Plumbing & Mechanical articles from May 2005

Plumbing & Mechanical archives from May 2005

Clean up the system.(Letters TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... With my love for litigators, I read Jim's editorial with a great deal of interest ("The Importance Of Quality Relationships," March 2005). Brilliant! I always appreciate a great word craftsman. Congress is finally talking about reigning in...

You can't win.(Letters TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... I read Jim's editorial on reverse auctions ("How To Win At Reverse Auctions," February 2005). I think they are the worst thing to ever come down the pike. It seems like illegal price fixing to tell people what the price is to start. I have a...

Plumbing poetry corner.(Letters TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... My name is Ryan Harvey. I am a poet, who at one time was involved in the building industry. I have had poems published on behalf of the American International Poet's Society, and am in the running to place in three different poetry contests....

ISH Frankfurt attendance up 7 percent.(Around THE INDUSTRY)
May 1, 2005... ISH Frankfurt, March 15-19, Frankfurt, Germany, ended its 2005 trade fair with attendance of 192, 175, up 7 percent over the every-other-year 2003 event. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On the trade show floor, 2,350 exhibitors presented their...

Strong attendance for inaugural WQA trade show.(Around THE INDUSTRY)(Water Quality Association)
May 1, 2005... The Water Quality Association's first WQA Aquatech USA International Exhibition and Educational Conference produced big increases in attendance and exhibitors. At press time, we did not know the final tally, but attendee registration stood...

ABC names National Craft Championship winners.(Around THE INDUSTRY)(Associated Builders and Contractors )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Associated Builders and Contractors announced the winners in its 2005 National Craft Championships competition, held at the association's annual convention earlier this year. More than 125 craft professionals competed in 10 different...

Comfort Systems executive VP steps down.(Briefs)(Vice President)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Comfort Systems USA announced that J. Gordon Beittenmiller resigned his roles as executive vice president, chief financial officer and director to accept a senior position in another part of the industry, effective April 15, 2005. Taking the...

Dunleavy new CAUSE chairman.(Briefs)(Contractors and Unions Seal of Excellence)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Washington, D.C.-based Contractors and Unions Seal of Excellence named John Dunleavy as its new chairman for the 2005-2006 term. Dunleavy is executive vice president of Pierce Associates Inc., Alexandria, Va. He has served on the CAUSE board...

CCA elects new chairman.(Briefs)(Construction Contractors Alliance)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Art Dexter of LeDuc & Dexter (Santa Rosa, Calif.) was elected as the 2005 chairman of the Construction Contractors Alliance. Also elected as trustees were Les DenHerder, HPS Mechanical (Bakersfield, Calif.), and Greg Kozan, Ridgeway Plumbing...

Money Masters program set for June.(Briefs)(Nexstar network)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Nexstar is holding its two-day Money Masters seminar June 24-25, 2005, in the Buffalo, N.Y., area for members and non-members. The event is part seminar on the fundamentals of running a successful service business and part tour of a successful...

Construction repossessions declined in 2004.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Repossessions of construction equipment dropped by 53 percent during the four quarters of 2004, according to Nassau Asset Management's NasTrac Quarterly Index, which tracks the top five repossessed capital assets. When all four quarters are...

Deadline near for PHCC Plumbing Apprentice Contest.(Briefs)
May 1, 2005... The registration deadline for the 2005 International Plumbing Apprentice Contest is July 30, 2005. Complete the registration form, which can be found on the PHCC Web site www.phccweb.org/PDFs/ApprenticeshipCont est2005.pdf, and return with...

Noveon, FlexHead enter into marketing partnership.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Noveon Inc., maker of BlazeMaster[R] CPVC, and FlexHead Industries, maker of flexible sprinkler connection systems, have entered into an exclusive co-marketing agreement. Under the agreement, the companies will promote the use of an innovative...

Jacuzzi dedicates Malta facility.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Jacuzzi Brands dedicated its recently expanded state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the city of Marsa in Malta. The plant manufactures a new line of Aegean[R] stainless-steel kitchen sinks, which are sold under the Astracast[R] brand...

Basco introduces new logo.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A new corporate logo for shower door manufacturer Basco was recently unveiled to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. Its introduction is the beginning of a year-long schedule of events, culminating in August with the dedication of the...

Training corner.(Vendor & Supplier NEWS)(Peerless Boilers )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Peerless Boilers is again offering its "Colors of Heat" training seminars for 2005. All locations will feature two seminars--one in the morning, one in the afternoon--covering system piping, boiler sizing, troubleshooting, etc. Topics include...

Alsons Corp.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Alsons Corp. promoted Kevin Buckner to executive vice president. His previous position at Alsons was vice president of marketing. The company also promoted Leann King to vice president of human resources/administration from director of human...

Armstrong Pumps.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Armstrong Pumps appointed Robert Adamsz as marketing engineer within the Hydronics Division. Prior to joining Armstrong, he worked for various companies including Magna International as project coordinator and MMM--Marshall Macklin Monaghan as...

Uponor Wirsbo.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Uponor Wirsbo named Wade Peterson its new vice president of sales and marketing. Peterson had been serving as an Uponor North America vice president and president of the Uponor Canada legal unit. Jay Gullickson, previously Uponor Canada's...

Plastic Trends Inc.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Plastic Trends Inc. appointed Kristy Piper to the position of marketing coordinator. She joined PTI in 2003 as a marketing assistant.

Bradford White.(On The Move)(Retirement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Bradford White recently announced the retirement of Joseph E. Boscoe employed with the company since 1972. During his 33 years, he held various positions in marketing, sales, customer service/warranty and administration. Herbert F. Foster has...

Milwaukee Valve, Hammond Valve relocate HQ.(On The Move)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Moving from Milwaukee's near-south side, where it has operated for more than 100 years, Milwaukee Valve is relocating its corporate headquarters to New Berlin, Wis., as of April 1, 2005. The company also relocated its operations from Windsor,...

Eighty-year-old Ed Borel.(On The Move)(Ranck Inc)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Eighty-year-old Ed Borel, a sales rep for Wolverine Brass, started at the company in 1953. He has been a top-producing rep his entire career, and is now serving third-generation customers. Ed is pictured with a letter from one of his customers,...

Benchmarks--Part two: production benchmarks give your customers more options and give your techs something to shoot for.(Business TIPS)
May 1, 2005... Last month we discussed how production should be the number one benchmark you track for operational success. If you're new to PM, you can find last month's column at www.PMmag.com. Let's delve into your production benchmark a little more. ...

Resumes wanted.(HEATINGHELP.COM)(Column)
May 1, 2005... Original inquiry: Is it too much to ask for a resume from a potential job applicant? I think it is important that we have a professional environment at the company. I always had one ready, and still do. Some thoughts on this would be...

Dueling circulators: big surprises await those who use high flow-resistant, low-mass hardware with a traditional header-type piping layout.(Hydronics WORKSHOP)
May 1, 2005... One of the most popular methods of connecting multiple loads to a boiler is the classic "header system" as shown in Figure 1. The circulator for each circuit is fed from the higher temperature supply header, while returning flow is collected by...

McHumor.(Cartoon)
May 1, 2005... "I have a low flow toilet... but not by design." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

'Give the clients what they want': Master Bath & Tile's pros reveal what they've learned about the business of showrooms.
May 1, 2005... OUR HEADLINE is the mantra at Master Bath & Tile, part of owner David Judd's Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based plumbing contracting business, Master Plumbing. Never say "no" to a client until all avenues have been exhausted. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Impulse buying: exploring the emotional connection consumers have to their plumbing fixtures.(Special Bathroom Suite Series)
May 1, 2005... It's been said that home is where the heart is. But the heart can specifically be found in the bathroom if today's consumer trends ring true. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION...

Industry experts make the difference: each month, PM brings you practical know-how from the industry's most experienced columnists.
May 1, 2005... Dan Holohan on Hydronics: Practical tips and ideas from one of hydronic heating's most creative minds. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] John Siegenthaler, P.E. on Hydronics: Expert problem-solving techniques and innovative design ideas for...

Hiring immigrant, ethnic workers: Part 1 of a three-part series on finding new avenues to recruit skilled workers into the industry.(RECRUITING For The Trades Series)
May 1, 2005... "The big change in labor force composition for construction crafts has been the inflow of Hispanic workers. The percentage of Hispanic construction craft workers more than doubled from 1993 to 2003 to almost a quarter of all construction...

Healthy ductless split systems: managing indoor air quality while you heat and cool.
May 1, 2005... Heating designers looking for the answer to a homeowner's inevitable question--"How do I cool the house in the summer?"--can now provide a ductless split system that offers indoor air quality as well. Several manufacturers are moving...

A walk through ISH 2005: the latest trends from Europe.(Plumbing Product Exhibition At ISH Frankfurt)(Column)
May 1, 2005... This year marked the 20th anniversary of my treks over to Frankfurt, Germany, to take in the wonders of the European plumbing world. As usual, I heard comments from some that there wasn't much new this time, and, as usual, I didn't agree. ...

Two down, one to go: should plumbers have a college degree?(Plumbing PRIMER)(Column)
May 1, 2005... May is traditionally the month of college graduations. This month my daughter, Desiree, will graduate from the University of Miami with a double major in communications (public relations and sociology) and a minor in marketing. Desiree gave us...

The human electrical circuit: Carol has more fun in class with the Back Row Boys.(Hydronic CONTROLS)(Column)
May 1, 2005... They say that most people greatly fear public speaking. In fact, they say it comes in second only to death for what people fear most. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That's not me. My idea of a really great time is a room full of folks who...

Never let go: keep your company name in front of the customer.(In The FIELD)
May 1, 2005... Our customers love us, but, sadly, they have short memories. If they have enjoyed the benefits of our quality service and repair work, it may be a year or more before they need us again. Consequently, they may remember our company as "that...

You may be resistant to change if you ... moving out of our comfort zones and into areas where real change happens can lead to real success.(Managing YOUR BUSINESS)
May 1, 2005... Have you ever heard the very funny routine Jeff Foxworthy does when he says, "You may be a redneck if..."? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Well, my version goes "You may be resistant to change if... ": * You prefer to add a column of...

Do you have a quartermaster corps? Time and profits are wasted as your employees look for tools and material on the jobsite.(Practical management)
May 1, 2005... On the way to my favorite fishing hole with two of my close friends, we stopped at one of our jobsites. I did my normal jobsite safety inspection, which took almost an hour while they looked around at what the crews were doing. Neither had ever...

Ergonomic tools.(PLUMBING TRENDS)(Lenox)
May 1, 2005... Watch your backs, plumbers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] No, seriously. Watch your backs, knees, necks, wrists and any other body part that may be ailing you at this very moment. Working hard takes its toll on...

Homemade seat wrench.(First place)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... My timesaving idea got me out of a very frustrating situation. I was asked to rebuild a shower valve in a trailer home. When I inserted my seat wrench into the valve, it only went about three-quarters of the way into the seat. It was a long,...

No-fuss drain cleaning.(tool tips)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Here's a trick I use to get rid of a clog in a kitchen sink. Say you have a double-basin sink with a disposer on one side. If there is just a little water, fill both sinks halfway up or possibly a little more. Make sure the water is cool...

Stop spreading germs.(tool tips)(North Metro Plumbing Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Disinfect all your tools after each use. You can use Lysol spray. The can says it eliminates 99.9 percent of all bacteria and viruses. Most important, when pulling a sewer cable back out of a line, keep the can handy and spray along the...

Send us your tool tips.(tool tips)(Brief Article)
May 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...

The Fire Guard Washer Box.(Product of the Month)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... At last, a sturdy, hi-temp PVC, fire-rated utility box designed for appliances such as washing machines, ice-makers, etc. No more jury-rigging, stuffing with fire-resistant material and caulking to satisfy building code requirements. You can...

Ductless system.(Products & LITERATURE)
May 1, 2005... Ductless System: EMI's new C2C 13 SEER single zone ductless systems include an attractive cabinet design for quiet and reliable long-life operation. The durable compressor is available for the widest range of ductless split system applications,...

Touch-free accessories.(Products & LITERATURE)
May 1, 2005... Touch-Free Accessories: Bradley Corp. has expanded its offerings of touch-free products to include sensor-operated soap and towel dispensers, as well as more faucet options. The new models are ADA compliant and feature reliable infrared...

Digital thermostatic control.(Products & LITERATURE)
May 1, 2005... Digital Thermostatic Control: Eemax has introduced the "Digital Readout" line of whole-house electric tankless water heaters with digital temperature control. Flow activates each of the EX280T2TDR's heating elements in stages based on hot water...

Direct Digital Control [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)
May 1, 2005... Direct Digital Control [no photo]: Honeywell introduces the T7350H communicating commercial programmable thermostat, which communicates over a single LonWorks[R] communication bus for open Direct Digital Control (DDC). Ideal for single or...

Potable PEX package.(Products & LITERATURE)
May 1, 2005... Potable PEX Package: NIBCO introduces NEXT-Pure[TM], a complete PEX potable water system that provides contractors a complete package of fittings, valves, connections and pipe. Contains a UV stabilization package, which meets stringent yellow...

P/S Purge Tee.(Products & LITERATURE)
May 1, 2005... P/S Purge Tee: Webstone introduces its Primary/Secondary Purge Tee as a solution for hydronic systems when installing secondary loops. This valve allows easy power purging off the secondary loop. It removes air from the system and has a...

No-drain pipe repair.(Products & LITERATURE)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... No-Drain Pipe Repair: The Cold-Shot[TM] Pipe Freezing Kit from General Pipe Cleaners lets you repair an operating water system without draining water lines, sprinkler systems or hot water systems before cutting pipe or tubing. Using CO2 in...

PricePoint 4.10.(Products & LITERATURE)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... PricePoint 4.10: PricePoint software is designed by a plumber, and helps "mom and pop" contractors get organized and stay profitable. Version 4.10 features invoices, estimates, work orders, scheduling, proposals, customer history, accounts...

Residential estimating software [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Residential Estimating Software [no photo]: FastEST Inc. announces the release of a new residential plumbing version of FastPIPE Estimating System focusing on the residential market specifically for generating materials, labor and bid pricing....

Radiant system.(Products & LITERATURE)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Radiant System: REHAU introduces its new RAUPANEL[TM] system for radiant heating. Ideal for retrofit and new construction applications, it consists of 3/8-inch RAUPEX[R] cross-linked polyethylene (PEXa) pipe, aluminum panels and wood return...

Product CD [no photo].(Products & LITERATURE)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Product CD [no photo]: Reflectix Inc. announces its new product CD filled with product information and application instructions for specifying the plumbing, heating and building industries, including attics, crawl spaces, duct work and radiant...

Flash T-H1.(Products & LITERATURE)
May 1, 2005... Flash T-H1: Takagi's new T-H1 tankless water heater features 95 percent energy efficiency. It is equipped with a pre-heating system and built-in neutralizer that provides greater reliability. Designed for commercial and heavy residential use....

Bright futures shine in MCAA Student Chapters: it's apparent where the future chiefs will come from, but how about the Indians?(Editorial OPINION)(Mechanical Contractors Association of America, Inc)(Editorial)
May 1, 2005... Serendipity is a word that refers to making valuable discoveries by accident. It aptly describes an experience of mine last Feb. 28 while attending this year's MCAA convention in Phoenix. I started to attend a seminar being held in a small...