Plumbing & Mechanical articles from June 2005

Plumbing & Mechanical archives from June 2005

Cell phones are tools, too.(Letters TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... Just finished reading Jim's editorial regarding cell phone usage and operating a vehicle ("Let's Stop Yakking Ourselves To Death," April 2005). I agree completely. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We are incorporating the same concepts in a...

Anniversary rhyme.(Letters TO THE EDITOR)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... Editor's note: The following poem comes from Breslaw Plumbing Inc. President Richard Breslaw. The mid-Manhattan company celebrates 75 years in business this year. George Breslaw, our founder, arrived in New York, in 1923 An immigrant...

California Apprenticeship Council decertified.(Around THE INDUSTRY)
June 1, 2005... At a time when union and nonunion shops are battling over whose apprenticeship programs are better, an administrative law judge on April 22, 2005, upheld the decertification of the California Apprenticeship Council, effectively stripping its...

RadFest West welcomes 250 in Denver.(Around THE INDUSTRY)(Radiant Panel Association's RadFest West )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Radiant Panel Association's RadFest West in Denver April 26-27 saw about 250 radiant contractors attending roundtable discussions, Radiant Basics training with instructor Ted Lowe and a trade show with 52 booths. At the RadNet Live...

Radiant tubing sales increase 37%.(Radiant Panel Association)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... This year's survey of major North American suppliers of radiant heating systems by the Radiant Panel Association indicated that the radiant market is still experiencing growth. 2004 saw a 37.4 percent increase in hydronic radiant tubing sales...

Pipe Trades Giants form now online.(Around THE INDUSTRY)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Plumbing and mechanical contractors can now download the 2005 Plumbing & Mechanical Pipe Trades Giants survey form directly from PM's Web site. Just go to www.PMmag.com and click on the "Click here to fill out the Pipe Trades Giants form." You...

PHCC announces contractor seminars for Network '05.(Around THE INDUSTRY)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Seminars on green building, politics and maintenance agreements are just a few highlights for contractor attendees of Network '05, Sept. 7-10, Orlando, Fla., a joint meeting of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association and...

Hydronic seminars qualify for CEUs.(Around THE INDUSTRY)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... John Siegenthaler's seminar, Modern Engineering Concepts for Hydronic Heating Design, has qualified for continuing education credits in the following states: Illinois, Oregon and Montana. The BNP Media-sponsored seminar presents the latest...

PSI on target for IPO.(Briefs)
June 1, 2005... At Plumbers' Success International's spring meeting in Las Vegas, VenVest CEO Jim Abrams told members that the initial public offering for PSI and other VenVest groups should occur between September of this year and January 2006. He gave...

Ralph McDonnell Westmark Enterprises Inc.(OBITUARY)(Obituary)
June 1, 2005... Ralph Culloden McDonnell, 59, founding partner of Southern California-based manufacturers rep firm Westmark Enterprises Inc., died March 31, 2005, of cancer. He began his plumbing career in 1968 at Pioneer Plumbing Supply in Phoenix. In 1976,...

Gem diversifies service, expands territory.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Gem Plumbing & Heating, Lincoln, R.I., expanded its services and market area. In addition to plumbing, drain cleaning, heating and air conditioning, the company added electrical and septic tank services to its residential services division last...

Ahern Fire Protection relocates.(locations)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Ahern Fire Protection, a division of Fond du Lac, Wis.-based J.F. Ahern Co., recently moved to another location in Davenport, Iowa--1110 E. 53rd St., 563/388-0060. Ahern Fire Protection provides a full range of fire protection solutions,...

Kinetics.(appointed J. Gordon Beittenmiller)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Kinetics named J. Gordon Beittenmiller, as its president and CFO. Beittenmiller recently resigned from Comfort Systems, of which he was a founding member and executive vice president and CFO.

EMCOR Group.(appointed Joseph A. Puglisi )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... EMCOR Group named Joseph A. Puglisi as vice president, adding to his current role as chief information officer. He joined EMCOR in 2001.

Executive Plumbing.(appointed Marty Martinez and Rob Robertson )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Executive Plumbing, Heating and Air (Corona, Calif.) promoted Marty Martinez to director of HVAC sales and hired Rob Robertson as corporate director of purchasing. Joining Executive in 2001, Martinez most recently served as the company's...

PHCC-National Association.(appointed Merry Beth Hall )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... PHCC-National Association hired Merry Beth Hall as apprenticeship and technical director. Previously, Hall was executive director of the Plumbing & Mechanical Professionals of Virginia, the PHCC state chapter in Virginia.

CFO of Soderlund Brothers Inc.(People On The Move)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Karen M. Riffice, CFO of Soderlund Brothers Inc., Oak Lawn, Ill., was appointed to the board of Women in HVACR.

Sunroc Corp. to shut down.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Water cooler and drinking fountain manufacturer Sunroc Corp. (Dover, Del.) will close its doors June 30. According to the Dover Post, Sunroc's parent company, Oasis Corp., released an unsigned statement April 18, 2005, stating the reasons for...

Wedeco recalls UV disinfection systems.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Wedeco recently recalled its M4 and M7 UV disinfection systems because a retesting of the M4 unit by NSF International determined "it was not performing in accordance with the requirements" of NSF/ANSI Standard 55, to which the product was...

Chrysler Group, B3 Brands partner on new tool line.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Chrysler Group and B3 Brands Inc. have teamed up to offer a new line of high-end contractors tools--Dodge HEMI[R]-branded power tools. The HEMI power tool line will initially consist of reciprocating saws, circular saws, jigsaws, an impact...

'Donate-a-skill' expands military family assistance program.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Unmet Needs Program has provided monetary assistance since June 2004 to more than 200 American military families facing "significant and unforeseen" financial hardships due to a family member's deployment overseas. The program, sponsored by...

Technical Concepts names new CEO.(Jack Vresics )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Designer and manufacturer of touch-free, automated hygiene products Technical Concepts named Jack Vresics its president and chief executive officer. Prior to joining the company, he was group president of the Colson Group, a group of caster and...

R & R Plumbing Supply celebrates 100th anniversary.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Central Massachusetts PHCP wholesale distributor R & R Plumbing Supply Corp. commemorates 100 years of service to contractors, commercial accounts and retail markets that surround Worcester, Mass. Samuel Ritz started the company in 1905 as an...

System Sensor conducts fire protection seminars.(fire protection)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Fire detection manufacturer System Sensor released its 2005 schedule of fire protection seminars featuring the latest laws regarding fire protection and the most effective fire/life safety strategies, as well as advancing technologies that can...

Grundfos honors Metropolitan.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)(pump industry)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Grundfos Pumps Corp. recognized distributor Metropolitan Industries as an outstanding partner in 2004, and also presented the company with the 2004 President's Award. Metropolitan exceeded Grundfos' sales quotas and "best exemplifies [the...

The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association.(Web Site News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association recently launched its online Marketing Resource Center, accessible through www.phccweb.org. The center will have information on topics ranging from marketing terms and Yellow Page...

Grunau Co.(Web Site News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Grunau Co. (Oak Creek, Wis.) unveiled its new Web site, www.grunau.com, which offers case studies, project photos and extensive descriptions of each Grunau service.

Controlled Energy Corp.(Web Site News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Controlled Energy Corp. announced it has added significant upgrades to its online training site at www.tanklessuniversity.com. The section for plumbers and installers features a detailed online instructional training course for installing gas...

Delta Faucet Co.(Web Site News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Delta Faucet Co. relaunched its consumer Web site with dynamic imaging and detailed information on all products (www.deltafaucet.com). Users can select products using various search options, and a special "Buyer's Guide" section offers helpful...

Lasco Bathware.(Web Site News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Lasco Bathware launched a new Web site, www.lascobathware.com/spanish, targeting Spanish-speaking builders, designers and consumers.

Hercules Chemical Co.(Web Site News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Hercules Chemical Co. launched a newly-designed Web site, www.herchem.com, which details 100 of its chemical products and features an extensive technical database. The database has answers to hundreds of questions useful to both wholesalers and...

Schier Products Co.(Web Site News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The new Schier Products Co. Web site offers downloadable catalog pages, product submittals, product installation, and operation and maintenance guides for its drain line purity products. It also provides an ongoing source for sales distribution...

Frank Blau honored by Nexstar.(Around THE INDUSTRY)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Business development organization Nexstar unanimously created a lifetime membership in its association specifically for industry pioneer and Nexstar co-founder Frank J. Blau Jr. This unprecedented provision in the organization's by-laws is a...

It won't work in my small town: the trials and tribulations of one small-town plumbing company that switched to flat rate pricing.(Business TIPS)
June 1, 2005... The following is from a letter to Frank Blau, published in PM back in April 2003: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Dear Frank, "It was with mixed emotions that we read about your retirement in this month's issue of PM. "A few years...

Square pipes: there's quite a difference between European and American piping systems.(Heating HELP)
June 1, 2005... I was in a hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, when I first noticed the way the Europeans run their pipes. It was wicked cold outside and there was a panel radiator with a thermostatic radiator valve under my hotel room's window. The TRV was locked at...

On-call compensation.(Queries of workers compensation)
June 1, 2005... Original inquiry: I give my guys compensation for taking the pager on the weekends. They receive it whether they go out or not. I would like some idea what is considered due compensation for taking the pager for a weekend, Friday night to...

Equivalent thinking: modern hydronic systems should be as 'hydraulically efficient' as they are thermally efficient.(Hydronics WORKSHOP)
June 1, 2005... The design process for every hydronic system involves making estimates for flow rates and head loss. Some designers use rules of thumb such as "figure 4 ft. of head loss per 100 ft. of pipe." Others look up piping head loss in tables or graphs....

Radiant innovations: protecting the future while preserving the past at Yale University's Beinecke Library Plaza.(Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library)
June 1, 2005... Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is one of the largest buildings in the world devoted entirely to rare literary works of art. Built in 1963 of Vermont marble and granite, bronze and glass, its white, gray-veined panes...

The innovation cascade: consumers at all price points benefit from the innovations of 'New Luxury.'.(Special Bathroom Suite Series)
June 1, 2005... The catch phrase "New Luxury" we've borrowed for our Bathroom Suite Series from a recent best-selling book, "Trading Up," doesn't just apply to consumers gravitating onward and upward toward more high-end purchases. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Think pink: Walter Anderson Plumbing Inc., San Diego, Calif.(TRUCK OF THE MONTH)(marketing)
June 1, 2005... Walter Anderson Plumbing Inc. tracks its advertising dollars closely. Every customer that calls in is asked, "How did you hear about our company?" and that information is logged carefully. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] But it is no surprise...

Computer-savvy contractors: more and more plumbing and heating service companies are computerizing their businesses, especially office management systems--an exclusive software survey from plumbing & mechanical.
June 1, 2005... The computerization of plumbing and hydronic heating contractors' office management systems--including accounting, billing and payroll--and the implementation of global positioning system (GPS) vehicle tracking programs recorded the two biggest...

PHCC goes to Washington.(Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors)
June 1, 2005... More than 125 members of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association were lobbyists for the day, April 14, in Washington, D.C. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This marked the ninth year members have headed to the capital for...

At the center of quality: Stock Service System[TM].(handheld barcode scanner)
June 1, 2005... The Stock Service System[TM] helped Tom Mahoney's company get organized. The medium-sized repair plumbing contractor has been buying parts from Hodes Company for two generations and jumped at the chance to be one of the first to employ the...

Protecting the public health: how one plumber meshed water treatment services into his vision of the plumbing profession.(clean water report)
June 1, 2005... When Richard Berner attended his first Water Quality Association meeting in 2003, his intent was to learn more about water quality issues and products. What he gained from the seminars and roundtable discussions was so much more. ...

Arsenic update: what plumbers can do to help smaller communities cope with more stringent arsenic levels.(clean water report)
June 1, 2005... In just six months, national water standards for arsenic levels will drop considerably from 50 parts per billion to 10 ppb. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While the Environmental Protection Agency says the change will affect 10 percent of the...

A filter for all occasions.
June 1, 2005... Anyone familiar with cartridge filters will know that they come in a bewildering variety of types and sizes. Their relatively low capital equipment costs, ability to handle varied service flows, and minimal space requirements make them an...

LEED water conservation: think green and save.(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
June 1, 2005... The latest major effort in water conservation has been with LEED buildings. LEED stands for "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design." The program is relatively new, only about five years old, under the auspices of the U.S. Green Building...

Troubleshooting with Wyoming Jack: a last-minute phone call and Carol saves the day.(Hydronic CONTROLS)
June 1, 2005... It was late Friday afternoon. The phone rang, and I looked at my watch. It said about five minutes before five. That was back when work days were supposed to be eight to five, and the concept of 24/7 had yet to be discovered. What the heck, I...

Winning the war on computer fraud: hoping it won't happen to you is not enough.(In The FIELD)
June 1, 2005... A significant number of people suffer losses from computer viruses, computer fraud, identity theft and computer-related crimes. If you have not suffered a loss from any of those sources, the odds are you will someday. These types of loss...

Even a family member has to go: all you owe him or her is an opportunity, not a guaranteed job for life.(Managing YOUR BUSINESS)
June 1, 2005... Are family members in your business driving you crazy? The Bates Motel might still be in business if Norman Bates had been willing to get rid of Mom! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The time to decide what to do...

Quartermaster corps II: jobsite distribution; Having materials properly allocated at the jobsite saves labor, time and money.(Practical MANAGEMENT)
June 1, 2005... Last month we discussed the critical value of your management team's office quartermaster corps. Their organized efforts will guarantee that everything your workforce needs will be at your jobsite when they need it. In addition to proper tools,...

Training basics: show your team the right procedures and hold them accountable.
June 1, 2005... You know, you have to train your employees, right? Training is a funny word; it gets used a lot, especially by frustrated business owners. But few people know what it means. Does it mean "motivating"? Does it mean "confidence building"? Does...

Water-conserving plumbing: why did those early low-flow toilets clog? Manufacturers begin to think "outside the bowl" to find a solution.
June 1, 2005... Early 1.6-gpf fixtures--to comply with early-1990s standards--decreased the size of the trapway in order to produce a sufficient siphon to clean and clear the bowl of waste. But in their rush, manufacturers inherently created a chokepoint in...

Get a grip.(FIRST PLACE)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... This Tool Tip solves a real-life problem with 1/2-inch copper to 1/2-inch male pipe adapters. These fittings are always a problem due to their rolled threads and narrow hex. You can't get a good grip without deforming them. [ILLUSTRATION...

Good ol' Roger.(tool tips)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Twenty years ago, I was struggling to remove the corroded nut on a kitchen sink basket strainer that kept spinning on me. A fellow employee named Roger with 40 years-plus of experience brought in a drill, drilled through the locknut, splitting...

Deposit required.(tool tips)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2005... For the most part, I have only lost tools when I loaned them out on a job. Now when someone wants to borrow a tool, I have them leave their hat, cell phone, keys, anything. And you know what? I don't lose tools anymore. Mike Grow ...

Send us your tool tips.(tool tips)
June 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...

Total service management with H2 Servicom.(Product of the Month)
June 1, 2005... More than 1,500 companies are using Aligo's H2 Servicom to improve how they do business. They're finding that a comprehensive service management solution such as Servicom allows for the streamlining of processes, reducing the amount of...

High-tech shower line.(Products & LITERATURE)
June 1, 2005... High-Tech Shower Line: Bradley Corp. has expanded its shower products with Dynamix[TM] Shower Systems. The line includes a ceramic cartridge pressure-balancing valve and shower accessories designed to provide hotels, spas and fitness facilities...

Self-cleaning low-flow [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)
June 1, 2005... Self-Cleaning Low-Flow [no photo]: Sloan Valve Co.'s Act-O-Matic[R] 2.5-gpm showerheads combine self-cleaning capabilities with a luxurious spray that provides a consistent, powerful flow at low pressures, thus saving water. The chrome-plated,...

Purge Tee [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)
June 1, 2005... Purge Tee [no photo]: Webstone introduces its Primary/Secondary Purge Tee as the best solution in hydronic systems when installing secondary loops. Allows easy power purging off the secondary loop and removes virtually all air from the system....

Heavy-duty fountain.(Products & LITERATURE)
June 1, 2005... Heavy-Duty Fountain: Halsey Taylor introduces a new vandal-resistant drinking fountain designed for heavy-duty applications. The fountain, part of the Contour[TM] series, is crafted from 14-gauge stainless steel, and features a chrome-plated...

Heavy-duty engine oil [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)
June 1, 2005... Heavy-Duty Engine Oil [no photo]: Castrol[R] Tection Extra[TM] is a 15W-40 diesel engine oil that fights viscosity loss with a unique polymer and resists breakdown. Its superior dispersancy manages high soot levels. A detergency neutralizes...

Acrylic adhesives [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)
June 1, 2005... Acrylic Adhesives [no photo]: Permabond[R] Engineering Adhesives launched its new range of high-performance structural acrylic adhesives. Ideal for bonding plastics, metal, composites, ceramics, wood and glass, they have excellent resistance to...

Fiberglass showers.(Products & LITERATURE)
June 1, 2005... Fiberglass Showers: Best Bath Systems has introduced a line of fiberglass reinforced composite showers that eliminate the need for "mud setting" low-threshold, accessible showers. The showers feature 1/2-inch, heavy-duty plywood backing for...

Freeze-free faucet.(Products & LITERATURE)
June 1, 2005... Freeze-Free Faucet: Arrowhead Brass has incorporated aerospace technology into its FreezeFree Faucet, which works by sensing the temperature of the air and opening an internal valve long enough to warm the valve a few degrees above freezing....

Transition supply stop [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)
June 1, 2005... Transition Supply Stop [no photo]: Model 2081REPL from A.Y. McDonald attaches to the 3/8-inch outlet of any supply stop. This valve can be used instead of replacing a stop that will not positively shut off. Ideal for "frozen" supply stops,...

New PEX sizes.(Products & LITERATURE)
June 1, 2005... New PEX Sizes: REHAU has updated its INSULPEX[R] energy transfer pipe to include 16 new ASTM-compliant inch sizes. In addition, more than 50 new EVERLOC[R] fittings complete the updated program. INSULPEX is ideally suited for buried...

Quarter-turn valves.(Products & LITERATURE)
June 1, 2005... Quarter-Turn Valves: Legend Valve has added the T-550 quarter-turn, frost-free silcock with a unique Softouch[TM] rubberized handle to its line of valves. Its large, angled flange better facilitates drainage, and it installs easy with a...

Air eliminators [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)
June 1, 2005... Air Eliminators [no photo]: Spirotherm manufactures Spirovent[R] Junior air eliminators for separation and venting of air in light commercial and residential installations. A patented coalescing medium scrubs 100 percent of the free air, 100...

Blue Collar Bias revisited: service techs get penalized by busybodies with too much time on their hands.(regulation on parking of commercial vehicles in residential driveways for extended periods of time)(Editorial)
June 1, 2005... Several years ago I wrote a commentary for this space titled "Blue Collar Bias," which addressed the lack of respect for the trades in our society. You can find that article in our online archives at www.PMmag.com. Simply type "Blue Collar...