The July 2021 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical features how the growing labor shortage demands tools become smarter, more intuitive, talking toilets and touchless, and much more!
Upgrading restrooms to be hands-free adds exponential value for business owners, and plumbing franchises have the mass infrastructure and support necessary to provide businesses with these upgrades and the promotional materials that will help them bring in more customers.
This month marks my seven-year anniversary with BNP Media, and seven years writing about the trades. When I first started, I knew next to nothing about HVAC and plumbing, not to mention I didn’t have any contacts or friends within the industry.
Troubleshooting hydronic systems can be challenging, as the pipes are hidden behind walls. Your imagination has to help you “see” the routing of the piping.
All plumbers can turn a wrench, but not all contractors can turn a profit. Turning a profit requires tradespeople learn how to master the trade of business.
The measure of a heat pump’s heating performance is called coefficient of performance (COP). It’s the ratio of useful heat output divided by required energy input, where both the output and input are expressed in the same physical units.
Man has been using tools since the dawn of time — or just the Stone Age, really. However, that’s still 2.6 million years of evolution from hammerstones, hand axes and more. Nowadays, plumbers and pipefitters count on their tools of the trade to get the job done and keep their customers happy and healthy.
As the company’s fifth office location, the Salt Lake City office will serve multiple functions, including a Global Center of Excellence for ServiceTitan Customer Support.
After years of rigorous testing, the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has approved the use of MegaPress CuNi mechanically attached fittings in sizes 1/2-inches to 2-inches in surface combatants for a variety of systems, including chilled water, potable water, electronic freshwater cooling, seawater cooling, washdown countermeasures, drainage and many others.
Loud, “banging” pipes — a customer complaint that professional plumbers know all too well. And if left untreated, they can have serious implications that result in complex plumbing system issues.
According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Living Impacts Design Report for 2020, there are four overarching themes emerging throughout the bath and kitchen industry: Healthy living, simplified living, connected living and living in place.
The major trend in the commercial boiler market, which will continue in 2021 and beyond, is the predominance of packaged boilers installed in multiple boiler cascade systems.
The demand for energy-efficient commercial appliances continues to grow — especially as government initiatives continue to promote the use of energy-efficient solutions.
For 50 years, top professionals have made the easy-to-use, handheld Super-Vee power drain cleaner their “go-to” weapon against clogs in small lines up to 3" in diameter, General Pipe Cleaners notes.
Uponor’s lightweight, flexible PEX system brings greater efficiencies and safety to jobsites with a solution that is fast for contractors to learn, easy to maneuver and install, and joins without the need for dangerous chemicals or open flame, the manufacturer explains.
The Moda Supply Box system is designed to meet the needs of plumbing contractors for washing machines, ice makers, lavatories, toilets, dishwashers and SureVent air-admittance Vvlve applications.
To address health and hygiene concerns, Bemis is offering commercial toilet seats with DuraGuard Antimicrobial, a built-in property that inhibits the growth of bacteria.
Taco Comfort Solutions’ 007e, 0015e and 0018e ECM circulators are now available in NSF/ANSI 61- and 372-certified stainless steel for domestic water circulation.
The EVR Series is a breakthrough touchless restroom faucet from Chicago Faucets. EVR operates hands-free, improving hygiene in any restroom, the company notes.
Sioux Chief preformed copper fittings are proudly made in Peculiar, Missouri. Sioux Chief has been manufacturing innovative products like preformed copper for rough plumbing contractors since 1957.
PRIER Products’ new P-6IV irrigation valve comes with a built-in elbow that swivels to allow for easy installation and reduced cost for extra parts, the company notes.
Some manufacturers skimp on materials to reduce weight and cost. Those valves may look like Milwaukee Valve’s, but they can fail faster and require more callbacks.
Milwaukee cobalt step drill bits are designed from the ground up to deliver unmatched performance with up to 15 times life in stainless steel and more than 1,000 holes in mild steel, the manufacturer notes.
The Goulds Water Technology AGS Series axial grinder pump is built with a semi-open impeller and an engineered cutter and plate assembly designed to pass the solids and flushable materials found in the modern wastewater stream, Goulds explains.
Diablo’s Steel Demon AMPED reciprocating saw blades have industrial-grade coating, Black Industrial Cooling Element (I.C.E.), that provides the coolest, cleanest cutting edge and a superior chip evacuation, the manufacturer notes.