Plumbing & Mechanical articles from December 2003

Plumbing & Mechanical archives from December 2003

Correction.(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2003... (Editor's note: In our editing process, we incorrectly identified a trade association mentioned in "Water Safety for the Elderly and Infirm," October 2003. The error was our own and not the author's.) In the article titled, "Water Safety...

Who's watching you?(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... Before I tell you which columns I want to commend, let me tell you about myself. I have worked for 33 years in a major chemical plant. During those years I have been a pipefitter, welder, plumber and, for the past 17 years, an engineering...

Plumbing poetry.(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I am a plumber by trade for more than 20 years. I wrote this poem and thought you might be interested in running it in your magazine. Thanking you in advance. Kurt Reifschneider Littleton, Colo.

Plumbers.(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... Plumbers I know are a different breed. They come from a crop of some lost seed. As young apprentices, they learn how to trench. Ins and outs of o Ridgid pipe wrench. Right is tight, left is loose. Things you never learn from Mother Goose....

Interesting valve.(Letters To The Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2003... I am a plumbing contractor in Sonoma County, and I recently encountered this old tub valve in a Santa Rosa house built around 1920. I know other plumbers will appreciate this three-handle, tub-only valve set. Study the trim in the first...

AFL-CIO department report cites failures in ABC apprenticeship training.(Around The Industry)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... More dropouts and less female and minority apprentices in ABC programs Department of Labor asked to investigate the construction apprenticeship system ABC calls report a 'politically motivated and misleading attack" A major labor...

Goodyear to pay $267 million over Entran II.(Around The Industry)(Entran II radiant tubing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. agreed to pay $236 million to settle a class action case over Entran II radiant tubing. While some details need to still be worked out, a U.S. district court judge in New Jersey approved the deal last October. ...

Past PHCC president John Ward passes away.(Obituaries)(Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association)(Obituary)
December 1, 2003... John Ward, 83, founder of Watco Corp. and past president of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association, died Oct. 18 after a battle with cancer in Raleigh, N.C. The family has asked that donations be made in John Ward's name...

MCAA past president Victor Bach dies.(Obituaries)(Western Plumbing and Heating Co)(Obituary)
December 1, 2003... Victor Bach, president of Western Plumbing & Heating Co. of San Francisco, died Oct. 31. He was president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America in 1991, and continued to be an active member of the President's Advisory Council....

U.S. Army in court over bid mistakes.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in court regarding the first of tire pilot projects using an Internet reverse auction, according to the MCA of Minnesota. The project is a residential facility at the St. Paul Air Force Reserve Station. At...

EMCOR reports YTD revenue increase.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... For the first nine months of 2003, EMCOR Group reported an 18 percent increase in revenues from the same period last year--$3.36 billion compared to $2.85 billion--due primarily to the acquisition of Consolidated Engineering Services in...

Roto-Rooter announces slight decline in revenues.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Roto-Rooter Inc announced that third-quarter revenues for the Plumbing and Drain Service segment grew 5.2 percent to $63.3 million from 2002's third-quarter figure of $60.2 million. Net income was $1.9 million, 19 percent below last year's...

Comfort Systems reports nine-month revenue decrease.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Comfort Systems USA reported revenues from continuing operations for the first nine months of 2003 as $592 million, compared to $609.8 million for the first nine months of 2002. Net income was $1.3 million, compared to $4.6 million in 2002. The...

Reading Body changes name.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Reading Truck Body Inc.)(Crest Truck Equipment now Reading Equipment and Distribution)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Truck body manufacturer Reading Body Works Inc. will now be known as Reading Truck Body Inc. In addition, the company has formed an alliance with Crest Truck Equipment, a network of Reading distributors located in the Mid-Atlantic region. Crest...

Oasis buys Sunroc.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Two of the industry's oldest manufacturers of water dispensing products are becoming one. Columbus, Ohio-based Oasis Corp. announced the acquisition of Sunroc Corp. of Dover, Del. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Oasis has annual gross...

Delta Faucet names new president.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Reinhard Metzger)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Delta Faucet Co. announced that Reinhard Metzger will take over as president, effective Nov. 7. Metzger is currently president of Masco's Mill's Pride cabinet manufacturing company. Former president John Wills will &vote full attention to his...

Werner named Gerber president.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Michael E. Werner, Gerber Plumbling Fixtures)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Michael E. Werner, currently CEO of Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC, will also assume the role of president. Werner is also CEO and president of Globe Union Group Inc., which purchased part of Gerber last February. Also, Jeff Pratt, vice...

Wright retires as Reed CEO.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Ralph Wright has retired as CEO of Reed Manufacturing Co. after 38 years with the fifth-generation family business founded in 1902 by Reuben Wright. He continues service to the company as chairman. Reed's outside board of directors promoted...

A look at entrepreneurial seizures: it takes more than technical skill to build a business; it takes knowledge of how business works.(Business Tips)
December 1, 2003... Michael Gerber in his business classic "The E-Myth," coined the term "entrepreneurial seizure." (Note: if you haven't read this book, stop now, go to the library or bookstore and get it. I'll wait here for you while you read it.) As a...

Programmable thermostats.(Off The Wall)
December 1, 2003... Question: I have one of those programmable thermostats with multiple set points for different times of day. It is running my single zone (one Taco 007, no zone valves, flow valves at radiators), two-pipe hot water system. The boiler is a...

Zoning with constant circulation: it can be done with modern hydronics technology.(Hydronics Workshop)
December 1, 2003... It doesn't take long for someone new to the hydronic heating trade to discover the versatility and benefits of zoning. If that person came from the forced-air side of the fence, they'll likely be amazed at how easy and relatively inexpensive it...

Do I really need an engineer? Yes, you do. And more often than you think.(Plumbing Primer)
December 1, 2003... There has always been a love/hate affair between engineers and contractors. The impression by many plumbing contractors is that the engineer is an idiot. In a room filled with contractors, you will hear: * "The plans are wrong!" *...

Teaching techs to sell despite themselves: asking the right questions is the first step to selling in the customer's best interest.(Managing Your Business)
December 1, 2003... Technicians tend to be great at diagnosing the problem but they need to get great at diagnosing the customer. It's not one diagnosis or the other. The truth is, I was lousy at diagnosing the customer when I first became a tech. Like most...

Loads, zone valves and transformers: the number of zone valves you put on a transformer depends on the situation.(Hydronic Controls)
December 1, 2003... A load is the user of electricity. Loads come in many familiar forms such as light bulbs, motors and doorbells. A load changes electrical energy into another form of energy, such as light, heat, sound motion and magnetism. The heart of a...

Year-end profits--want more in '04? Prefab is a very effective profit-producing option for the mechanical trades.(Practical Management)
December 1, 2003... Most of us were told as children that if we were good all year, Santa would bring us a present. That may or may not have been true during our childhood, but it certainly applies to your business today. 2003 is almost over and Christmas is...

Angle Bracket Fitting.(Products & Literature)
December 1, 2003... Angle Bracket Fitting: Designed specifically for use with Gastite corrugated stainless steel tubing, the new XR Angle Bracket Fitting creates a fixed stub out point on a wall or floor surface. The bracket is set to a common and...

Gas Piping System.(Products & Literature)
December 1, 2003... Gas Piping System: OmegaFlex introduces TracPipe[R]PS-II, an improved version of its TracPipe underground gas piping system. PSII can be used for a wide variety of gas piping applications, including under building slabs where sleeved and vented...

Epoxy-Coated Manifolds.(Products & Literature)
December 1, 2003... Epoxy-Coated Manifolds: Tru-Flex Metal Hose Corp. introduces a new line of epoxy-coated cast manifolds for its PRO-FLEX[R] CSST product line. Includes three-port, four-port and five port manifolds. Circle 3 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Flexible Gas Piping.(Products & Literature)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Flexible Gas Piping: The Parflex Flexible Gas Piping System from Parker Hannifin is a complete propane and natural gas piping system certified to ANSI LC-1 standards by CSA International. The Parflex System includes everything needed for fast...

Pipe-Thawing Machines.(Products & Literature)
December 1, 2003... Pipe-Thawing Machines: General Pipe Cleaners introduces two new pipe-thawing machines--Hot-Shot 320 and Hot-Shot 400. The Hot-Shot 320 can thaw up to 100 ft. of I 1/2 inch pipe, while the 400 can clear lines up to 175 ft. long. The machines are...

One-Handed Pipe Wrench.(Products & Literature)
December 1, 2003... One-Handed Pipe Wrench: Erwin Industrial Tools' VISE-GRIP[R] Quick Adjusting Pipe Wrench adjusts quickly with one hand, fits in tight work spaces and is 40 percent lighter than standard 14-inch cast-iron pipe wrenches. The 2 1/4-inch jaw...

Molded-In Custom Graphics.(Products & Literature)
December 1, 2003... Molded-In Custom Graphics: Halsey Taylor's Voyager[TM] water cooler is now available with personalized molded-in graphics. The graphics are molded clear through Voyager's top panel, which can be easily removed and installed, allowing for...

Saw Attachment.(Products & Literature)(Professional Tool Mfg)
December 1, 2003... Saw Attachment: The VersaSaw from Professional Tool Mfg. allows professionals to use their power drills as power saws. It attaches to a corded of cordless power drill with a hex shaft, and is designed for 1,000+ rpm corded or 14.4+ volt...

Hot Water Boiler.(Products & Literature)(Dunkirk Quantum 90-200)
December 1, 2003... Hot Water Boiler: The Dunkirk Quantum 90-200 by ECR International features an efficiency of more than 90 percent when used in low-temperature systems, such as radiant systems. It includes flexible piping options as well as a factory installed...

Contractor Customer-Service Training [no photo].(Products & Literature)
December 1, 2003... Contractor Customer-Service Training [no photo]: The Contractor's Friend has created a Contractor's Selling Power DVD Training System tailored to the residential flat rate service technician. The training is based on the company's Sales Summit...

Cast-Aluminum Boiler.(Products & Literature)
December 1, 2003... Cast-Aluminum Boiler: The new MACH series boiler from Patterson Kelley combines the latest cast-aluminum metallurgy with advanced burner and control technologies. The MACH series boiler recently won first place in the hydronic heating category...

Trade name listings.(Directory)
December 1, 2003... "NOUVEAU" GOURMET*--Elkay Mfg. Co. "Reps" Pipe Extractors--The Walton Co. [R]Alpha-One/[R]Ultra Bio 550--Power Line USA 1/4 Turn Stops--Brass Craft Mfg. 123Supply.com Training Source 3M[TM]--3M Fire Protection Products ...

Manufacturers alphabetical listings.(Directory)
December 1, 2003... A.O. Smith Electrical Products 531 N. 4th St., Tipp City, OH 45371 (937) 667-2431 Fax: (937) 667-5030 www.aosmithmotors.com Don Heinrich, Pres.; Chris Ruttle, V.P./Mktg.; Myron Charas, C.F.O. Electric motors, 1/800-800 HP...

Product listings.(Access Panels-Heating, Baseboard)(Directory)
December 1, 2003... Access Panels Acorn Engineering Co. Benjamin Mfg. Co. Fluidmaster, Inc. William H. Harvey Company * Hercules Chemical Company, Inc. JL Industries, Inc., Activar, Inc. MIFAB Potter Roemer Sioux Chief...

Product listings.(Hoists, Manual and Portable--Stops or Valves)(Directory)
December 1, 2003... Hoists, Manual and Portable Pul-A-Pump Holders, Toilet Paper Acorn Engineering Co. * Hodes Co. Keeney Manufacturing Co. LDR Industries Tomlinson Industries Hose F40--Flexible Metal G20--Gas ...

Product listings.(Strainers--Zone Controls)(Directory)
December 1, 2003... * McGuire Manufacturing Co., Inc.--L20 NIBCO INC.--L20,O60,S40 Omni Brass Inc.--S40 Plumbmaster--L20,O60,S40 Spring House Specialty--L20 * Tomlinson Industries--D60 Webstone Co. Inc.--L20,S40 Wolverine Brass,...

Manufacturers representatives.(Directory)
December 1, 2003... ALABAMA Tim Morales & Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 91421-36691 Mobile, AL 36695 (251) 633-2461 Fax: (251) 633-2395 tim@timmorales.com www.timmorales.com Tim Morales, Pres. STATES SERVED: AL, FL Panhandle, MS. ...