A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS) announced today that Eddie Goodwin, senior vice president, president of Lochinvar, will retire July 1, and Stephen O’Brien, chief operating officer, has been named the successor. “Since joining the company over 40 years ago, Eddie’s vast experience and steadfast leadership has helped shape Lochinvar into the industry-leading, high efficiency boiler and Read more
Lochinvar
A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS) announced today that Eddie Goodwin, senior vice president, president of Lochinvar, will retire July 1, and Stephen O’Brien, chief operating officer, has been named the successor.
“Since joining the company over 40 years ago, Eddie’s vast experience and steadfast leadership has helped shape Lochinvar into the industry-leading, high efficiency boiler and water heater manufacturer it is today,” said Kevin Wheeler, chairman, president and CEO. “He has built a strong team committed to designing, manufacturing and selling high quality, innovative products that meet our customer’s needs. We thank him for his vision and commitment to our customers, our employees and the A. O. Smith values over the past four decades.”
Eddie Goodwin
In his new role, O’Brien will build on the strong foundation Goodwin and his team have established, by implementing the strategic vision for the organization and further expanding Lochinvar’s innovative product lines. O’Brien has served as chief operating officer for Lochinvar since August of 2021 and is uniquely qualified to assume the role of president going forward. O’Brien joined Lochinvar from Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS) and prior to that, worked for A. O. Smith Electrical Products Company for 14 years before the company was sold to Regal Beloit Corporation. He holds an MBA from the University of Dayton in Ohio and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from State University of New York at Potsdam.
Stephen O’Brien
“With his extensive experience in the HVAC industry, his strong leadership skills and focus on customer satisfaction, Steve is the ideal person to lead our Lochinvar business unit going forward,” Wheeler added. “I am confident the transition will be seamless, and Steve’s extensive background and business development skills will further strengthen Lochinvar’s channel partnerships and our presence in the market.”
Lochinvar is enhancing its top-performing high-efficiency condensing residential KNIGHT Fire Tube Boiler series with 95 percent DOE AFUE and advanced control functionality for optimized heating comfort. Now in its fourth generation, the designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S.A. KNIGHT Fire Tube Boiler contains 13 models — seven wall-mount options (55,000 to 399,000 Btu/hr) and Read more
Lochinvar is enhancing its top-performing high-efficiency condensing residential KNIGHT Fire Tube Boiler series with 95 percent DOE AFUE and advanced control functionality for optimized heating comfort.
Now in its fourth generation, the designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S.A. KNIGHT Fire Tube Boiler contains 13 models — seven wall-mount options (55,000 to 399,000 Btu/hr) and six floor-standing models (55,000 to 285,000 Btu/hr) — with turndown ratios of up to 10:1.
“Lochinvar’s engineering team does not rest on the success of a great product, and the KNIGHT Fire Tube Boiler evolution is proof of our relentless push to improve performance for homeowners and make installation and set up a snap for contractors,” said Dan Rettig, residential product manager at Lochinvar. “Whether a contractor is installing for new construction or performing a drop-in replacement on an older boiler system, the KNIGHT series has the flexibility and muscle to meet the space-heating demands of nearly any residential application. This is without a doubt the best KNIGHT boiler yet.”
To achieve cost-efficient performance and rugged reliability for homeowners, the KNIGHT Fire Tube Boiler is manufactured with high-quality components, including a corrosion-resistant stainless steel fire-tube heat exchanger and a negative regulation combustion system. Additionally, each KNIGHT boiler will be packaged with a variable-speed ECM circulator, which can save up to 90 percent on operational costs over a conventional circulator.
Every KNIGHT Fire Tube Boiler comes equipped with SMART SYSTEM, the industry’s most advanced boiler control system, which now includes the CON·X·US Remote Connect option and the LOCH-N-LINK® USB Programming feature. The Set-Up Wizard guides contractors through installation programming while Lochinvar’s exclusive CON·X·US Remote Connect option allows a technician or homeowner to monitor and manage the boiler from a mobile app.
Lightweight with a compact footprint and easy-to-access components, the entire series is designed to make installation, setup and serviceability straightforward for contractors. For instance, the KNIGHT Fire Tube Boiler features:
- LOCH-N-LINK USB Programming with parameters uploaded from a thumb drive
- Universal vent adapter, which allows for easy transition to multiple types of vent material
- Variable-speed pump that increases system efficiency and reduces operational costs
- Dual location parameter memory for quick and simple component replacement
- Electrical outlet on the unit for a work light or condensate pump
- Wall- and floor-mount options with top and bottom water connections.
For larger residential applications, KNIGHT Fire Tube boilers can be cascaded together for redundancy and may also be paired with an indirect water heater.
The high-efficiency condensing gas KNIGHT Fire Tube Boiler series first launched in 2005. Since its introduction and through four generations, the KNIGHT Fire Tube boiler has established a reputation for reliable performance among contractors.
For more information about Lochinvar, visit www.Lochinvar.com.
After 38 years in the hydronics business, Stephen Minnich of Minnich Mechanical Design is hanging up the tools. The Hub’s John Mesenbrink caught up to Stephen on his last jobsite, a 24-zone radiant system at an apartment complex in Wheaton, Ill. The change-out consisted of removing two 400,000 BTU cast-iron boilers with no boiler protection Read more
After 38 years in the hydronics business, Stephen Minnich of Minnich Mechanical Design is hanging up the tools. The Hub’s John Mesenbrink caught up to Stephen on his last jobsite, a 24-zone radiant system at an apartment complex in Wheaton, Ill. The change-out consisted of removing two 400,000 BTU cast-iron boilers with no boiler protection and no mixing among other hydronic issues that cut down the life of the boilers by 10+ years.
Minnich is installing for two Lochinvar KBN models, an upgrade from their KHN models to remedy the problem. Check out the video here.
As far as what Minnich will do in the next chapter of his career, Minnich has accepted a position with an engineering firm downtown Chicago as an HVAC consultant for multi-residential units on the Chicago area. Congrats on a great career and good luck with the next chapter in your life!
See the video here:
Lebanon, Tenn. — Lochinvar recently hosted 16 of its top VIP Contractors and their guests for its annual four-day Nashville Experience. The visiting VIPs were treated to an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2018 CMA Fest, as well as a chance to check out Lochinvar’s world headquarters and meet with the Lochinvar business team. Winners and their Read more
Lebanon, Tenn. — Lochinvar recently hosted 16 of its top VIP Contractors and their guests for its annual four-day Nashville Experience. The visiting VIPs were treated to an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2018 CMA Fest, as well as a chance to check out Lochinvar’s world headquarters and meet with the Lochinvar business team.
Winners and their guests stayed at Nashville’s Hilton Garden Inn, a short walk from Nissan Stadium and the riverfront festival grounds. This year’s CMA lineup included country’s biggest stars such as Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood and Charley Pride as well as acts appearing for the first time such as Kane Brown, Old Dominion and Carly Pearce. Several VIPs got photos of some of the performing artists.
During the group’s visit to Lochinvar’s headquarters in nearby Lebanon, they toured the manufacturing facility and sat down with Lochinvar leaders for round-table discussions where they learned about the company’s latest product releases and upcoming innovations while sharing their own experience, insight and feedback from the field.
“Meeting the VIP Contractors who install and work with our products every day gives us a chance to connect with them on a different, more personal level,” said Amanda McAfee, marketing representative. “After watching them interact with the VIP Contractor Program all year, it’s an honor to welcome them to our hometown and headquarters and hear their opinions, and then watch them enjoy their well-deserved reward.”
The following VIP Contractors traveled to Nashville for the festivities along with their guests:
• William Fahrner of Midwest Comfort Solutions in Joliet, Ill.;
• Billie Klegraefe of Superior Plumbing in Westwood, Mass.;
• Paul Powers, Jr. of Ideal Temp HVAC in Freemont, N.H.;
• Michael Valletta, Jr. of Valletta Mechanical in Quincy, Mass.;
• Clinton Derner of Derner Enterprises in Wasilla, Alaska;
• Jeffrey Beane of Breen & Sullivan Mechanical Services in Danvers, Mass.;
• Gino Langlois of Chauffage M.D. 2007, Inc. in Trois- Rivières, Quebec;
• Glenn Lambert of LE Maintenance in Whitman, Mass.;
• Jamey Leonardi of Mile High Plumbing in Durango, C.O.;
• Stephane Nadeau of Plombexel in St-Hyacinthe, Quebec;
• David Bryer of Thomas J. Kennedy Plumbing and HVAC in Raynham, Mass.;
• Eric Shaw of Eric C. Shaw Mechanical in Tewksbury, Mass.;
• Robert Dufresne of Empire Heating in Rutherglen, Ontario;
• Todd Smith of Preferred Plumbing in Kenai, Alaska;
• Joffrey Gregoire of AG Equipement et Comfort, Inc. in Saint-Lazare, Quebec;
• Thomas Schrott of The Janes Company in Mukilteo, W.A.
I recently installed my first Lochinvar Noble combi-boiler, it was a replacement upgrade from a failed dual purpose tank heater supplying heat to both garage and basement radiant floors. This model was the 199K Btu running on natural gas, vented in 3″ (factory outlet size on boiler) with a rating of 95% AFUE. Lochinvar specs Read more
I recently installed my first Lochinvar Noble combi-boiler, it was a replacement upgrade from a failed dual purpose tank heater supplying heat to both garage and basement radiant floors.
This model was the 199K Btu running on natural gas, vented in 3″ (factory outlet size on boiler) with a rating of 95% AFUE. Lochinvar specs the domestic delivery to be 4.8 gallons per minute (77F rise, NKC199 model only) and that was the deciding factor in selecting this model. With a 10:1 turndown ratio the heating capacity of this unit is right-sized for the load even though its capable of much more. Domestic production takes president in this situation.
The Noble boiler is equipped with Lochinvar’s SMART CONTROL and features an intuitive setup wizard to guide contractors through programming parameters quickly and easily. The backlit, user-friendly LCD display provides diagnostic information and system status in plain English, not codes.
Of course this unit is my first of the model line and has only been in operation for about a week as of this posting so I have no long term experience with performance and reliability but based on my experience with the Knight and Cadet models I have relatively high expectations for this one to serve my client well.
Here’s a link to some video I took while installing the system (Click the arrows to advance thru the video clips):