In the December 2021 issue of Plumbing and Mechanical find the 2022 Plumbing Industry Forecast; Geothermal offers increased comfort and sustainability; Technology and talent lead the PHVAC industry
December has always been my favorite month of the year. And it’s not just because it’s my birthday month! It’s also not because of the holidays — though I do enjoy spending time celebrating with family and friends.
Hiring veterans can help contractors gain a competitive edge during the labor shortage.
November 11, 2021
The shortage of skilled labor in the trades and service industries was already a chronic problem when COVID-19 emerged. The disruptions and economic consequences of the pandemic have exacerbated the issue and made it a national crisis.
The baby boomer generation is reaching retirement age, and many are planning to age in place. As the body ages, the use of plumbing fixtures changes. The aging body no longer has the strength and flexibility of the younger body.
On New Year’s Eve, 2020, many plumbers toasted the end to the unpredictable year. Everyone looked forward to a return to normality in 2021. Uh, yeah. So, what about 2022? Here are 11 predictions for the next year.
As you are well aware, our incredible industry has been experiencing massive growth for the last couple of years. We have been seeing contractors post record months for both sales and profitability at unprecedented levels. It seems there has finally even been a shift from how this industry is viewed from the outside.
A young guy who was about the size of Bruno Mars came to my seminar once, and we were chatting during a break. I asked him how long he had been in the business. It’s good to see young people getting involved.
After the past two years, the entire world — plumbing industry included — is waiting for things to return to normal. This past year gave us some normalcy with a return of in-person meetings and events; however, with this latest spike in COVID-19 cases and the continuing supply chain issues and rising material costs, normal may be a bit further away than we hope.
A homeowner hires a heating contractor to upgrade his propane-fired cast-iron boiler to a mod/con boiler. The cast-iron boiler is only 15 years old and in good shape.
“Eric’s daily duties include facilitating weekly training sessions, observing and coaching field staff through site visits and ride-alongs, and supporting field staff with technical assistance.
What do logging and plumbing have in common? Jon Hatch for one. After a friend told him about a plumbing apprenticeship opening 15 years ago, Jon Hatch made the jump to the plumbing industry.
Uponor North America announced a national distribution agreement with Winsupply to stock Uponor PP-RCT piping, fittings and accessories at select Winsupply local companies and two distribution centers across the US.
The For the Pro Training Academy combines the company’s existing in-person training programs with a new self-paced eLearning option for Bradford White’s valued contractor customers.
Electrification is often presented as a strategy for reducing carbon emissions, but the truth is, it’s not practical to rely on electricity alone because no single energy source can solve the long-term challenges we face.
On a military base in east-central Alaska — where the average winter temperature is 16° F with lows that fall well below minus 50° at times — dependable, low-maintenance winter heating systems are critical for the active-duty military families and Department of Defense civilians who live on the military post.
Geothermal offers increased comfort and sustainability for environmentally conscious homeowners.
December 15, 2021
What does a looming housing shortage, a significant increase in energy prices and 52% of home buyers ready to heat and cool their homes with electricity have in common? They’re all remedied in the same way: All-geothermal residential developments.
Baylie Frost, VDC lead for Harvey’s Plumbing & Heating, represents the next generation of the plumbing industry.
December 14, 2021
“I don’t think people care that I’m young, or female. They care about what I know.” Those words, spoken by Baylie Frost, a virtual design and construction (VDC) lead at Harvey’s Plumbing & Heating in Bozeman, Montana, must be music to the ears of an industry that is seeking to attract more talented young people to its ranks.
The Lubrizol Corp., in partnership with Colonial Engineering, expands its line of cost-effective and easy-to-install FlowGuard Gold pipes and fittings with the addition of the new FlowGuard MultiPort.
RectorSeal, Houston, introduces Draft-Block Orange, a fire-blocking expanding polyurethane foam sealant for use by trade professionals across North America.
Serene Steam’s sleek and flush-fitting fixture offers steam, aroma and light therapy, which work synergistically to create a holistic steam-bathing environment that will invigorate all senses and assist the body to sweat,
The Oatey Fix-It Repair Ring is the perfect solution to securely repair broken, cracked, or worn-out toilet mounting flanges without replacing the toilet flange.
Gerber Plumbing Fixtures expands the Treysta valve family to now include six new options with a preinstalled copper stub-out for quick and easy tub spout installation.
NTI Boilers’ S20W high-performance wall-mounted indirect water heater features space-saving installation flexibility, and offers heating contractors multiple benefits for a variety of new installations as well as for retrofit projects.
HamatUSA’s Chelsea workstation sink combines the unmatched strength and beauty of natural fireclay with ingenious product design, the company explains.
The compact, yet powerful JM-1450 Jet-Set water jet from General Pipe Cleaners uses high-pressure water to clear drain lines clogged with grease, sand, sludge and ice.
DXV’s luxury Wyatt one-piece, elongated toilet is a low-flow, Water Sense-certified toilet with a seamless architectural design that is luxurious to the eye, yet easy to maintain, DXV states.
American Standard’s Champion PRO chair-height elongated toilet is engineered to prevent clogs and features the industry’s largest 4" flush valve and extra-wide 2 3/8" glazed trapway.