Plumbing & Mechanical articles from December 2005

Plumbing & Mechanical archives from December 2005

Page-by-page seminar.(Letters TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... I'm one of the loyal readers of "Hydronic Controls" in PM. As a designer of heating systems for the F.W. Webb Co., I refer to Carol Fey's articles frequently, as well as columns by John Siegenthaler and Dan Holohan. Usually when I quote a...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2005... PM would like to clarify an Around The Industry article that ran in its November issue. Chicago Faucets Co. moved its manufacturing operations to other divisions in Milwaukee and Michigan City, Ind. However, headquarters has not moved and...

McHumor.(Cartoon)
December 1, 2005... Rudolph, his nose so bright goes in for his drug test. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Kohler opens new retail store, may operate national chain with distributors.(Around THE INDUSTRY)
December 1, 2005... Kohler Co. opened what may be its first of many retail stores nationwide last month in Chicago with The Kohler Store. The manufacturer will open two other stores in the city's suburbs next year. With lessons learned from these three retail...

Hurricane update.(Around THE INDUSTRY)
December 1, 2005... Here are the latest updates on contributions by the industry to Gulf Coast disaster areas: * Danfoss employees raised money for the American Red Cross for Katrina and Rita relief efforts. Funds given by employees will be matched...

Peck Johnston, Chairman, Johnston Supply.(OBITUARIES)
December 1, 2005... Peck Johnston, 73, chairman of Johnston Supply, Marion, Ohio, and one of the founding members of buying group WIT & Co., died Oct. 16 of cancer.

Gerald Kissler, Chairman, Kissler & Co.(OBITUARIES)
December 1, 2005... Gerald Kissler, 74, chairman of plumbing parts vendor Kissler & Co., died from complications of emphysema Oct. 23. He took over the company from his father in the mid-1950s. His sons, Barry and Glenn Kissler, have been running the company since...

EMCOR buys Fluidics.(Around THE INDUSTRY)
December 1, 2005... EMCOR Group recently acquired Fluidics Inc., a privately held mechanical services company based in Philadelphia. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Fluidics covers Philadelphia, southern New Jersey and Delaware. The company...

NAOHSM accepting 2006 Installation Contest submissions.(Around THE INDUSTRY)
December 1, 2005... The National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers is now accepting applications for its 2006 Installation Contest. Any oilheat company that does new construction, conversions or retrofits with heating oil is eligible to enter an...

Energy bill promotes energy-efficient appliances.(Briefs)
December 1, 2005... The 2005 Energy Policy Act includes incentives for homeowners and business owners to upgrade to more energy-efficient plumbing and heating technology. Homeowners can take up to $300 in tax credits associated with the purchase of a qualified...

Western NY contractors make sure the 'Heat's On'.(Briefs)
December 1, 2005... Contractor members and union employees of the Piping & Service Industry Coalition (including John W. Danforth Co. and Mollenberg-Betz Inc.) made free furnace inspections and repairs to 15 elderly/low-income homeowners in Buffalo, N.Y.'s...

ISH North America has new show manager.(Briefs)
December 1, 2005... Messe Frankfurt Inc. promoted Jennifer Salvadori to trade fair manager for the ISH North America show. Salvadori has been the sales manager for ISH NA since October 2002. The next ISH North America will be held Sept. 28-30, 2006, in...

Next Money Masters set for January.(Briefs)
December 1, 2005... Another Nexstar Money Masters event is scheduled for Jan. 13-14, 2006, in Columbia, S.C. The two-day event is part seminar, part plumbing contractor tour. For this event, Brasington Plumbing, Heating and Air is the featured contractor. For...

SSPMA Pump selection video available.(Briefs)
December 1, 2005... The Sump and Sewage Pump Manufacturers Association now offers a training program, "Effluent Pumps for Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Selecting the Right Pump for the Job." The 28-minute program is available in both video and CD ROM formats and...

Free forklift training video for lucky few.(Briefs)
December 1, 2005... Safety training provider MANCOMM will give away 100 free forklift video training systems (a $395 value) to encourage customers to join the company's Safety Product Development Committee. You must be an experienced safety professional to qualify...

PIPE Joins NHL's Coyotes' 'Tickets for Kids' program.(Briefs)(National Hockey League's)(Piping Industry Progress and Education Trust Fund)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Piping Industry Progress and Education Trust Fund (PIPE) announced a community partnership with the National Hockey League's Phoenix Coyotes, which will allow 200 children to attend a game. The partnership is part of the Coyote's "Tickets...

Kinetic Systems one of America's Safest Companies.(Briefs)
December 1, 2005... Union City, Calif.-based Kinetic Systems is one of 12 companies named to Occupational Hazards magazine's America's Safest Companies of 2005 list (October 2005).

Albuquerque site of 2006 Green Building Conference.(Briefs)
December 1, 2005... The 2006 National Green Building Conference, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders, will be held March 12-14, 2006, in Albuquerque, N.M. The conference will help attendees meet the increased consumer demand for...

RSES elects new officers for 2005-2006.(Briefs)
December 1, 2005... The Refrigeration Service Engineers Society elected new officers for the 2005-2006 term: Ronald J. McCarthy, international president; Harry "Butch" McGuire, international vice president; Allan Smith, international treasurer; Larry Lynn,...

National Building Museum celebrates 25 years.(Briefs)
December 1, 2005... The National Building Museum, located in Washington, D.C., celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2005. Various celebratory activities were scheduled throughout the year, including a film series dedicated to the relationship between architecture...

Bradley's ndite system featured in Wal-Mart 'green' store.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
December 1, 2005... Bradley Corp.'s light-powered ndite[TM] technology is just one of many "green" building techniques built into an experimental Wal-Mart Supercenter in Aurora, Colo. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new system only needs to use restroom...

Class-action settlement against Easy Heat approved.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
December 1, 2005... U.S. District Court Judge Allen Sharp, for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division, gave final approval to the settlement of a class-action suit against Easy Heat Inc. (Klabo V. Easy Heat Inc., Civil Action No. 02-CV-877), which...

DECOLAV offices open again after hurricane Wilma.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
December 1, 2005... Decorative bath furnishings and fixtures manufacturer DECOLAV announced that its Deerfield Beach, Fla., office is up and running after being hit by Hurricane Wilma. The company's biggest problem was power outages, but all its staff are well....

Consumer financing tools for plumbers: you can boost your sales and productivity by offering your customers financing options.(Business TIPS)
December 1, 2005... Consumer financing plays an important role throughout the indoor comfort industry, but it is rare to find a plumbing service contractor who offers payment plans for major purchases. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Painting radiators.(HEATINGHELP.COM)
December 1, 2005... Original inquiry: Customer called me with a good question. They had a radiator sandblasted and they wondered what would be the best type of paint to put on it. I told them that it had to be good for at least 200 degrees F and the old, "Let me...

Harvey's horseshoe: one way to solve an injection-mixing problem.(Hydronics WORKSHOP)
December 1, 2005... If you attended the RPA RadFest East this past October, you may remember the piping schematic in Figure 1 as an example of what not to do. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The problem here is the lack of a thermal trap. True, you do see a trap...

Pause to celebrate: my congratulations to you for helping make this world a better place.(Plumbing PRIMER)
December 1, 2005... This has been a wild year. The day after Christmas last year, everyone learned what a tsunami is and the destruction it can cause. All of you came to the aid of those who suffered the devastation of the tsunami. You should be congratulated for...

Volts, amps & watts: unraveling the confusion behind measuring electricity.(Hydronic CONTROLS)
December 1, 2005... The words volts, amps and watts--or voltage, amperage and wattage--float around in the world of electricity. In this column we'll look into what they mean to you, besides the feeling, "Geez, I never could keep that stuff straight." ...

What to take on your lifeboat: an honest assessment and careful planning can save your company from drowning.(Managing YOUR BUSINESS)
December 1, 2005... Working with contractors who have put their companies into troubled waters, I've developed an analogy that helps them understand what has to happen now. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I tell them, "Imagine your...

Customer relations 101: repeats and referrals scorecard; Repeat business and customer referrals are critical to your profitable success and growth.
December 1, 2005... How well do your project managers, foremen and service techs score on repeats and referrals? I hope you have an enticing reward system to encourage effective customer relations. If you analyze the profit potential of these repeats and...

Removing water heater nipples.(FIRST PLACE)
December 1, 2005... I have a suggestion for removing those old, rusty, crusty, galvanized water heater nipples. Way too often a plumber may collapse, "egg-shape" or sometimes even break those old galvanized nipples at a water heater during repairs. ...

A birthday present.(tool tips)
December 1, 2005... Give yourself a birthday present. Once a year, on your birthday, remember to change your tubing/pipe cutter wheels to make your work easier and your cuts cleaner and safer. You can change the rollers, too. Most contractors wait until the blades...

Two-sided tip.(tool tips)
December 1, 2005... My Tool Tip is using a double-ended angle ratchet wrench in which one side is 1/2 inch and the other side is 9/16 inch to assemble and install toilets. I use the 1/2-inch side to bolt the tank on the bowl and the 9/16-inch side to install the...

Send us your tool tips.(tool tips)
December 1, 2005... If you have an idea that has saved you time and money, Plumbing & Mechanical would like to share your tip with our readers. You can e-mail your idea directly to PM editor Steve Smith at smiths@bnpmedia.com, or mail it to him c/o PM, 1050 IL...

Grout removal kit.(Product Focus: Tools)
December 1, 2005... Grout Removal Kit: A new grout removal kit (RZ-GRK) from RotoZip[R] by Bosch can remove wall, floor and corner grout quickly and easily. The kit's reversible tool-free base attachment accommodates grout lines 1/16 inch or wider. A steel guide...

Lid handle [no photo].(Product Focus: Tools)
December 1, 2005... Lid Handle [no photo]: A unique, reusable lid handle for brush-in-can containers by Lid Mate protects fingers, hands and gloves. Made of durable resistant plastic with stainless screws. Easy on and off of can. Clean up with cleaner or primer....

Air acetylene torch.(Product Focus: Tools)
December 1, 2005... Air Acetylene Torch: LENOX air acetylene torches make carrying tanks, reading gauges and storing accessories easy and convenient. A patented carry handle, regulator and gauge assembly are made from a composite material that protects the gauge...

Hole saw kits.(Product Focus: Tools)
December 1, 2005... Hole Saw Kits: M.K. Morse Co. has introduced seven new hole saw kits to its Master Cobalt line. The new kits offer plumbers the most popular hole saw diameters and corresponding arbors. Kits are packaged in custom cases that protect and...

Easy pipe thawing.(Product Focus: Tools)
December 1, 2005... Easy Pipe Thawing: General Pipe Cleaners' two new pipe thawing machines--the Hot-Shot 320 and Hot Shot 400--thaw pipes in minutes to eliminate tearing up floors, breaking through walls or digging around pipes in frozen ground. They can thaw...

Safe gas connection [no photo].(Product Focus: Tools)
December 1, 2005... Safe Gas Connection [no photo]: BrassCraft offers Safety+PLUS Advantage[TM], an advanced gas connection system. Features Safety+PLUS[R] automatic gas safety valve, a patented magnet-based excess flow technology that restricts gas flow to a...

Grinder retrofit system.(Product Focus: Tools)
December 1, 2005... Grinder Retrofit System: Liberty's new Omnivore Grinder is now available as a drop-in replacement unit for E/One GP 200 and GP 2000 systems. The LSG202-RE is a complete package that includes the Omnivore 2 horsepower grinder pump, control...

Storage tank brochure [no photo].(Product Focus: Tools)
December 1, 2005... Storage Tank Brochure [no photo]: RBI offers a four-page brochure featuring new vertical glass-lined jacketed and insulated or bare ASME storage tanks. The full-color publication provides photos and information detailing the products' advanced...

Towel warmers.(Product Focus: Tools)
December 1, 2005... Towel Warmers: Jomar's towel warmers feature high quality and Italian design. Easy-to-install valves, thermostatic head and mounting brackets included. The towel warmers work with operating pressures up to 120 psi and temperatures up to 220...

Boiler offerings [no photo].(Product Focus: Tools)
December 1, 2005... Boiler Offerings [no photo]: Bryan Steam's flexible water tube boilers feature ultra-low NOx boiler/burner design and use the latest metal fiber burner technology combined with air-fuel ratio control and a PID controller to provide a...

Trade name listings.(Directory)
December 1, 2005... 1/4 Turn Stops -- BrassCraft 370-Series[R] -- Liberty Pumps, Inc. 3M[TM] -- 3M Fire Protection Products 800 Series high/low mixing valve -- Lawler Manufacturing Co. A.O. Smith -- A.O. Smith Electrical Products ...

Manufacturers alphabetical listings.(Directory)
December 1, 2005... 1-2 Access Ltd. Co. 522 Ellingham Dr., Ste. 200, Katy, TX 77450 (713) 893-1731 www.1-2-access.com SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 171 A & M BioFilter, LP 31 Lakeview Dr., Sandia Park, NM 87047 (800) 963-6746 Fax: (801)...

Product listings.(Access Panels-Pumps, Test)(Directory)
December 1, 2005... Access Panels Acorn Engineering Co. Benjamin Mfg. Co. Dallas Specialty & Mfg. Co. Diversified Plastics Fluidmaster, Inc. Hercules Chemical Company, Inc. MIFAB Potter Roemer The Reliable Automatic...

Small space specialists: two tools that make working with copper easier.
December 1, 2005... CopperKey[R] adds new twist to copper prep. The patented ratchet handle on the CopperKey lets you work in really tight places. Just two or three inches of clearance are all you need to prep tubing and couplings inside and out. ...

Why just PEX it? When you can fully IPEX it.
December 1, 2005... With IPEX's Total PlumbBetter[R] PEX System. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Buy a PlumbBetter[R] PEX system, and you're buying the IPEX integrated system advantage: everything you need is designed, built and backed by the same company. IPEX offers...

Product listings.(Pumps, Turbine-Zone Controls)(Directory)
December 1, 2005... Pumps, Turbine Aurora Pump Co. Bell & Gossett Flint & Walling, Inc. Goulds Pumps, Water Technologies Group ITT Fluid Handling Metropolitan Industries, Inc. Patterson Pump Company Red Jacket Water Products...

Manufacturers representatives.(Directory)
December 1, 2005... ALABAMA Tim Morales & Associates, Inc. 4080 Lloyd Station Rd. Mobile, AL 36693 (251) 602-8333 Fax: (251) 602-8339 tim@timmorales.com Tim Morales STATES SERVED: AL, MS, West FL Cuno 3-M, JACCO, Noritz...

High velocity contracting: distributors need to get their act together, but contractors can help by applying some common sense to the process.(Editorial OPINION)
December 1, 2005... The most engrossing presentation I witnessed at last September's Network '05 joint ASA/PHCC convention in Orlando was a panel discussion sponsored by ASA's Industrial Piping Division. "The Voice of the Customer: The Key to Mutual...