Plumbing & Mechanical articles from October 2004

Plumbing & Mechanical archives from October 2004

Sticker shock.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I agree with Jim's editorial ("No Bidding Allowed," July 2004). I even believe the survey results--that 81 percent say they would most likely hire contractors based on personal recommendations. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The problem for us...

In Carol's defense.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... I'd like to respond to David Moser of Moser Electric for his criticism of Carol Fey's April PM column ("Letter To The Editor," August 2004). Controls are nothing new to the electrical industry? Think again. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

And then again ...(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... After reading "Controls Are Nothing New," I just had to put in my 2 cents worth. Carol Fey's original column indicates she sat down with an electrician for a Q & A in which she asked, "Why do you accept work wiring controls?" The answer,...

'Create' not the word.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Jim is right on. It's the litigators who do us and this country the most harm--and only for self-interest ("Toxic Mold Hysteria, Part 2," August 2004). They have succeeded to create an industry--and to use the word "create" really insults the...

Ellen's No. 1 fan.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... When my Plumbing & Mechanical magazine showed up each month, the first columnist I used to read was Frank Blau. I learned about how plumbers should not be fearful of charging enough to have a decent life for themselves and their employees. ...

Plumbers by day, 'Ghost Hunters' by night.(Around the Industry)(Sci-Fi Channel Inc., television program)
October 1, 2004... Nights and weekends spent researching haunted houses; days spent as dedicated Roto-Rooter men Audience will watch techs interact with customers, other technicians as they perform daily routines Ten episodes planned for this season ...

Service Roundtable reaches 1,500 membership mark.(Around the Industry)(Interview)
October 1, 2004... The Service Roundtable, a marketing organization for contractors that began a little more than two years ago, now has about 1,500 members. We talked to Matt Michel, CEO and president of the group, and PM's own Randall Hilton, who heads up the...

College of Product Knowledge updated on CD.(Around the Industry)(BNP Media)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... In 2005 BNP Media plans to offer an entirely updated edition of the College of Product Knowledge training manual. This nearly 300-page book was originally compiled from a series of articles that ran for three years in PM's sister publication,...

RPA RadFests continue.(Around the Industry)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Radiant Panel Association continues its RadFest radiant heating festivals this fall in Portland, Ore., at the Doubletree Hotel Jantzen Beach Nov. 2-3. A cross between a trade show and a conference, RadFest is a two-day get-together for...

Kohler survey finds 28 million U.S. toilets clogged a month.(Around the Industry)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... A July survey by Kohler Co. took a look at American households' toilet "headaches and habits" and found that 27 percent of 1,000 adults claim to experience a toilet clog each month--sometimes up to three times. That translates to 28 million...

BNP Media offers LINX internet search service.(Around the Industry)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... All BNP Media publications, including Plumbing & Mechanical, PM Engineer and Supply House Times, now offer BNP Media LINX, a Google-powered B2B search engine. LINX quickly searches all BNP Media publication Web sites and retrieves...

'How to reach Hispanic contractors' discussed at HIRI spring conference.(Around the Industry)(Home Improvement Research Institute)
October 1, 2004... Not all Hispanics working in construction are undocumented immigrants working at trade labor levels, said Rick Schwolsky, editor-in-chief of El Nuevo Constructor, a Spanish-language magazine distributed to 35,000 Hispanic and Latin contractors....

NAOHSM introduces 'Oil Heat Cares' program.(Around the Industry)
October 1, 2004... The National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers recently unveiled a new program to reach out to those who need a temporary helping hand--"Oil Heat Cares." PM columnist Dan Holohan, NAOHSM Executive Administrator Judy Garber and Kevin...

Top plumbing students named 2004 SkillsUSA winners.(Around the Industry)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Some of the top plumbing students in the nation were named winners of the 40th annual SkillsUSA Championship's residential plumbing contest in Kansas City in June. There were 32 high school students competing in the secondary schools division,...

OSHA launches safety site for residential construction.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently launched a Web site with information and tips on safety and health for workers in the residential construction industry. The Web site features information about OSHA standards, as...

Massachusetts requires continuing ed for plumbers.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Massachusetts legislature recently enacted legislation requiring continuing education for licensed plumbers and pipefitters. It also enables the state board to develop regulations governing apprenticeship requirements. It is anticipated...

New Jersey changes wage law protections.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Prevailing wage law protections in New Jersey now apply to custom fabricated plumbing, HVAC and duct work for state public works projects under a new law signed by Governor James E. McGreevey. The new measure applies to on- or off-site...

WQA's Gold Seal program now certifies to NSF/ANSI 60, 61.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Water Quality Association's ANSI-accredited Product Certification Program now certifies products to NSF/ANSI 60 (drinking water treatment chemicals--health effects) and 61 (drinking water system components--health effects) standards....

NSF expands Plastics Certification.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... NSF International expanded its Plastics Certification Program for PE pipe manufacturers to encompass NSF/ANSI Standard 14, Plastic Piping Components and Related Materials, as well as model code plumbing requirements. In other news, NSF...

Waterless urinals required in Arizona state buildings.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Arizona Senate passed House Bill 2276 that requires waterfree urinals to be installed in all state buildings in an effort to conserve water. Arizona consistently faces drought conditions.

IAPMO to open chemical testing laboratory.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... IAPMO Testing and Services, part of the IAPMO Group, was scheduled to open its new chemical testing laboratory in September. Combined with its mechanical laboratory, the chemical lab will be equipped to test products to NSF/ANSI 61.

MCERF presents first educational grants.(Briefs)(Mechanical Contracting Education and Research Foundation)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Mechanical Contracting Education and Research Foundation, under its new Funding Educational Excellence Initiative, issued its first round of grants. The $4,000 Chapter of Excellence grants went to five student chapters, the $4,000 Emerging...

EMCOR announces six-month revenue increase, income loss.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... EMCOR Group reported $2.3 billion in revenues for the first half of 2004, compared with $2.21 billion for 2003. The company also reported an operating loss of $786,000, compared with an operating income of $24.2 million for the same period last...

Comfort Systems' revenues increase for first half of year.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Comfort Systems USA announced that revenues from continuing operations for the first six months of the year rose 4 percent from 2003 figures to $396.7 million. Income was $5.3 million, or 13 cents per diluted share, compared to a net loss for...

ARS/AMS report six month revenue increase.(Briefs)(American Mechanical Services )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The American Residential Services and American Mechanical Services segment of ServiceMaster Co. reported a 3 percent increase in revenues for the first six months of 2004, a total of $334 million. For the second quarter, there was a 4 percent...

Service Experts posts half-year revenue gain.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Lennox International's Service Experts segment reported revenue of $306.5 million for the first half of 2004. The segment had an operating loss of $2.1 million for the same period. Service Experts continues its plan to divest itself of some...

New ADA-ABA guidelines affect plumbing installations.(Briefs)
October 1, 2004... Overdue modifications to ADA and ABA guidelines now are in effect. Several of the ADA-ABA changes (hitting hotels the hardest) affect plumbing installations including: drinking fountains, toilets, bathrooms, water closets and compartments,...

Chicagoland Better Heating-Cooling Council elects new officers.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Chicagoland Better Heating-Cooling Council elected Andrew Usher of Ideal Heating Co. as its 2004-2005 president. Also elected were Don Howley of Affiliated Steam Equipment Co. as first vice president; John Stern of Bert C. Young & Sons...

American Standard installs free toilets as part of survey.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... As part of a customer satisfaction survey on its Champion toilets, American Standard in August installed 115 toilets in the homes of Champion, Mich., residents. The company designated the small Michigan town (population of 294) as the official...

DOE team to develop combined heat, power system for homes.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Department of Energy selected a team of appliance industry leaders--Rheem Manufacturing, the Gas Appliance Manufacturer's Association, the Propane Education and Research Council, and TIAX--to develop a combined heat and power system for...

Haydon bought by senior management.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Haydon Corp., a manufacturer of residential and light commercial baseboard, announced the purchase of the company by its senior management. Fleet Capital Corp. provided the financing. Haydon also announced a relocation to larger facilities in...

Honeywell acquires Canadian thermostat maker.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Honeywell recently acquired privately held Aube Technologies, a designer and manufacturer of line volt thermostats based in Saint-Jeansur-Richelieu, Quebec. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Aube's products and 60 employees will...

Milwaukee Valve buys butterfly valve line.(Vendor & Supplier News)
October 1, 2004... Milwaukee Valve Co. purchased the high-performance butterfly valve line from Shaw Valve (Little Rock, Ark.). The inventory and equipment included in the purchase have been relocated to Milwaukee Valve's manufacturing plant in Windsor, Wis....

Flowserve offers 10-year warranty for actuator series.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Flowserve Corp. is now supporting its premier Limitorque SMB electric actuator line with a 10-year limited standard warranty. Most competing products have a one-year warranty. The Limitorque warranty applies only to commercial applications in...

Estimation teams up with North Dakota State.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Estimation is partnering with North Dakota State College of Science to enhance the college's Electrical Technology program by donating its electrical estimating systems, including estimating software and the Power Pad takeoff device, for the...

Viessmann donates boiler to college.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Viessmann Mfg. Co. donated a Viessmann Vitorond 200 to the New England Institute of Technology. The unit will be added to the college's heating laboratory and will be used by students and faculty as a teaching aid.

Efficient Technology to private label tankless water heater.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Efficient Technology LLC announced it will private label Paloma Industries' Model PH28R tankless water heater as the WaiWela (meaning "hot water" in Hawaiian) W200R in the United States and Canada. The W200R will be available in both...

Acorn Engineering celebrates 50 years.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... California's Acorn Engineering Co. celebrates its 50th year of business providing stainless-steel plumbing fixtures and other products to the commercial-industrial-institutional marketplace.

Little Red Schoolhouse looks back at 50 years.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... In 1954, Bell & Gossett opened the Little Red Schoolhouse to provide training on the proper installation, maintenance and design techniques for hydronics and HVAC systems. And 50 years later, it is still doing just that, training mechanical...

SJE-Rhombus Controls redesigns Web site.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... SJE-Rhombus Controls has recently redesigned its Web site (www.sjerhombus.com) with a fresh new look, user-friendly drop-down menu navigation and new content, including: market segments, product and catalog organization, new literature and...

Basco 'hired' by trump.(Vendor & Supplier News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Basco shower doors were recently selected to appear on the hit NBC television show, "The Apprentice." Four of the company's Infinity doors were installed in the luxurious bathrooms of the suites occupied by the candidates during the show.

Dahl Brothers (Canada) Limited.(On the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Plumbing and heating valve manufacturer Dahl Brothers (Canada) Limited has appointed Jannike Husebye Godfrey its new president. A graduate of the University of Guelph, Ontario, she has been with Dahl more than 20 years, lately as its general...

A.O. Smith Water Products.(On the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... A.O. Smith Water Products announced that Robert Grussing IV joined the company as vice president and chief financial officer. Grussing, with 24 years of experience, was most recently president of Weil-McLain Co.

Other executive appointments.(On the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Other executive appointments: James Grasha, vice president of international since 1999, was named to the newly created position of vice president and general manager of the company's Water Systems business. Kevin Wheeler replaces Grasha in that...

American Standard.(On the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... American Standard named an executive with a consumer goods background as president of its global bath and kitchen business: James Dwyer, who spent a decade in senior executive roles with PepsiCo and Kraft General Foods, most recently as...

Bath and Kitchen Americas Group.(On the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The company's Bath and Kitchen Americas Group named Kenneth Damato vice president of sales, a newly created position. Previously, he had been vice president of global business development with the company's commercial air conditioning business....

Supreme Corp.(On the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Supreme Corp. named Douglas Thornhill general manager of its Woodburn, Ore., facility. Thornhill has 25 years of experience in managing manufacturing facilities.

Armstrong Pumps.(On the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Armstrong Pumps named Robert Clements as manager of Ontario sales. He was previously employed with Trane. Gordon Reel was promoted to sales manager--Western Region Wholesale Parts Div. He previously served as Western regional sales manager of...

Liberty Pumps.(On the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Liberty Pumps named Jim Halpin as regional sales manager for the northeastern United States and Canada.

Villeroy & Boch.(On the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Former American Standard western regional sales manager Steve Howkinson joined Villeroy & Boch's Bathroom, Kitchen & Tile Division, where he will be responsible for sales and dealer relationships in 26 states.

Bradford White Corp.(On the Move)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Bradford White Corp. announced two promotions at its Middleville, Mich., manufacturing facility: Michael Reid has been named vice president of materials, Harold Hoover has been promoted to vice president of manufacturing.

Correction: PM's 2004 Pipe Trades Giants ranking.(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2004... Due to a calculation error, the 2004 Pipe Trades Giants ranking was incorrect as published in our August 2004 Issue. TDIndustries moved from No. 7 to No. 16; it reported no hydronics revenue in 2003. This moves companies ranked from 8 to 16 up...

Pipe trades giants hydronics top ten corrected.(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2004... Rank Company Name/Location Hydronics (millions) 4 Southland Industries, Irvine, Calif. $42.75 23 John W. Danforth Co., Buffalo, N.Y. $41.79 19 Hill Mechanical Group,...

Ten years of radiant heating: from humble beginnings the RPA has grown and the industry takes notice.(Guest Editorial)
October 1, 2004... Early in 1994, three manufacturers commissioned "a feasibility study to investigate the possibility of forming a new association that would encompass the rapidly growing world of radiant panels including floors, ceilings, walls, hydronic,...

Adding office staff? Find the balance between overworked personnel and unproductive overhead.(Business Tips)
October 1, 2004... As a growing business, you will inevitably face the decision of when to add to your office staff. Each time you add a staff position, your business simultaneously experiences the trauma of expanding overhead with the relief of having more hands...

What makes a good wholesaler?(HeatingHelp.com)
October 1, 2004... Original inquiry: What are the most important things that a wholesaler can do for you? There are many items I can think of. Is it just price? Is it availability? Knowledgeable sales force is always nice. Do you want the best price with the...

Fluid factors: a look at formulas relating heat transfer to flow rate.(Hydronics Workshop)
October 1, 2004... Last summer I had the privilege of presenting a series of seminars titled "Modern Engineering Concepts for Hydronic Heating Design" in six locations across the United States. Part of those seminars involved calculations that relate the rate...

Efficiency[.sup.4]: Gem Plumbing & Heating knows growing is one thing; growing efficiently is quite another.(Cover Story)
October 1, 2004... Scott Daley shows up for work at Gem Plumbing & Heating, Lincoln, R.I., and oversees all the aspects of purchasing and stocking the shelves with plumbing and heating supplies for the fast-growing contractor with some 300 employees and 135...

Biofuel: heating the future; Is the market ready for alternative fuel oil?
October 1, 2004... Remember the 1985 hit movie, "Back to the Future"? At its conclusion, Doc Brown rustles frantically through the garbage. "I need fuel," he says to Michael J. Fox's character. He plunks recyclable products into the flux capacitor of the...

All there in black & white: Medway Oil Co. Inc., Medway, mass.(PM's Truck of the Month)
October 1, 2004... After a falling out with a dealership over service for the company's nine vans, President Jeffrey Mushnick of Medway Oil Co. Inc. decided to keep his options open when he and service manager for 16 years Michael Watson were in the market for a...

PEX use for plumbing gaining ground: the results of a special PM survey show our readers really like PEX.(Cross-linked Polyethylene )
October 1, 2004... PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) plastic tubing has been around for a while--it was developed in the 1960s--and primarily used in heating applications. But since the mid-to late-1980s, it has been used for potable water, and its use is...

Making the most of the Yellow Pages: make your Yellow Pages ad pay you for a change.
October 1, 2004... OK. let's say you just put huge bucks into an investment, an investment that you couldn't touch for a year. Furthermore, let's say that much of your income at the end of that year depended on the success of this one investment. You'd be...

Taking the LEED on the Green Team: for green buildings, an integrated approach ought to begin at the conception of a new building.(Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)
October 1, 2004... The LEED[R] (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is rapidly becoming the preeminent U.S. standard for measuring a building's sustainability. [ILLUSTRATION...

Math for contractors or ... yes, your teacher was correct: all too often, hard-working contractors are shortchanging themselves by making mistakes in math and accounting.
October 1, 2004... Remember back in high school how your math teachers would always tell the class to pay attention because you'd need to remember this when you were older? Well, the math teacher was right. There are some important, basic math skills that...

Bath remodeling in the 21st century: an exclusive study finds remodeling the bath very lucrative for PM readers.
October 1, 2004... In today's world, people are looking for respite from the frantic, stressful pace of their lives. And instead of seeking relief at spas and retreats, more and more homeowners are creating that space inside their own homes, especially in the...

Plumbing--made in China: start to think globally about the products you install.(Plumbing Primer)
October 1, 2004... One of the questions I have received from contractors is, "Are there any plumbing products that China doesn't make?" I would venture to guess that there are some plumbing products that are not made in China. However, there are a host of...

10 hours a week: reading about business and your industry can help set you apart from others in your field.(Managing Your Business)
October 1, 2004... John Cafferty was a former Marine and a crusty sort who only knew two ways of doing things. His way (the right way) and the wrong way, which was any other way but his. And, he was consistently right. John had gained enormous respect in the...

The big mouth up front: can 'Why?' really mean 'Tell me more?'.(Hydronic Controls)
October 1, 2004... So I just out and asked him, "Why are you so darned argumentative?" And he said, "Because that's how I learn." "Learn?!" I replied, stunned. "You argue with people so you can learn?" "Yep, that's how I learn. Always have. Have to...

Changing 'no' to 'yes': a first impression is the only lasting impression a customer has of your company.(In the Field)
October 1, 2004... No matter where I go in this country, I have discovered that successful business people thoroughly understand sales. Salespeople, sales training, sales management, successful sales techniques--they understand it all. They know you need to...

Don't overlook your own scorecard: budget your time to live life, and enjoy family and friends.(Practical Management)
October 1, 2004... We all recognize and accept the ever present dangers and casualties of this great challenging construction industry. In spite of rigid OSHA safety guidelines and regulations, we still suffer far too many work-related injuries and fatalities....

RIDGID[R] Compact 100-B battery pressing tool for Viega systems.(Product of the Month)
October 1, 2004... Ridge Tool Company's Compact Model 100-B battery-powered pressing tool makes pressed connections on smaller-sized copper and plastic (PEX) tubing in hard-to-reach areas. The RIDGID[R] Compact Model 100-B features a downsized design and has...

Energy Kinetics.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... System 2000 Have you checked out System 2000 lately? This compact, high-performance, combined heat and hot water system features an advanced whisper-quiet spiral boiler design that delivers peak efficiency regardless of the heating load....

Wheeler-Rex.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... Booth #1855 7991 Sidekick II The Wheeler-Rex Model 7991 Sidekick II is a full-featured threading machine for 1/2-inch to 1-inch pipe. It features front and rear chucks, and auto-open auto-oiling notch-type die head, safety auto...

Liberty Pumps.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... Booth #2049 SumpBox[TM] SBX Series The SumpBox[TM] by Liberty Pumps is a completely assembled sump pump system featuring debris filter technology. Designed specifically for new home construction, its large removable filter tray...

General Pipe Cleaners.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... Booth #2019 Gen-Eye 3 The improved Gen-Eye[TM] 3 pipe inspection/location system features a dual frequency three-watt transmitter with digital locator and push button depth finder. It has four different camera options and a...

3M Fire Protection.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... Booth #2340 Fire Barrier Water Tiaht Sealant 3000WT The 3M Fire Barrier Water Tight Sealant 3000 WT provides the ultimate in fire stop protection with the new added benefit of preventing water or moisture intrusion. [ILLUSTRATION...

American Plumber.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... Booth #2241 W34-Prm The W34-Prm is a monitored whole-house water filter complete with a 5-micron sediment cartridge, three-color monitor and filter housing wrench. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Circle 6

Conbraco Industries Inc.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... Booth #1241 4N This new dual check valve from Conbraco is a certified backflow preventer and affords protection of potable water supplies. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Circle 7

Eemax Inc.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... Booth #1755 Model EX 280 T2T Eemax offers its new thermostatically controlled electric tankless water heater for residential applications. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Circle 8

Mill--Rose Co.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... Booth #2137 Water-Gate The Water-Gate water shut-off tool allows solder without draining the entire water system. Contractors can install and replace valves, tees, elbows and make waterline repairs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Oatey SCS.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... Booth #1631 Sure-Vent Oatey's Sure-Vent air admittance valves open and close in conjunction with normal DWV system operation, effectively eliminating the need for secondary vent pipes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Circle 10

Powers, a division of Watts Water Technology.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... Booth #1719 Powerstation Powerstation is a completely assembled water-tempering system, designed to provide safe water throughout commercial and industrial facilities. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Circle 11

Prier Products Inc.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... Booth #2222 C-634 Commercial Freezeless Wall Hydrant The Prier C-634 heavy commercial wall hydrant provides features: fast installation, high flow and easy maintenance. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Circle 12

Uponor Wirsbo.(Product Focus: ISH North American New Product Preview)
October 1, 2004... Booth #419 D'Mand Wirsbo's D'Mand is a user-activated hot water delivery system using a structured plumbing layout. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Circle 13