as an independent inventor, starting with his first invention idea and culminating with his recent settlement with a Licensee of 5 inventions - presently, all industry standards. Elements of this “open forum” will include, finding an angel investor, negotiating 2 License Agreements, enforcing accurate royalty reporting, his meetings with the FBI and a world-class investigative firm in New York, and, ultimately, ‘Davey beating Goliath’.“ Read the rest of this entry »

Lessons In Invention Development

(The Naïve Years - 1997-1999)

By John Rocheleau

Inventing is a precarious process, to say the least, but it can also be an educational experience of a lifetime. For me, the invention development process began with a problem and the thought that its solution lay with one tool design. I had had no previous experience with inventing and was blind to the realities of the journey that awaited me. Thirty-five tool, flange, and valve designs later, I had learned about casting processes, machining, heat treating, plating, and the ritual intricacies of the legal realm - more than I ever thought I wanted to know. Thirty designs failed to gain acceptance. Five succeeded. Read the rest of this entry »

The following is a letter I sent out to General Contractors in April that offers a simple way for them to ensure their HVAC subs perform fully on their contracts.

Dear Building Contractor:

Avoid costly litigation with HVACR subcontractors by hiring me, John Rocheleau, to inspect your sub’s work… before you pay his final invoice. For only $199, I can give you a ‘performance insurance policy’ by exposing the truth about the design, contract document, and system installation down to the last detail, if necessary.

I’ve been involved in nearly every aspect of heating, ventilation/exhaust, air conditioning and refrigeration for 28 years - the last 20 self-employed as a designer, installer, service technician, consultant, successful inventor of heating components, and expert witness in New Hampshire Superior Court.

My analysis and testimony in a recent case cost nearly $4,000, and my client won a $200,000 judgment. As you know, litigation is expensive, and the aforementioned suit could have been avoided had the builder hired someone to expose the system defects before the HVAC sub got his final payment.

Once you’ve made the final payment without a prior inspection by an expert, you’ve lost the leverage you once had to guarantee performance by your sub.

If the design and/or installation are flawed, increased service and operation cost will be the rule. Don’t subject your reputation to this, or needlessly spend time putting out fires, because of an inattentive subcontractor!

Also, include my inspection while selling jobs to prospective clients, as a competitive advantage.

Please visit my website www.protechhvac.com for complete information about my background, qualifications, accomplishments, and visit my Blog if you’re interested in expert advice.