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Basic Electrical Saftey: GFCIs

Ground fault circuit interrupter, also commonly referred to as a GFCI is an important safety device that helps prevent electrocution when we are using electrical tools or equipment near water or in wet environments; but it only works as long as it is properly installed and maintained.

When a tool is plugged into an electrical receptacle, electricity flows from the receptacle to the tool through one of the hot wires in the power cord. When the trigger or switch on the tool is activated, the current then flows through the tool to make it run and then returns to the receptacle, the neutral wire in the power cord. Ideally the same amount of current flows from the receptacle to the tool and then back to the receptacle – unless there is ground fault.

Electrical receptacles and breakers equipped with a GFCI monitor the amount of current flowing through this path, and if it senses a drop in returning current of just a few thousandths of an amp, it almost instantaneously trips an internal breaker and stops power flowing from the receptacle.

Also be aware that if one of the receptacles in a circuit containing multiple receptacles is GFCI protected, the GFCI will protect all the other receptacles wired behind it in the circuit, but not any that are wired in front of it in the circuit.

You can usually distinguish a GFCI receptacle by its two buttons, typically marked “TEST” and “RESET”, placed in the center of the receptacle (see handout). There are also GFCI breaker switches that can be installed inside of a breaker box which protects all receptacles in that circuit. There are also portable GFCI-equipped devices that can be plugged into an unprotected receptacle (see handout for examples of these devices) which protect equipment plugged into them. These breakers and portable devices also have the same two “TEST” and “RESET” buttons as a GFCI receptacle.

Because GFCI devices do occasionally malfunction or wear out over time, it is vitally important that we test them. This is typically done by depressing the “TEST” button on the receptacle or GFCI breaker; you should hear a faint “click” sound as the device trips. You can further confirm the receptacle was de-energized by plugging in a tool such as a drill to the receptacle and trying to operate it by depressing the trigger; it should not run if the GFCI tripped as designed. Once you confirm that a GFCI receptacle or breaker switch is functioning properly, firmly press the “Reset” button to re-energize the receptacle or circuit. And if any GFCI-protected device is not functioning properly, do not use it. Instead, mark it to identify it is not to be used, and then call a qualified electrician so it can be repaired or replaced.

Now Stocking: Elgen

Established in 1950, Elgen is an HVAC parts & components manufacturer.

Elgen is a HVAC and sheet metal manufacturer, serving HVAC contractors. With their distribution division, Capital Hardware Supply, they are able to provide customers with superior quality and an extensive line of cost-effective HVAC hardware, accessories and sheet metal parts.

Since they manufacture their own products, flanges, slips & drives, C&F corners, cleats, access doors, vane, pipes & fittings, flexible connectors, sealant, and film, they are able to offer our HVAC and duct accessory items at an exceptional price. They also stock a wide range of galvanized, stainless steel, and aluminum products.

Stop by your nearest Ferguson HVAC location to stock up on our wide variety of Elgen Metal Products today!

How to videos: Symbio app

Nothing stays the same, including the way most buildings are used. Symbio can be reprogrammed easily and often with non-proproetary software service tools and built-in interfaces. Utilize detailed event logos, trends, and alarm management to ensure optimized system performance. Symbio automates and streamlines equipment startup and allows you to remotely diagnose and manage the building.

Learn how to utilize the Symbio® Service and Installation mobile app to configure Trane® Odyssey™ unit using a Symbio 700 controller to configure, set up, or service the unit.

How to: Configure Symbio

How to: Service Test Mode

How to: Service Alerts and Alarms

Trane Symbio App

Trane’s packaged units, split systems, and chillers work their absolute best with our digital equipment controllers. Symbio controllers, with Trane’s professional, adaptable performance programming, help to maximize equipment energy efficiency. It’s all part of Trane’s mission to bring more buildings up to speed with today’s higher sustainability standards.

Field technicians and contractors will appreciate Trane’s Symbio Service and Installation App with Bluetooth® Connectivity. Remote monitoring and diagnostic capabilities create a stronger tether to customers because you can serve their needs better, even though you may spend less time in their buildings.

Need help downloading the Symbio Service and Installation app? Watch this:

Download the app in the Apple App or Google Play Store now! Once the app is downloaded, watch a playlist of how-to videos for quick tutorials.

New NFC Technology

In Day& Night® Furnaces

Meet Your Sales Support Team

Each time you call in to our sales office you are speaking with someone right here in North Carolina with years of experience in HVAC. Here is who you are talking to.

Anthony Colecchia

Anthony’s favorite hobbies are swimming and bodybuilding. He has been lifting weights six days a week for about 11 years and distance swimming for about 15 years. He loves all music, usually listening to R&B, hip-hop or dance music that he grew up listening to. His favorite artists are Michael Jackson, Kanye West, Nas and Mary J. Blige. Anthony has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management and a Minor in Business from State University of New York at Farmingdale. Anthony’s favorite sports teams are the Indianapolis Colts and New York Mets. Anthony has been with Ferguson for eight years and has experience in many roles within the organization.

Austin Eudy

Austin’s favorite hobby is disc golf, he has been playing for over three years. His favorite genre of music is EDM and favorite artists are Riot, Kloud and Marshmello. Wilmington, NC is his favorite place to visit because of the countless memories he has there and the incredible food experiences. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and enjoys watching Simon Lizotte compete in the PDGA. Austin has three years experience in HVAC.

Billy Rice

Billy enjoys fishing and watching the Cowboys play. His favorite music to listen to is country and bluegrass and his favorite place to get away is the beach. Billy has been in the HVAC industry for 44 years. He started when he was 12, helping his dad work on oil furnaces.

Caroline Privette

Caroline is originally from Virginia and is new to North Carolina. She loves to go hiking and her favorite places to hike are Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Aside from hiking, she also enjoys vacationing in Destin, Florida. Caroline has one year of experience in HVAC.

Jonathan Grady

Jonathan enjoys spending his free time playing video games, as well as streaming them and creating YouTube videos from them. Aside from video games, he also enjoys fishing and swimming at the beach. His favorite football team is the Atlanta Falcons. Jonathan has nine years experience in HVAC.   

Connor Hogan

Connor’s favorite place to visit is Wisconsin, for their abundance of beer and cheese. Connor has a four-year degree from University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His favorite sports teams are the Carolina Panthers, UNC Tar Heels and Oregon Ducks. He likes listening to rock music, playing golf, and enjoys a good cigars and whiskey. Connor has four years of experience in HVAC.

Jessie Long

Jessie served in the Marine Corps from 1977 to 1983 and has been in HVAC about 40 years. He has enjoyed fishing for about 50 years, and also plays golf. His favorite music to listen to is oldies and 70’s classic rock. Jessie loves to vacation in the mountains for the peaceful customs and scenery, especially the Gatlinburg, TN area. His sports teams are the Braves, Manchester United and University of Tennessee. Jessie loves God, family and country.

Johnathan Williams

Johnathan’s favorite hobby is working on cars, which he has been doing since he was 12 years old. He also likes watching the New Orleans Saints play. Johnathan has eight years of experience in HVAC including installation and service and has also studied Sonography in school. He is a true music lover and will listen to just about anything except for death metal. He likes country, R&B, rap, hip-hop, and more. His favorite artist is Drake. His favorite place to vacation is Mexico because of the culture and scenery.

Levi Rice

Levi enjoys playing video games, listening to Post Malone and watching the Carolina Panthers win. When looking for somewhere to vacation, he looks for a quiet place that has the least amount of people. Levi has three years of experience in HVAC.

Ryan Gilbert

Ryan loves playing golf and has been playing for about three years now. He listens to all genres of music but his all-time favorite artist is Dave Matthews. Ryan considers Rhode Island to be the most underrated state to vacation in. Their beaches are very nice and clean, and the water has huge waves. Being raised in New England, his favorite sports teams are the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, along with the Carolina Hurricanes, Tottenham FC and Charlotte FC. Ryan has five years of experience in HVAC.

Jonathan Hodge

Jonathan’s favorite hobby is golf which he has been playing for 20 years. He likes all kinds of music and his favorite place to visit is his grandparents family farm because he can go there to hunt and fish; he has so many memories from there. Jonathan attended the University of South Carolina and has six years experience in HVAC. When not working, he can be found hanging out with family, on the golf course, eating at restaurants or watching the Atlanta Braves play.

Timothy Parrish

Timothy enjoys playing golf and shooting pool. He has been playing golf for 52 years and pool for five years. He is a Navy veteran and a God fearing American who loves his family. He enjoys Christian music and watching the Carolina Panthers play. Timothy has 11 years of experience in HVAC.

Travis Salvati

Travis’ favorite thing to do is ride motorcycles because he likes the freedom. He has been riding since he was 17 years old. Travis has a constant rotating jukebox of music but grew up on country and rock. His favorite place to visit is Cancun, Mexico, because of their weather, hospitality and the ocean. He often spends 1-2 weeks there every year. He attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN and toured as a musician for three years, allowing him to visit 48 states and almost every major city in the continental US. Travis has one year of experience in HVAC.

Now Open - Port St. Lucie, Florida

We are pleased to announce that our new location in Port St. Lucie, Florida is now open. We offer many services including online ordering, Text-2-Counter and free delivery. Be sure to stop by our new location for all your residential and commercial HVAC needs.

The location offers:

  • A full line of aftermarket and OEM parts
  • Ruud, Durastar, and Fujitsu equipment
  • IAQ and connected solutions
  • All the supplies you need for any job!

We are located at:

13825 SW Anthony F. Sansone Sr. Blvd.,

Unit 1,

Port St. Lucie, FL 34987

(772) 619-1104




Now Open - Conyers, Georgia

We are pleased to announce our new location in Conyers, Georgia is now open. We offer many services including online ordering, Text-2-Counter and free delivery. Be sure to stop by our new location Monday through Friday 7:00 – 5:00 for all your residential and commercial HVAC needs.

The location offers:

  • A full line of aftermarket and OEM parts
  • Goodman, Durastar and Mitsubishi equipment
  • IAQ and connected solutions
  • All the supplies you need for any job!

We are open at:

2430 Dogwood Dr. SE

Conyers, GA 30013

Reduce Falls: Safe Use of Extension Ladder

Workers who use extension ladders risk permanent injury or death from falls and electrocutions. These hazards can be eliminated or substantially reduced by following good safety practices.

What is an extension ladder? Also known as “portable ladders,” extension ladders usually have two sections that operate in brackets or guides allowing for adjustable lengths. Because extension ladders are not self-supporting they require a stable structure that can withstand the intended load.

Plan ahead to get the job done safely.

  • Use a ladder that can sustain at least four times the maximum intended load, except that each extra-heavy-duty type 1A metal or plastic ladder shall sustain at least 3.3 times the maximum intended load.
  • Visually inspect all extension ladders before use for any defects such as missing rungs, bolts, cleats, screws and loose components.
  • Allow sufficient room to step off the ladder safely. Keep the area around the bottom and the top of the ladder clear of equipment, materials and tools.
  • Set the ladder at the proper angle. When a ladder is leaned against a wall, the bottom of the ladder should be one-quarter of the ladder’s working length away from the wall. For access to an elevated work surface, extend the top of the ladder three feet above that surface or secure the ladder at its top.
  • Before starting work, survey the area for potential hazards, such as energized overhead power lines. Ladders shall have nonconductive side rails if they are used where the worker or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment.
  • Set the base of the ladder so that the bottom sits securely and so both side rails are evenly supported. The ladder rails should be square to the structure against which it is leaning with both footpads placed securely on a stable and level surface.
  • Secure the ladder’s dogs or pawls before climbing.
  • When using a ladder in a high-activity area, secure it to prevent movement and use a barrier to redirect workers and equipment.

Select a ladder based on the expected load capacity (duty rating), the type of work to be done and the correct height. There are five categories of ladder duty ratings.

TypeDuty RatingUseLoads
IAA*Special DutyRugged375 lbs.
IAExtra DutyIndustrial300 lbs.
IHeavy DutyIndustrial250 lbs.
IIMedium DutyCommerical225 lbs.
IIILight DutyResidential200 lbs.
Source for Types IA, I, II, III: Subpart X—Stairways and Ladders, Appendix A (American National Standards Institute (ANSI)) 14.1, 14.2, 14.5 (1982)) of OSHA’s Construction standards. Source for Type IAA: ANSI 14.1, 14.2, 14.5 (2009), which are non-mandatory guidelines.

Click here to watch a video that recreates the real-life series of events that led to the death of a 33-year-old construction worker from a ladder fall and how it could have been prevented.

Field Tech Talks

1-hour webinars for technical training topics brought to you by Trane.

A2L Refrigerant Transition – Ready or not, here it comes.

In this 1 hour session, you will discuss the transition to slightly flammable refrigerants. What’s changing to HVAC systems, refrigerant cylinders, proper applications & safe handling procedures?
Wednesday, Oct 18 at 9:00am CST

Click here to download and save the traning to your calendar.

A2L Installation / Service Procedures and Requirements

In this 1-hour session, you will discuss more stringent installation & service procedures, refrigerant detection & field wiring, and refrigerant fractionation/glide.
Wednesday, Oct 25 at 9:00am CST

Click here to download and save the training to your calendar.

There are additional learning resources and past recorded trainings available for Trane Dealers. Including:

Click here to see Trrane’s full list of on-demand trainings.