A journey through the Pacific Northwest offers a vivid reminder of the care and vigilance required to protect and deliver one of our most vital resources.
In nature, water moves in carefully balanced cycles: it falls as rain, runs along streams, and percolates through the soil. Each step in that journey is absolutely critical to maintaining water's life-giving power. Similarly, human plumbing and water systems are designed to replicate that balance.
Approximately twenty years ago, we got a call from someone who owned three identical apartment buildings in a nearby town. His name was Leonard. He recently visited an annual building-owners trade show and heard that we knew how to fix and properly adjust outdoor reset controls. Leonard called us, and we made an appointment.
As many companies adopt growth-oriented language, it’s important to explore the tactical strategies behind it. Key benchmarks to consider include: What roles do we need to fill in the next few years? How do we retain our experienced employees? Who is our ideal customer and how many will we have in three years? What are our projected revenues in 5 and 10 years? Are our plans aligned with healthy gross and EBITDA margins?
Many people still hesitate when they hear the phrase “tankless water heater.” The myths run deep: they won’t work in cold climates, they’re too expensive, they can’t keep up with demand. These misconceptions are fueled by early limitations in the technology and years of hearsay passed along between homeowners – and even some tradespeople.
Water chemistry significantly affects boilers, with scale buildup as small as one-sixteenth of an inch causing a 20 percent loss in heating efficiency and leading to corrosion, leaks, and potential boiler failure. Analyzing water chemistry beforehand is crucial for identifying necessary solutions and ensuring long-term performance.
Apprenticeship has long been the heartbeat of the plumbing and HVAC trades. But for today’s apprentices, training looks different than it did for their mentors and parents. With new online programs, flexible learning schedules, and updated curriculum that reflects the latest industry standards, apprentices are able to gain both the technical “booksmarts” and the on-the-job confidence needed to thrive.
At a supply water temperature of 103 ºF, the heating capacity of the heat pump is the same as the total heat dissipation ability of the distribution system. That’s where this system achieves thermal equilibrium. The floor heating zone is fine at this condition, but the output of the air handler is significantly lower than what was planned for based on the assumption that 120 ºF supply water would be available.
We didn't fully grasp the dangers since no one was OSHA certified or required to comply. It wasn't until one employee reported feeling faint while testing backflow preventers in a large underground pit that I recognized the risks. My right-hand man, also the Deputy Chief of the local hazmat team, had expertise in air quality testing.
Your energy drives the tone, the pace, and the performance of your team. If your goal is to create a culture where people show up strong, stay accountable, and do work they’re proud of—guess what? That starts with you showing up that way first.
When Brady Jolly steps into the office each morning, he’s carrying more than the responsibility of running a nearly 60-person business. He’s carrying forward the legacy of a company his parents founded back in 1979 — a company that has reinvented itself more than once and is today on a mission to "reimagine how the world experiences home services."