November | PM Magazine

The November 2019 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical explores current trends in fleet vehicles and accessories and highlights everything you missed at PHCC CONNECT 2019.

PHCC contractors find value in educational sessions, networking at CONNECT 2019

Indianapolis hosts plumbing, heating, cooling contractors during annual conference.

Nicole Krawcke

November 13, 2019

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More than 900 plumbing, heating and cooling contractors raced into Indianapolis for PHCC’s annual CONNECT conference.

Radiant Comfort Report

Development of the 2021 Uniform Solar, Hydronics & Geothermal Code

Les Nelson

November 15, 2019

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Every three years the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials publishes a revised and updated version of its signature codes — the Uniform Plumbing Code and the Uniform Mechanical Code.

Radiant Comfort Report

Radiant: More than just a luxury home building option

Radiant systems grow in popularity in U.S. as design, installation efficiencies improve.

Nadia Askar

November 13, 2019

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"The history of the radiant market dates back to Egypt in 3,000 BC, when Ra was the God of Sun," says Max Rohr, academy manager with REHAU's building solutions division.

The Glitch and Fix: Keep the cost down

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

November 20, 2019

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An installer is asked to connect an old (but still working) propane-fueled cast-iron boiler, which was salvaged from another project, to a slab-on-grade floor heating system in a new workshop.

PM Profile: Mill-Rose Co. continues to deliver innovative products to its customers

Ohio-based manufacturer celebrating 100th anniversary this year.

Mike Miazga

November 18, 2019

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Cutting commercial water consumption in California

Santa Barbara resort upgrades water softening system.

Dan Vastyan

November 13, 2019

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Despite some reprieve from the draught that gripped the state for several years, Californians continue to find resourceful ways to trim their water consumption. Businesses large and small are no exception.

Single coil solution

Optimizing heat exchanger performance in renewable energy systems.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

November 15, 2019

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Some renewable energy heat sources require large thermal storage tanks. Examples include systems’ biomass boilers and solar thermal collectors.

Preventing scale damage in tankless water heaters

How to proactively prevent reduced water flow and efficiency.

Dennis DeBlock

November 11, 2019

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A lot of the water we use comes into contact with underground limestone, which is rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium.

Radiant Comfort Report

Les Nelson: RPA addressing labo shortage in radiant and hydronic industries

Les Nelson

November 6, 2019

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Welcome to the winter edition of the Radiant Comfort Report! This second edition of the RCR has a great piece by Dave Yates — take some time to check it out on page 8. By the time you read this, the RPA will have participated in its second year of co-sponsoring the PHCC CONNECT event in Indianapolis in October.

Radiant Comfort Report

Dave Yates: Dominoes

Failure of one part of a hydronic radiant system can cause the entire row to fall.

Dave Yates

November 11, 2019

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As a designer/installer of any hydronic radiant system (especially one that incorporates hydro-air, old preexisting standing cast iron radiators and an indirect water heater), you have dozens of steps involved that are not unlike setting up a winding row of dominoes.

Nicole Krawcke: Plumbing has entered the smart home market

It’s up to service professionals to educate consumers on these smart products — and increase their bottom lines.

Nicole Krawcke

November 13, 2019

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Though smart home technologies have been around for quite some time, it is only over the past five years or so that the market has really taken off.

Safety, efficiency, top 2020 trends for fleet vehicles

Manufacturers unveil 2020 model year vehicles and accessories.

Nicole Krawcke

November 11, 2019

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The days of folded paper maps and crank car windows are long gone. The cars of today practically drive themselves with features like park assist, lane detection and rearview cameras.

Dan Holohan: Thankful

Reflecting and reminiscing this holiday season.

Dan Holohan

November 8, 2019

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When our daughters were small, we would wake them before dawn on Thanksgiving morning and drive into Manhattan to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from a spot on Central Park West, just across the street from The Dakota (the apartment building where John Lennon lived and died).

John Siegenthaler: Low temperature leverage

A novel hardware combination offers several benefits.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

November 8, 2019

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Because they generate heat intermittently, renewable energy heat sources such as solar thermal collectors and pellet boilers require thermal storage tanks. So do storage-based systems using off-peak electricity, or micro combined heat and power (MCHP) generation.

Dave Yates: Honesty

The essential foundation for your business.

Dave Yates

November 6, 2019

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Honesty is such a lonely word (from the song, “Honesty” by Billy Joel). It never ceases to amaze me when folks we deal with are not honest.

Al Levi: Money from the scrap heap

Contractors have several options when it comes to handling scrap metal.

Al Levi

November 6, 2019

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A client called me awhile back because he wanted to know what my family did with the scrap metal from jobsites, and he wanted to know what the other companies I work with do on this matter too.