Contractor articles from October 2007

Contractor archives from October 2007

Saving Grace: a boiler replacement helps the community at Grace Church save money and stay warm.
October 1, 2007... HINSDALE, ILL.--Two years ago the Grace Episcopal Church here was facing a problem common to owners of most institutional buildings: spiraling heating costs. But their problem was larger than just the rising price of natural gas. The church's...

MCAA launches the first green wave.(Conference notes)
October 1, 2007... MILWAUKEE--Approximately 250 mechanical contractors who see a green future ahead of them gathered here for the first Mechanical Contractors Association of America Green Opportunities Conference. The attendees know that somebody is going to be...

Solar world looks to Washington this month.
October 1, 2007... WASHINGTON--Twenty teams from colleges and universities worldwide will compete here this month to determine who can design the most energy-efficient house powered completely by solar energy. The teams will bring their finished homes to the...

Residential Water Heater Shipments.(CONTRACTOR INFOCUS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

MCAA unveils green contractor Website.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Website overview)
October 1, 2007... MILWAUKEE--Dave Kruse, president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America, unveiled www.green-contractors.us, a new resource for contractors involved in green and sustainable construction and service. Kruse announced that the...

Workforce, insurance hinder industry, Finley says.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... NEW ORLEANS--Lack of new young people coming into the industry and the high cost of insurance are the two biggest impediments hindering the industry, said Jim Finley, incoming president of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National...

Geothermal, radiant a congenial pair.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(heating pumps)
October 1, 2007... HARTFORD, CONN.--Geo-thermal heat pumps and radiant floor heat make a great combination, especially at the relatively low temperatures that radiant requires, said Jeff Persons, president of Geo Source One Inc., Plain City, Ohio. Persons...

Chicago MCA promotes green education.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Museum of Contemporary Art )
October 1, 2007... CHICAGO--Once considered a passing fad, green building has driven its roots deep into the American landscape. City Halls in Chicago and Atlanta have green rooftops, and green building initiatives are thriving in Seattle, Denver, Dallas and...

Contractors advised to lead rather than boss.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... CHICAGO--Contractors must be open to a change in leadership style if they want to hire and retain a skilled and motivated workforce, Gary Heil, founder of the Center for Innovative Leadership, told members of the Construction Contractors...

Eatery gets innovative interceptor.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... SEATTLE, WA.--Last year saw the opening of the Boka Restaurant as part of a multi-use complex including two other restaurants and a hotel/condominium. It features upscale American cuisine in an upscale setting: the interior was designed by...

Contractor Infocus.
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

American residential services LLC.(In Brief)
October 1, 2007... American Residential Services LLC, a privately held, nationwide provider of HVAC services, has purchased Jacksonville-based Florida Home Air Conditioning Co. as part of its strategy for continued growth through acquisitions. With strategic...

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.(In Brief)
October 1, 2007... Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Dallas was recently ranked no. 3,659 on the Inc. 5,000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. The company, an independently-owned franchise, earned its way onto the list with an impressive sales...

Uponor.(In Brief)(launching a education program for professionals)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Uponor is launching a continuing education program for building professionals with a series of webinars hosted by Robert Bean. This live webinar series, delivered by industry experts free of charge, is available at www.uponor-usa.com and will...

InSinkErator.(In Brief)
October 1, 2007... InSinkErator is embarking on its 20th year of supporting professional development of p-h-c contractors at Network '07, the 125th Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association annual convention slated for Oct. 24-27, in Anaheim,...

Wolseley PLC.(In Brief)
October 1, 2007... Wolseley PLC, the world's largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors has announced two major acquisitions. On Aug. 13, 2007, Ferguson acquired Western Air Systems & Controls Inc. from Glenn...

Contractors focus of employee classification law.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... CHICAGO--Illinois contractors who intentionally misclassify their workers as independent contractors could face $2,500 fines and a ban on state construction jobs under a new law that goes into effect here Jan. 1. Illinois Gov. Rod...

Grainger intros new showroom.(INDUSTRT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... MORTON GROVE, ILL.--W.W. Grainger Inc. recently showcased one of its expanded facilities here with an open house that attracted area contractors who came to see firsthand the company's increased local inventory and to meet its additional staff....

Fifth generation joins Craft.(INDUSTRT NEWS)(Jessica L. Craft joins James Craft & Son )(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... YORK HAVEN, PA.--Jessica L. Craft, 23, recently became the first fifth-generation family member to work at the family-owned business James Craft & Son. Jessica Craft officially joined the company in the human resources department in...

MSCA to address job placement.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... MOUNT PROSPECT, ILL.--Barbara Do-lim, executive director of the Mechanical Service Contractors Association, will discuss a job placement program for students interested in the HVAC industry during the 2008 HVAC Excellence Educators and Trainers...

Commuting energy exceeds buildings' energy use.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(proper energy usage in buildings)
October 1, 2007... BRATTLEBORO, VT.--An examination of the "transportation energy intensity" of buildings has found that getting people to and from buildings uses more energy than the buildings themselves consume. The article in the September 2007 issue of...

AFSA names R.I. Rep. sprinkler advocate of year.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... DALLAS--The American Fire Sprinkler Association has selected Congressman Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) as its Fire Sprinkler Advocate of 2007 in recognition of his leadership in promoting fire and life safety through the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of...

Open house shows leading edge med-gas training.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... MOKENA, ILL.--The Chicago area's United Association Pipefitters Local 597 held a grand opening in late August for its full-scale training hospital for medical gas installation, service, certification, maintenance and design. The hospital...

Emcor buys two large California contractors.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... NORWALK, CONN.--Emcor Group Inc. announced further growth of its Mobile Service Solutions operations. Underscoring the growing strength and importance of its Mobile Services unit, Emcor reported completion in mid-August of two...

PSI urges contractors to 'Dare to Deviate'.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... ORLANDO, FLA.--Nearly 400 contractors gathered here recently for the latest Plumbers' Success International Summit, which centered on the theme "Dare to Deviate." Terry Nicholson, president of Plumbers' Success International, led off the...

Look to retail, restaurants and hire their best.(EDUCATION)
October 1, 2007... Auniversal truth in our industry seems to be that contractors need more employees. While there are the lucky few who have all the good employees they need or who prefer to work as a one-man shop, the majority of contractors simply need...

Lasco cuts Georgia production.(EDUCATION)(Lasco Bathware)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... ANAHEIM, CALIF.--Lasco Bathware has announced that it is temporarily suspending manufacturing at its Cordele, Ga., production facility in response to lower demand. The acrylic and gelcoat bath fixtures company said it will continue to use the...

A green star on the horizon.(FORUM)
October 1, 2007... Green building means a lot of things to different people. To those of us in the construction industry, it means healthy, money-saving, environmentally friendly buildings. The Mechanical Contractors Association of Chicago has invested heavily in...

Mich. rejects imported iron.
October 1, 2007... LANSING, MICH.--The Michigan Construction Code Commission has banned state contractors from using imported cast iron soil pipe and fittings from MWI Import Products on state construction projects. The commission's ruling comes after MWI...

Mentoring high school students works.(WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT)
October 1, 2007... According to figures published by the U.S. Department of Labor, there will be as many as 1.3 million job openings in the construction industry by 2010. As intimidating as this figure is, it is still a conservative estimate. Professional...

Digital to find employees: the industry should pursue a growing number of budding techies who are turning to employment Websites for their job search.(WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT)(Survey)
October 1, 2007... The specialty contracting sector, like many other parts of the economy has a labor problem. Our workforce is aging. According to a recent survey by MEP Jobs, an employment Website catering to this sector, 78% of current workers are ages 31 to...

Retrofit variable speed pump considerations, Part 2.(EATHERTON ON HYDRONICS)
October 1, 2007... At the end of last month's column (September, p. 38), I promised that we would venture into the world of sizing retrofit circulators for light commercial projects using variable speed pumps. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While there are no...

Watching a killer at work, Part 1.(EATHERTON ON HYDRONIC SYSTEMS)
October 1, 2007... HYDRONIC HEATING CONTRACTOR We have all had this phone call. Even if it's not one of our own installations, we still have a moral obligation to address the situation to the best of our capabilities and, we hope, make a good customer for...

Solution makes time tracking easy.(FELDMANS ON COMPUTERS)(product information of Exaktime Inc.)(JobClock)(PocketClock)
October 1, 2007... The JobClock System (www.jobclock.com, 888-788-8463) is a method of attendance and time tracking for any number of jobsites and workers. The system is available both as a stationary JobClock suitable for job sites where a crew will be working...

Purchase orders are contracts too.(MCGREEVY ON LAW)(evaluation and comparison between purchase orders and contracts)(Viewpoint essay)
October 1, 2007... For reasons that I do not understand, most contractors do not think of purchase orders as "contracts." Often, they purchase equipment and materials for jobs using forms that look as if they bought them at an office supply store. In fact, they...

Turn your home into an investment profit center.(BLACKMAN ON TAXES)
October 1, 2007... The key to successful tax planning is learning how to select the best tax-saving strategies to accomplish your specific goals. My job is easy--pick the right strategies. Your job is tougher--pick your goals. But it's a fact that your goals will...

PMs still need essential estimating skills.(CRAIG ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT)(skills required by project managers)
October 1, 2007... Even with the continued industry trend (perhaps because of it?) of separating the career paths, job descriptions and responsibilities of senior-level estimators and project managers, knowledge of how to accurately estimate jobs is still a very...

When leads, sales don't come, who's to blame?(HUDSON ON MARKETING)
October 1, 2007... The majority of plumbing contractors hit a rough patch from time to time. The key to overcoming it is knowing what went wrong and what to do about it. Take a look at the following common problem areas and their solutions. You can easily avoid...

Are you the bottleneck in your business?(BEST PRACTICES)(methods for managing business and businesspeople own role)
October 1, 2007... Smart owners are always on the lookout for factors that limit their business' growth and productivity. Sometimes, however, a significant bottleneck can be found staring back at you in the mirror. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Let's start by...

UL to certify high-efficiency faucets for EPA.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... NORTHBROOK, ILL.--Underwriters Laboratories announced in mid-September that it will provide testing and certification services for high-efficiency lavatory faucets and faucet accessories for the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense...

NSF announces new geothermal certification.
October 1, 2007... ANN ARBOR, MICH.--NSF International's Plumbing Program recently introduced a new geothermal listing for piping products that will ultimately produce cost-effective and environmentally- friendly methods to heat and cool buildings. According...

NES Rentals promotes safety.(Click It! campaign for employee safety)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... CHICAGO-NES Rentals Holdings Inc. has implemented a promotional campaign to increase jobsite safety and reduce injuries when operating aerial work platforms. The "Click It!" campaign, developed by Aerial Work Platform Training, uses a...

State laws show public policy advances for subs.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... ALEXANDRIA, Va.--As the 2007 legislative session draws to a close for the majority of states, construction subcontractors in key states have cause to celebrate following the enactment of several laws promising to improve the business...

Viega facility hailed as sustainable.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Spagnolo/Gisness and Associates received award for constructing green building for educatoinal institute)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... BOSTON - The New England Chapter of the International Interior Design Association has awarded the architectural firm of Spagnolo Gisness & Associates Inc. the 2007 Interior Design Award in the sustainable category for their design of Viega's...

MCAA releases safety talks.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... ROCKVILLE, MD.--The Mechanical Contractors Association of America Inc. recently released the publication "Tailgate Safety Talks-Volume II." The publication, developed by the Mechanical Service Contractors of America, is only available...

Jack Tester.(Contractors)
October 1, 2007... Jack Tester has been promoted to head Nexstar's business coaching department. Tester's responsibility will be to help grow the department, increase the business services offered their members and insure coaching uniformity within the...

Jeff Moody.(Contractors)(promotion to vice president post employee of Mr. Rooter Corp.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... The Mr. Rooter Corp. has announced the promotion of Jeff Moody from franchise systems manager to vice president of operations. In his new role Moody will manage business development, lead the brand in system compliance and work closely with the...

Wesley W. Schultz.(Contractors)
October 1, 2007... Wesley W. Schultz has been named service division manager at Shaw Mechanical Services in Orlando, Fla. Schultz, whose career began three decades ago as an honor graduate of the U.S. Army refrigeration equipment repair school, brings 20 years of...

A. O. Smith Water Products Co.(Contractors)
October 1, 2007... A. O. Smith Water Products Co. has announced the recipients of the 2007 A. O. Smith Professional Contractor Association Scholarship Program. The 10 finalists were selected from more than 150 applicants nationwide, and each recipient received...

Clockwork Home Services Inc.(Contractors)
October 1, 2007... Clockwork Home Services Inc., a leading provider of home services, announced its appointment of Robert J. Clanin to chief financial officer. Clanin, who is a member of Clockwork's board of directors, is coming out of retirement to join the...

Shawn Martin.(Manufacturers)
October 1, 2007... The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute has announced that Shawn Martin has joined the organization as technical director. Prior to his work at PMI, Martin managed the applied field research of the National Association of Homebuilders Research...

John Way.(Manufacturers)
October 1, 2007... Weil-McLain has named John Way as president. Way comes to Weil-McLain from Thermal Product Solutions, a unit of SPX Corp. and a global leader in thermal processing products, where he served as president. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Zoeller Pump Co.(Manufacturers)
October 1, 2007... Zoeller Pump Co. has announced the following per sonnel changes and additions to the Sales/Marketing Department. Scott Sweeney has been promoted t o national sales manager. Previously, Sweeney worked in the company's Technical Service...

Peerless Boilers.(Manufacturers)
October 1, 2007... Peerless Boilers recently created a new department at their headquarters in Bally, Pa. The new "Department of Applied Technology" will be devoted to researching and developing new heating technology, as well as training for the new products....

Hamel Associates Inc.(Manufacturers)
October 1, 2007... Sloan Valve Co. is pleased to announce their representative Hamel Associates Inc., Edina, Minn., recently was named 2007 Manufacturers' Rep of the Year by the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association of Minnesota in recognition of its...

Stephen P. Anderson.(Manufacturers)
October 1, 2007... Swanstone has hired Stephen P. Anderson as its new president, effective Sept. 6. Anderson takes the place of Peter Warren, who will remain on the Swanstone Board of Directors. Anderson arrives at Swanstone with a 20-year career in the building...

Kent Swart.(Manufacturers)
October 1, 2007... Thermal Dynamics has announced the hiring of Kent Swart as market manager, Americas-Plasma. Swart will manage the plasma cutting marketing through all distribution channels. Swart worked for 12 years for Diagraph, an ITW Company, where he most...

Terry A. Moody.(Manufacturers)
October 1, 2007... Thermadyne Industries has announced the appointment of Terry A. Moody as its executive vice president of Global Operations. Moody was formerly employed by Videocon Industries, a privately held manufacturer of high end digital products, where he...

Ryan Chubon.(Manufacturers)
October 1, 2007... Lubrizol Advanced Materials, a subsidiary of The Lubrizol Corp. has announced the addition of Ryan Chubon as south region field piping systems consultant. Most recently, Chubon was an outside sales representative for Ferguson Enterprises in...

Paul Mueller.(Manufacturers)
October 1, 2007... Turbo Torch has announced the hiring of Paul Mueller as marketing/ product/sourcing manager. Mueller most recently was product manager for Star Mfg., a commercial cooking equipment manufacturer, in St. Louis

Nelson Guerra and Frank Sousa.(Manufacturer)(appointment at Jomar Distributors Inc.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Jomar Distributors has announced that Nelson Guerra and Frank Sousa have joined their sales team. Nelson Guerra was named as Jomar's technical sales specialist and will work primarily out of Jomar's Ded-ham location. Guerra has more than 20...

ARI, GAMA continue to eye merger.(COLUMNISTS)(Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute)(Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... ARLINGTON, VA.--Executive committees of the Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association recently decided that the two organizations should continue the merger process. The decision was based on...

Danfoss symposium to focus on education.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... BALTIMORE-Industry decision- and policy-makers will discuss "Breaking Through: Creating an Informed Energy-Efficiency Technology Marketplace" at the sixth Danfoss En-Visioneering symposium Oct. 23 in Washington. Chandra Govindarajalu,...

Clockwork acquires plumbing franchisees.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... SARASOTA, FLA.--Clockwork Home Services Inc. recently acquired several plumbing, air conditioning and heating and electrical franchisees in markets across the U.S. The acquired companies will operate in their respective markets under the...

Editor's choice.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE TPE CIRCULATOR features an integrated variable frequency drive motor for ease of installation and space savings. The drive adjusts the pump's speed to meet changing demands. The circulator provides differential pressure control, temperature...

The tanager under-counter kitchen sink.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE TANAGER UNDER-COUNTER KITCHEN SINK ships complete with an installation kit. It features single-hole faucet drilling and two accessory holes. Manufactured of rugged cast iron, the sink offers a clean, contemporary design. The basins measure...

The camerist kitchen and bar faucet.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE CAMERIST KITCHEN AND BAR FAUCET now features an integrated pull-out spray. The spray has an easy-turn swivel joint on the end of the hose and four spray options: stream, rinse, pause and veggie (a gentle spray ideal for delicate fruits and...

The kwikstop 1/4-turn water supply stops.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE KWIKSTOP 1/4-TURN WATER SUPPLY STOPS feature the company's proprietary Quick-Connect Technology. The ends work seamlessly with any 1/2" copper, PEX or CPVC pipe and are available in both angle and straight patterns. They eliminate the need...

Autocraft 70S-6 solid mig wires.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... AUTOCRAFT 70S-6 SOLID MIG WIRES for arc welding filler are now offered 2, 11, 33 and 44 lb. spools and 550 and 830 lb. drums. Spools are layer level wound, constructed of durable ABS plastic, and are distinctly marked with specifications and...

A complete line of solder and accessories.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... A COMPLETE LINE OF SOLDER AND ACCESSORIES is now offered under the company's brand name. Products include lead-free solder for plumbing and HVAC applications, brazing alloys and solder prep tools including flux, abrasives and brushes. The...

The checkpoint electronic faucet.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE CHECKPOINT ELECTRONIC FAUCET is easy to install in almost any design. The hands-free, sensor-operated faucet conserves water while reducing the risk of cross-contamination. The sensor is tested to exceed 500,000 activations, and will...

The 1420 series miniature diaphragm compressor and vacuum pump.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE 1420 SERIES MINIATURE DIAPHRAGM COMPRESSOR AND VACUUM PUMP is designed primarily for medical applications. It achieves higher flows than conventional pumps of the same physical size. It is designed for efficient, quiet operation. ...

The sideway showerpanel.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE SIDEWAY SHOWERPANEL features a thin profile and recessed body jets. It delivers custom-shower functionality in a single fixture. It is pre-plumbed and pre-assembled for easy installation. It features a retractable handshower/ showerhead and...

The T-K3-OS tankless water heater.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE T-K3-OS TANKLESS WATER HEATER is designed for outdoor installation only. The unit measures 13.8" wide and weighs only 40 lb., allowing it to be mounted on a wall or installed between two wall studs using a recess box. It features a built-in...

The new 300 series showerheads.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE NEW 300 SERIES SHOWERHEADS are single-setting fixtures that feature dramatic shapes while delivering powerful sprays. They measure 8" across with double-plated styling and a minimalist aesthetic that compliments modern bathroom designs. ...

The high performance series water heaters.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE HIGH PERFORMANCE SERIES WATER HEATERS provide hot water delivery from a space-saving, convenient package. When tested to the industry standard first hour delivery procedure, the 25-gal. model can can provide 155 gallons and the 55-gal....

The armor water heater.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE ARMOR WATER HEATER offers thermal efficiencies up to 98%. The heater features inputs up to 500,000 Btuh, a stainless steel heat exchanger, 5:1 modulating turndown, an anti-lime scale design and sophisticated controls. It is offered in five...

The GTC1AC34RA protective grounding clamp.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE GTC1AC34RA PROTECTIVE GROUNDING CLAMP is designed to make the installation of grounding sets on front pad mounted equipment faster and safer. The clamp's right angle design means the entire grounding set can be easily contained and...

This 500-watt portable halogen work light.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THIS 500-WATT PORTABLE HALOGEN WORK LIGHT is lightweight, making it easy to transport to and from the job site. Its bright 500-watt light is set in a heavy-duty cast aluminum housing with an embossed aluminum reflector that intensifies the...

New steamshower generator packages.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... NEW STEAMSHOWER GENERATOR PACKAGES now feature steamheads designed to match the controls, as well as the fixtures and accessories of the bathroom. Traditional and contemporary styles are available. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ThermaSol ...

The gen-eye GL video inspection system.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE GEN-EYE GL VIDEO INSPECTION SYSTEM now features a self-leveling color camera and DVD recorder. The camera automatically keeps the picture right side up at all times, making it easier for the user and customers to follow the action. The...

The CSM14B 14" metal cutting saw.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE CSM14B 14" METAL CUTTING SAW is equipped with the durable and fast-cutting Metal Devil 14" carbide-tipped blade for a virtually spark-free working environment. The low-speed high-torque motor is optimized for metal cutting at 15 amps and...

This solar-powered attic fan.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THIS SOLAR-POWERED ATTIC FAN helps remove heat and moisture, reducing energy consumption and extending the life of HVAC equipment and shingles. As an added bonus, it helps keep insulation dry. It runs continuously without batteries or an...

The all-in-one pedestal lavatory ensemble.(PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2007... THE ALL-IN-ONE PEDESTAL LAVATORY ENSEMBLE is a one-box kit that contains all the components needed for a fast, easy installation. It features a sleek china lavatory basin mounted on a pedestal, and accompanied by a two-handle, polished chrome...