Make a child’s Christmas special through the Sheridan House Christmas Toy Drive.

It is our hope that every child will experience the joy of opening at least one gift on Christmas morning.  From now until December 2, we will be collecting the following items:

~ New, unwrapped toys (for ages 1-12)
Dolls • Barbies • Barbie accessories • Stuffed animals/ plush toys • Wooden block sets • Lego sets • Jewelry-making kits • Art and easel products • Board games • Musical toys • Tea sets/ dish sets • Kid cameras • iPods, electronic games • Cars/ hot wheels/trucks • Train sets • Airplanes, boats • Building sets • Balls for any sport (basketball, volleyball, football, etc) • Sports equipment • Frisbees • Tool sets • Bicycles • Tricycles
~ Gift cards (any denomination)
~ Financial gift (we will do the shopping for you)

Kindly deliver your donations by December 2 to:
Sheridan House
1700 S. Flamingo Road
Davie, FL  33325

Hurricane season is officially here and living in Florida makes us susceptible to more of these storms than any other state. Of the lower 48 states Florida has more coastline than any other, measuring in at 1350 miles of total coastline, with California coming in second at 840 miles of coastline. Our states unique peninsula shape also adds to the chance of getting hit by a hurricane and means that we can get hit at any time, from anywhere. Knowing what we know about the unpredictable nature of hurricanes, and our state wearing a bulls eye on its back for being hit; having a game plan for your HVACR system is vital. Just like anything else there are many crucial steps to preparing your HVACR system for the hurricane season.

One of the many steps to ensure that your outside units are ready for hurricane season is to have county approved straps to secure your unit to the roof or outside areas of your building. We recommend using stainless steel screws when securing the straps to the unit and the units’ base. Using stainless steel screws and parts whenever possible guarantee that you will be getting the strongest and most weather resistant product available. This is crucial with the salinity and demanding weather in South Florida. Strong bases are a valuable part of any units’ strength and should be installed whenever possible.  You can secure the unit down with the best straps and fasteners on the market, but if it is not on a strong base or stand, the straps will do little to help in the case of a hurricane. Other than securing the unit with straps and fasteners, there are also many other things that need to be secured on the outdoor units for hurricane season.

Outdoor units are susceptible to the strongest winds of any hurricane and take the biggest beating of all. These units are usually placed on roofs or in alley ways, which create higher wind gusts than recorded. A step that should be taken to make sure there are less projectiles and less loss is to go through and tighten all of the screws; securing the panels onto the outside of the unit. This step should eliminate all but the highest winds from panel loss and less damage to property and the unit. While tightening the panels take a look around the unit and roof area for any metal, take the loose debris off the roof as it will become flying projectile if not removed. Another step that can be taken while on the roof is to secure the condensing pipe to the roof, giving it less chance to break and cause problems. Once again, stainless steel fasteners and parts are recommended for any possible application. If your building has roof top package units another step that should be taken is to secure all of your units drain lines. For those buildings with roof top package units, you should also ensure that your outside air intakes should be closed; if they are left open the hurricane winds can enter through the unit and blow the outside panels off. Going through all of the previous steps should be part of the routine, as well should preparing your units electrical system.

Preparing for hurricanes usually means we are outside strapping things down and making sure they do not fly away, but electrical seems to be overlooked for the most part. When it comes to preparing your units for a hurricane electrical should be looked at as heavily as any other preparation step taken. One of the recommended steps that should be taken is to protect three phase systems with phase monitor protection. The phase monitor will provide you protection from phase loss, phase unbalance, phase reversal and phase sequence on your buildings motors, compressors, pumps, or any other three phase electrical equipment. To protect single phase units from electrical problems and short cycling during power outages, time delays should be installed. Even with all the proper preparation we cannot prevent a hurricane from tearing through South Florida.

Getting things up and running after the storm is more of a battle than the preparation. With technology on our side there are many portable HVACR units that can be put into place to have your building up and running as fast as possible.

Post hurricane seems to be when everything settles in and the clean up begins. For office buildings and any building this means getting back to running capability as soon as possible. This may not be the easiest or most enjoyable thing to go through, but getting up and running is extremely important. Of the many stresses that go into getting back on our feet, your buildings HVACR system should not be one. Thankfully there are portable units of any size and shape to fit your needs and application. These units can be installed quickly and can satisfy your buildings air load, while problems on your main units are being fixed. The list of what is available is quite lengthy, but to provide a few main products there are air and water cooled chillers, cooling towers, dx units, pumps, and portable cooling units.

Hurricane preparation should be taken seriously for any buildings HVAC/R system and the steps covered should be taken to minimize the chance of product failure. While these steps will greatly increase your units chances of making it safely through a storm, there is no guarantee when it comes to hurricanes. In the event that you do lose your air, there are many portable products that can get you up and cool quickly. So go through the steps covered and hopefully we will have a smooth hurricane season!

DebonAir Mechanical is proud to be the South Florida representative for The Unified Group. The Unified Group is a very elite group of the top mechanical contractors across the country and DebonAir Mechanical is proud to carry that honor for the South Florida market.

Here is some History on The Unified Group and what makes them so special:

Our Story
The Unified Group was founded in August 1998 by a core group of quality driven, independent mechanical contractors. When the consolidation movement kicked in and posed a threat to the HVAC industry, these contractors joined together to form The Unified Group.

They believed they could survive alone. However, in order to thrive they needed an organization in which they could work together with other like-minded commercial contractors, while at the same time retaining their independence.

In The Unified Group, they created an alliance that would offer them training opportunities and the chance to collaborate and share best practices with other independent contractors.

Today The Unified Group is still driven by the same quality values the association was founded on. Because the group is made up of the best contractors from all over the United States, members are able to provide the finest service available to national, regional, and local accounts.

Our members have moved beyond cooperation and into true collaboration. This is why we can say that together we make the difference.

Mission
Our mission is to provide training and resources to promote the success of the quality independent HVAC contractor, to raise the standards of excellence in the industry, and to ultimately increase the value provided to our customers

Objective
To build a national network of independent mechanical contractors dedicated to providing our customers with the best quality service in the HVAC/R industry

Goals
To assist our membership in growing their businesses and improving their bottom line profits

To raise the level of excellence in the HVAC/R industry

To provide our members with the opportunity for continued improvement in all aspects of their businesses

To share best practices among our members

Are You Using Vibration Analysis?

The value of chillers and mechanical equipment to a building is significant and maintaining those machines is important to ensuring their proper life expectancy. Vibration analysis coupled with your already existing preventative maintenance plan is the way to doing that.

Vibration analysis allows internal looks into a buildings pumps, compressors, cooling towers, chillers and gearboxes. Through computer readings, baselines are established and changes can be determined to prevent unforeseen failures. DebonAir mechanical has the properly trained personnel and tools to complete a thorough vibration analysis program for applicable locations.

A qualified DebonAir representative will visit the site and go through everything necessary to properly read the machines current internal state. Using a specialized computer the representative will take readings of the machines. Readings on machines will be done under load to reflect accurate internal movements and stress loads. Taking the readings at any other time does not thoroughly reflect accurate measures and can give inaccurate information.

These initial readings will be a benchmark for trending future readings and determining if any changes have occurred internally. If changes have occurred and continue to worsen, action plans can be put into place to repair the problem.

Putting a vibration analysis in place has many benefits and is a great addition to any maintenance plan.

Benefits of adding Vibration Analysis:
• Predicting current and future mechanical failures
• No tenant dissatisfaction due to unforeseen mechanical failures
• Ability to schedule machine overhauls
• Reduced maintenance and repair costs
• Helps prevent unforeseen downtime due to mechanical failures
• Savings on unnecessary overhauls

If you have any questions about vibration analysis and how it can benefit your building contact DebonAir today. (800) 447-1562

Magnetic Chillers:

Technology is ever changing and many of those changes bring great opportunity. For building owners, managers and engineers, technology may change the way jobs are done; budgets are developed and projects are handled. One of the most exciting changes in the HVAC/R industry is the arrival of the magnetic, frictionless chiller in the market place. Magnetic chillers have already proven to be a positive investment and will be beneficial for any building.

Energy Savings:

Energy savings are a great benefit of the magnetic chiller technology. The lack of friction allows for easier moving parts and more efficient running. These chillers have become the most efficient chillers available and part load performance numbers have been recorded as low as .31 kw/ton. With kilowatt efficiency that high, these chillers have extremely high ROI. Paybacks from actual energy savings have been as short as 2 years.

Increased Sustainability:

When making any major decision or capital improvement project, environmental impact has a heavy influence in the final decision. Decisions are made not only for financial reasons, but are also made with the environment in mind. With the increased efficiency of magnetic chillers, total greenhouse-gas emissions are significantly reduced. Along with lower greenhouse-gas totals these chillers allow for additional LEED points in the enhanced refrigerant management section.

Quiet:

The days of shouting to have a conversation in a mechanical room are over. Magnetic technology allows for far superior noise control. It is something that has to be heard to be believed. Magnetic chillers have been measured at an astounding 73dba; this sound level is about the same as a standard cell phone ringtone. Noise levels that low will allow for normal toned conversations to occur while standing right next to the chiller.

Reliability:

Having a more reliable machine is a great way to save money. Having to do costly repairs can be a headache and cause unnecessary expenses. Magnetic chillers allow for a more dependable system to be in place. The technology allows for less moving parts as well as less wear and tear on the internal workings of the machine. These machines float the driveshaft and this in turn creates less friction and less wear on moving parts. This technology may be new to many people, but it has been being used in military applications for many years and has proven time and time again its durability as well as reliability.

Magnetic Chillers bring a technology to the market that will change the way chillers are viewed. Energy usage will be lower and return on investments will be greater. These chillers will be very beneficial in many ways. As with any major project, only qualified and professional contractors should do the work. DebonAir Mechanical has already installed multiple magnetic chillers. We would be more than happy to take interested parties on a walkthrough of an operational mechanical room with magnetic chillers in place.

Jesse, Most Improved Player, '10 Summer Program - Softball.

 Then his mom placed him in Sheridan House.  Initially, Jesse refused to talk or even smile.  He would simply sit in study hall and stare at the wall.  Needless to say, he had a very rough start.  He finally realized that he couldn’t exist at Sheridan House alone and succumbed to the structure of the program and to the thought of risking a new relationship.  Due to the consistent love he received from his house parents, Steve and Terry Griffith, coupled with the determination of his behavioral specialist, Ian Bodnarchuk, who refused to be rejected by Jesse, Jesse’s life slowly began to change.

 After 12 months at Sheridan House, Jesse is a changed person both inwardly and outwardly.  He is now developing healthy relationships, communicating his fears, and is no longer afraid to risk participating in sports.  In fact, this summer Jesse won the Most Improved Player award for softball.  He has changed so much that even his teachers have noticed.  One even commented to us, “It’s amazing to see the difference.  Jesse smiles now.”

 Losing his dad made Jesse go into a hole and refuse to risk trusting another relationship.  Another rejection would be too much.  Today, Jesse has come to realize that relationships are not only worth the risk, but also part of the healing.  Please join us in praying for Jesse and that he will experience the ultimate relationship in life, a firm faith in Jesus Christ

 http://www.sheridanhouse.org/web/changed-lives/residential/another-great-story-7/

South Florida has some of the most beautiful and well maintained buildings in the country, and keeping them at that point takes a lot of work. It is not only hard work for the property managers, engineers and maintenance personnel, but it also takes a great group of vendors to ensure that things are being taken care of and done properly. A major component in keeping these buildings nice is the HVACR system, and selecting a contractor with the correct license is critical to the success of the building and its personnel.

Ensuring that the contractor has a license seems like it would be an obvious suggestion, but with today’s unsettled market place anything is possible. Everyday there are more and more companies who pop up and may be gone tomorrow; using these “fly by night” contractors only causes headaches. While many states have just one HVACR or mechanical license, Florida has three different variations of the license and it is important to know what each license covers. Here is a description of each of the three variables:

Mechanical Contractor:

Mechanical Contractor is the highest classification of any HVAC\R license. Mechanical contractors are able to do a wide variety of things in and around a building and its grounds. This license allows for a very broad diversity of work to be done; anything from HVAC\R (which is its primary concentration), all the way to pool piping. Here is a description of what a Mechanical Contractor’s license encompasses.

“‘Mechanical Contractor’ means a contractor whose services are unlimited in the execution of contracts, requiring the experience, knowledge, and skill to install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or design (when not prohibited by law), central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems, -including duct work (in connection with a complete system) only to the extent such duct work is performed by the contractor as is necessary to make complete the following: an air-distribution system, boiler and unfired pressure vessel systems, lift station equipment and piping, and all appurtenances, apparatus, or equipment used in connection therewith, and any duct cleaning and equipment sanitizing, which requires at least a partial disassembling of the system; to install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or design, when not prohibited by law, piping, insulation of pipes, vessels and ducts, pressure and process piping, pneumatic control piping, gasoline tanks and pump installations and piping for same, standpipes, air piping, vacuum line piping, oxygen lines, nitrous oxide piping, ink and chemical lines, fuel transmission lines, liquefied petroleum gas lines within buildings, and natural gas fuel lines within buildings; to replace, disconnect, or reconnect power wiring on the load side of the dedicated existing electrical disconnect switch; to install, disconnect, and reconnect low voltage heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning control wiring; and to install a condensate drain from an air-conditioning unit to an existing safe waste or other approved disposal (other than a direct connection to a sanitary system). The scope of work for such contractor shall also include any excavation work incidental thereto, but shall not include any work such as potable water lines or connections thereto, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping and filters, or electrical power wiring.”

American Contractors Exam Services. Florida Mechanical Contractor License

Class A Contractor:

Class A HVAC contractors are able to do the majority of the work that a Mechanical Contractor does, but there are some limitations with this license. The following is a description of what a Class A Contractor is able to do and also what they cannot do.

“The Class A Air Conditioning Contractor is one whose services are unlimited in the following:  installation, maintenance, repair, fabrication, alteration, extension, or design of central air conditioning, refrigeration, heating, and ventilating systems.

Class A contractors may also execute contracts requiring experience in the installation, maintenance, repair, fabrication, alteration, extension, or design of duct work (in connection with a complete system but only to the extent that such duct work is performed by the contractor as is necessary to complete an air distribution system), boiler and unfired pressure vessel system, and all appurtenances, apparatus, or equipment used in connection with them.

This license does not allow any work such as liquefied petroleum or natural gas fuel lines within buildings, potable water lines or connections, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping and filters, or electrical power wiring.”

American Contractors Exam Services. Florida HVACR License Class A

Class B Contractor:

Class B License covers the least scope of work out of the three licenses possible. Class B Contractors are limited in the tonnage and BTU of equipment that they are able to work on. They are also not able to do many things that a Mechanical Contractor or Class A license holder can do. The following is a brief description of what a Class B Contractor is licensed to do.

“The Class B Contractor is one whose services are limited to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 BTU of heating in any 1 system, in the execution of contracts requiring the experience, knowledge, and skill to install, maintain, repair, fabricate, alter, extend, or design central air conditioning, refrigeration, heating and ventilation systems, including ductwork in connection with a complete system.

This license does not allow any work such as liquefied petroleum or natural gas fuel lines within buildings, potable water lines or connections, sanitary sewer lines, swimming pool piping and filters, or electrical power wiring.”

American Contractors Exam Services. Florida HVAC Class B License

Another issue that comes to mind when choosing a contractor is Insurance. Insurance is a major function of doing business for a contractor and property owner or manager. It is something that should always be taken seriously and many of the “fly by night” companies will not have the coverage to cover large mechanical systems.

Making certain that the contractor is properly qualified for the job is a major issue and should be taken seriously. There are different licenses for different reasons and every contractor cannot handle every job which is confronted. Insurance coverage also needs to be covered and should be checked before the contractor is able to do any work. Hopefully the information covered helps any future decision making and clears possible questions.