Contractor articles from April 2005

Contractor archives from April 2005

Recirculation retrofit delivers hot water.
April 1, 2005... SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR LANCASTER, PA. -- Hot water recirculation for domestic water systems has created a lot of buzz these days, spurred primarily by consumer demand for hot water instantly at the tap. Recirculating hot water bumps...

Plumbing product sales to hit $8.7 billion this year.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
April 1, 2005... COMMACK, N.Y. -- In 2005, U.S. manufacturers' sales of plumbing fixtures and fittings are expected to reach $8.7 billion. Research firm Business Trend Analysts here projects that sales of plumbing fixtures and fittings will rise to $11.2...

Wyoming to sprinkler all dormitories.(University of Wyoming installtion of Fire Sprinklers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR CHEYENNE, WYO. -- The University of Wyoming in Laramie and the state's seven community colleges have begun a voluntary effort to install fire sprinklers in all dormitories. The state legislature included $5 million...

$1 in maintenance contract should yield $3 in repairs.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
April 1, 2005... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- The existing building market never gets smaller and equipment is constantly marching toward replacement, said Steve Smith, vice president/mechanical services at ACCO Engineered Systems in Glendale, Calif. Smith...

Stick to job plan to increase labor productivity.(Mechanical Contractors Association of America convention )
April 1, 2005... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- If you're going to have an estimate bust, you're better off knowing up front, Paul Stynchcomb told contractors Feb. 28 at the Mechanical Contractors Association of America convention here. Stynchcomb of Bower, Kriz &...

Calif. officials change minds, pick ICC codes.(International Code Council)
April 1, 2005... SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR SACRAMENTO, CALIF. -- The California Building Standards Commission voted in mid-March to rescind its July 29, 2003, decision by an 8-2 vote to select the National Fire Protection Association's NFPA 5000 as...

AHR Expo shows innovative solutions.
April 1, 2005... SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR Editor's note: Part 1 of our coverage of the AHR Expo Feb. 7-9 ran on pg. 1 of our March issue. ORLANDO, FLA. -- While much of the water heater industry can't arrive at a consensus about how to make power-vented...

Toilet tests show most models can do the job.
April 1, 2005... MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO -- Plumbing engineer John Koeller of California and Canadian engineer Bill Gauley of Veritec Consulting here have issued their third edition of "Maximum Performance Testing of Popular Toilet Models." In addition, the two...

Foreign-born workers deserve respect.
April 1, 2005... SAVANNAH, GA. -- As more foreign-born workers enter the construction industry, contractors should know how to recruit, hire and retain them as productive employees, consultant Bob Losyk told members of Quality Service Contractors Feb. 25 during...

A new bill recently signed into law by Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire mandates that all public buildings--including schools and universities--must be built to meet state efficiency and conservation standards.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A new bill recently signed into law by Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire mandates that all public buildings--including schools and universities--must be built to meet state efficiency and conservation standards. It makes Washington the...

Members of the Bayshore and Monmouth County, N.J., PHCC chapters recently supplied the New Jersey Blind Citizens Association with a new boiler and installed it, free of charge.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Members of the Bayshore and Monmouth County, N.J., PHCC chapters recently supplied the New Jersey Blind Citizens Association with a new boiler and installed it, free of charge. The new boiler was made possible by donations from PHCC members and...

A seminar sponsored by the Detroit ASHRAE chapter, the Southeast Michigan ASPE and the Metro Detroit Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association, "Troubleshooting Steam and Hydronic Systems, "will be held April 28 at the St. John's Banquet & Conference Center in Southfield, Mich.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A seminar sponsored by the Detroit ASHRAE chapter, the Southeast Michigan ASPE and the Metro Detroit Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association, "Troubleshooting Steam and Hydronic Systems, "will be held April 28 at the St. John's Banquet...

With the help of independent sales rep agency Rich-Tomkins Co., Bradford White Corp. hosted the home opening game of the season for the Philadelphia Soul--an expansion team in its second season in the Arena Football League.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... With the help of independent sales rep agency Rich-Tomkins Co., Bradford White Corp. hosted the home opening game of the season for the Philadelphia Soul--an expansion team in its second season in the Arena Football League. About 135 customers...

Hammond Valve has consolidated and relocated its operations to New Berlin, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Hammond Valve has consolidated and relocated its operations to New Berlin, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee. The move took place April 1. Hammond Valve opened in 1911 in Hammond, Ind. Milwaukee Valve purchased Hammond in 1991. The number of...

National Kitchen & Bath Association.
April 1, 2005... After a successful first MasterClass Conference, "Perspectives on Design," last fall in New York, the National Kitchen & Bath Association has decided to do it again, this time on the West Coast. "The Arrival of Kitchen Living" will be held June...

Business development plan is essential.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... HARLINGEN, TEXAS -- I just want you to know how great Bob Miodonski's editorial was on "business development" ("Why business development plans make sense," March, pg. 62). Contractors who tell me their plan for the next year is just to bid...

Lack of planning costs money.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... HUDSON, WIS. -- I am relatively new to the HVAC trade, but I have worked in the manufacturing and assembly field for nearly 30 years. I have spent time working for a manufacturing company building lift trucks, utility companies, an aircraft...

Incentive pay for plumbers?(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... BAKERSFIELD, CALIF. -- We subscribe to your publication, and I was wondering if you have ever published any articles on incentive or bonus programs for the plumbing industry. We would like to introduce some kind of program to increase...

Letter solidifies stereotype.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... SOUTH BEND, IND. -- The recent letter in CONTRACTOR magazine submitted by Janis Fahs, CPA owner of Fahs Brown Plumbing, lacks certain intuitiveness concerning the trade she has aspired to practice ("Avoid difficult words in articles," March,...

Contractors have more fun.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... AUGUSTA, GA. -- I thoroughly enjoyed Dave Yates' column in the February '05 issue of CONTRACTOR magazine--partly because I got into the HVAC and plumbing business in 1955 as a fledgling engineer ("The lost art of making lead joints," pg. 22)....

Craig's advice on estimating.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2005... HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. -- We're a small industrial contractor (mostly pipe, some steel and a little bit of concrete), and I'm the only estimator in the company. We do $2 million to $3 million a year. I use the following resources to estimate labor...

Courtesy inspection helps to increase sales.
April 1, 2005... WANT AN HONEST way to make more sales and get fewer "turn-downs?" Some service techs are trained to walk into the call, price book in hand, do a cursory diagnosis, whip out the price book, point to the price and try to close the deal. Then...

Linc buys Pro Mechanical.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... PITTSBURGH -- The Linc Group has bought Phoenix-based Pro Mechanical Services, and its branch location in Tucson, Ariz. Linc is a provider of mechanical and facility management services to building owners and operators worldwide. Pro Mechanical...

Big on service: perhaps not large by Texas standards, the showroom at Milton Frank Plumbing Co. holds its own against the big-box home centers.
April 1, 2005... We're kind of addicted to plumbing," says Patty Frank, which is a good thing, considering her line of work. Patty and husband Milton run Milton Frank Plumbing Co., a service and repair contractor in Spring, Texas, just north of Houston, along...

My new, upside-down DHW system.
April 1, 2005... IN MY DECEMBER 2001 column, I discussed the heating system that I'd installed in my own "live-in laboratory" ("Lessons I've learned from 'Thistled House,'" pg. 24). The "old" system used a tankless wall-hung boiler for providing domestic...

Church repair job earns praise from the pulpit.
April 1, 2005... THE PHONE CALL: The parish administrator called to tell me how cold it was in her church. It was also noisy. This got my attention because this is the same church where my parents have gone to 8:15 Mass every Sunday for the last 50 years. ...

Solutions for service and project management.
April 1, 2005... ACCESS IS AMONG the most popular buzzwords bantered about in construction lately. Accumulating project information in a reliable and orderly fashion and being able to quickly access and communicate it to others is a goal of many project...

2004 wealth transfer plan test reveals a mess.
April 1, 2005... BACK IN EARLY 1995 I wrote a long column headlined, "A new plan to beat the estate tax." The column said in part: "If you use the right tax tools and techniques together with the right professionals (lawyer, insurance consultant and CPA),...

Why we should become more like GCs.
April 1, 2005... BACK IN THE DAYS of King Arthur and His Knights of the Accidentally-Oval-Because-the-Specs-were-Screwy Table, a general contractor was first and foremost a master builder, carpenter or mason who had worked his way up through the ranks from...

Make customers confront issues--in writing.
April 1, 2005... I HAVE JUST STARTED serving as an arbitrator in a multimillion-dollar case between an owner and a contractor, where it appears that both sides had very different ideas about what they were agreeing to, right from the start. Although both...

Internet growing as sales tool.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... GOLDEN, COLO. -- Internet marketplace provider ServiceMagic Inc. (www.servicemagic.com) has reported that about 31,000 residential contractors and home service professionals are now marketing their services on the Internet through its online...

Comfort Systems EVP resigns.(Executive Vice President)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... HOUSTON -- HVAC contracting consolidator Comfort Systems USA announced in mid-March that J. Gordon Beittenmiller is resigning his roles as executive vice president, chief financial officer and director to accept a senior position in another...

Hydronics meeting April 26-27.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... TORONTO -- Hydronics industry members will gather April 26-27 at the biannual Great Lakes Hydronics Conference here to update and share their industry knowledge and hear a keynote address from guest speaker, contractor Mike Holmes. The...

What does "value" chain really mean?(interview)(Interview)
April 1, 2005... THERE'S BEEN A LOT of talk lately about adding value to the supply chain. What does it really mean on a day-to-day level, and how can it be enhanced in the future? The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association posed the...

Wilson Supply reports growth.(COLUMNISTS)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... HOUSTON -- Wilson Supply reported strong growth in 2004 from a geographic and product standpoint. Revenues grew in all the company's major product lines--pipe, valves, and fittings and mill, tool and safety. Total revenues were $1.2 billion in...

The new Oakmont toilet.(editor's choice)
April 1, 2005... THE NEW OAKMONT TOILET features Champion flushing technology to deliver a quiet, powerful flush. Champion flushing systems boast the first 3.5" flush valve for 1.6 gpf gravity-fed toilets. The toilet has an upswept deck designed to channel the...

Gas-tec copper-coated tubing.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... GAS-TEC COPPER-COATED TUBING is now available in 1" Type L, 60' and 100' coils. Installers can now provide for installations requiring a higher BTU rating. It is ideal for pool heaters, larger propane heaters and high capacity furnaces and...

A line of coordinated tank levers.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... A LINE OF COORDINATED TANK LEVERS is now available to match almost any bathroom decor. Pictured below is the lever that accompanies the Sienna line of bathroom accessories. It features wrought iron construction, a button-style base and a curved...

The frequency lavatory system.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THE FREQUENCY LAVATORY SYSTEM combines a lower, ADA-compliant sink with a higher sink in an unconventional design. The solid-surface lavatory is offered in six different models to provide design flexibility--a series of Frequency stations can...

New colors of Dura-PEX piping.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... NEW COLORS OF DURA-PEX PIPING offer plumbing contractors, homebuilders and remodelers with a wide array of choices in flexible PEX tubing. The piping is available in red, white, blue, terra cotta, white with blue markings and white with red...

The KWCMurano single-lever faucet.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THE KWCMURANO SINGLE-LEVER FAUCET delivers dramatic appearance and distinctive operation: water emerges from the center and cascades over a glass dish when activated by the lever. An exclusive surface coating for the glass dish optimized water...

Powerstick all-purpose high-tack polymer.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... POWERSTICK ALL-PURPOSE HIGH-TACK POLYMER combines strong adhesive properties with reliable moisture- and solvent-resistance. It can be used in light- to medium-duty construction tasks from bonding and sealing to caulking and filling cracks. It...

The Z-6000 aquavantage flush valve.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THE Z-6000 AQUAVANTAGE FLUSH VALVE features a chemical- and clog-resistant diaphragm kit designed to eliminate such problems as fixture evacuation, run-on, degradation of rubber components caused by chloramination, and sediment build-up. The...

This high reach faucet.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THIS HIGH REACH FAUCET is 12" tall to fill even deep pots and vessels with ease. The neck swivels 360[degrees]. Ceramic discs ensure smooth, dependable operation, and a newly-designed spout tip prevents drips. The faucet features preinstalled...

The CC-120 CoilPro coil cleaner.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THE CC-120 COILPRO COIL CLEANER can operate on AC power or its own, integrated, rechargeable battery. It can connect to a 3/4" line for continuous operation, or can draw from its own 4 gal. tank. Features include an integrated soap container, a...

This Victorian-style pot filler.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THIS VICTORIAN-STYLE POT FILLER is part of the company's Opulence collection of bathware. It features an articulated spout with 7" and 13" arms that swing out from the wall. It is made with solid brass construction and ceramic disc valves for...

Specseal firestop composite sheet.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... SPECSEAL FIRESTOP COMPOSITE SHEET is lightweight and easy to use. Designed to seal medium- to large-size openings, it provides an effective seal against fire, smoke and combustion by-products. When exposed to temperatures of 350[degrees]F, it...

The mightystrap woven nylon straps.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THE MIGHTYSTRAP WOVEN NYLON STRAPS buckle together to secure a wide range of products and equipment indoors and outdoors. The straps provide 3,500 lb. linear strength, are non-sparking, waterproof and salt-resistant. The 40" straps come with a...

This heavy-duty equipment box.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THIS HEAVY-DUTY EQUIPMENT BOX safeguards valuable tools and materials with durable steel construction and a double padlock hasp. Optional wheels allow for easy movement indoors or out, and mounting bolts allow for permanent outdoor placement....

The platinum gas-fired condensing water heater.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THE PLATINUM GAS-FIRED CONDENSING WATER HEATER delivers 95% thermal efficiency. It is available with inputs of 299 and 399 MBH and 100 gal. of storage. The tank is lined with either electroless nickel plating or an electronically tested...

The edge-all trenching tool.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THE EDGE-ALL TRENCHING TOOL weighs 13 lb. with a sharp blade that quickly slits the soil leaving a deep, narrow channel for the installation of wiring or piping. After the installation, the parted earth is easily tamped back into place leaving...

A new series of large in-line filters.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... A NEW SERIES OF LARGE INLINE FILTERS for air, vacuum or liquids is now available. They are ideal for chemical solutions, ink, water, oil, gasoline, fuel and alcohol. They are molded in polyoxymethlene acetal with filter frames that are...

The MM-175 mighty miter recip saw accessory.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THE MM-175 MIGHTY MITER RECIP SAW ACCESSORY consists of a vee-shaped vise securing the material to be cut. The vise assembly swings up towards the reciprocating blade to create a perfectly square cut. It works on nearly any shape material,...

The Equinox rooftop tank-type commercial water heater.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THE EQUINOX ROOFTOP TANK-TYPE COMMERCIAL WATER HEATER frees up valuable interior space. It features an 80-gal. storage tank and 120,000 Btu input. The unit's "full weight" of 1,300 lb. is comparable to package HVAC units typically installed in...

The Everhot tankless water heater.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THE EVERHOT TANKLESS WATER HEATER has a flow-rate of up to 8.5 gpm. Both residential and commercial models are available. A highly efficient nine pass heat exchanger and self-regulating inputs of up to 180,000 Btus for indoor models and 199,000...

The EZ-mix hi dispenser.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THE EZ-MIX HI DISPENSER is a portable motorized gun for dispensing standard 50 ml. dual cartridges that lets the user easily apply a controlled bead. A drip-free design prevents oozing from the tip after the trigger is released. The...

The cordless super-vee power drain cleaner.(PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... THE CORDLESS SUPER-VEE POWER DRAIN CLEANER has a 12 v. variable speed motor with plenty of power to unclog sink, shower, toilet and laundry drain lines ranging up to 3" in diameter. A slide-action chuck built into the front hand grip engages...

New ways to reach you in person and online.
April 1, 2005... NOW IN OUR 51st year of publication, CONTRACTOR has been the leading magazine to bring you industry news as well as management advice on how to improve your business operations. In an increasingly competitive market, we realize that you...

Innovation.(radiant heating industry growth)
April 1, 2005... There is nothing that inspires innovation more than success. The radiant heating industry has seen an unprecedented growth in consumer interest in the last few years which has translated into an upsurge in sales of materials and services. When...

RPA celebrates 10th anniversary outlines member benefits.(Radiant Panel Association)
April 1, 2005... Radiant panel heating is more than just a way of heating a home or business, it is a way of life. It provides an escape from the dry blowing air, dusty ductwork, obtrusive registers, and chilly drafts so common in conventional heating systems....

What can go wrong if you're not prepared: this is the first in a series of columns that focus on radiant education.
April 1, 2005... Education takes many forms. It may range from a classroom at a university to a foxhole on a battlefield. Education is the process of teaching and learning. It is obviously most desirable to learn lessons before the need arises to apply them....

Dancing with dame Delta T: learning how to use this often-used formula can increase your profits.
April 1, 2005... That old bag! Also known as Delta T or DT, this sometimes-misunderstood term is worth a look. Delta, the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, is defined as an increment of a variable, according to my dictionary. In the hydronics industry,...

Flow factors: when continuous circulation makes sense in radiant heating systems.
April 1, 2005... I once heard an American heating contractor explain the operation of a typical hydronic heating system to a German heating engineer. The contractor described the operating logic beginning with a call for heat from the room thermostat followed...

Dual benefits: when these homeowners replace their boiler, their decision to add warm floors resulted in more comfort and lower heating bills.
April 1, 2005... John Ruhnke Sr. and his wife, Rita, had a problem--the burner on the original 45-year-old boiler in their home was not operating properly. Luckily for them, their son, John Ruhnke Jr., is a radiant heating specialist! The original...

Sole comfort: introducing one of the largest homes in the country to be heated exclusively with electric radiant heating elements.
April 1, 2005... Richard Butera's 7,500-square-foot newly constructed home in Aspen, Colo., is heated exclusively by electric elements located in the floors and walls. While this form of heating has been used on many projects to provide supplemental heat over...

Radiant Panel Association: Local Area Chapters.
April 1, 2005... Local RPA Chapters are welcoming new members. Several of the more active chapters are holding classes, inviting industry speakers and holding mini-trade shows. Visit www.radiantpanelassociation.org and click on Chapters for details. ...

Calendar of events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... RPA Certification Exam--Clinton Township, MI Tuesday, April 12, 2005 9:00 AM-Tuesday, April 12, 2005 11:00 AM Macomb Community College-Center Campus SPONSORED BY: Radiant Panel Association and Eastern Michigan RPA Chapter ...

Business listings.(Brief Article)(Directory)
April 1, 2005... California Alternative Energy Sonora Office P.O. Box 3896 Sonora, CA 95370 Tel: 209/533-WARM Fax: 209/588-8572 Toll-free: 888/833-WARM Monterey Location 484 Lighthouse Avenue Monterey, CA 93940 ...

Let our products floor you[R].(RADIANT PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2005... Hacker Industries' GYP-SPAN[R] Radiant is the premier floor underlayment for radiant heat projects. Installed by trained, Licensed Applicators, GYP-SPAN Radiant is mixed onsite and pumped 3/4" over the top of hydronic tubes or electric cables....