Reeves Journal articles from October 2002

Reeves Journal archives from October 2002

Water conservation works. (Pipeline).(western states)
October 1, 2002... In Southern California, where politicians, environmentalists and other state officials have long criticized the area for being water hogs and thieves, the naysayers need to realize that after years of pushing water conservation, SoCal won't be...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2002... Typical Code Violation I enjoy reading each issue of Reeves Journal and the August issue was not an exception. I wanted to point out that the picture of a "typical venting installation" on page 62 ("Wall-Hung Toilets Maturing in U.S....

GC not liable for sub's injured employees. (Legal Corner).(general contractors v. subcontractors)
October 1, 2002... Recent California Appellate Court cases have rendered decisions covering injured employees and their ability to sue third parties. They provide good examples of California's workers' compensation law-that injured employees are sometimes limited...

PEX makers sue state on code procedure. (Contractor News).(polyethylene pipe industry v. State of California over building codes)
October 1, 2002... A lawsuit filed against State of California accuses the Davis Administration of forcing families to spend millions of additional dollars on housing. The suit claims the administration illegally restricted the use of plastic pipe in new home and...

AMPAM closes operations in three states. (Contractor News).(American Plumbing and Mechanical Inc. )
October 1, 2002... Tied into its quarterly report, American Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. (AMPAM) is shutting down its commercial operations headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., Pensacola, Fla., and its southern Virginia single-family residential operations. ...

NFPA Standards Council issues building code. (Contractor News).(National Fire Protection Association)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The National Fire Protection Associations (NFPA) Standards Council has issued NFPA 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code, a key element in the full set of Comprehensive Consensus Codes (C3) being developed by IAPMO, NFPA, the Western Fire...

The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) provisions on construction payments were tightened recently. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) provisions on construction payments were tightened recently-the FAR construction contract payment certification was changed to require that prime contractors certify: "ALL payments due to subcontractors...

Service Roundtable. (People).(Matt Michel)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Matt Michel has been named president and CEO of the Service Roundtable, a new contractor group formed by a collection of the country's best contractors to provide contractors with low cost sales, marketing, and profit improvement tools. In...

Contractors share honors in financial survey. (Association News).(Contractors 2000 awards Able Plumbing, Muetzel Plumbing Co. and Assured Plumbing and Heating Company )
October 1, 2002... "If managing the financial side of your business were an athletic event, three companies would be headed for the next Mega Bowl." That's how Larry Halverson, vice president and chief financial officer for Contractors 2000, described the top...

Court rejects PHCC plea; new approval request filed. (Association News).(Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association; apprenticeship training program)
October 1, 2002... Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Talmadge R. Jones ruled against PHCC on July 31, essentially sending PHCC back to the "starting line" for statewide approval of the Plumbers' Unilateral Apprenticeship Committee (PUAC). PHCC has not been...

PSI Summit shows members how to "win the war". (Association News).(Plumbers' Success International; contracting success)
October 1, 2002... Plumbers' Success International welcomed its membership of independent plumbing contractors for their most recent Summit, Sept.11-15. Jim Abrams, co-Founder of PSI, spoke to the PSI membership about "winning the war" in the contracting...

Excellence - it's in the cards. (Business Strategies).(customer comment cards for client retention)
October 1, 2002... How good are you at retaining your clients? Is the service call your technician just finished the last time you'll ever hear from that client again? How do you know? One of the keys to reaching excellence is to always be improving, but how do...

Tips to reduce your tax load. (Executive Briefcase).
October 1, 2002... As the year begins to wind down, it's always a good idea to do a little tax planning to ensure that next April's tax bill is not any larger than it needs to be. Fund a retirement plan. One of the best ways to reduce income taxes is to...

Contractors bring training in-house: nearly sixty percent of respondents say they've developed a program to help fill the ranks. (Training).
October 1, 2002... As the need to develop journeyman plumbers continues to be a high priority, nearly 60 percent of contractors said they provide some degree of in house training in a recent RJ survey. The survey was sent to 1,000 contractors in the western...

The rise and fall of RCR. (Spotlight).(American Plumbing and Mechanical Inc.'s Robert C. Richey)(Company Profile)
October 1, 2002... ... and the role AMPAM played In April, Robert C. Richey resigned from his position as chief operating officer of American Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. and also walked away from the company he had built for 25 years. At the time of his...

Rules of the road: how to start a driver safety program. (Vehicle Maintenance).(fleet management)
October 1, 2002... When it comes to managing a fleet of vehicles, one aspect business owners may not think enough about is the safety of the company's drivers.m Companies that promote driver safety save money, time and a lot of grief in the long run. It is...

Cash flow-where do those bucks go? (Management).
October 1, 2002... Most companies go out of business in their most profitable year. I bet you didn't know that. Most companies also don't fail for lack of work, and they don't necessarily go out of business because they are unprofitable, either. So why do they...

Vehicle signage: contractors have a variety of options when it comes to making their truck's message stand out from the pack. Mike Diamond shared his experience with the full coverage method. (Q&A).
October 1, 2002... There are a number of methods contractors can use to turn their trucks into mobile billboards. The least expensive way is to have a sign painter paint the logo, the phone number and message on the side of the truck. There's the vinyl...

Hire attitudes: if you hire a person with great technical skills, but a rotten personality and bad habits, he will instill those traits in the rest of your technicians, and you'll have problems with everyone, including your clients. (Marketing Mechanics).
October 1, 2002... Last month, I wrote about internal marketing. Since most contractors complain, "I can't find and keep good help," here are four steps that you can use to help succeed at employee retention. Finding people who want to work and who will fit into...

Kohler launches Mobile Plumbing Systems division. (Manufacturer/Wholesaler News).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... In a strategic business move, Kohler Co. has launched a new manufacturing division, Kohler Mobile Plumbing Systems. The initial plans are to manufacture four different types of mobile units. The new division was formed in response to a...

A.O. Smith Water Products dedicates new facility. (Manufacturer/Wholesaler News).(following State Industries Inc. acquisition)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Less than a year after acquiring State Industries, A.O. Smith Water Products Co. has opened its new customer-care facility in State's former manufacturing facility in Ashland, Tenn. The company also relocated its headquarters to this location....

Plumbing product demand to hit $10 billion. (Manufacturer/Wholesaler News).(fixtures and fittings)
October 1, 2002... Demand for plumbing products in the U.S. is forecast to increase 3.1 percent per year through 2006 to $9.8 billion. Gains will be driven by increasing applications in repair and improvement markets, both in residential and nonresidential...

On the ISH North America show floor will be a New Product Showcase featuring the latest and most creative new products launched in North America in the past year. (Briefly).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... On the ISH North America show floor will be a New Product Showcase featuring the latest and most creative new products launched in North America in the past year. For industry visitors, the main reason for attending any trade event is to see...

Symmons Industries. (Briefly).(relaunches web site)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Symmons Industries has launched its redesigned Web site www.symmons.com. The database-driven architecture enables customers to find products in one of two ways: They can initiate a search from the home page search box by typing in a keyword or...

A.O. Smith Water Products Company. (People).(Michael C. Parker)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... A.O. Smith Water Products Company has named Michael C. Parker as vice president of marketing. Parker comes to A.O. Smith from GE Appliances where he spent 20 years in the sales and marketing side. Parker will be responsible for all marketing,...

Little Giant Pump Company. (People).(appointments)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Little Giant Pump Company has named two national sales managers: Rick Kelly takes over the consumer products side from Tracey Thomsen, who will now manage the commercial-industrial products side. Kelly joined Little Giant in 1999 as a national...

Lennox Industries. (People).(appointment)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Dale Tabinowski has been named vice president, human resources of Lennox Industries. Tabinowski, who has spent nearly 30 years in the human resources field, worked for eight years as a HR vice president at Sunbeam Corp. prior to accepting his...

Lennox Hearth Products. (People).(appointment)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... Also at Lennox, Daniel L. Seaman was named president of Lennox Hearth Products. He replaces Susan Herndon, who returned to the company's commercial HVAC group. Previously, Seaman was president of ThermaSys Heat Transfer, a 230-million,...

The seven major hazards in drain and sewer cleaning. (Tech Topic).(The Professional Handbook-Drain and Sewer Cleaners, 2d ed.; part 1)(Reprint)
October 1, 2002... Editor's note: The following is the first of a two part series on drain and sewer cleaning safety. The text is from Chapter 1 of The Professional Handbook-Drain and Sewer Cleaners, Second Edition. It is reprinted with permission of Spartan...

Debt recovery: what you don't know could cost you. (Management).(Column)
October 1, 2002... Most of us are always looking for the perfect client. A homeowner or business owner who regularly uses our services, recommends us to friends, never complains and, most importantly, pays their invoices promptly and in full. One of the many...

Pre-rinse. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The pre-rinse units are offered in three styles: Spring, Swivel or Ultra Flex. Each system is designed to maintain air gap between the spray head and the sink's flood level for proper backflow prevention. For maximum pre-rinse power, the...

Stub-out package. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... A new, fixed-point, stub-out fitting that is specifically packaged with its own brass female fitting for ready connection with the gas main and a gas appliance is now available. With the new XR-series Appliance StubOut, which can be mounted on...

Classroom sink. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The stainless steel sinks include 18 percent chrome and 8 percent nickel content for easy cleaning and stain resistance. The highlighted bowl rim and fully-blended interior and top surfaces are durable enough to withstand years of use. The...

Cable rooter. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The new Speedrooter 91 blends rugged reliability with optimal ease-of-use. With the raw driving and pulling power for long, tough jobs, the cable feed drives 3/4, 5/8 and 1/2inch cables. Drum changes and cable adjustments are easy too. The...

Tankless water heater. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The patented hydrogenerated iginition system requires no standing pilot, electricity or batteries. When a hot water tap is opened, cold water flows through the 125HX's hydro generator. The flowing water spins a tiny turbine, which, in turn,...

Thermostatic valves. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The manufacturer has introduced three new anti-scald, thermostatic valve models designed with CPVC union fittings. The union fittings can be connected directly to 3/4-inch piping for "point of use" and "point of source" applications. Both the...

Air filters. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The manufacturer offers a new four-page condensed catalog on its line of thin-bed adsorptive air filtration products. The bulletin details Odorguard granular activated carbon filters for use in HVAC systems. It also highlights Carbon Web filter...

Software. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The manufacturer announces the release of its Advanced Design Suite (ADS) a sophisticated radiant design software package. ADS offers enhanced features like a quick start housing and room style selections, web updates, snowmelt and cooling...

Food service faucets. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The AquaSpec food service faucet line includes pre-rinse units, pot fillers, sink and service sink faucets, retractable hose reels and glass fillers. Food service accessories such as pre-rinse hose assemblies and self-closing pre-rinse valve....

Gas furnace. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The furnace models are equipped with high-efficiency variable speed DC blower motors, which reduce electrical consumption up to 80 percent. The 80v-gas model with the DC motor uses the same controls as other two-stage furnaces, which means that...

Transport cart. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The tote truck features a three position fold down handle and compact shape for better handling and storage. The molded in deck handle can be utilized for hanging the cart for storage on walls or inside delivery vans. The cart is molded from...

Heat pump. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The HPX15 heat pump has a SEER of up to 15 cooling efficiency and an 8.50 HPPF heating efficiency. Its high--efficiency outdoor coil provides exceptional heat transfer and low--air resistance, It uses the chlorine free R410A refrigerant, which...

56-T valves. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The 56-T valves feature nine different temperature ranges to 230 degrees F with a fluid pressure range to 150 psi. The 3/8 to 1 1/2-inch sizes come with brass bodies and NPT threaded inlet and outlet. The 2-inch and 2 1/2-inch valves have brass...

Diagonal pliers. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The 2000 Series diagonal-cutting pliers feature a high-leverage design for 36 percent greater cutting power. Their short jaws with beveled cutting edges allow close wire cutting. Two models are available: one with and one without a 13 degree...

Tub faucet. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The Parisa single-control Roman tub faucet is ideal for small confined spaces, where traditional offset handle fixtures would be awkward to install and use. Available in polished chrome, brass and brushed nickel finish the single-control tub...

Ball valves. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The PVC True Union Ball valve line with EPDM seals, which are available is sizes ranging from 1/2 to 2 inches, come with both socket and threaded and connectors. All of the manufacturer's PVC True Union Ball valves are NSF certified, with a...

Fall protection system. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The fall protection system is a portable engineered anchorage solution to protect crews from fall hazards. It features continuous. 100 percent tie-off with overhead anchorage points for two hours, reduces the need for a safety monitor and...

Bow front vanity. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The Mini-Classic bow front vanity measures 27 inches (wide) x 23 inches (deep) x 34 inches (high) for the complete unit, which includes the top. It is available in a variety of finishes and can be customized to fit size requirements. It...

Snap plugs. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The manufacturer's snap plugs and register covers snap into place easily and keep dirt and debris out of the HVAC system. The snap plugs fit into the floor rough-in or register boot without tools. It's bright red color makes it a highly visible...

Aluminum ladder rack. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The new aluminum ladder rack features an ergonomic design with hydraulic action, allowing easy raising and lowering of ladders without strain or injury. The EZ-GLIDE System is designed to fit a wdie range of vehicles, including vans, mini vans,...

Bypass valve. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The Quad-Flo Bypass Valve is a four-way, two position bypass valve made of solid brass, featuring the Teflon quad-seal to ensure a smooth operating action. A single-two-position handle requires an easy 90-degree turn for full service to bypass....

Strap and stand. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The water heater accessories provide solutions to securing, strapping and supporting water heaters. These quality engineered products save time and labor and provide innovative features that plumbers request and homeowners require. Hubbard...

Angle grinder. (New Products).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... The new DW827 high-powered 6-inch grinder has a dual rated, 10-amp AC, 8-amp DC motor that runs 9,000 rpm and produces 1,300 maximum-watts-out for tough metal cutting and grinding applications. The tool's metal gearcase dissipates heat for...

Baseboard heating. (New Products).
October 1, 2002... The size and strength of the high output baseboard make it ideal for multifamily housing, light commercial and high-output residential heating applications. It measures 9 1/4 inches high and features an 18-guage cover, high strength support...

Clawfoot tub. (New Products).
October 1, 2002... The Lion's Foot Bath features dramatic lions feet made from solid brass. The tub is cast iron, with a vitreous enamel glaze on the exterior. The tub's exterior is ground smooth, filled, primed with rust inhibitive primer and then finished in...

PEX tubing. (New Products).
October 1, 2002... Flexible DUR-PEX tubing bends, coils and snakes its way through a small opening, around curves and into tight spaces without necessitating messy, expensive wall tear-outs, wall reconstruction and removal of debris. In addition, quick and easy...

Basket strainers. (New Products).
October 1, 2002... System operators can choose from three plastic materials: PVC, CPVC or PPL. To increase application flexibility, three different end connections-threaded, socket weld or flanged-are offered. They are available in sizes for 1/2-inch through...

Plasma torch. (New Products).
October 1, 2002... This torch has a textured, ergonomic handle designed to enhance operator comfort and prevent slipping. It also features a unique dual-switch capability so the operator can choose the desired switch position. The torch only requires one-step to...