Reeves Journal articles from June 2002

Reeves Journal archives from June 2002

Get the FOGs out. (Pipeline).(fat, oil and grease)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... In a few minutes of research on the Internet, you can read a number of reports about sewer backups and overflows from all over the U.S., Canada and different parts of the world. Although flooding can easily cause an overflow, a large...

Letters.
June 1, 2002... Category III Vent Required The vent shown on the cover [February] with the tankless heater and subsequent pages appears to be a "B" vent. To my understanding the Takagi T-K2 water heater is listed as a Category III appliance. As such,...

Contractors bear the brunt of new laws. (Legal Corner).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... New and proposed legislation makes this a bad year for the construction industry. And it is going to get worse before it gets better unless the industry bands together to let elected representatives know where we stand. The increase in...

PEX stays out of code, state ponders new EIR. (Contractor News).(cross-linked polyethylene, environmental impact report)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Moving forward on the recommendations of state agencies, the California Building Standards Commission voted last month to exclude cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) from the 2001 California Plumbing Code. As part of the decision, the...

Deadline for apprenticeship competition is July 15. (Contractor News).
June 1, 2002... Entries are being accepted until July 15 for participants in the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association's (PHCC's) Plumbing Apprenticeship Contest in Toronto, Nov. 1. The contest, which focuses on plumbing, will be held at...

Home Depot opens 4th contractor store. (Contractor News).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Continuing its strategy to cater directly to the professional contractor, Home Depot opened its fourth pro-oriented store in Milpitas, Calif., in May. In addition to wider aisles and less foot traffic, each core department of the Milpitas...

Texas low NOx rules take effect in July. (Contractor News).(nitrogen oxide)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... According to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's Web site (www.tnrcc.state.tx.us), the purpose of the revisions to Chapter 117 Rule Log No. 1999-0551-117-AI is to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from new natural gas fired...

Rheem targets contractor in marketing campaign. (Contractor News).(Rheem Manufacturing)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The Water Heater Division of the Rheem Manufacturing Company has launched a marketing program through its national wholesale-distribution network, which is dedicated to the licensed plumbing contractor. Called "Plumbers Pride," the new...

Are you the quickest with a cordless drill? (Contractor News).
June 1, 2002... Through the summer, DeWalt is running its "Million Dollar Challenge" skill contest to see who's quickest with a cordless drill. The challenge is to drive five 1 5/8-inch course thread drywall screws flush into a pine board as fast as possible...

Houston City Council. (Briefly).(adopts 2000 Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Code)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The Houston City Council recently adopted the 2000 Uniform Plumbing and Mechanical Code, preserving the code in the nation's fourth largest city and the south's largest urban center. Proponents of the international codes had mischaracterized...

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). (Briefly).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The nation's unemployment rate rose to 6 percent in April (or 8.6 million persons), up from 5.7 percent in March, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Construction industry employment fell in April to...

Marlin Mechanical Corp. (People).(Chris Burlaka)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Marlin Mechanical Corp. has named Chris Burlaka as its new controller. Burlaka has worked as a controller/CFO and accounting-tax manager in a variety of industries, including construction, manufacturing, distribution and pensions.

Surveys provide important data on performance. (Service Sense).
June 1, 2002... When it comes to measuring success, there is one key phrase woven through everything we've talked about and everything we will talk about: Inspect what we expect. When I'm teaching business classes, I often tell the contractors how...

Buying a business: deals and duds. (Business Strategies).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Whether it's equipment, inventory or a company you're looking to buy, the lowest price doesn't always equal the best value. Knowing what type of purchases to look for and which ones to avoid can ensure your next transaction makes good business...

Is your truck overloaded? (Vehicle Maintenance).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Many times, truck owners will continue to load materials into their truck if there appears to be space left in the vehicle. But a truck's capacity is often not what it seems, and many business owners are not aware of the fact that overloading a...

Contractors helps restaurant reduce its FOGs: the Lighthart Corp. uses value-engineering methods to solve a difficult mechanical installation. (Grease Removal Systems).(fat, oil and grease)
June 1, 2002... Although the city of Los Angeles had yet to formally adopt its new ordinance designed to reduce the amount of fat, oil and grease (FOGs) flowing into the sewer system, city officials had already compiled a list of food service establishments...

It's 3:00 p.m.: do you know where your trucks are? Today's GPS technology allows plumbing/HVAC contractors to play Big Brother, but is it worth the cost? (Technology).(Global Positioning Satellite)
June 1, 2002... Do you know where your trucks are every minute, what speed they're traveling and where they're stopping? You can with Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology, which lets you track vehicles as well as the driving habits of your...

A 3-D point of view: by incorporating a new program, Dynamic Plumbing has eliminated manual take-off, can calculate the depth of pipe and avoid collisions between piping systems. (Q&A).(Jim Bloom, Tim Timmons)
June 1, 2002... Jim Bloom and Tim Timmons III head up the engineering dept. of Dynamic Plumbing Systems (DPS), a new construction plumbing company, based in Riverside, Calif Prior to joining Dynamic, Bloom and Timmons worked in the engineering dept. of RCR...

Golden State to overhaul water, backflow protection regulations. (Techtopic).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The California Department of Health Services is scheduled to make substantial changes to the current health code relating to recycled water and backflow protection. Through its Drinking Water Program committee, Title 17 of the Health and Safety...

Consolidation in construction: bigger isn't always better. (Executive Briefcase).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Over the past two years I have written several articles on consolidation, and I have outlined my reasons for believing that consolidators are not a threat to plumbing and HVAC contractors. This time I wanted to add a few thoughts on why selling...

ISH is rapidly becoming an events anchor. (Manufacturer/Wholesaler News).(International Sanitation and Heating North America )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... International Sanitation and Heating North America is rapidly becoming the anchor for a variety of industry-related events. International exhibitor and buyer interest is on a continuous rise. ISH NA is hosted by Messe Frankfurt Inc. in...

Study says demand for HVAC to rise 5 percent. (Manufacturer/Wholesaler News).(Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industry)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... International demand for HVAC equipment is projected to increase nearly 5 percent per year (including price increases) through 2006, reaching $110 billion, according to a new study by The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based market researcher....

The National Standardization Agency of Indonesia. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The National Standardization Agency of Indonesia will develop and maintain the UPC and UMC for use in that country. At a televised ceremony in Jakarta, Russ Chaney, IAPMO's executive director, and Herudi Kartowisastro, general director of the...

Schwank Ltd. and Perfection-Schwank. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The manufacturing of Schwank Ltd. and Perfection-Schwank radiant heaters will be consolidated into two locations under a reorganization announced by Schwank GmbH, Cologne, Germany. As a result, its U.S. manufacturing facilities in Waynesboro,...

Toto USA. (Briefly).(SanaGloss glazing process)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... TOTO USA made its long-awaited move into the kitchen this year with the introduction of a line of kitchen sinks that the company recently exhibited at the Kitchen Bath Industry Show. Its two new models, Bridgeport and Forrester, have undergone...

Greg Carlson was recently named president and CEO of Briggs Plumbing Products. (People).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Greg Carlson was recently named president and CEO of Briggs Plumbing Products. Carlson replaces Dan Umbs, who resigned to pursue personal interests. The appointment became effective April 1. Carlson, who spent 14 years in the Fortune Brands...

John G. Bell III, a long-time valve industry veteran. (People).(American Valve Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... John G. Bell III, a long-time valve industry veteran, has joined American Valve as national product manager and western regional manager. In both capacities, he will be focusing on American's "Family of 4000" line of cast iron, ductile iron,...

Jason International Inc. (People).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Virgil Jacuzzi Jr. has been promoted to national sales manager of Little Rock, Ark.-based Jason International Inc. Jason manufactures and sells a wide range of luxury bath systems, shower products, faucetry and bathing accessories.

Correction.(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2002... The Lochinvar image featured in the April's New Products (page 58) is of the Intelli-Station Software. The program is only compatible with the Intelli-Fin water heater/boiler. The copy details the Compact ASME Hi-Power electric water heater. RJ...

Accessories. (New Products).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The manufacturer offers 15 accessories and replacement parts designed to work exclusively with the company's food waste disposers. One of those is the SinkTop switch, which mounts at the sink deck, eliminates the need for a wall switch and...

Pipe replacement system. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The manufacturer offers a portable pipe replacement system designed to install and replace cast or ductile iron, clay, concrete, ABS, HDPE and PVC without digging a trench. Power draws the flexible, breaking head made of quality high-tensile...

Underfloor mat. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Underfloor mats are the new UL-listed solution for electric radiant heat under existing wood subfloors. Heating elements are woven into mats that are easily installed between 16-inch joist spaces. The installer secures the mats between the...

Showerhead. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The Riva product line includes showerheads, body sprays, mounts, tub sprays and ITO accessories. The line features chrome finishes along with many others such as weathered brass and polished copper. Showerheads and hand shower sets feature...

Retrofit recirc system. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The retrofit system is installed with a single pump at the water heater and a valve at each branch of the plumbing out to the fixtures. It provides the same water savings and comfort as a closed loop system. The water circulation system...

Building your business through referrals. (Marketing Mechanic).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Learning how new clients find out about your company is an important component of your marketing program. You want to continue the marketing and advertising that works for you and discontinue activities that aren't working and costing you...

Toilet seat hinge. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The new Easy-2-Clean Lift-Off toilet seat hinge is easy to clean and the 200/1,200 series also has a slam-free, slow-close feature to protect the toilet bowl, guard against pinched fingers and promote a healthy bathroom. When it needs cleaning,...

Flushing system. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... SureFlush is an automatic toilet flushing system designed to keep your toilet sanitary at all times. By eliminating the need to flush manually, both children and adults will be less likely to transmit germs, viruses and bacteria by touching the...

Sewer camera. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The durable SeeSnake consists of a color camera with a unique lighting system that, along with a push-rod assembly, navigates through 11/2-inch to 4-inch lines with up to 100 feet of push cable. The small, 1.2-inch camera head, which features...

Bidet. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The Jasmin Washlet was designed for users who are seeking the hygienic and healthful benefits of a bidet-like washlet. The unit is operated by its own battery-powered remote-control keypad. The panel, with an easy-to-view LCD read-out, can be...

Mobile computing application. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The manufacturer has launched a mobile computing application for its Forefront construction management software that connects the field service technician to the main office in real time. Using a handheld PC, the technician can use it to see...

Longtail T-shirts. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Designed with three additional inches of shirt body length, this T-shirt will keep you in the good graces of your clients and fellow tradesman. Taped neck and shoulder seams, 5.5-ounce and 100 percent pre-shrunk cotton construction and a...

Shower floor. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The Retrofit shower floors measure 32 inches x 60 inches and are available in reinforced solid surface or Swan fiber-glass. Shower walls, in matching or contrasting colors, are available in three construction styles. The floors reduce the labor...

Transfer pumps. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The new non-submersible transfer pump is available in a 310 series, 12-volt DC unit with battery clips, or the 311 series 115-volt unit. Both are designed to remove or transfer water from water heaters, waterbeds, pool covers and stock tanks....

Tub/shower systems. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... Featuring the manufacturer's Temptrol pressure-balancing anti-scald valve, the new Allura line of fittings provides commercial quality with the look and feel of a contemporary system. Systems are available in a variety of configurations and...

Trailer jetter. (New Products).(advertisement)
June 1, 2002... The 3515-FC has a 48-hp Kubota diesel engine, a Giant-triplex pump capacity of 15 gpm at 3,600 psi and a Morse-style cable for disengagement or engagement. Its increased water pressure effectively puts more torque on the 1467 root cutter...