CONTRACTOR NEWS & INFORMATION

CONGRESSMAN PITTS VISITS HVAC DISTRIBUTORS

As seen in the September issue of the HVAC Insider:

HVAC Distributors, Inc. had a welcomed visit last month from Congressman Joe Pitts (R). Pitts represents Lancaster, Chester and Berks counties in Pennsylvania, two of which contain HVAC locations. During a meeting with Pitts at HARDI’s annual fly-in this spring, Dave McIlwaine, President and CEO, arranged a time for Pitts to visit HVAC’s corporate headquarters in Mount Joy. “It’s important for our legislators to see firsthand the businesses and the people that they represent, and how their actions and votes affect the lives of so many,” said McIlwaine.

Before a quick tour of HVAC’s approx. 80,000 square foot facility, Pitts and McIlwaine discussed some upcoming legislation. A few of the discussion areas with the Congressman included the possible extension of the 25C Federal Tax Credit, their opposition to a VAT tax, their support of HR2198, a bill incentivizing commercial building owners to upgrade to newer, more energy efficient HVAC equipment, and some suggested improvements to the Home Star
legislation to open it up so more contractors can participate.

For a PDF of the story, click here.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

H.R. 2198 - Under current tax law, a building owner must treat the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) equipment as a non residential real property and therefore its costs may only be recovered over 39 years. Because the expected lifespan of properly maintained HVACR equipment is only 15 to 20 years, commercial building owners have little or no incentive to upgrade to newer, more energy efficient HVACR equipment.

Representative Melissa Bean (D-IL) and Representative Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) have introduced H.R. 2198 to correct this disparity and reduce the holding period to a more realistic 20 years for high efficiency HVACR equipment.

Click here for more information on H.R. 2198.

Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 - The Home Star Act of 2010, a two-year federal program that would provide direct consumer incentives for residential efficiency retrofits, has been included in the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act of 2010 (S. 3663) currently pending in the Senate.

Click here for more information on the Home Star Bill, H.R. 5019.

LOCKING REFRIGERANT CAPS

Effective March 2009, the IMC and IRC have made changes that affect the installation of both residential and commercial a/c, heat pump, packaged and ductless outdoor units. Please see the information below for more detailed information on this code change and how it affects you. HVAC is now stocking Novent refrigerant caps to help you stay in compliance.

HVAC News Alert
Novent Refrigerant Caps Brochure
Novent Product Demonstration Video

More information can be found on their website, www.noventcaps.com.

R22 PHASEOUT INFORMATION

As many of you are well aware, R-22 is being completely phased out of HVAC equipment over the next several years. Beginning in 2010, there can be no production and no importing of R-22, except for use in equipment manufactured before 1/1/2010. This can cause some confusion as to how to service existing equipment and what type of new units contractors are able to install. We hope the fact sheets and links below will help to answer some of those questions.

Please note, HVAC Distributors is a ReKlaim Collection Center and offers R22 recycling at all of our locations. For more information, check with your sales representative or contact us.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY LINKS & DOCUMENTS

Technicians & Contractors Frequently Asked Question

Technician & Contractor Brochure

Phaseout Schedule

HARDI DOCUMENTS

R22 Phaseout Key Facts

R22 Phaseout FAQs

PHASEOUTFACTS.ORG

www.phaseoutfacts.org – Another useful site with R22 Phaseout information. Site covers how to prepare your business for the phaseout, servicing and disposing of HCFC systems, retrofit blends, and educating your customers.

PA CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

3/23/09 - Attorney General announces that registration is now open for home improvement contractors; under new law, contractors must register by July 1. View Full Press Release Here

Home Improvement Protection Act FAQs

Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act – click here to read the full version

Reager & Adler, PC Presentation – Reager & Adler, PC, Attorneys and Counselors at Law have put together this informative presentation covering the registration, violations, unfair trade practices and penalties related with the new law.