Kele Blog

Cold weather issues?

Posted on by Kele Inc

With February almost over, that means the end of winter is around the corner, right? Wrong. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and it’s been downhill ever since. Now, we don’t put much stock in a groundhog who predicts the weather (that’s our equivalent of an HVAC tech who doesn’t have to inspect a system to tell you what’s wrong with it), but cold weather doesn’t look like it’s leaving anytime soon.

The 2022 Farmer’s Almanac mapped out and predicted a frigid winter. There’s also been unpredictable winter fronts and storms that have affected much of the U.S. and will continue to do so. With all these freezing temperatures still plaguing many of your customers, it’s important to keep up with winter maintenance.

Here’s a shortlist of things to keep in mind so that the winter weather doesn’t catch your customer unaware:

  • Ventilation issues caused by blocked ducts or dirty filters
  • Frozen coils and pipes are likely to happen
  • Ensure peak performance of thermostats and sensors
  • Faulty heat pumps, leading to other issues such as uneven heating or decreased airflow

We’ve got all our fingers and toes crossed that winter is coming to an end sooner than later. But until then, stay vigilant and don’t let bad maintenance take over your customers’ systems. Kele’s here to help you get through the rest of the cold season and into warmer weather!

Visit kele.com now and chat with us online or call and talk with our sales and tech teams for your cold weather solutions—Kele’s got you covered!

School Project Bid in the Works? We Can Help You Get Back to School Ready!

Posted on by Kele Inc

Bidding for school projects seems to be starting earlier and earlier each year. With shorter timeframes and stress on the supply chain, it may be better to work ahead this season rather than having to do make-up work. While there are many things to keep in mind, there are two major ones that will help you the most:

  1. Being up to date on the latest standards/guidelines
  2. Being prepared for your bid and next steps once it’s accepted

It can be tricky to keep up with all the standards/guidelines that apply to the projects you work on. We know it can feel as though they are being updated constantly in some form or fashion. Here are two ASHRAE standards to keep in mind when you tackle your upcoming retrofit or project:

With their last revisions being in 2019, these standards are tried and true when it comes to IAQ (indoor air quality) and ventilation overall.

Keeping those standards in mind, here’s a study guide to help you get an A+ on your next bid:

  • Start planning for your bids now so you’re not caught unaware or unprepared
  • Devise a checklist to keep track of bidding, sourcing, scheduling, and more
  • Plan budgets and schedules so you stay on track and on time on the jobsite
  • Check for the most recent standards and guidelines that apply to your bid
  • Once you win the bid, source your parts immediately so your parts are waiting on you and not the other way around

So whether it’s a bid for a retrofit or an entire project, Kele is here to help you from start to finish. We want you to be ready to go back to school and ace that final exam. Let our favorite study tool, My Project Portal, help you prepare your BOM in minutes. Shop today on kele.com or call and chat with our sales and tech teams to get what you need—Kele’s got you covered.

Stay Tuned for Behind-The-Scenes with Kele at ASHRAE

Posted on by Kele Inc

ASHRAE’s 2022 Winter Conference and AHR Expo is being held in Las Vegas this year. And while Kele will be in attendance, we know that many of you have been impacted by COVID-19 and are unable to attend. As a member of ASHRAE, we are excited to bring you a behind-the-scenes look at everything happening at this year’s conference. We’ll be your eyes and ears on the ground, reporting the newest industry standards and keeping you updated on new tech and more.

So why is ASHRAE important?

ASHRAE has been raising awareness and seeking to improve the HVAC&R/BAS industry since 1894. It is a global organization that works to improve building standards, offer education, create and implement technical standards, and fund research programs. They also publish the ASHRAE Handbook annually in a four-volume series covering the following topics:

  • Fundamentals
  • HVAC Applications
  • HVAC Systems and Equipment
  • Refrigeration

To go along with their handbook, they publish standards and guidelines for building codes to ensure maximum safety. Additionally, they manage two magazines and have published several books—all fantastic resources to make sure you know what’s what in the industry.

We’re excited to see what they’ve been up to and how it will impact all of us. Check back in with us for coverage on the conference—Kele’s got you covered.

Back to Basics: Sick Building Syndrome

Posted on by Kele Inc

Sick building syndrome (SBS). The Oxford Dictionary defines it as a condition affecting office workers, typically marked by headaches and respiratory problems, attributed to unhealthy or stressful factors in the working environment such as poor ventilation. It’s the last thing your customers want to deal with; it’s the last thing YOU want to deal with!

Instead of a normal break/fix issue, SBS is a silent and sometimes deadly ailment that buildings suffer from. And until the people in the said building begin to suffer, it can be difficult to detect. At the end of the day, it all comes down to poor indoor air quality (IAQ).

So what are some causes of poor IAQ? These outbreaks of sickness can stem from any number of variables but here’s a shortlist to name just a few:

  • Subpar cleaning practices
  • Molds
  • Improper ventilation
  • Lack of proper fresh-air intake/air filtration
  • Volatile organic compounds (VOC)
  • Overlooked/forgotten maintenance

In most cases, SBS can be prevented by staying vigilant with yearly maintenance checks and constant monitoring of systems. Educate your customers on the perils of SBS and work with them to help keep their buildings and the people inside of them healthy and safe.

Shop for what you need now on kele.com or Live Chat with a tech service rep for answers on how to keep your customers’ building healthy and any other questions you may have.

 

Kele Companies, Inc. Acquisition of A-tech, Inc.

Posted on by Kele Inc

Acquisition is Kele’s fifth since 2017 and strengthens industrial offering and footprint.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. and TULSA, Okla. – Kele, Inc. recently announced the acquisition A-tech, Inc., a distributor of industrial automation products. The acquisition expands Kele’s breadth of products and services in the industrial automation market. The new entity will become an add-on to Lesman Instrument Company, which was purchased by Kele in December 2020.

A-tech, Inc. distributes products used to measure, analyze, control, and automate a wide range of factory and industrial processes. The company serves customers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, and Wyoming. This marks Kele’s fifth acquisition in the last five years.

Kele President and CEO Richard Campbell said, “A-tech is a well-established, authorized distributor and manufacturers’ representative for process measurement and control instrumentation. We’re excited about adding another well-respected brand in the Industrial automation space to the Kele Companies.”

“The opportunity to join forces with Kele and Lesman will greatly enhance A-tech’s offerings. Our customers and employees will benefit from enhanced support and efficiency, while also strengthening our channel partners and supplier relationships,” said A-tech President Clay Hodgens.

 

About Kele, Inc.

Kele, Inc. is a leading distributor of Commercial and Industrial Automation products and controls solutions globally. Kele serves the $275+ billion Commercial and Industrial Automation markets with more than 300 brands and 1.8 million parts in stock, including sensors, transmitters, switches, gauges, valves, actuators, relays, and more. Value-added services include custom panel assembly, specialized sourcing, and technical support. Kele is a portfolio company of The Stephens Group, LLC of Little Rock, Ark. To learn more about Kele, visit kele.com.

About A-tech, Inc.

A-tech Inc. is an established, authorized distributor and manufacturers’ representative for process measurement and control instrumentation. They distribute products used to measure, analyze, control, and automate a wide range of factory and industrial processes. Since 1977, it has grown into a nation-wide distributor. A-tech prides itself on lasting customer relationships, impactful industry knowledge, and their ability to be innovative on behalf of their customers when it comes to parts. For more information, visit atech-inc.com.

Unwanted visitors and the top five associated issues

Posted on by Kele Inc

Let me set the scene. You’re on the job. Your customer is complaining of smells, strange sounds, and other things wrong with their commercial HVAC/BAS system(s). And you know, you just know, you’re about to have a close encounter of the “third kind.” Except instead of UFOs, we mean animals.

Almost everyone in the industry has a story where they’ve found a furry or feathered menace wreaking havoc on their customer’s system(s). And every time you’ve encountered said menace, you’re reminded of all the headaches that can occur and the damages you’ll encounter and have to fix.

We’d be here all day if we discussed every issue that an animal in a system can cause, but here are our top five big-ticket issues that can come from an unwanted visitor:

  1. Blocked/damaged vents, dampers, and exhausts
  2. Frozen refrigerant lines due to damaged insulation
  3. Damaged wiring and connections
  4. Corrosion to evaporator and condenser coils
  5. Damaged ductwork

In these situations, step one is to call in the professionals to remove the animal. (We want pictures/video if you take on the animal yourself, though we don’t recommend it!) Step two is to complete a thorough inspection. Make sure to go over the entirety of the system(s) and always do your due diligence!

We’re not experts in animal control but we are experts in repairing HVAC/BAS issues! Call us or email us to get what you need to quickly fix issues caused by those unwanted interlopers and keep your customers happy.

 

Winter is here–stay ahead of the freeze!

Posted on by Kele Inc

Seeing temperatures continue to drop? Crossing your fingers that you’re not stuck outside working on a customer’s system this winter? Here’s to hoping that any break/fix or maintenance jobs you’ve got coming up are a breeze.

According to the Farmers’ Almanac, the beginning of 2022 is going to be a cold one! Our winter season, which officially began on December 21st, is going to start off mild and then hit hard with cold temperatures and sizable storms that will make their way across the U.S. Get ready to bundle up on the job!

Be mindful of the following components and how much life they still have in them as they go up against the upcoming winter weather:

You’ll be racing against winter weather to get jobs done. Don’t “freeze” up trying to source parts or troubleshoot on the job site. If you have questions, call or email Kele’s technical service team for expert advice on anything from inspection to maintenance to replacement. And with our new option for delivery in two days or less to the majority of the U.S., you’ll have what you need fast.

Shop now and find what you need from our product categories.

Back to Basics: Damaged Outside Air Damper? Don’t Let It Dampen Your Holiday Season

Posted on by Kele Inc

‘Tis the season for freezestat and coil catastrophes. Yep, winter is finally here for most of the U.S and with it comes winter weather problems.

Cold weather means larger intakes of cold air being funneled through your customer’s system(s). If dampers are damaged, the system will have to work twice as hard, or it will be rendered useless due to system failure. You can pretty much bet that parts will start freezing or malfunctioning as a result. It’s imperative that your customer’s dampers are functioning at 100% at this point.

But heating air and protecting the system relies on more than just the dampers. The system also needs fully functioning CO2 sensors, valves, switches, actuators, freezestats, and more to run smoothly.

In order to avoid the worst this holiday season, it’s important that your customers see to both repairs and retrofits sooner rather than later. Preventative maintenance is your customer’s best bet in keeping the winter weather at bay—so advise them to be proactive rather than reactive.

In case of emergency, outside air (OA) dampers can and will use actuators to save the day and prevent total system failure in some cases. They will close the damper and prevent major costly repairs by stopping parts from reaching their breaking points. (Preventative measures here will keep your customers from fuming—yes, we know the puns are bad at this point but not as bad as a system in disrepair.)

Kele is here for all your winter HVAC/BAS needs so that both you and your customers sail through the winter season this year. Call us or visit kele.com and chat with us live to get what you need to succeed this season—Kele’s got you covered.

Keep the Heat in HVAC

Posted on by Kele Inc

Cold weather is here and with it comes the perils of low outside air temps that typically bring catastrophe with them. Don’t let Jack Frost catch you or that HVAC/BAS system off guard this winter season! Make your winter maintenance checklist and check it twice to ensure proper operation. Here are some helpful tips to get your checklist started!

  • Properly check freezestats & low limit cutoffs for correct operation
  • Check and inspect outside air dampers (including their actuators/linkages)
  • Replace filters
  • Inspect coils
  • Clear/empty drain traps, lines, and pans
  • Inspect all electrical connections
  • Check thermostats and update based on occupancy levels
  • Clean and ensure clear ventilation ducts

Above all else, keep up with inspections and the results they yield. Preventative maintenance is the key to keeping the heat in HVAC this winter. You want to avoid a problem such as freezing/bursting air handler coils which will cause major issues that incur major costs. Keep customers happy this season by catching potential problems before they happen!

Have a customer who is freezing you out because they want a problem solved now? Call Kele today and talk with expert techs who will help navigate those problems with you or chat live with us. Kele’s got you covered—no matter what!

Tech Talk: Handle Humidity Like a Pro

Posted on by Kele Inc

Humidity is an essential aspect in all buildings no matter the season. However, it fluctuates throughout the year as temperatures rise and fall. This can make it difficult to ascertain and correctly monitor the correct level a building needs to be healthy.

Low moisture levels can cause:

  • Building/structural damage
  • Comfort levels to drop for those in the building (i.e., feeling dry, static shock, etc.,)
  • Growth of bacteria, viruses, and hazardous conditions

High moisture levels can cause:

  • Building/structural damage
  • High water levels in the air and systems
  • Growth of mold and other bacteria

While these are just a few negative impacts to a building, too little and too much humidity can cause many more problems. See below for the recommended humidity levels in buildings and ASHRAE standards.

Table 1
Temperature and Humidity of an Office Environment
CSA Z412-00
  Temperature % Relative Humidity
Heating Season 20-23.5C°
68-75F°		 50%
Cooling Season 20-23.5C°
68-75F°		 50%
Table 2
Examples of acceptable operative temperature ranges based on comfort zone diagrams in
ASHRAE Standard-55-2004
Conditions Acceptable operative temperatures
C° F°
Summer (clothing insulation = 0.5 clo)
Relative humidity 30% 24.5 – 28 76-82
Relative humidity 60% 23-25.5 74-78
Winter (clothing insulation = 1.0 clo)
Relative humidity 30% 20.5-25.5 69-78
Relative humidity 60% 20-24 68-75
Source: National Research Council (Canada) Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort in Open-Plan Offices, Construction Technology Update No. 64, October 2005* These values are based on the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 55 – 2004 “Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy”.*

As we begin to experience colder months, hazardous and uncomfortable conditions are on the rise. Catch them before they occur by conducting routine checks on thermostats and humidity sensors. With many components monitoring and controlling humidity levels, it’s important to inspect humidity sensors before broken parts wreak havoc. Healthy humidity levels = healthy buildings and happy people.

Get what you need to keep your customer’s building healthy now on kele.com.