Taco

The Taco Family of Companies Executive Chairman and owner John Hazen White, Jr. has announced the promotion of Cheryl Merchant to Chief Executive Officer of the 100-year old, third generation family-owned company. Merchant, who joined Taco in 2019, was previously President of Global Operations. “During her time at Taco, Cheryl has proven herself a capable Read more

The Taco Family of Companies Executive Chairman and owner John Hazen White, Jr. has announced the promotion of Cheryl Merchant to Chief Executive Officer of the 100-year old, third generation family-owned company. Merchant, who joined Taco in 2019, was previously President of Global Operations.

“During her time at Taco, Cheryl has proven herself a capable and talented leader. I feel confident that our company will continue to move in a positive direction under her leadership. This promotion demonstrates the full confidence and trust that the White family has in her,” said White.

White added, “I will remain actively involved in the company. This executive transition will allow me to focus on global growth of the company as well as continue to nurture and strengthen the crucial relationships we have with our employees, reps, suppliers, customers, and the communities where we work.”

Prior to joining Taco, Merchant spent the last 19 years as the President and CEO of Hope Global Industries, based in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

When you take pride in your work, the craftsmanship shines through, and the customer receives a reliable, comfortable radiant heating system. Tim Kuhlman, plumbing tech, Grasser’s Plumbing & Heating Inc., McNabb, Ill., is no stranger to meticulous installs and a job well done. Grasser’s is a family-owned plumbing and HVAC company serving the Illinois valley for Read more

When you take pride in your work, the craftsmanship shines through, and the customer receives a reliable, comfortable radiant heating system. Tim Kuhlman, plumbing tech, Grasser’s Plumbing & Heating Inc., McNabb, Ill., is no stranger to meticulous installs and a job well done. Grasser’s is a family-owned plumbing and HVAC company serving the Illinois valley for more than 60 years.

Tim Kuhlman, Grasser's Plumbing & Heating Inc., Hydronics, radiant heating, plumbing, tekmar, grundfos, taco, uponor, weil-mclain

To put it directly, the Oglesby, Ill. customer at a larger residence—3,186-sq.-ft. main floor; 3,300-sq.-ft. basement; and 1,200-sq.-ft. garage—wanted a professional install that worked. As a result, “The customer is very happy with the boiler install and performance of the system,” says Kuhlman.

As part of the solution, Kuhlman used tekmar 4-way mixing valves to raise the return temps for the garage and basement — the main floor set point is 140 degrees F; the basement and garage set points are 120 degrees F. The garage is set to 58 degrees F, the basement at 65 degrees F and the main floor to 68 degrees F.

Inside the Mechanical Room

• Boiler — Weil McLain/ultra 230 series 3
• Water heater — Navien 240A (not shown)
• Pumps — Grundfos UPS15-58FC, 3 speed circulator Relays
• Zone controls — Taco 4 Zone pump relay
• Piping – All primary and secondary piping done in copper with sweat fittings • • Main Tools Used —Bernzomatic TS8000 torch,
• Valves — Webstone isolation pump valves
• Separators —2” spirotherm air seperatore, Flexconsole expansion tank holder
• Expansion tanks —#60 Extrol expansion tank
• Other—three 12-loop 1” stainless steel uponor radiant heat manifolds and one 4-loop uponor ep manifold for garage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm4f9bB_U_w Taco announced their newest pump at AHR Expo, the Taco 0018e ECM circulator with Bluetooth connectivity. John Barba, Taco’s head trainer, shows us how the Taco 0018e pump works when connected to the accompanying mobile app. Press info direct from Taco “The circulator features Bluetooth communication to a mobile app. This provides real time Read more

Taco announced their newest pump at AHR Expo, the Taco 0018e ECM circulator with Bluetooth connectivity. John Barba, Taco’s head trainer, shows us how the Taco 0018e pump works when connected to the accompanying mobile app.

Press info direct from Taco

“The circulator features Bluetooth communication to a mobile app. This provides real time control, diagnostics and reporting, such as installation history, power consumption, performance and runtime. The installer can select between multiple constant speed, proportional pressure, and constant pressure modes as well as activeADAPT™, Taco’s self-adjusting proportional pressure mode.”

You can read the entire press release here on hydronicshub.com

Will the 0018e be the go-to pump for installers?

For the first time here in North America we are looking at a hydronic system pump that can show us what’s happening inside the system. That’s not only cool but, ultimately its one of the most useful employments of modern technology.

With four modes of operation this pump can be optimized for almost any residential hyrdronic system. Operating modes include infinitely variable fixed speed to fine tune any zone, constant pressure for zone valve applications, proportional pressure for panel radiators with thermostatic radiator valves (TRV) or the self-adjusting activeADAPT™ auto mode.

The 0018e, however, is not suitable for chilled water or potable water applications.

Operation modes explained: Taco 0018e Pump

The Taco 0018e is factory programmed for MAX SPEED setting out of the box, initial connection via the mobile app is required to adjust the settings.

Taco 0018e Operation Modes graphicFixed Speed mode:

Fixed Speed ModeFixed speed mode (Zone Circ) allows the installer to fine tune the circulator flow rate to precisely match design load conditions. It is infinitely variable between MIN/MAX settings. This setting is ideal for zoning with circulators.

 

Constant Pressure mode:

Constant Pressure ModeIn constant pressure mode (ZV), the circulator maintains a constant pressure differential (Δp-c) in the system as heating load increases or decreases. Selections options are Medium or High. This mode is best option for zoning with zone valves.

 

Proportional Pressure mode:

Proportional Pressure ModeIn proportional pressure mode (TRV), the circulator maintains a proportional pressure differential (Δp-v) in the system as heating load increases or decreases. Flow will change in relationship to the change in pressure differential. Selections options are Medium or High. This is the best option for panel radiators with thermostatic radiator valves (TRV).

For more info on the Taco 0018e circulator and more products from Taco please visit their site: tacocomfort.com

Mechanical Hub recently talked with John Hazen White, Jr., executive chairman of the board and president, Taco Comfort Solutions, about the short-term economy and the company. According to White, the outlook for all sectors is very positive. Consumer confidence is high; people are investing in their homes and businesses are investing in their organizations, be Read more

Mechanical Hub recently talked with John Hazen White, Jr., executive chairman of the board and president, Taco Comfort Solutions, about the short-term economy and the company. According to White, the outlook for all sectors is very positive. Consumer confidence is high; people are investing in their homes and businesses are investing in their organizations, be it new buildings or mechanical system energy-efficient upgrades. “With bi-partisan support for infrastructure, which includes significant long-overdue investments in our water and waste-water infrastructure, it could be another boom for our industry,” says White.

Specifically, in residential …

White says Custom home building and the second home market is back in many areas of the country. In these homes, consumers have become a lot more aware of their indoor comfort and the efficiency of both their HVAC system and their use of water. The home environment is also getting a lot smarter by just saying “Hey Alexa or OK Google.” Even the thermostat is now sexy and smart. For Taco, this means integrating our products via WiFi into the home system, like with our Leak Breaker Alert Plus shut-off valve that brings peace-of-mind protection to the consumer and full access via your smart phone.

Specifically, in commercial …

Technology companies, like Amazon and Google, are leading the way with new infrastructure spending. Fortunately, says White, the tech sector has benefited from implementing innovative hydronic-based cooling systems into their newest buildings and data centers. They have taken advantage of the ease of installation and faster commissioning of Taco’s SelfSensing pumps to get their project done on-time and under budget. Plus the real-time monitoring provided by the integrated, characterized drives gives the tech companies the precise data they expect to optimize their systems and track performance.

“We are also seeing an increase in the amount of LEED-certified buildings being designed and built. This again is an area where hydronics shines. Integrated into the designs has been a call for greater use of high-efficient pump solutions,” says White. Taco boasts the broadest range of ECM powered pumps, now up to 30HP. “We then go a step further and integrate the eLink connectivity platform and SelfSensing drives to provide greater installation and operation ease and savings,” says White.

Positive Momentum

White says Taco uses Dodge Analytics to track the type and size of commercial building projects being designed and, although construction starts have been a bit volatile of late, “we do see expansion continuing through 2018,” says White. “This is especially true in the North American market where we should see a bump in spending due to the impact of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Also, the rising commercial property values are driving investors to switch from acquisition to more development, especially in the major cities.”

Everything looks positive going into 2018. Taco is very bullish on the economy and continued growth of our industry. High-efficiency and ECM are going to continue to be the buzzwords of 2018. New industry-wide pump energy rating labeling will be introduced by manufacturers and more utility program incentive dollars are being directed away from lighting toward mechanical equipment and systems. Embedded technology is increasing while connectivity is getting easier and more available. The internet of things (IoT), is being driven into more and more products, which will allow the HVAC system to be smarter and operate more efficiently. For Taco that means being able to supply more-and-more data and system feedback to make systems smarter, more responsive and energy efficient.

Although the forecast looks good, there is some concern. Commodity prices are on the rise and will certainly have an impact on equipment prices across the HVAC industry. “Already this year we have seen a double-digit increase in items like copper and steel and this trend looks like it will continue throughout 2018, especially if the world economy remains strong,” says White.

And, the still unresolved review of Section 232 steel investigation, after Trump’s April announcement that it would consider restricting imports on the basis of national defense, could bring major changes to the price and supply of steel.

Interest rates have moved up as expected or maybe even a little slower than expected through 2017 with the anticipation of further increases in 2018 while the Fed certainly tries to keep overall inflation in check. Indications are that the new Chairman will continue the current policy without any major changes, including allowing some of its portfolio to mature without reinvestment. A possible wild card affecting inflation will be if new trade restrictions are put in place (e.g. steel, as previously noted).

One also needs to keep their eye on the interwoven political climate around the world, be it Britain’s exit from the EU or the ongoing unrest on the Korean peninsula. China’s economic impact, possible currency fluctuations, environmental policy which is driving founderies to close, and their foreign policy towards North Korea all play a role in the world and US economy. Not to mention any reaction by the Trump administration directly against North Korea based on their ongoing provocations.

In general, though, Trump has been business-friendly, says White. “As a private, family-owned, American-based manufacturing business, the Trump administration, through words and early action, has certainly been focused on our success and the success of U.S. manufacturing businesses. In general, whether it’s directives to try and cut red tape or make the tax system more competitive, this administration has reached out to the manufacturing industry and has taken a keen interest in our future success.”

Based on its own optimistic outlook, Taco is making significant investments in new US-based manufacturing of high-efficiency pumps, accelerating research and development efforts, and expanding our highly-skilled workforce. We have also been able to recently add Taconova, a Swiss-based leader in innovative hydronic solutions for heating, plumbing, and solar energy applications in residential and commercial buildings, to the Taco family of companies.

More Efficiency

In December of 2016, as a unified circulator manufacturing industry, Taco completed negotiations with the Department of Energy (DOE) on new circulator pump energy efficiency standards. The standard level established effectively shifts the circulator pump market from induction motor technology to more efficient electrically commuted motor (ECM) technology. Conservative estimates place the energy savings from this latest pump efficiency standard at 0.7 quads of energy over a 30 year period, or the annual energy use of four million homes.

“This was a significant, unilateral agreement that will have transformative implications for our industry, the economy and provide energy savings to all Americans who heat and cool with or recirculate hot water in their homes. What we need this year is the completion and publication of this standard by the DOE. Under the leadership of Rick Perry, the DOE has been slow to act on any new regulations but we hope the economic and energy-saving benefits of this standard will shine through and it will be published in 2018.”

Labor Shortage

Finally, tackling the issue of the skilled labor shortage, White says that he does not see a clear path to the issue getting better any time soon. This shortage is further complicated by the technical advances in the products being offered to the industry and the need for advanced skills in controls, programming and system integration.

“The broadening skills gap is due to several factors but the one we can and must address immediately is the negative perception of plumbing and HVAC jobs. We have a societal focus on four-year degree programs as opposed to technical education which has made it difficult for contractors to attract skilled talent. We work closely with our trade associations, including AHRI and Hydronics Institute, to fight this battle to attract new talent to our industry,” says White.

And once workers are engaged, Taco’s relentless focus on training helps contracting companies increase the skill of their employees. “It’s just part of our ongoing commitment to support their personal and business success,” says White.

Family owned and operated, Boston Standard Plumbing & Heating Inc. focuses on residential and light commercial service, repair and installation work. The company performs boiler, furnace, ductless system work, “and plain ol’ no-heat/no-ac calls. We pride ourselves on getting things done right the first time,” says owner, Joseph Wood. “We operate cleanly and foster a Read more

Family owned and operated, Boston Standard Plumbing & Heating Inc. focuses on residential and light commercial service, repair and installation work. The company performs boiler, furnace, ductless system work, “and plain ol’ no-heat/no-ac calls. We pride ourselves on getting things done right the first time,” says owner, Joseph Wood.

“We operate cleanly and foster a cool team environment where we’re always making sure we’ve got each other’s back—it leads to a nice experience for both our company and our clients and everyone works together, which is great. We do company outings quarterly to make sure we all function as a team at all times, and these vary from Red Sox games to bowling and pizza, or fantasy football drafts,” continues Wood.

Recently, Wood and a two-man crew encountered an old 4-level, 2,000-sq.-ft. multi-family row house in Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood—near the Bunker Hill Monument—that was converted back to a single family home, which had two failing heating systems and two failing tankless units. (The home is technically a two-family home but has been occupied by the same family since 1960.) It was a great opportunity to transition to one modern system. The two techs, Jose and Ben, worked off of an application drawing that Wood drew for them to ensure they followed manufacturer’s specs or better for each item.

For the 5-zone baseboard system, Boston Standard’s crew installed a Navien NHB-150 to tackle the heating needs due to its superior turndown Ratio of 15:1, meaning it could get down as low as 10,000 BTUs for a mild day, but ramp up if needed to tackle the biggest heating or hot water demand. They paired the NHB-150 with a lifetime warranty 60-gallon Heat Flo indirect water heater so they could get ample hot water and a great lifespan.

The team also installed a Caleffi SEP-4 Magnetic Hydraulic Separator to provide the air elimination, but also to keep the old system debris clean of any remnant debris as it has a manual flush feature to draw iron oxide and similar “crud” from the system. “The SEP-4 also allows us to handle the hydraulic separation in a really clean format,” says Wood.

A Taco Veridian pump was installed to modulate the pump speed based on the number of open zones. “This will allow the client to have an awesome new system that is super-efficient with not only the gas usage, but also with the electrical usage,” says Wood.

In addition, two old HVAC systems were replaced with new Trane Hyperion air handlers and condensers.

Viega ProPress fittings with the Milwaukee M12 FORCE LOGIC short throw tool, which presses up to 1.25”, were used for the whole setup to keep things nice and clean and leak free for years to come.

The proof is in the install. “The homeowner loves the new system—it saves space and looks beautiful, and will last the client a good long time,” says Wood.