Contractor articles from December 2006

Contractor archives from December 2006

Sprinklers douse townhouse fire: with minor damage.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... DURANGO, COLO. -- Former firefighter Gretchen Schmeisser watched in disbelief as flames from her overheated van threatened to destroy her three-level Colorado townhouse. Her shock soon turned to excitement as she realized that two of the home's...

Pa. contractor helps fix Katrina's ravages.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... PIPERSVILLE, PA. -- Mechanical contractor Worth & Co. in early November sent 14 employees, trucks and supplies to hurricane-ravaged Mississippi to install the plumbing fixtures on the Hancock County Child Development Center, a 10,000-sq.-ft....

Construction material prices: to rise by 6% to 8%.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- "A welcome slide in energy costs gave producer prices, including those for construction, much-needed relief in October," said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, in mid-November....

Contractors will feel 'urban-infill' impact.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Aging and upwardly mobile ethnic population shifts are among the factors contributing to "urban infill"--a trend in construction that may spell the end to suburban sprawl. "This is a trend that's here to stay," consultant...

Utility program covers plumbing emergencies.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... VOORHEES, N.J. -- Independent water utility American Water has introduced the In-Home Plumbing Emergency Program, covering plumbing emergency repairs for leaks or breaks to the water line and clogs or blockages to the sewer line that occur...

Weil-McLain and CPSC recall Ultra Series boilers for CO hazard.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Weil-McLain and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in November announced a voluntary recall of Weil-McLain Ultra Series gas boilers. About 16,000 of the units are in use. The CPSC said that consumers should stop using...

Few contractors plan for business growth.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Contractors want to grow but few have any idea how to do it right. Steven Little, senior consultant for INC. magazine and author of the book, "The Seven Irrefutable Rules of Small Business Growth," told them how in October...

Talk won't make meetings powerful.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... DENVER -- In preparing for a business meeting, you should devote most of your attention to how you start it and how you end it because they are the most important parts, consultant Cindy Rae Pautzke told members of the best practices group...

Police seek contractor's killer.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... PARK RIDGE, ILL. -- Gerald Dhamer, 48, president of a suburban Chicago plumbing firm, was gunned down Nov. 13 by a ski-masked assailant who shot him two to three times at close range with a shotgun, police said. Dhamer was accosted by the...

Comfortech RoadShows to visit six cities.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... CLEVELAND -- The successful Comfortech RoadShow Series will return in 2007 with an all-new program for plumbing and HVAC contractors. Produced and managed by CONTRACTOR and Contracting Business magazines, the RoadShows will stop in six cities...

Haberberger.(In Brief)
December 1, 2006... Mechanical contracting company Haberberger has been recognized by Anheuser-Busch Cos. for its safe working environment and was recently presented the 2005 Anheuser-Busch Alabaster Eagle Award for Safety. Anheuser-Busch presents the annual award...

Quality Service Contractors.(In Brief)
December 1, 2006... Quality Service Contractors has introduced its newest "Power Tool," the Service Fitness DVD Training Series. The program is provided through contributions from QSC Power Tool sponsor Grundfos Pumps. The program consists of a 42-module DVD...

Two couples.(In Brief)
December 1, 2006... Two couples, Bill and Patty Jones, Raven Mechanical, Houston, and Orville and Doreen Taecker, Andor Inc./Taecker Plumbing and Heating, Watertown, S.D., have been named contractor founders of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Educational...

IAPMO Standards Council.(In Brief)
December 1, 2006... In accordance with the ANSI-designated 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code code change timeline, the IAPMO Standards Council has issued a call for proposals, which began Oct. 3 and will end at 5 p.m. EST, Feb. 1, 2007. Anyone...

Mechanical Service Contractors of America Education Conference.(In Brief)
December 1, 2006... A record crowd of more than 600 people attended the 21st Annual Mechanical Service Contractors of America Educational Conference in October in Charleston, S.C. MSCA Board of Managers Chairman Brad Bolino of John J. Kirlin Inc. in Rockville,...

Linc Facility Services.(In Brief)
December 1, 2006... Linc Facility Services and its family of companies have purchased Ferguson-Williams, a provider of facility operations and maintenance services to the federal government. LFS said it will leverage Ferguson-Williams' reputation and expertise in...

Conn. PHCC sets trade show.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... HARTFORD, CONN. -- The Connecticut Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors will host its annual Truck Expo and Trade Show from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 10, 2007, at Connecticut Convention Center here. Up to 1,000 licensed professional...

CONTRACTOR readers pick the year's top products.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... DES PLAINES, ILL. -- A space-saving toilet and boiler were the most popular products of 2006, as determined by CONTRACTOR readers. Eljer's Titan Triangle Toilet, which plumbers can install in the corner of a bathroom, placed No. 1 in our...

'Mexican or Italian, which would you prefer?'.(INDUSTRY EDUCATION)
December 1, 2006... I HAD BEEN in Dallas for four days conducting sales training seminars with a fine group of successful contractors. We covered all aspects of the sales cycle: suspects, prospects, qualifying, writing proposals, asking for the sale and following...

QSC Power Meeting to 'Strive for Excellence'.(INDUSTRY EDUCATION)
December 1, 2006... FALLS CHURCH, VA. -- Members of Quality Service Contractors will be told Feb. 22-24, 2007, at their Power Meeting XXVI in Scottsdale, Ariz., that superior business management processes and analysis are crucial to any company's success. ...

Be selfish this holiday season!(FORUM)
December 1, 2006... WHAT ARE YOU in business for? Are you risking everything each day only to spend your "free" time trying to figure out why your ends don't meet? How about spending that same time walking with your "honey" along a tropical island shoreline at...

Allied Supply donates controls.(FORUM)
December 1, 2006... DAYTON, OHIO -- The Allied Supply Co. has made a commitment to donate a wide range of high-tech controls equipment, valued at $48,000, to Dayton's United Association Local 162/Mechanical Contractors Association of Greater Dayton Mechanical...

Apology for urinal remarks.(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... YORBA LINDA, CALIF. -- My letter to the editor that appeared in the October issue of CONTRACTOR magazine regarding politics and non-water urinals was clearly inappropriate ("Politics in play on lead bill, waterless urinals," pg. 31). What was...

Editors choices.
December 1, 2006... 1 THE WALL-MOUNTED CONDENSING MASCOT BOILER offers high efficiency and versatility in a small package. The low NOx, sealed-combustion, fully-modulating system is available in three sizes: 126, 167 and 242 MBH input. The 126 MBH unit has...

Most requested products.
December 1, 2006... 1 THE TITAN TRIANGLE TOILET can be installed in the corner of the bathroom, giving homeowners and designers maximum space-saving functionality. The gravity-fed toilet is available in 15" plain rim bowl, 15" elongated rim, and a 17" elongated...

Use solar radiation for snow-melt systems.(EATHERTON ON HYDRONICS)(Column)
December 1, 2006... WE DISCUSSED THE potential of waste heat recovery as an alternative to conventional heat sources for powering commercial snow-melt systems in last month's column (November, pg. 40). In this month's column, we'll begin looking at solar thermal...

Showerhead wins green plaudits.(EATHERTON ON HYDRONICS)
December 1, 2006... INDIANAPOLIS -- A water-efficient showerhead from Delta Faucet Co. with the company's H20kinetic Technology has been selected as one of the Top-10 Green Building Products for 2006 by the editors of Environmental Building News and the Green-Spec...

Software makes PDFs from CAD drawings.(FELDMANS ON COMPUTERS)
December 1, 2006... ENHANCED COMMUNICATION in the office and in the field can make everybody's day easier. Here are three programs with distinct capabilities. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PDFs in a jiffy Offering flexibility for contractors seeking an...

Troublesome issues that aren't in your contract.(McGREEVY ON LAW)
December 1, 2006... WHEN A CONTRACT arrives in the mail for you to sign, you read it, and take out your pen and start marking it up. Most contractors know bad language for them when they see it, and if they don't know exactly how to word alternative language, they...

Haberberger wins project award.(McGREEVY ON LAW)(mechanical installation award )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... ST. LOUIS -- Mechanical contractor Haberberger Inc.has won a mechanical installation award by the Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Missouri. The company received the award for its outstanding process piping installation work on the...

'Retirement plan rescue' saves a ton of taxes.(BLACKMAN ON TAXES)
December 1, 2006... RAISE YOUR HAND if you have a "substantial amount" in a qualified retirement plan such as an IRA, 401(k), profit-sharing plan or the like. For our purposes, "substantial amount" means $300,000 or more. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This is a...

The $1-a-minute man.(CRAIG ON MANAGEMENT)
December 1, 2006... IF I OFFERED YOU $50,000 a year salary, guaranteed by a cash bond, to do nothing but come over to my house and daily clean up my dog's droppings from my backyard, would you accept my offer? You wouldn't be able to sub the work out; it would...

Marketing lessons lived, learned, leaned upon.(HUDSON ON MARKETING)
December 1, 2006... OK, CLASS. Take out your No. 2 pencils and a sheet of paper. It's time for a pop quiz." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] First, why did it always have to be a No. 2 pencil? What was wrong with the other numbers? Secondly, who came up with the...

Never lie to a customer.(BEST PRACTICES)
December 1, 2006... HOW DO YOU HANDLE callbacks, go-backs, return calls or whatever your company calls them when you didn't fix a job right the first time? Maybe it's a product failure? Maybe it's poor workmanship? Or maybe it's technician error? How do you handle...

Money Masters session to visit Gene Love Plumbing.(BEST PRACTICES)
December 1, 2006... WHITE BEAR LAKE, MINN. -- Best practices group Nexstar has scheduled another edition of its Money Masters seminar on the fundamentals of running a service business, combined with a tour of a successful service shop. The next seminar, open to...

ARI sets plumbing, HVACR instructor workshop.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
December 1, 2006... ARLINGTON, VA -- The HVACR & Plumbing Instructor Workshop will be held Mar. 28-30, 2007, at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, Va. Building upon the success of the 2006 workshop, nine organizations across the plumbing and HVACR...

RV Series Flexible Water Tube Boilers.(editor's choice)
December 1, 2006... RV SERIES FLEXIBLE WATER TUBE BOILERS are forced draft gas, oil, and dual fuel fired. The series is available in eight standard sizes from 3,500,000 to 8,000,000 Btuh. It is guaranteed to operate at 84% efficiency for hot water boilers, and 80%...

The Fly-Trap Clip.(PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... THE FLY-TRAP CLIP has an adjustable grip that speeds the installation of conduit or pipe. Attached to the wall surface with the company's C3-ST tool, the pipe or conduit is positioned between two more more clips, that are then snapped shut. It...

Reusable Valve Wraps.(PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... REUSABLE VALVE WRAPS are designed for use with pipe insulation to prevent condensation-related mildew and mold problems. The removable wraps install quickly and can be used indoor or outdoor on domestic water, chilled water, dual temperature,...

An Expanded Line Of Water Jetters.(PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... AN EXPANDED LINE OF WATER JETTERS is now available with models to suit almost any drain- or sewer-cleaning application. There are eight models to choose from, including two electric units and six gas-powered units, available in 1,000 to 4,000...

The Hot Shot 400 Pipe Thawing Machine.(PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... THE HOT SHOT 400 PIPE THAWING MACHINE is capable of thawing pipes in minutes, eliminating the need to tear up floors, break down walls, or dig for pipes in frozen ground. It has a dual-level output. At 400 amps of thawing power it can clear...

This Shower Column.(PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... THIS SHOWER COLUMN is a twist on the "exposed" thermostatic showers found in many European luxury hotels. It is compatible not only with any of the company's 12 shower heads, but also with any handle series in the line. It uses in-wall...

The Cycle Guard Pump Control Valve.(PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... THE CYCLE GUARD PUMP CONTROL VALVE automatically adjusts to provide constant pressure at different flows. The single-chamber, pilot-operated valve works with any pump. A field-adjustable external bypass provides full control of the tank fill...

The Pit + Plus Jr. Package System Basin.(PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... THE PIT + PLUS JR. PACKAGE SYSTEM BASIN is designed for areas where soil conditions make digging difficult. The 24" x 24" basin can hold up to 44 gal. It is available pre-packaged or pre-assembled with one- or two-piece structural foam covers....

This Commercial-Grade Water Heater.(PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... THIS COMMERCIAL-GRADE WATER HEATER is designed to work with the company's under-counter water filtration systems. Measuring less than 12" tall and 7" wide, the heater features a 5/8-gal. insulated stainless steel tank that can deliver 100 cups...

The EF Series Line Of High Efficiency Water Heaters.(PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... THE EF SERIES LINE OF HIGH EFFICIENCY WATER HEATERS now includes a 100-gal. capacity model with 399,999 Btu output. It offers 518 gal. first hour delivery and a fully-condensing design recovering at 93% thermal efficiency. The line allows...

The Flo-Thru Z880 Trench Drain System.(PRODUCTS)
December 1, 2006... THE FLO-THRU Z880 TRENCH DRAIN SYSTEM is composed of UV-10 stabilized high-density polyethylene. The 48" long, 3" deep modular linear drain comes standard with HDPE grate; bronze or stainless steel decorative grates are available upon request....

New Year's Resolution: plan for 2007.(EDITORIAL)
December 1, 2006... OF THE 90,000 to 100,000 plumbing and HVAC contractors in business today, less than 10% do any planning, consultant John LaPlant told us a couple months ago. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This month, consultant Steven Little says that these...