September 2021 | PM Magazine

Hydronic heat pumps ride the tide of electrification

September 13, 2021

According to the United Nations, 2019 was the second warmest year on record at the end of the warmest decade (2010-2019) ever recorded.

'American Plumber Stories' aims to fix the trades' labor shortage

Pfister’s new docuseries promotes plumbing as a fulfilling and rewarding career

Nicole Krawcke

September 17, 2021

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What do street drag racing, stock car racing, a senior basketball team and kite surfing have in common? They’re all hobbies of professional plumbers. Pretty cool, right? Pfister certainly thinks so, as the bath and kitchen manufacturer has launched a new docuseries featuring the lives of plumbers throughout the U.S.

Showers are no longer just for getting clean

Smart showers enhance growing luxury bathroom trend

Nicole Krawcke

September 23, 2021

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How many people can relate to this scenario? Your alarm doesn’t go off and you wake up in a panic because you are now late for work.

Feature-packed digital mixing valves

Raising the bar for safer domestic hot water systems design and distribution

Rick Cota

September 21, 2021

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There is a revolution happening in today’s plumbing marketplace, specifically when it involves domestic hot water system designs.

The real value of snow-melt systems

Why you should add snow- and ice-melt systems to your projects

Kolyn Marshall

September 15, 2021

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There’s a saying in the environmental health and safety industry: “There are no accidents.” Basically, the idea is this that all accidents can be avoided.

Kenny Chapman: Turn your routines into rituals

Power-up your leadership

Kenny Chapman

September 7, 2021

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Leadership is tricky in any industry. In my time serving as a leader for various service companies and as a leadership coach for countless more, I’ve learned a lot the hard way.

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Guest Editorial: Having tough conversations

Learn how to facilitate a discussion

Erica Leonor

September 9, 2021

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Have you ever put off a conversation with a co-worker or an employee because you knew it was going to be awkward or difficult? Like giving negative feedback or overcoming workplace friction?

Codes Corner: New digital strategies for building safety will be key to future sustainability

The industry is facing greater pressure to ensure plumbing and mechanical systems are sustainable and efficient

September 7, 2021

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For more than a year, the pandemic has escalated the need for the building safety industry to quickly evolve and incorporate a digital-first strategy.

Contractor Thinking About Heating System

Heating Help

Dan Holohan: What's inside?

Approach troubleshooting by thinking like the system you’re working on.

Dan Holohan

September 2, 2021

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This one goes back a bunch of years. The contractor was a good steam man, but he had run out of ideas with this job. It was a typical, five-story, New York City tenement building. Its one-pipe steam system had served generations of tenants for more than 100 years.

Nicole Krawcke: Home service industry rebounds after the pandemic

New report from Jobber shows consumer spending on home services — including plumbing and HVAC — has exceeded pre-pandemic levels

Nicole Krawcke

September 10, 2021

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There’s no doubt the COVID-19 pandemic affected businesses of all types and sizes. However, as the economy continues to recover in 2021, different categories are rebounding at different rates.

Marketing Magic: Before you talk to the media, read this

Be proactive rather than reactive

Heather Ripley

September 8, 2021

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One of the toughest calls I receive as the owner of a public relations agency specializing in the home services industry is from a plumbing or mechanical business owner asking for my help after they find themselves, or their business, in the middle of a crisis.

Matt Michel: 18 ways to recruit plumbers

Your ability to grow and profit depends on your ability to find and recruit new employees

Matt Michel

September 7, 2021

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The biggest challenge most plumbing contractors face is finding field service personnel. Recruiting is job — one for the company owner.

Hydronics Workshop

John Siegenthaler: Freedom of (fuel) choice

Using a heat pump to displace high-priced fuel.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

September 2, 2021

One Comment

I recently provided guidance on a unique residential retrofit project. The house, a modest 2,500 square-foot, two-story, was located in a semi-rural area near Albany, New York.

Dave Yates: Oh, my aching back!

Considerations for designing and installing radiant snow-melt systems

Dave Yates

September 7, 2021

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Snow is coming, and my back recoils in fear at the thought. I should have added snow-melting for our driveway, but I was 30 years younger when we built our forever home.

Uponor sells its share in the joint venture Phyn

August 17, 2021

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Phyn was founded in 2016 as a joint venture between Uponor and Belkin, with both owning 50% of the company.

Rinnai America names Shelley Kiley vice president of operations

July 29, 2021

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Kiley’s extensive knowledge, will help Rinnai continue to grow and expand manufacturing capabilities in North America, including overseeing the completion of its new manufacturing plant in Griffin, Georgia.

IPEX makes major investment in state-of-the-art molding plant

July 29, 2021

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The nearly 200,000 square-foot manufacturing facility is being custom designed and built, and will become the technological flagship for the company’s operations and one of the most advanced plastics manufacturing facilities in the industry.

American Residential Services names Mike Midgett chief sales and marketing officer

August 3, 2021

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Midgett joins ARS with more than 30 years of experience as a sales and marketing professional and leader.

International Code Council welcomes Richard Anderson

August 3, 2021

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As part of his responsibilities, Anderson will work with the Code Council’s team of experts to develop, coordinate, and implement PMG programs and services related to the International Codes (I-Codes).

Hansgrohe USA begins a new chapter with Robert Kaminski as president

August 4, 2021

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Kaminski comes to the United States after 10 years with the Hansgrohe Group.

PHCC — National Association announces Mark Ingrao as new CEO

August 17, 2021

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Ingrao officially assumes duties as CEO on Oct. 22, during PHCC’s Annual Business Meeting at PHCCCONNECT2021 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Sioux Chief mourns passing of Michael Dean Stallings

August 16, 2021

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Stallings was diagnosed with cancer in May of this year. He fought courageously, but with his wife by his side, he ultimately succumbed to his illness on July 28.

Noritz tankless combination boiler

September 8, 2021

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Most combination boilers prioritize the call for hot water while your home is being heated, Noritz explains.

Watts home filtration system

September 17, 2021

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Watts’ Big Bubba S100 is a complete whole-home filtration system. This certified point-of-entry system gives plumbing contractors a solution for homeowners concerned about lead, PFAS, cysts and chlorine taste and odor in their drinking water.

Taco Comfort Solutions ECM circulators

September 17, 2021

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Taco’s new VR series high-efficiency ECM cast-iron or stainless steel circulators offer a wide range of low-, medium- or high-head options in sizes from 1/3 to 2 HP.

WINT Water Intelligence fire supression leak detection

September 17, 2021

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WINT Water Intelligence announces its technology is available to be directly integrated into fire sprinkler systems.

Lync hot water wellness solution

September 16, 2021

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Lync, a Watts brand, introduces Element, the world’s first hot water wellness solution. Element brings the functionality of a full domestic hot water system in addition to multi-barrier pathogen protection and remote monitoring into one compact appliance, Lync points out.

ASC Engineered Solutions strut solutions

September 15, 2021

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ASC Engineered Solutions’ new Dakota Systems strut product offering is a fast-installation solution for trapeze and multi-tiered trapeze hangers in mechanical plumbing and HVAC applications.

Bradley Corp. eyewash fixture

September 14, 2021

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Bradley’s Halo swing-activated faucet and eyewash is a 2-in-1 handwashing/emergency eyewash fixture.

Milwaukee Tool rotary hammer

September 13, 2021

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Milwaukee Tool’s M18 FUEL 1" SDS Plus rotary hammer with dust extractor kit is the next generation of cordless rotary hammer drills delivering ultimate jobsite performance and productivity, the manufacturer notes.

The Snake Trap closet auger cover

September 10, 2021

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The universal closet auger cover finally solves the problem of transporting toilet augers to and from jobs without making a mess or spreading infected drippings, the company says.

Aquor garden hose hydrant

September 8, 2021

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Aquor’s Frost-Free Hydrant V2+ allows users to connect garden hoses instantly. The stainless steel body provides significantly better freeze protection than brass, Aquor notes. A heavy-duty acetal hose connector engages the hose, acting as a key.

Woodford Mfg. Co. wall hydrant

September 8, 2021

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The Woodford Model 68 Undercover Wall Hydrant is protected by an integral 16-gauge stainless steel cover.

PRIER Freezeproof wall hydrant

September 8, 2021

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PRIER’s C-144 provides year-round freezeproof protection, has an anti-siphon vacuum breaker and backflow check valve.

Bradford White tankless water heater

September 8, 2021

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Bradford White Water Heaters’ Infiniti L is an Energy Star-certified tankless water that includes best-in-class venting and modulation, a 15-year heat exchanger warranty, Bradford White’s Scale Reduction Technology, field gas conversion, integrated flush ports and top water connections, Bradford White notes.

Oatey tankless descaler kit

September 8, 2021

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The Hercules Haymaker tankless water heater descaler kit includes solution, pump, hoses and a bucket to remove scale and maintain optimal performance of a tankless water heater, the company notes.

Navien condensing tankless water heaters

September 8, 2021

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Navien’s NPE-2 condensing tankless water heaters include a turndown ratio up to 15:1, advanced EZNav multi-line control panel with setup wizard, and 2" PVC venting up to 75'.