EZ Comfort Air Conditioning & Heating is now offering financing options for all customers seeking AC repair in The Woodlands, TX, and the surrounding areas.

The Woodlands, TX, March 05, 2020 --(PR.com)-- No two customers are the same, and they shouldnt be. Because of this, EZ Comfort Air Conditioning & Heating makes an effort to accommodate all different types of customers. For this reason, they are now offering financing opportunities for customers interested in AC repair in The Woodlands, TX, and the surrounding areas. They have partnered with Wells Fargo Financial National Bank in order to make this initiative possible, and they believe that it will help many customers get the help that they need. The goal is to provide options that allow for low monthly payments, good interest rates, and flexibility that can cater to many different customers. The goal is to provide vital services to customers who need them and to provide affordable ways to obtain them.

EZ Comfort Air Conditioning & Heating has been working with customers to find the different pain points they experience when dealing with an HVAC provider. They have spoken to different people in order to isolate major problems and offer solutions. One of the problems with repairs, especially emergency repairs, is that no one is ever ready for them, says Jonathan, resident of The Woodlands, TX. Because of this, no one can guarantee that they will have the cash to pay for repairs right when they need them, but the repairs still have to be done. Financing options are something that can definitely make this easier for some of us. EZ Comfort Air Conditioning & Heating takes all feedback to heart, and they have launched this initiative with the hopes of making repairs more accessible to customers all around the local community.

EZ Comfort Air Conditioning & Heating understands that repairs are things that no one truly plans for. In a perfect world, there would be no need for AC repair in The Woodlands, TX, and the surrounding areas because systems would never break down. But accidents happen, and customers need ways to cope when they do. Working with Wells Fargo Financial National Bank is a great way to keep services affordable and open to everyone looking for them. The team at EZ Comfort can work with any customer looking for financing to find the best short or long term payment plan for their specific needs.

EZ Comfort Air Conditioning & Heating is a certified HVAC organization that has been working with customers in greater Houston for over 12 years. They provide HVAC services such as installations, replacements, repairs, service, maintenance, and tune-ups for all heating and cooling systems, and they are known to be one of the best companies in the local area. Their technicians are all trained and certified to diagnose and solve issues, and they have a reputation for being punctual and thorough with all of their work. For any questions about this announcement or their services, EZ Comfort Air Conditioning & Heating can be reached at (832) 777-0136.

Contact Information:EZ Comfort Air Conditioning & HeatingCarlos Sandoval(832) 210-1476Contact via Emailhttps://www.ezcomfortac.com/

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EZ Comfort Air Conditioning & Heating Announces Financing Options for AC Repair in The Woodlands, TX - Benzinga

Cardwell provides preventative maintenance, service, and installation of heating and cooling systems as well as indoor air quality needs. Their trained, licensed and fully vetted HVAC technicians will recommend the best options for the home or office.

Cherry Hill, New Jersey - March 9, 2020 - NJ HVAC Services by Cardwell is listening to homeowners in South Jersey and giving them what they want in a heating and Cooling service and Installation company. They are tired of jobs not being done correctly, over-priced repairs, warranty not covering their problems, small print exclusions and showing up to the property after waiting hours and missing work.

South Jersey residents need to know why they should trust NJ HVAC Services by Cardwell.

This Is Why People Trust Cardwell Above All Other HVAC Service Companies:

During a recent interview, a Cardwell spokesperson made these comments, We make sure to cover our customers repairs when the manufactures warrantee stops. Most HVAC Contractors will provide a 30-day warranty on labor and the manufactures 30-day warranty on parts with a repair.

Here at NJ HVAC Services by Cardwell, we are now covering our customers with repairs for: 365 days on both parts & labor for the replaced part. Up to 12 times longer than most South Jersey HVAC Companies. 12-month 0% financing on any repair over $400 with approval and same day Free 2nd opinion on condemned compressors & cracked heat exchangers.

NJ HVAC Services by Cardwell is committed to giving back to the community. They are involved in the following:

Customer Testimonials tell the story. Take a look at what Sue B., a Verified Customer, had to say, I had a great experience with Cardwell. My initial phone call was returned promptly and an appointment was scheduled that day when my AC stopped running. Brian came and explained everything and had my system up and running in no time. Would recommend giving Cardwell a call if you need service.

This is what Jeanie D., a Verified Customer, had to say, Bob Cardwell from Cardwell Heating & Air Conditioning is the Best! We had had a lot if issues with one of our units that Bob did not install. He was able to contact the manufacturer and get us a new unit for free. It was a lot of time and effort on his part and not his problem. Bob and his employees are always on time and courteous and professional. I would highly recommend Cardwell Heating and Air conditioning to everyone.

For complete information, visit: https://www.cardwellhvacnj.com/

Media ContactCompany Name: NJ HVAC Services by Cardwell Contact Person: Media Relations Email: Send EmailPhone: (856) 249-0558Address:603 Kresson Road - Suite 11 City: Cherry HillState: NJ 08034Country: United StatesWebsite: http://www.cardwellhvacnj.com/

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NJ HVAC Services by Cardwell Reports That Neighbors Are Switching To Cardwell At An Incredible Rate More Than Any Other Heating and Air Conditioning...

EVERETT The city of Everett compiled a list of building repairs that could cost more than $150 million to finish. The work includes improvements and upkeep to be conducted in the next 20 years, The Everett Herald reported.

Everett is responsible for cleaning, managing and repairing 143 buildings containing more than 1 million square feet of space used for general government, golf and transit operations.

The city paid more than $197,000 to Seattle-based firm MENG Analysis for the 1,800-page study. The study listed problems including cracked concrete, failing cooling and heating units and the need for a backup generator at a fire station.

The analysis ranked whether the repairs should be addressed as a priority, within six years or over the next two decades.

The majority of the repair costs, more than $130 million, would go toward general government buildings including city hall, the Everett Municipal Building and police precincts.

Buildings are not forever, Everett facility manager Jeff Harris said at a city council meeting last week. Its not a mountain or a rock structure. They are semi-permanent structures that need to be maintained over time.

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Everett compiles $150 million list of repair over 20 years - The Columbian

An HVAC system normally gets a little louder with age but the telltale signs that its time for a new one include a loud humming from the blower, the outside unit is making noise, the furnace makes groaning and banging sounds, and there is a noise before the air conditioning starts.

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (PRWEB) March 05, 2020

When the old HVAC has been making loud noises for a while and seems to be running longer than normal, it may be time to replace it. Arne Johansen, co-owner at Air Rite, the Atascadero heater and air conditioning repair company, said, These two signs are only part of indications its time to replace the old HVAC system.

Johansen and his team have published the top signs that indicate it might be time to consider a new HVAC. The cost of a new system might cause homeowners and commercial property owners to postpone the expense for a few years. But, in the long run, the costs of repairs, higher energy bills, and other expenses are going to add up. A new system is going to offset those additional costs.

Any of the following signs indicate its time for a newer, technologically advanced model.

Regular maintenance and inspections can help to extend the life of any HVAC system, but the time does come when old faithful is just worn out. One advantage of regular inspections is that the technician can give you some options ahead of time. Unless there is an emergency failure requiring immediate replacement, some advance notice gives you time to do some budget planning for a new system.

The initial cost of a new system might seem like a lot, but when weighing the long-term cost of frequent repairs on a system that is failing against a new, advanced system that is going to provide years of performance it becomes apparent that a new system is an investment.

There is a wide range of choices for both residential and commercial HVAC. Seek the assistance of an experienced technical team that can help you determine the quality of air you need for home or business, the efficiency and power usage of the system, and the best comfort levels.

Air Rite has been serving Californias Central Coast for cooling and heating systems, residential and commercial needs, ventilation, refrigeration and restaurant equipment since 1983. The companys services include air conditioning and heater repair for Atascadero and all of San Luis Obispo County.

Air Rite5001 Traffic WayAtascadero, CA 93422(805) 461-3303

This press release is by Paso Robles SEO and online advertising company Access Publishing, 806 9th Street, #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446, (805) 226-9890.

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Atascadero Heater Repair Company Releases The Top Ways To Know When It's Time To Replace The Old HVAC - PR Web

A green university obviously also wants green greenhouses. For this reason, construction started on a one hundred percent electrical high containment research greenhouse on the campus of Wageningen University & Research at the start of 2019.

Right before Christmas, the greenhouse was fully glazed, so it is now time to furnish the inside of the greenhouse. A special job, seeing as all of the technology is located in the basement. One of the wishes of the researchers who wanted as little shadow as possible in the greenhouse, says Patrick Hollemans of Bosman Van Zaal, which after a tender was chosen to be the main contractor.

The first phase before the renovation of the greenhouse complex at Unifarm consists of four thousand square meters of greenhouse with 63 (!) compartments in it. These vary in size from 16 to 50 square meters.

Each of the compartments can be controlled individually in terms of climate, lighting (in anticipation of the latest developments in the field of LED lighting), and water. This is thanks to the use of their own heating, cooling, and under- and overpressure. However, this does require good isolation, because the compartments in the complex will be used for different types of research next to each other, and these research projects cannot interfere with each other.

The start of construction at the beginning of 2019

Basements The technology that does not need to be hung in the greenhouse has been kept outside of the cultivation space. Thanks to that, maintenance and repair can be conducted more easily, as well as the cleaning of the individual compartments. However, letting in natural light was the most important reason.

Two basement floors have been made as technical corridors underneath the concrete floor, Patrick explains. The three remaining corridors are accessible to the researchers and the students, and two of the corridors are technical corridors. The basements are closed off with metal gratings where the people above the basement can walk on.

View of the basements

A combination of glass types and coatingsBesides the basement the greenhouse is equipped with, the glass used is also notable. Due to the double glazing, the greenhouses, which also have a Heat Cold Storage Installation and a low-temperature network, is extra energy efficient.

Glass supplier Glasimport Greenhouses provided the glass. Jorn Hebels, account manager at the company located in the Dutch Westland, says how through cooperating with different glass manufacturers, the company was able to come up with a full proposal for the project.

For the inner faade, the choice was made to go for single tempered float glass of 6 mm thick. For the outer faade as well as the greenhouse cover, a 22 mm thick insulation glass with a high insulating value combined with high light transmissibility was chosen.

Thanks to the combination of LowE and Anti-reflex coatings with a low-iron glass, the light transmissibility is very high, says Jorn, while the double insulation glass also has a high insulating value which leads to a significant reduction in energy costs.

The special edge sealing of the glass is also sustainable, says Jorn. Its resistant against high levels of sunlight (UV radiation), temperature swings, humidity, and mechanical pressure.

Steel work underway

Highly efficient glass that can take a beating By using tempered glass both indoor and outdoor, the greenhouse, according to both Jorn and Ruud Geerlings of glass producer Scheuten Glas, is very safe for employees, plants, and the equipment inside.

Ruud, who delivered the insulation glass: This greenhouse cover technology is ready for the future in every way. The greenhouse horticulture is being inspected closely in terms of sustainability (energy use), safety, and light output to promote plant growth.

"The ultimate goal is to reach as high as possible efficiency with as little as possible energy (loss), all of which needs to be done in a safe way. This was a big success in the project, making it an excellent example for further developments in the field of sustainable greenhouse horticulture.

On Friday, the 7th of February, the symbolic highest point of the greenhouse was reached, and that had to be celebrated.

Celebration of the highest point at WUR

For more information:Bosman Van Zaalinfo@bosmanvanzaal.comwww.bosmanvanzaal.com

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High tech in the basement at university greenhouse - hortidaily.com

Complete Heating and Cooling, a Largo, FL air conditioning repair company has launched air conditioner installation services in Pinellas County.

(Newswire.net -- February 27, 2020) -- Largo, FL -- Complete Heating and Cooling, a Largo, FL air conditioning repair company has launched air conditioner installation services in Pinellas County. The company installs, repairs, and maintains American and international brands of HVAC systems.

Largo, FL air conditioning repair company Complete Heating and Cooling announced the launch of HVAC and air conditioner installation services in the city. The heating and cooling specialists in Pinellas County installs all makes and models of air conditioners.

More information about Complete Heating and Cooling is available at https://www.completeairinc.com

The licensed HVAC contractor in Tampa Bay specializes in the installation and replacement of full air conditioning systems, ducting, and standalone AC units. Experienced heating and cooling system technicians at Complete Heating and Cooling are qualified and equipped to install all brands of air conditioning systems.

Complete Heating and Cooling is a preferred air conditioner installation company in Largo with expertise in AC retrofit jobs. The company is a dealership and installer for American and international brands including Bryant, Carrier, Goodman, Mitsubishi, LG Rheem, American Standard, and Amana.

The Largo home cooling and ventilation contractor also installs heat pumps, thermostats, and other climate control equipment for residential and commercial projects. Complete Heating and Cooling has its liveried vehicles equipped to handle small or large-scale installations, repairs, and maintenance.

Complete Heating and Cooling is a one-stop contractor for air conditioning inspections, scheduled maintenance, duct, and furnace repair. The company offers 24-hour emergency repairs across its service area.

According to a spokesperson for the Largo, FL HVAC installers, "Our reputation at Complete Heating & Cooling is built on accurate diagnosis, quality repairs, and expert installation. We serve our customers for the long run. We want to be the go-to guys for all your climate service needs in Pinellas County, and we are honoured to have an opportunity to prove ourselves to you."

Complete Heating and Cooling was founded in 2003 by Chris Christiansen and is a Class "A" Florida State contractor with more than 20 years of experience in Pinellas County. The company serves homes and businesses in the FL cities of Clearwater, Palm Harbor, St. Petersburg, Dunedin, Madeira Beach, and 34 other locations across the county.

For more information about reliable air conditioner installation in Largo, FL, call 727-545-3604 or visit the URL above.

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Largo FL Air Conditioning Repair HVAC And Air Conditioner Installation Launched - Newswire

By the Experts at Pillar To Post Home Inspectors

During the process of buying or selling a home, your clients often learn about recommended or required repairs and upgrades. This can happen as a result of the home inspection, or you may make suggestions based on your knowledge of the local market and comparable homes.

Of course, the first thing your clients want to know is, How much will that cost?

The Pillar To Post Construction and Remodeling Estimates Cost Guide puts this information at your fingertips. It provides estimated cost ranges for the repair and/or replacement of major systems and components in a home, including heating and cooling, roofing, plumbing, electrical, and much more. It also includes general guidelines for the life expectancies of those systems.

This information can help your clients make informed decisions when theyre considering home repairs or improvements, and is valued by buyers and sellers alike.

Forcomplimentary copies of the newly updated Cost Guide, please contact your local Pillar To Post Home Inspector or download it.

Book your home inspection today.

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How Much Will Repairs and Upgrades Cost? Get the Answers - RisMedia.com

The Army wants major renovations at the homes of top military brass in the Washington area, where scores of multimillion-dollar projects are planned to restore aging historic properties, the service said.

The military is obligated to notify Congress when maintenance and repair costs for the homes of generals and flag officers exceeds $35,000. There are 33 properties in the capital area that exceed the threshold at a total cost of $37.7 million, the Armys 2021 budget request shows.

Most of them are connected to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, which includes sites in Washington and Arlington, Va., according to budget documents.

These houses are in a failed and failing state requiring major building components to be replaced to include electrical, plumbing, structural, fire and force protection requirements for historical homes that are between 90 to 130 years old, said Michael L. Howard, a Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall spokesman.

Worldwide, the Armys 2021 request for general and flag officer housing is $47 million for costs connected to operations, maintenance and leases. The inventory includes 151 Army-owned and leased units and 191 private units, Army documents state.

Most of the money is focused on repairs at Washingtons Fort McNair, a part of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall situated along the Potomac and Anacostia rivers.

The Armys vice chief and other top leaders reside at the post, which has been in use since 1791. There are seven homes along the bases 2nd Avenue that have been tapped to receive $3.6 million each in renovations, the Army said.

Work is slated to begin in the 2020-2021 time frame and would take six years to finish, Howard said.

The upgrades are expected to provide savings over the long-term operation costs of the historic homes, which the Army says have inefficient heating and cooling systems.

They also need landscaping and drainage work after two years of record rainfalls that raised concerns about moisture damaging the older homes, Howard said.

At Fort Myer in Arlington, many homes were built between 1892 and 1935. Ten homes are slated for improvements, including small projects for the homes reserved for the Army and Air Force chiefs of staff.

A $1.4 million project at Fort Myer is slated for quarters that Colin Powell called home during the early 1980s while working for then-Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. Its unclear who the home is meant for now.

However, not all of the big spending elsewhere is meant for historic homes.

At U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, the Army will spend $1.2 million to fix two homes along Patch Barracks Florida Strasse, where generals reside. Both homes are vacant due to structural and foundation issues that make them uninhabitable, said Ray Johnson, spokesman for Installation Management Command-Europe.

Neither of the 63-year-old houses has had significant upgrades over the last 25 years, except for piecemeal repairs, Johnson said.

About seven years ago, the Army spent millions fixing up other homes along Florida Strasse, but the newly budgeted projects werent part of that effort, Johnson said.

vandiver.john@stripes.comTwitter: @john_vandiver

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Army requests millions to fix homes for high-ranking officers in the Washington area - Stars and Stripes

Silenos Energy will turn over technical management of the plant to the Munich municipal utility.

Stadtwerke Mnchen (SWM) is one of the largest energy and infrastructure companies in Germany as a municipal energy expert in the state capital of Munich.They provide the city with electricity, natural gas, district heating, district cooling and fresh drinking water in a safe and climate-friendly manner and they operate the 18 indoor and summer pools.

Oliver Friedlaender, technical director of Silenos Energy, said, The decisive factor for us is SWM's many years of extensive expertise in the use of geothermal energy.The existing know-how of SWM, which guarantees safe, legally compliant operation as well as maintenance and repair, convinced usto have found a very good partner for the future. "

Helge-Uve Braun, technical director of SWM, commented," SWM has been operating five of its own geothermal plants for more than 16 years and have already successfully taken on operational management tasks for third-party plants.We will bring our experience from construction and operation into the Bruck geothermal plant as a strong partner.We thank you for the trust that Silenos Energy has placed in us and are convinced that we can meet or even exceed the expectations placed in us.

In Garching an der Alz, SWM will ensure the fully automated, technical operation of the geothermal plant.This includes permanent monitoring, regular system checks, the organization of maintenance work, troubleshooting and repair work.Thanks to the cooperation between Silenos Energy and Stadtwerke Mnchen, the partners not only exchange valuable experience and knowledge, but also work together for safe and reliable renewable energy supply in Garching an der Alz and in Munich.

Silenos Energy is a joint venture between RAG Austria AG, Austria's most traditional exploration and production company, and STRABAG, the European technology company for construction services.In its core business, Silenos Energy combines the expertise of companies in power plant and plant engineering (STRABAG) and in deep drilling technology (RAG) for the development, construction and operation of geothermal plants.

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Geothermal - SWM Will Take Over Technical Operational Management Of Geothermal Power Plant In Bruck - Renewable Energy Magazine

A recent Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair webinar explained both danger and precautions associated with what is likely to be an increasingly electrified fleet.

OEMs are committing to sell more models with at least some electrification as the decade progresses. This might range from merely a hybrid powertrain like a Prius, a plug-in hybrid like a Volt, or a fully battery-electric car like a Model 3. All three categories of powertrain can pose a threat of shock or fire, according to CCAR safety content author Bob McGinn. Volvo, for example, has pledged every one of its next-gen models will be at a minimum a hybrid.

McGinn said the Feb. 5 webinars content would pretty much apply to any electrified vehicle, be it a 20-year-old Prius to a modern Tesla. However, he said an older Prius probably used a nickel-metal hydride battery, which doesnt pose the risk of fire he described for a lithium-ion battery.

Heres a little extra context: The current-generation Prius began with the 2016 model year and featured lithium-ion batteries in most versions, which Toyota called a change from the prior-gens Ni-MH and smaller, lighter. The OEM introduced an electric all-wheel drive model for the 2019 model year which used Ni-MH since nickel batteries are inherently resilient to extreme temperature change, Toyota wrote in 2018. All the front-wheel drive 2019 Priuses were lithium-ion, Toyota said.

So even if youve been fixing hybrids for 20 years, dont assume theres nothing to learn about modern electrified powertrains. You might have merely gotten lucky or worked with a different battery chemistry than OEMs are using today. Which means OEM procedures and education like CCARs webinar are vital.

A presentation slide described the webinar as related to hybrid and battery-electric vehicles that may have been compromised, not those under normal handling or diagnostics. A collision repair fell into the former category, as did students handling the vehicle, salvage yard operations and repairs to the electric drive, according to the presentation.

Extraordinary events like a crash or penetration of the battery containment, a fire or a flood could lead to extremely dangerous events, McGinn said. He said such events could also be not necessarily collision, such as the chassis being grounded by striking a pothole or a loss of battery cooling.

Electrified vehicles typically initiate a protection strategy automatically in a crash, but an inability to remove stored energy still creates two major hazards for first responders and auto technicians, according to McGinn.

The first is electric shock, which can happen due to a breach of the batterys protective case, according to McGinn. He said technicians should approach a hybrid with the mindset the battery poses an imminent danger of shock. It should be presumed unstable until inspection in a detailed fashion deems otherwise.

Both Ni-MH and lithium-batteries can produce shocks of up to 800 volts or more, McGinn said. Contact with anything protruding from the battery also has to be avoided, he said.

Repairers can prevent being shocked by using the one-hand and live-dead-live rules mentioned above, according to McGinn.

The one-hand rule means that the user only manipulates a high-voltage device with a single hand, McGinn explained. Only a single hand should be touching a lead, the vehicle or the ground at any time, he said. This prevents you from making a contact circuit and sending electricity through your body if isolation is lost, he said.

The live-dead-live rule involves confirming that a hybrid or electric vehicle battery ostensibly powered down to 0 volts is truly dead. We need to know that zero actually means zero, McGinn said.

Touch the meter leads to an alternate source like a 12-volt battery or other item with the appropriate test spec to see if the meter reads 12 volts, McGinn said. If it does, then immediately test the high-voltage power source thats supposed to be at 0 volts. If it reads 0 volts, test the 12-volt battery again to make sure the meter is still working correctly, he said.

Meters should be tested and used in the same range for live-dead-live and system voltage absence tests, McGinn said.

Repairers will also need personal protective equipment. This should include voltage-appropriate rubber gloves covered by a pair of approved leather gloves (which will minimize damage to the rubber ones) and boots of sufficient electrical protection, according to the presentation. A presentation slide suggested an institution might require a face shield able to provide both NFPA 70E arc Class 2 and ANSI Z87 impact protection. McGinn said work goggles alone werent sufficient.

McGinn also suggested storing anything able to activate the vehicle (key fobs or keys, fuses, service plugs, etc.) in a box secured with two separate locks. Each lock requires a distinct key, and the two keys are held by two separate parties. (For example, a teacher and a student or an owner and technician.) The materials are only removed when everyone agrees the vehicle is ready for them.

Lithium-ion batteries also pose a risk of fire. He said repairers should watch out for popping, hissing, leaking, dripping, smoke or sparks coming from the battery.

They probably mean something significant, McGinn said.

If theres damage to the battery case but no thermal event (fire) yet, a shop should still take precautions like isolating the vehicle outside, 50 feet away from flammables or combustibles, according to McGinn.

The repairer would use a noncontact infrared or thermal imaging to determine if the battery is trending hotter or cooler, McGinn said. If its cooling or stable at ambient temperatures, than the repairer might proceed to further operations, he said. Trending or growing warmer is not a good thing, he said.

The battery should also be monitored for changes in the thermal state during removal from the vehicle, according to McGinn. Your expectation should be that the part is poised to experience a thermal event at any time, he said. A removed battery should be stored outside with the 50-foot radius described above but also protected from the elements, according to McGinn.

CCAR most strongly recommended auto body shops follow OEM handling and repair procedures for any compromised batteries contacting the automaker directly for help if necessary, according to McGinn.

McGinn said you might wonder Is this guy crazy?' But the out-of-control blaze of a thermal runaway demands this level of paranoia, he said.

Thermal runaway is accelerated by increased temperatures, which release energy that in turn raises the temperature further, McGinn said. He said theres no time limit for when it could happen after the battery is compromised.

Thermal runaway could take place weeks after a collision or extraordinary event, McGinn said. It can happen without warning and as a result of many conditions, such as physical damage including crushing, tears or punctures; water intrusion; or the ignition or reignition of the battery after a fire, according to McGinn. Hybrids can contribute to the problem by providing another fuel source, he said.

Once runaway happens, the ability to prevent the blaze quickly is extremely difficult, McGinn said.

Typical Class A-D fire extinguishers simply do not possess the ability of water to cool such a blaze, according to McGinn. And even then, it can take more than 2,500 gallons of water to fully cool and extinguish a runaway battery, he said. The only option is to evacuate and let firefighters handle the battery, he said.

(Electricity and water seems like a bad combination. However a Massachusetts fire departments testing determined it was OK to fight an electric vehicle fire with water because the ground and positive are built into a single container, McGinn said. Theres no completion of the circuit, unlike a structure fire to a building with utility electricity where a path of return would exist, he said.)

Lithium-ion batteries can reach a specific energy of 185-200 Watt-hours per kilogram in terms of how much juice they hold, McGinn explained. But depending on the type of battery and, most importantly, its state of charge, the enthalpy of combustion can reach 1,388-5,500 Watt-hours per kilogram, he said. That number refers to the batterys ability to release heat, according to McGinn who called it a big jump from the 185-200 Watt-hours of specific energy.

If the battery is on fire, all chemistries have the ability to expel much higher heat energy than the amount of electrical energy they contain, McGinn said. Testing of one vehicle battery type found a release of 5,200-8,200 Watts of heat energy per second, he said.

For comparison, a birthday candle burns at 60 Watts per second (and 1,600 degrees), McGinn said.

The more juice a battery has remaining, the sooner a thermal runaway occurs, he said.

Three types of battery failures can produce a thermal runaway, according to McGinn. Thermal instability refers to factors like a fire or elevated temperature without the ability to cool itself. Electrirical instability can involve situations involving an overcharge, reversed polarity or a short circuit. Mechanical instability considerations can include the battery being dropped, involved in a collision or immersed in water.

The magic number for a thermal runaway appears to be 374-392 degrees Fahrenheit, McGinn also observed.

McGinn explained that heat generation is exponential, while dissipation is merely linear. This means the battery can increase in temperature very quickly but only cool gradually, McGinn said.

Three types of runaways can occur. The first is preferred and benign, McGinn said. The reaction begins and might get close to thermal runaway but lacks get up and go the battery sheds heat more rapidly than it gained it. The battery cools, and the incident might not even set off a warning light on the vehicle, he said.

An acceptable outcome might see one battery cell entering runaway, venting and exploding but countered by enough heat dissipation that the adjacent cells dont reach the runaway point, according to McGinn. This would definitely set a warning light, he said.

An unacceptable outcome could start with a battery cell heating less than a degree a minute and rising until magically, at 374 Fahrenheit, that line goes straight up. The adjacent cells hit runaway, and a cascade failure burns up the entire battery, he said.

A submerged vehicle presents a different risk scenario, according to McGinn. The water might not deplete all of the batteys charge, and electrolysis gases can arise as the battery arcs and shorts. McGinn suggested taking steps like opening the hood, trunk and windows to ensure such gases dont accumulate. We dont want any boom in the shop, he said.

Shock and thermal runaway also are risks with a submerged vehicle, McGinn said. Just because the waters gone doesnt mean everybodys safe, he said. Submerged vehicles at a body shop or in storage still need to receive temperature monitoring and isolation until the compromised battery is extracted, he said.

Electric Vehicle Safety webinar 02 05 2020

Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair YouTube channel, Feb. 6, 2020

NASTF OEM repair procedure portal

Featured image: Hybrid and other electric vehicle batteries should be monitored to avoid being caught up in a thermal runaway, according to the Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair. (sankai/iStock)

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CCAR shares threats, precautions for working on hybrid, fully-electric cars - Repairer Driven News