FAQs
| Q | Why would I consider Ducane equipment for my next project? |
| A | Ducane manufactures quality no-frills equipment, you can purchase for a competitive price. This is backed up by outstanding warranties, and a local distributor who stocks new units, and a good selection of replacement parts. A lot of the fancy upgrades on competitors equipment don't provide relative value compared to the extra cost, and result in overcomplicated systems more prone to failure and harder to decidedly troubleshoot. For more information visit Ducane's Web Site at : www.Ducane.com |
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| Q | I haven't heard of Ducane before, who are they, and what is the company background? |
| A | Ducane has been a manufacturer of heating & air conditioning equipment for over 50 years. Originally they were producing 'brand named' units for other major manufacturers. They were also well know for their premium line of outdoor gas grilles (BBQ). In 1996 Ducane decided to enter the market with their own brand of Ducane heating & cooling equipment. Then in 1999 the HVAC division of Ducane was purchased by the Lennox company. Continuous product improvement, and the addition of other equipment such as Unit Heaters, Oil Furnaces, Fan Coils, etc. has been a direct result of the value added by becoming a Lennox group company. |
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| Q | Can a standard mini-split be used in a low outdoor ambient cooling application? |
| A | A standard mini-split is designed for summer operating conditions. Below 15C they have the same problems as any other air conditioner with evaporator freeze-up, liquid slugging, etc. In order to operate under low outdoor ambient conditions the system needs to be more robust, and incorporate features like: a large suction line accumulator with a self-regulating heater, crankcase heater, condenser head pressure fan speed control, heavy-duty heat pump type compressor. When incorporated in a commercial duty system, year-round operation is a feasible consideration. But when added in the field to a residential / light-commercial system consideration should be given to installing a outdoor ambient cutout to disable operation beyond the spring-summer-fall seasons (ie. below -10C). For low ambient operation specify Mitsubishi Mr. Slim P-series commercial units, that are designed for year-round operation. |
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| Q | I have a commercial application where I would like to use a mini-split type unit, but the customer doesn't want a 'whole bunch' of outdoor units. Is this possible? |
| A | Yes. Multi-split systems are now available, like the Mitsubishi City Multi™, that allow you to connect up to 16 indoor units to a single condensing unit. Variable refrigerant flow technology, combined with sophisticated network controls, results in unprecedented energy efficiency and flexibility in system design. The result is a premium system, comparable to commercial VAV and chiller systems, without many of their inherent faults & installation concerns. This is the future of comfort! |
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| Q | What's available besides the typical wall-mounted indoor unit in a ductless split? |
| A | Indoor unit types include: high-wall, ceiling cassette, floor standing, ceiling suspended, concealed ducted, and low-wall. The big plus with mini-splits is installation flexibility! |
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| Q | Why consider instantaneous hot water heating equipment? |
| A | The number 1 advantage is an unlimited supply of hot water. The other major benefit (#1 in some books) is energy savings. Only heat the water you are using at the time. Space savings is also a bonus with instantaneous water heaters. |
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| Q | What types of instantaneous water heaters are available? |
| A | Electric, gas (natural gas & propane), and oil-fired, for home, commercial & industrial use. Make sure your contractor fully understands your expectations and requirements in order to select the right unit for your needs. |
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| Q | Can I use an instaneous water heater for hydronic heating as well as domestic hot water? |
| A | Yes in some cases. Be sure the equipment selected is approved for this type of application. Not all of them will work! Combo-boilers with separate heat exchangers to keep hydronic loops isolated from domestic hot water supply, in gas & oil-fired systems. Or boilers can be installed with indirect water heaters for DHW needs. |
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| Q | Where are electric instantaneous water heaters used? |
| A | Typically for sinks, eyewash stations, and other low flow applications. A major cost savings is that only a single cold water line needs to be run. Energy savings are significant when hot water use is intermittent, since the water is only heated while the hot water tap is open. |
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| Q | How do I select the right instantaneous water heater? |
| A | Call us, we'll help you out! Considerations include: energy source, efficiency, incoming water temperature, flow rate, expected outlet water temperature, accuracy, installation location, venting, electrical, client's budget. |
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| Q | When is a portable air conditioner a good choice? |
| A | Obviously the #1 feature is portability - If you want the option of being able to use the unit in more than one location. Ease of installation - Most units only require an electrical source, and a place to vent the condenser air discharge (hot air). Temporary cooling - During primary cooling equipment repairs or shutdown periods, or perhaps the heat generating equipment is only in a location for a limited timeframe. Supplemental cooling - When the primary cooling system is undersized, usually as a result of additional heat load being added to the room. For rooms in the interior of large buildings where the condenser air discharge can be exhausted into the false ceiling space (primary building system return air plenum). |
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| Q | What do I need to look out for when selecting the right portable air conditioner and optional accessories? |
| A | 1. If you are going to only vent the condenser discharge air out of the room, remember it is going to make-up this air from outside of the area being cooled. If the rest of the building is air conditioned, and cooler than the room the unit is in this isn't typically a problem. In this type of installation the unit should be sized about 20% larger than you would normally expect, since you are exhausting some conditioned air out of the room with the heat. An optional condenser return plenum and duct is available for some units. If the room is sealed, as in some computer rooms, then a condenser return & exhaust ducted outside of the room is absolutely required. 2. Available power supply. Most portables up to 1-ton can be plugged into a standard 110 VAC electrical outlet. Units larger than this are typically 208-230/1/60 volt, with 3-phase available in some models 3 tons and larger. 3. Condensate is typically collected in a tank in the unit. When the tank is full the unit will automatically shut off. If this is a problem then a condensate pump should be used and piped to the nearest drain. Or it can be piped to the nearest floor drain. 4. Expected room temperature. If a room temperature lower than 70F is needed, verify that the unit you have selected is capable of this. Especially if the condenser air is being drawn from the room the unit is in. 5. Maintenance. Keep the air filters clean, and inspect the unit periodically. 6. If there is nowhere to exhaust the condenser air, then a water-cooled, or split-system type portable can be used. |
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| Q | We only need portable air conditioning for a short period of time, can we rent? |
| A | Yes, we have rental units available for contractors from 4,000 to 60,000 Btu/h cooling capacity. We have air-cooled, water-cooled, and portable split-systems. Rate are daily-weekly-monthly, or special long-term rates are also available. We have over 50 units in our rental fleet. |
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| Q | Why consider radiant heating? |
| A | Radiant heating is very efficient since it only heats objects within the room, which then radiate the heat back, to create a very comfortable warmth, without having to blow around hot air. It is never drafty. Ventilation air can be delivered in much smaller volumes and more efficiently using heat recovery ventilators, introducing fresh air while recovering heat from the air being exhausted outdoors. |
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| Q | How can I cost effectively employ radiant heating for only 1 room? |
| A | An electric system is very cost effective to install an operate. A heating element is run beneath ceramic floors, or electric radiant panels can be installed in the ceiling. In office environments with a drop ceiling use 2'x4' panels. |
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| Q | What type of system do you have for heating a residential garage or workshop? |
| A | 1. Direct-vent space heaters can be used. Gas and oil-fired models are available. 2. Low profile gas unit heaters. Mounted to the ceiling and horizontal venting to the outdoors (power-vent). 3. Radiant tube heaters designed specifically for this application. Can be installed as a sealed-combustion system. 4. In floor hydronic radiant heating system. Can also be used for snow-melting of driveways, and walk-ways. |
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| Q | What are my cost-effective options for replacing an old unit heater with a different type of unit? |
| A | 1. A radiant tube heater in a u-tube configuration allows for connection of the gas, power, and venting from the same location (like the old unit heater). This will also result in 30-45% improved efficiency, and a superior comfort level in the area. |
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| Q | A lot of time is wasted by our technicians at wholesalers, can you help? |
| A | Yes we can! We can provide installation accessories for the equipment you purchase from us. If you call in advance we can have everything ready to minimize your downtime away from the job! In some cases we can even direct-ship the equipment to save you even more time and effort. If time permits we can purchase items from other suppliers (at a minimal charge) so you don't have to go looking for the few items we don't normally stock or sell. |
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| Q | Every year I have to go back and relevel condensing units, do you have a solution? |
| A | Yes we do! Lite-pad condenser bases not only save your back, but allow for larger condensing unit installation on a one-piece pad. Wall-brackets for condensing units should be used when ground settling around newly excavated foundations is a concern. We also have attractive PVC curbs for slim-line mini-split condensing units. We also have adjustable bases to raise your unit off the pad. And even inexpensive self-stick furnace block corners to raise it up off the ground in case of water, and prevent rusting. |
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| Q | What is the difference between an ERV and a HRV? |
| A | HRV stands for heat recovery ventilator. It transfers the heat between the outgoing and incoming ventilation air streams. ERV stands for energy recovery ventilator. It transfers the water vapour as well as the heat. This reduces demands on the humidifier in the winter (saving water), and on the air conditioner in the summer (saving on electricity consumption). Also ERV's are most expensive. |
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