Contractor articles from January 2007

Contractor archives from January 2007

Bienvenu Brothers exemplifies the best.(Bienvenu Brothers Enterprises survives Hurricane Katrina)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... MUCH HAS been said about making one's own luck. That's true of the way Bienvenu Brothers Enterprises survived Hurricane Katrina. The company got lucky when the water stopped rising a block away from its shop. But by hauling 250-gal. containers...

Commercial plumbing is bright spot in '07 outlook.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
January 1, 2007... THE PAST YEAR and the new year are relatively easy to sum up for plumbing contractors: Residential and commercial had a terrific 2006. Commercial expects a great 2007. "I have heard nothing but good things from people in the industry about...

'No interruption' in business after Amtrol files Chapter 11.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
January 1, 2007... WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- Hydronics manufacturer Amtrol has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection because it cannot repay nearly $180 million in debt that came due December 2006, the company said. The firm is reportedly seeking to convert its...

Employees the key ingredient in company's 'winning culture'.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
January 1, 2007... LINCOLN, R.I. -- To create a winning company culture, Gem Plumbing & Heating here discovered it needed two things: a clear mission statement that told its employees how it intends to be successful and a value statement that laid out the rules...

Leaders must have EQ to manage their emotions.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Bill Benjamin, Institute for Health and Human Potential)(emotional intelligence)
January 1, 2007... CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Emotional intelligence is the single greatest driver of effective leadership, said Bill Benjamin, CEO of the Institute for Health and Human Potential, in October during the Mechanical Service Contractors of America's 21st...

How to find weaknesses of sales candidates.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
January 1, 2007... CHARLESTON, S.C. -- There's a difference between a salesperson who can sell and one who will sell. The way to find that out is with the types of questions contractors should ask during the interview process, said sales consultant Mark Berezow,...

Hydronics market to see modest growth in 2007.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
January 1, 2007... SALES AND SHIPMENTS in the hydronic heating market should increase in the low single digits in 2007, manufacturers said. Sales of tubing, boilers and accessories into the radiant heating market should increase between 10% and 15%. The...

Industrial market 'good place to be' in 2006 and 2007.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(industrial construction market overview)(Industry overview)
January 1, 2007... A WEAKENING U.S. dollar and falling oil prices are among the factors that should help the industrial construction market gain strength in 2007. Eli Lustgarten, senior vice president of Cleveland-based Longbow Research and principal of ESL...

Habitat helps to revitalize Chester, Pa.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Habitat for Humanity)
January 1, 2007... CHESTER, PA. -- When Kenny and Tamika Gilbert and three daughters Kiana, Tiara and Kerri moved into their new home on McDowell Street here Sept. 24, 2006, the move was a milestone in their lives as well as in the work of the Delaware County...

Bradford White.(In Brief)
January 1, 2007... Bradford White continued its industry support by donating $15,000 to the Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors--National Association. The company gave $7,500 to PHCC-NA's apprenticeship program and another $7,500 to the National Auxiliary...

Grainger recently awarded three remaining 2006 scholarships to technical education students in Illinois.(In Brief)
January 1, 2007... Grainger recently awarded three remaining 2006 scholarships to technical education students in Illinois, Ohio and Maryland, completing the first year of the company's Tools for Tomorrow scholarship program. The program provides funding for...

The International Code Council.(In Brief)(new headquarters)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The International Code Council will move its world headquarters to the heart of Washington and into a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified building. Two blocks away from the Capitol, the new location is intended to enhance...

A. O. Smith Water Products Co.(In Brief)
January 1, 2007... As a result of major changes the A. O. Smith Water Products Co. plant in McBee, S.C., made to its safety program over the last four years, the facility recently achieved a safety milestone, working 1 million hours without a lost-time incident,...

Taco is raising prices on various commercial products and parts, effective Jan. 19.(In Brief)
January 1, 2007... Taco is raising prices on various commercial products and parts, effective Jan.19. The price increases range from 3% to 7%. Taco commercial products and parts include base-mounted inline pumps, vertical multi-stage pumps, suction diffusers,...

Sell the benefit of continuous hot water.(INDUSTRY EDUCATION)
January 1, 2007... SHIRLEY, WE'RE OUT of hot water again!" Homeowners want hot water in endless supply. Tankless water heating technology lets you give it to them in a whole new way, and not just when their water heater breaks. Previously, we discussed...

Foundation gets Ferguson gift.(INDUSTRY EDUCATION)
January 1, 2007... NEWPORT NEWS, VA. -- Wholesaler Ferguson Enterprises announced in December 2006 that a $10,000 contribution has been made to support the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Educational Foundation's "Invest In Your Future" annual giving...

A crescent city welcome: eighty years of service in New Orleans and the loyalty of customers and employees make Bienvenu Brothers Enterprises our mechanical contractor of the year.
January 1, 2007... Drago Cvitanovich, well into his 80s, holds court at the end of his bar at Drago's, "Home of the Original Charbroiled Oyster," in Metairie, La. Son Tommy runs the place now, packed on a Wednesday night in mid-December as it is for every lunch...

Using Mother Earth to heat snow-melt systems.(EATHERTON ON HYDRONICS)
January 1, 2007... WE DISCUSSED THE potential of solar thermal energy as an alternative to conventionally powered snow-melt systems in last month's column (pg. 24). This month, we will begin to look at Mother Earth as an energy alternative. It's funny how at...

Heating the land of the midnight sun.(HYDRONIC SYSTEMS)(Klebs Mechanical)(Company overview)
January 1, 2007... HEADQUARTERED IN Anchorage is a mechanical systems company that is a landmark of Alaskan progress. Klebs Mechanical is a contracting firm that employs about 85 people and serves the construction and service/replacement markets in the commercial...

Software handles service management tasks.(FELDMANS ON COMPUTERS)
January 1, 2007... SUITABLE FOR SMALL and medium-sized service businesses, ServiceCEO (Insight Direct, www.insightdirect.com, 800/471-4200) is a turnkey management solution that tackles all aspects of workflow with in one application, starting from the incoming...

Is it safe, or not, to let an employee work?(McGREEVY ON LAW)
January 1, 2007... YOUR ELECTED officials and federal agencies in Washington have created a monster with the Americans with Disabilities Act. While well intentioned, it constantly puts employers between a rock and a hard place, and it has created endless job...

Did your lawyer (inadvertently) rip you off?(BLACKMAN ON TAXES)
January 1, 2007... JOE, A 63-YEAR-OLD reader of this column from Iowa, almost cried when talking to me on the phone. "I still want to kick myself for thinking my estate plan was done," he said. "For years I was convinced that my plan was... perfect.......

Atlas sighed, then died.(CRAIG ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT)(plumbing projects)
January 1, 2007... STRANGE HOW THE best advice you've always followed all your life and for good solid practical reasons, such as never playing poker with a man named "Doc" or responding to e-mails promising riches from a former Nigerian government official, all...

Simple steps for cold-weather marketing.(HUDSON ON MARKETING)(plumbing industry)
January 1, 2007... OK, FOLKS, GET OUT your scissors. I want you to cut out this column, tape it to your desk, on your marketing manager or in a place you're likely to stare at during the next three months. This'll be a free consult to guide you over the next...

KSW wins Trump Hotel job.(COLUMNISTS)
January 1, 2007... LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. -- KSW Inc. said in December that it was selected as the HVAC contractor for the Trump Hotel project being built on Spring Street in Manhattan. KSW's work on the job is valued at $11.9 million and will take two years to...

Unified group honors Airtight.(CRAIG ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT)
January 1, 2007... BROADVIEW, ILL. -- The Unified Group, and independent association of 53 commercial HVAC contractors, presented its Member of the Year award to Charlotte, N.C.-based AirTight Mechanical at the organization's annual meeting in November in San...

Website directory showcase.(anvilintl.com, borit.com, borzit.com)(Directory)
January 1, 2007... online at www.contractormag.com Below is the Website information for leading industry manufacturers and suppliers. Please visit the www.contractormag.com homepage and click on the Website Directory link to learn more about the products and...

The freedom CM condensing wall-hung boiler.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2007... THE FREEDOM CM CONDENSING WALL-HUNG BOILER delivers 95% AFUE, making it eligible for federal tax credit. The sleek, modern design features an aluminum monoblock heat engine that is gas-fired with fully modulating operating controls and outdoor...

The futera fusion boiler.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2007... THE FUTERA FUSION BOILER is IBR-listed and up to 97.5% efficient. The high-efficiency, gas-fired condensing boiler offers full modulation and a 3:1 turndown. It is available in sizes from 500 to 2,000 MBH. It features a gasket-less primary heat...

The new 1" SDS rotary hammer.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2007... THE NEW 1" SDS ROTARY HAMMER features an anti-vibration system previously only offered on larger hammers. Three modes of operation are available to the user. Features include a keyless SDS chuck for fast bit changes without a tool, a variable...

The type 546 large diameter ball valve.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2007... THE TYPE 546 LARGE DIAMETER BALL VALVE is available in sizes 2 1/2", 3" and 4". The valve can be actuated pneumatically or electrically, and is offered with a wide range of accessories. It is suitable for applications including waste water,...

The modulex line of condensing boilers.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2007... THE MODULEX LINE OF CONDENSING BOILERS offers six sizes for operations that require from 300,000 to one million Btuh capacity. With modulating capabilities from 6:1 to 23:1 depending on the unit, the line delivers best-in-class turndown to...

The maxi-rooter drain cleaning machine.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2007... THE MAXI-ROOTER DRAIN CLEANING MACHINE is driven by a powerful 3/4 HP motor to clean even stubborn roots. It can power-feed 3/4" or 5/8" cable at the operator's chosen speed from zero to 20' per minute. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] General...

The tempra electric tankless water heater.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2007... THE TEMPRA ELECTRIC TANKLESS WATER HEATER uses very little space, is seismic proof, and requires no venting to install. A variety of models are available to choose from. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stiebel Eltron CIRCLE 107 ON INQUIRY...

The Phoenix gas-fired water heater.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2007... THE PHOENIX GAS-FIRED WATER HEATER is a sealed-combustion, direct-vent unit designed for both residential and commercial applications. Operating with either natural gas or liquid propane, the heater has a combustion efficiency of 96%. ...

The combi2 and powerstor2 series water heaters.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2007... THE COMBI2 AND POWERSTOR2 SERIES WATER HEATERS both feature the company's Vitraglas coated, double-wall heat exchanger coil. They can be conventional- or power-vented, and are available in capacities of 50-gal. and 75-gal. Both come with the...

The Enviro-Pak hot water maker.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2007... THE ENVIRO-PAK HOT WATER MAKER is designed to reduce water heating equipment load and provide free hot water through heat recovery. Designed to work with existing or newly-installed air-conditioning or refrigeration systems in the 1.5 to 5-ton...

The hytronic line of sensor-operated faucets.(PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2007... THE HYTRONIC LINE OF SENSOR-OPERATED FAUCETS have been tested to over 1.75 million activations to ensure reliability. They use an efficient twin beam system that helps minimize false activations. They feature solid brass construction and a...

Bienvenu Brothers welcomes service challenge.(EDITORIAL)
January 1, 2007... WHEN STANLEY BERGER accepted the presidency of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America a couple years back, he noted that he was the first service contractor ever to lead MCAA. The Mechanical Service Contractors of America--MCAA's...