Articles by Joseph Ursitti

It’s official: American Residential Services (ARS) has hit the bottom of the barrel.

The plumbing industry was rocked March 23 when ServiceMaster announced it’s acquiring American Residential Services for approximately $92 million in cash and $180 million in assumed debt.

Maurice Maio, a PM columnist since 1994, sold his two companies to American Residential Services (ARS) earlier this month.

This 37-year-old woman took Houston-based Village Plumbing from the verge of shutting its doors in 1992 to a $2.5 million operation this year.

ARS’ stock plummeted more than $25 per share to just under $3 in late September on news the company was not performing up to expectations.

Despite growth from do-it-yourself stores, contractors still have a big say when it comes to installing faucets.

U.S. Filter’s goal to own the world’s water came one step closer to reality when French-based Vivendi SA announced March 22 it is acquiring U.S. Filter for $6.2 billion.

Comfort Systems USA is a prime target for a large utility to buy, Business Week reported April 5.

If your neighbor calls at 2 a.m. to tell you some guy is breaking into the back of your truck, what would you do? Floyd Furr laughs.

A man with a semi-automatic handgun allegedly shot a slow flushing toilet when it didn’t flush fast enough, according to The Times in Northwest Indiana.