November | PM Magazine | Plumbing & Mechanical

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

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

Plumber of the Month: Mike Flynn

November 25, 2019

Why he’s PM’s Plumber of the Month: “Mike does amazing boiler and pipe installation work. He can take a mess of a situation and make it look like gold. He is extremely talented and takes great pride in his work and it shows. His technique and drive is to always aim for perfection.

Radiant Comfort Report

Development of the 2021 Uniform Solar, Hydronics & Geothermal Code

Les Nelson

November 15, 2019

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

"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

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

Cutting commercial water consumption in California

Santa Barbara resort upgrades water softening system.

Dan Vastyan

November 13, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Radiant Comfort Report

Join the RPA

November 8, 2019

More to offer than ever. Joining the Radiant Professionals Alliance is one of the best business moves contractors can make.

Watts extends eLearning program

November 8, 2019

Through Watts Works Online, users can access convenient online training on the products and solutions from all Watts brands.

Radiant Comfort Report

Technically-oriented project articles needed

November 8, 2019

If you would like to showcase your radiant project in the Radiant Comfort Report, we need to hear from you.

Radiant Comfort Report

RPA at 2020 AHR Expo

November 8, 2019

The Radiant Professionals Alliance is pleased to be participating at the 2020 AHR Expo in Orlando, Florida, Feb. 3-5. The AHR Expo is the world’s largest HVACR event, and the RPA is offering an educational lineup of member experts who will be presenting free seminars.

Radiant Comfort Report

Hydronics Industry Alliance hosts breakfast meeting at AHR Expo

November 8, 2019

Also at the 2020 AHR Expo in February, the Hydronics Industry Alliance — the Commercial (HIA-C) committee of the RPA — will once again host a breakfast meeting on Feb. 5.

Radiant Comfort Report

Building efficiency software upgrade available

November 8, 2019

IAPMO introduced the latest upgrade to the Building Efficiency System Tool (BEST) software, available for download at www.iapmo.org/hiac.

Elkay welcomes new president and CEO ahead of company's 100th anniversary in 2020

Ric Phillips joins Elkay from Essendant

October 21, 2019

Elkay Manufacturing announced that President and CEO Tim Jahnke, who has led the company since 2007, plans to retire from day-to-day leadership to concentrate on his role on Elkay's Board of Directors.

PMI on proposed revisions to Lead and Copper Rule: ‘An Important Step Forward’

October 11, 2019

The proposed rule represents the first major overhaul of federal protections for lead in drinking water in two decades.

Laars condensing boiler and water heater series

November 13, 2019

The MagnaTherm HTD series of condensing boilers and volume water heaters boasts real time O2 trim compensation that maintains ideal air-to-fuel ratios, full 20:1 turndown on all sizes to match varying load profiles and the Laars Linc icon-driven control system.

General Pipe Cleaners water jet

November 13, 2019

General Pipe Cleaners’ portable JM-1000 Mini-Jet and JM-1450 water jet drain cleaners feature the new high-performance stainless steel braid jet hose that makes it easier to slide down 1 1/2” to 3” drain lines and more easily navigate tight bends, the company explains.

Navien non-condensing tankless water heater

November 13, 2019

The Premium Non-condensing (NPN) series tankless water heaters will be offered in two series, the NPN-U (universal) and NPN-E (exterior), both of which will be available in 160,000 Btu/h, 180,000 Btu/h and 199,900 Btu/h models for either natural gas or liquid propane.