Plumbing & Mechanical articles from February 2007

Plumbing & Mechanical archives from February 2007

PHCC and HD Supply.(Letters TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I found it quite interesting that Steve Smith chose to write about PHCC's recent meeting with the leadership of HD Supply ("PHCC, HD Supply To Meet To Discuss Possible Partnership," December 2006). When contacted by Mr. Smith, we told him that...

Artistic freedom.(Letters TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... Once again Ellen Rohr's column in PM hit me to the core. I've been reading her columns since the early-1990s. Ellen helped inspire me to take the leap and start my own business, which I did about five years ago. I got help from a lot of other...

California learns tough realities of its new lead law.(Around THE INDUSTRY)
February 1, 2007... First, the good news: There is a faucet that complies with California's new legal lockdown on the amount of lead contained in faucets sold for sale in the state. Now, the bad news: The faucet, stainless steel inside and out, wholesales in...

Leadership changes at Home Depot.(Around THE INDUSTRY)
February 1, 2007... The board of The Home Depot and Bob Nardelli announced in early January that by mutual agreement Nardelli would leave his position as The Home Depot's chairman, president and CEO and also as a director effective Jan. 2. Frank Blake, the...

UA to hold apprentice contest after long hiatus.(Around THE INDUSTRY)
February 1, 2007... The United Association will hold an apprentice contest this summer for the first time in more than 30 years. Contestants will be able to compete in one of five categories: plumbing; pip-efitting; sprinkler fitting; welding; and HVAC...

Everett C. Wilcox, chairman, Leonard Valve Co.(OBITUARIES)
February 1, 2007... Everett C. Wilcox, chairman of the board of the Leonard Valve Co., passed away last year on Dec. 15. Just three days before his death, Wilcox celebrated his 68th year of employment with the company. He was elected president in 1955 and remained...

Sgt. Chad J. Vollmer, son of ECF president.(OBITUARIES)
February 1, 2007... Sgt. Chad J. Vollmer, 24, of Grand Rapids, Mich., was killed in action in Iraq on Dec. 23. He was part of the Army National Guard E Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry, and was serving his second tour of duty. He is survived by his parents...

Amtrol files Chapter 11.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
February 1, 2007... Faced with nearly $180 million in debt, Amtrol, Warwick, R.I., filed for Chapter 11 protection last December. "For several years, Amtrol has been constrained by its highly leveraged capital structure," said Larry T. Guillemette, company...

Jacuzzi settles stockholder suits regarding merger.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
February 1, 2007... Jacuzzi Brands announced that it has reached an agreement in principle to settle four class-action stockholder lawsuits, which were filed just days after the company announced a proposed merger with an Apollo Management subsidiary last fall....

Danfoss acquires energy management business.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
February 1, 2007... Danfoss recently bought Aztec Energy Partners, a Conyers, Ga., energy management firm providing services to the food retail industry. Anthony Tippens, current president of Aztec, will continue to head the company after the acquisition.

Castle Supply acquired by Wolseley.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
February 1, 2007... Wolseley plc, based in Reading, United Kingdom, acquired the assets of Lawrence Plumbing Supply Co., and the shares of plumbing distributors Castle Supply Co. and Castle North Corp. (Castle Group) were acquired from Joseph Lawrence, Joseph...

Oatey buys plumbing specialty products firm.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
February 1, 2007... Oatey Co. recently acquired Omaha, Neb.-based William H. Harvey Co., a manufacturer and distributor of plumbing specialty products. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. William H. Harvey Co. will become a wholly owned subsidiary of...

Wrightsoft launches new training series.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
February 1, 2007... Software provider Wrightsoft launched a series of interactive software training workshops last December. That particular workshop focused on the use of Right-Sales in the home, and the customization of the product to meet the customer's...

Lochinvar gives away Pocket PCs.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)
February 1, 2007... Lochinvar Corp. is hosting a weekly giveaway as part of its VIP Contractor program. With each registered purchase of a KNIGHT Heating Boiler, contractors are entered to win a Hewlett Packard Pocket PC with the KNIGHT's Smart System software...

Mary Kennedy Thompson president, Mr. Rooter.(NEWSMAKER PROFILES)(Interview)
February 1, 2007... Mr. Rooter won't be changing its corporate name, but there's definitely no "Mr." running the show at the head office. Last October, Mary Kennedy Thompson became president of Mr. Rooter. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mr. Rooter placed sixth...

Retrofit realities: with a little ingenuity and a significant amount of engineering, the amount of elbow grease expended in a retrofit can be substantially mitigated.(Fire PROTECTION)
February 1, 2007... I once asked a seasoned fire sprinkler system installer what he thought about when he began any kind of retrofit installation. The first thing that came to his mind was, "Did the engineer do it right?" The more difficult the job appeared at...

The right price: tips for finding that 'sweet spot' for your company.(Business TIPS)
February 1, 2007... As a purveyor of upfront pricing books, I am regularly involved in helping PHC contractors find the right selling price for their services. Typically, my client begins with a question like, "Do you know the going rate for my market?" To which I...

Microflows: heating a 2,500-square-foot house with a 40-watt circulator.(Hydronics WORKSHOP)
February 1, 2007... I'm excited about what's in store for hydronic heating in 2007. For one thing, the North American market will be getting its first real encounter with state-of-the-art "smart circulators." These little devices, now being installed by the...

You can't make this stuff up.(RADIANT & HYDRONICS E-NEWS)
February 1, 2007... Are You An Ace Troubleshooter? John Siegenthaler, P.E., has been challenging heating professionals to take a closer look at how radiant and hydronic systems should be designed to fit today's efficiency-minded world. His Web site,...

The digital filing cabinet: Gross Mechanical Contractors Inc.'s online project management system defines tasks clearly so nothing is misunderstood, and makes retrieving information easy so that nothing is misplaced.
February 1, 2007... Mechanical contractors can have the most knowledgeable crew in the field, the most dedicated foremen, the most enviable safety record, the latest tools, the most dependable prefab shop, the most helpful office staff, the shiniest trucks and a...

Kriegers' Professional Plumbing, sawyer, Mich.: double-brand risk pays off.(TRUCK OF THE MONTH)
February 1, 2007... Kriegers' Professional Plumbing began in 1961 as current owner Freddy Krieger's father's business (Melvin Krieger Plumbing). Since then, the company has enjoyed years of successful operation and brand recognition in southwest Michigan. So...

The sacred trap: is something coming to replace the P-trap? Time will tell.(Plumbing PRIMER)
February 1, 2007... One of the first things you learn in the plumbing profession is that the trap is sacred. This small U-bend device, or P-trap, if you prefer, provides a level of protection that makes the plumbing system safe and sanitary. [ILLUSTRATION...

The new market for solar: solar heating is more similar than different from what we already do with hydronics.(Hydronic CONTROLS)
February 1, 2007... Solar. Solar heating. For some folks those are political fightin' words. For others it's hope for the future. Those of us who were around in the late-1970s and into the 1980s can remember solar as an energy laughingstock. Now it's once again...

Time to be an apprentice again: classrooms are one thing, but make your apprentices show what they can do in the field.(Managing YOUR BUSINESS)
February 1, 2007... It was Feb. 9, 1976, and I was a know-it-all 22-year-old working in my family's heating business. What would make me the master of all I surveyed? I was fresh out of college, and I thought I knew everything about everything. Certainly, I...

Get them where they live: continue your search for customers.(In The FIELD)(customer attraction using yellow pages)
February 1, 2007... What percentage of your marketing budget goes to the Yellow Pages? Probably a significant percentage. You have to be in the "book," or else you will not get customers--that's the common thread among business owners and managers in many service...

Indentured apprenticeship? I thought Lincoln freed the slaves! Using the word 'intern' instead of 'apprentice' can make a substantial difference in your labor pool.(Practical MANAGEMENT)
February 1, 2007... The second item of the team-building checklist found in the September 2006 column, "Just Say Yes," is: "Newly hired trainees are called and treated as interns rather than indentured apprentices." Wouldn't you like to have your employees...

Bathroom accessories.(PLUMBING TRENDS)
February 1, 2007... ONE WAY TO define an "accessory" is: an object or device that, while not essential in itself, adds to the beauty, convenience or effectiveness of something else. In this case, a bathroom accessory can be any of the following hot-ticket items...

A little light.(FIRST PLACE)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... I have a little fiber optic flashlight, the kind with a 3-inch wand and an LED bulb. I removed the bulb cover. Now it's perfect for inspecting Moen valves. Whenever I pull cartridges with torn rubber sleeves, I can inspect the ports. A regular...

Stubborn situation I.(tool tips)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... Although installing a new kitchen or lav faucet is easy, sometimes removing the old faucet is not. The nuts holding the faucet to the sink are often corroded and frozen in place. I make quick work of these nuts with a deep sharp 1-inch hole...

Stubborn situation II.(tool tips)(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2007... When a shower arm breaks off and the threads are stuck in the fitting inside the wall, easy outs don't work in this fitting. So I've found the old-style nail pullers (nail puller on one end and the other end is just hex stock) can get the...

Send us your tool tips.(tool tips)
February 1, 2007... 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...

Power Tubing Cutter.(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... Power Tubing Cutter: Superior Tool Co.'s UltraCut[TM] cordless power tubing cutter debuts AnyFuel[TM] power technology, which makes it practical to create cordless versions of tools and appliances that have always been manual. Cut 1/2-or...

Trapper II Series.(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... Trapper II Series: Schier Products introduces a complete lineup of heavy-duty polyethylene grease traps in sizes 10 through 100 gpm that install in half the time. The traps feature Schier's Built-In Flow Control[TM], Built-In Triple Outlet[TM],...

Faucet Aerator Deals.(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... Faucet Aerator Deals: Ask for the new NEOPERL[R] Deals. Deal 22P for true OEM-quality faucet aerators (standard flow), Deal 15P for water conservation low-flow faucet aerators, or Deal 36 white or chrome for Vario[R] kitchen swivel spray...

Portable Jet Drain Cleaner.(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... Portable Jet Drain Cleaner: General Pipe Cleaners Jet-Set[TM] Model J-1450 electric water jet is a compact and portable drain-cleaning machine that uses high-pressure water to clear grease, sand, sludge and ice. Its overall height is 29 inches,...

Waterfree Urinal.(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... Waterfree Urinal: Sloan Valve Co.'s Water Conservation Division offers two waterfree urinal models with distinctive, narrow-profile styling. Models WES-4000 and WES-5000 feature touch-free, mechanical-free design, adapt to existing drain...

Remote Shower Control [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... Remote Shower Control [no photo]: A new six-page color brochure from Leonard Valve Co. describes its new Remote Shower Control (RSC) Systems. The brochure incorporates product photos, charts, graphs and diagrams to highlight various RSC...

ADA Compliance.(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... ADA Compliance: The Speakman Co. introduces a versatile component shower system for ADA-compliant rooms and facilities. The combination hand-held/mounted showerhead with 50 sprays also includes a combination chrome-plated slide bar and...

Crystal Accents [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... Crystal Accents [no photo]: Brizo[R] introduces its exclusive RSVP[TM] Bath Suite, a complete bath collection that includes faucets, shower systems and accessories. It draws on the influences of Art Nouveau with genuine STRASS[R] Swarovski[R]...

Stainless-Steel Check Valves.(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... Stainless-Steel Check Valves: Danfoss Flomatic Corp.'s Silver Bullet stainless-steel check valves offer another unleaded alternative. Every model that is manufactured in unleaded bronze is now available in stainless steel. Available in a...

Electronic Faucets.(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... Electronic Faucets: The vandal-resistant HyTronic sensor-operated line from Chicago Faucets has been tested extensively to ensure reliability, and features an adjustable twin beam system for a quick response time. Can automatically adjust...

Floor Drains.(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... Floor Drains: Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. makes a variety of floor drains to accommodate different needs. Floor drains are primarily used for inside locations where the flow rate can be anticipated and for outside areas where rainfall intensity...

Mini Camera System.(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... Mini Camera System: Electric Eel's New EC-5 Mini Camera Drain Line Inspection System offers a 5-inch b/w monitor; a 1.2-inch b/w camera; 100 feet of durable push cable; and a 512 HZ In-Line transmitter, all housed in a lightweight and highly...

Wet/Dry Vac.(Products & LITERATURE)
February 1, 2007... Wet/Dry Vac: The compact CS 1500 wet/dry vacuum from CS Unitec is designed for collecting concrete dust, concrete slurry, jobsite debris and more. It uses heavy-duty plastic poly filter bags that hold up to 10 gallons and allow for simple, safe...

Strangers at the door: background scrutiny is a must when hiring service techs--and bookkeepers.(Editorial OPINION)(Editorial)
February 1, 2007... Nobody saw it coming. The guy apparently didn't have a record and had passed a criminal background check before being hired as an installer by a cable company in my hometown of Chicago. I say "apparently" because there is no national database...