Plumbing and Mechanical

The great resignation has exposed just how vulnerable service and trade industries can be when there’s a shortage of skilled workers. As competitors promise new opportunities to try and tempt your company’s best and most seasoned employees, retention is crucial.

You are a dealer in hope when you give your customer a sense of optimism by anticipating their fear, tackling their needs while offering great value and meeting their concerns on their terms.

The most expensive part of plumbing service is getting the phone to ring and the truck to the job. Once there, every additional dollar past breakeven helps cover the monthly overhead nut. Once this is covered, it falls straight to the bottom line. So, how can you maximize revenue? Here are nine ways to boost your average tickets.

According to a Gallup study, only one in three workers in the U.S. strongly agree that they received recognition or praise for doing good work in the past seven days. At any given company, it's not uncommon for employees to feel that their best efforts are routinely ignored.

On its face, that makes perfect sense — especially given the severe drought facing so many areas of our country right now. And why not? Greywater draining from bathtubs, showers, lavatory sinks, automatic clothes washers and laundry tubs is not contaminated with fecal matter or urine, so why not use greywater twice?

It's easy to fall prey to mediocrity. But, when you’re willing to put in the hard work and do what many people will not do, you'll find that the payoff is well worth it.

My iPhone pinged a text: “Hi, Dan. How are you and Marianne, and the family? I’m sorry to bother you. I can’t get my steam heat to go on. I can’t get a plumber to come quickly. I guess they’re busy with the weather. Can I call you later to ask you something about the burner?”

The choice between ∆T and ∆P operation of a circulator has, at times, been the subject of rather “heated” debates. It’s almost as if a few Yankee fans are disputing superior pitching or batting performance with a few Red Sox fans. There appears to be some strong opinions involved.

Plumbing & Mechanical’s inaugural Top 20 young professionals to watch in the plumbing industry.

The acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The complimentary journal is provided semi-annually and is intended for industry professionals to aid them in system design, component application and selection.

As a finale to the year of celebration, Gerber plans to host a customer appreciation event at the 2023 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Orlando, Florida.

Heating experts have long touted hydronics as the far superior comfort technology over forced air due to better operational efficiencies and improved comfort. According to Research and Markets, the global hydronic systems market is poised to grow $1.3 billion from 2021-2025, driven by the growing need for energy-efficient cooling and heating systems and increase in construction activities worldwide.

As with any construction or remodeling project, there are several key factors to keep in mind when selecting and installing a linear drain system for a bathroom shower. Being mindful of these considerations will ensure optimal performance.

Hydronic snow and ice-melting (SIM) systems have gained in popularity during the last 50 years as an efficient means of making outdoor surfaces safe for walking and driving. In addition to alleviating liability concerns, SIM systems are a convenient and effective way to reduce the mechanical labor and cost of snow removal.

Tankless water heaters have been growing in popularity for decades, but there are still common misconceptions that surround the technology, impacting purchase decisions by both the pro and customer alike.

The new Little Giant 5-MSP compact submersible utility pump features a new motor designed to boost overall performance and efficiency.

The MagnaClean Professional2XP comes with 1” copper and 1 1/4” NPT iron pipework, perfect for protecting 150,000 – 300,000 Btu boiler ranges from damaging black sludge.

The Gen-Eye X-POD Plus sewer camera system includes the Gen-Pack battery adapter, Wi-Fi transmitter, and an on-screen distance counter as standard equipment to boost productivity and profitability, the company says.

The Snow-Melt Embeddable Attachment Grid can be embedded on top of existing concrete surfaces or under pavers, bluestone or tile.

The Moda Lavatory Box is for use in residential and commercial applications requiring a supply valve recessed in a wall. 

SharkBite Brass push-to-connect fittings make repairs quicker with a tool-less installation and versatile design.

The ARMOR condensing water heater line is available in 10 models, ranging from 399,000 to 4 million Btu/h.

Rheem commercial tankless water heaters are designed to deliver continuous, dependable hot water, save money and space, and keep business up and running workday after workday, the company says.

With the improved SENSEI RSC condensing tankless water heater, Rinnai delivers the same superior quality with simplified installation, the company says.

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’.

The TTS Synergy Series line by FRG offers high-performance tankless rack systems in a wide range of configurations, with one point of connection for water, power, gas, venting and a condensate drain.

The Greentherm 9000 gas tankless water heater offers a UEF efficiency rating up to 0.96, top water connections for easy tank replacement and an industry-leading warranty, the company says.