Evening star., 1935-04-06
AirConditioning
Industry Faces Problem of
Unscrupulous Competitors
and Inferior Installation.
BY LAWRENCE TUCKER.

Among the most important prob
lens that the infant air conditioning
industry has to face IS the combating
of unscrupulous manufacturers OF IN
ferior equipment, and the prevention
of slipshod, inadequate installations
by inexperienced dealers.
For the past few years air condl-
tioning has been heralded as the next
big industry and naturally hundreds
of manufacturers and dealers have
rushed to take advantage Of the tre-
mendous new field that is being
opened to them Many of these Or
ganizations have had no previous eX-
perience in dealing with equipment OF
that type, and have merely placed all
shapes and sizes Of machinery on the
market to be sold and installed as
quickly and cheaply as possible.
Because Of the almost complete
ignorance on the part Of the general
public as far as the problems Of air
conditioning are concerned, 1t has
been easy for a number of organiza-
tions to foist off almost worthless, So
called, air conditioning systems on
unsuspecting buyers. The average
restaurant operator, storekeeper, or
home owner has little knowledge OF
engineering in any form, and is
obliged to rely upon the judgment and
word of the air conditioning dealer
when he is contemplating an installa-
ton. Hence he is practically at the
mercy of these people.
Majority Trustworthy.
Fortunately. the great majority of
aid conditioning manufacturers and
dealers are trustworthy, and equipped
with sufficient knowledge and expert
ence to do a job correctly. They
naturally receive most OF the available
business, and their customers are
usually entirely satisfied. On the
other hand, those people not equipped
to handle the installation of Sys-
TEN correctly, and possibly furnishing
low-grade apparatus, are very apt to
be most attractive to the prospective
buyer. In most cases their prices are
extremely low, but while the ma
chinery which they intend to put in is
under capacity, and not comparable
to their competition, the fact that the
lob is 50 low in price is often enough
to influence the prospect into buying
from them.
To combat this problem, the various
air conditioning organizations should
get together and set up certain stand
ards for bidding that would be used
on all installations.
Method of Comparison.
The buyer should have a definite
method Of comparing the various bids
received from the air conditioning
dealers in order to reach a fair de-
cision.
In many cities. an unbiased group,
such as the electric power company,
establishes the requirements on the
particular job up for consideration.
They place a QUESTIONABLE in the
hands Of the buyer which enables
him to compare the important points
governing the quality and capacity of
the installation. The difference be-
tween the outside and inside tempera-
ture conditions, and the relative
humidity to be maintained are asked.
The amount of fresh air to be brought
In must be stated. The number of
occupants, and the quantity of heat
being given off from lights, motors,
and other appliances is requested. In
other words. the buyer can be sure
that the various dealers are all bid
ding on the same thing.
II protective measures of this sort
are taken, the buyer, the dealer, and
all others interested in this great new
industry will be greatly benefited.