September 2019 | PM Magazine

The September 2019 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical highlights the upcoming PHCCCONNECT2019 conference, explores current trends in hydronic heating and more.

Ready, set, CONNECT: PHCC heads to Indianapolis

Annual conference offers best practices, networking and new technologies.

Nicole Krawcke

August 1, 2019

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In just a few short weeks, hundreds of contractors will make their way to Indianapolis for the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors — National Association’s annual conference, PHCCCONNECT2019.

Voltex Water Heater stars in PBS’ “Ask This Old House”

New water heater reduces family’s monthly electric bill.

Brandon Stepanek

September 11, 2019

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Richard Trethewey is the heating and plumbing expert on the popular PBS home improvement show “Ask This Old House.” For an October 2018 episode, Trethewey met with homeowner Scott Sanders, who needed to replace an ailing 20-year-old electric tank water heater.

ServiceTitan co-founder and CEO Ara Mahdessian

PM Profile: Ara Mahdessian

ServiceTitan aims to simplify contracting business owners’ lives while increasing growth and revenue.

Nicole Krawcke

September 16, 2019

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Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke recently had the chance to sit down with ServiceTitan Co-founder and CEO Ara Mahdessian during the company’s annual user conference, Pantheon 2019, held in Pasadena, California.

A. O. Smith offers in-depth training opportunities

A.O. Smith A.O. Smith hosts grand opening of technical training facility

Renovated facility takes contractor education to the next level.

Mike Miazga

September 12, 2019

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How far has water-heater manufacturer A. O. Smith’s training capabilities come?

Reverse osmosis removes unwanted contaminants, bad tastes and odors from drinking water

Stop wasting customers' water and money.

Toby Hughes

September 11, 2019

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As public drinking water quality has come under more scrutiny in recent years, reverse osmosis (R.O.) systems have become increasingly popular in homes and businesses as alternatives to costly bottled water and water delivery services. R.O. systems remove unwanted contaminants, bad tastes and odors from drinking water by forcing municipal or well water through a semipermeable membrane.

ECM circulator myth-busting

Make the smart decision the first time.

John M. Barba

September 10, 2019

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That prophetic little quote from “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” pretty much sums up where our industry is today with residential ECM circulators. So many myths, many of them downright crazy, make it nearly impossible to make clear-headed and smart decisions for your customers.

A custom-designed, prefabricated, pre-pressurized network of Uponor

Hydronic heating provides superior comfort

Industry professionals weigh-in on current market trends.

Nicole Krawcke

September 9, 2019

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When John Kopf eventually gets around to designing and building his own house, he will go with hydronic heat instead of a more traditional forced air system. Kopf knows a thing or two about heating, having spent more than 20 years in the industry. He currently serves as boiler product manager for Navien.

Ray Wohlfarth: Consider a hybrid heating system buy assessment

Here is some food for thought.

Ray Wohlfarth

September 13, 2019

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The owner asked for a bid to replace her 35-year-old cast iron boiler which was still operating. She had two requirements: Redundancy in the event of a boiler malfunction and lower fuel costs for the building.

Nicole Krawcke: Time to think outside the box

Take successful strategies from outside the industry and apply them to the trades.

Nicole Krawcke

September 11, 2019

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Market disruption. It’s a hip, sexy new term that I hear everywhere nowadays. In fact, the last three industry conferences I attended all had sessions on how to become a “disrupter” or how Amazon has successfully disrupted numerous markets.

Matt Michel: 5 ISH trends

Anecdotal impressions of ISH Germany from the Service Nation team.

Matt Michel

September 12, 2019

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Every other year, ISH, the world’s largest PHC trade show is held in Frankfurt Germany.

Dave Yates: Heat pump mayhem

Think twice before you act.

Dave Yates

September 11, 2019

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Mmanufacturer of air-to-water heat pumps called asking if I would be willing to visit a home to perform a heat loss/gain calculation where two of its heat pump systems had been installed and determine why the home was not heating and cooling to the homeowners satisfaction.

Kenny Chapman: Size and stress levels aren’t related

Building, owning and leading a large company does not have to be more stressful than owning a small one.

Kenny Chapman

September 10, 2019

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I’ve been discussing with clients lately about scaling/growing their companies, and they fear that it will just be more stressful and possibly put a damper on their lifestyle and personal freedom.

Dan Holohan: Thermostat adventures

A look back at odd places.

Dan Holohan

September 9, 2019

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Twenty-five years ago, I wrote a story for this fine magazine. I titled it, “Only Gus Touch.” Over the years, many people have told me they still remember that tale and ask if I can send them a copy. Sure, why not?

John Siegenthaler: Bidirectional Btu

The flexibility of hydronic systems.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

September 6, 2019

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Over the years, our office has received requests for design assistance for systems involving two hydronic heat sources, each in different buildings, where the expectation is to have either heat source supply heat to either building.

Al Levi: Sharpening the axe before you need it company culture

The value of looking ahead, being prepared and staying ahead.

Al Levi

September 4, 2019

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It was still hot and sweaty in the midday sun just a couple of days after Labor Day in New York, and at first glance, you’d think we were out in the yard in the dead of winter.

Tool Tips: Drain line flushing

Tool Tips — September 2019

September 20, 2019

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A lot of times a snake cable will just stir up the sludge and I have seen cables in clean-outs or manholes downstream where the pipe is still clogged.

Ray Wohlfarth to offer low pressure steam classes

August 8, 2019

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Wohlfarth has more than 30 years of real-life experience inside boiler rooms and uses humor and jobsite stories to teach the class.

Truck of the Month: Beltz Home Service Co.

The entrepreneurial seizure

Nicole Krawcke

September 18, 2019

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U.S. Navy Veteran Brian Beltz got his start in the trades during his service as an interior communications electrician stationed on the destroyer, the USS John Hancock.

Legend Valve names new hydronic business development manager

July 19, 2019

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Legend Valve & Fitting announced the recent promotion of William (Bill) Werthman to hydronic business development manager of the Western Region.

ServiceTitan Announces Acquisition of CUC Software

August 2, 2019

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CUC Software will continue to offer customers support through April 1, 2020.

Easyflex announces two new reps

August 7, 2019

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Easyflex is pleased to announce Rothenberg Associates and Arrow Sales as reps, effective immediately.

Gene Barbato and Matthew Farwell American Standard

LIXIL Americas names new vice presidents

July 24, 2019

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LIXIL Americas announced two new positions that will drive brand-led growth and market share gains, the company said. Each leader will have full profit & loss responsibility as well as accountability for creating a seamless brand experience across all touchpoints in the consumer journey.

A. O. Smith strengthens its NAWT division

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Jones Stephens expanded the product offering of its PlumBite push on fittings, and adds complete drainage and cleanout system.

This program will explore how customers can easily gain efficiency, comfort, and/or performance to an existing residential hydronic heating system. We will look at how to optimize system efficiency using controls, components and/or circulators and the benefits to the end user. Outdoor responsive controls will be explored as a boiler reset as well as load reset in order to gain system reset, which saves fuel and adds comfort to existing projects.

Plumbing and Mechanical

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