Plumbing and Mechanical

As I write this month’s column, I’m attending Plumbing Manufacturer’s International annual Manufacturing Success conference in Louisville, Kentucky. PMI has done a great job with its programming content this year, especially with keynote presenter Andrew Winston, a corporate environmental strategist and author, who discussed how today’s companies are now expected to take a stand against the world’s social and environmental problems — and in doing so, earn a profit.

 While most plumbers may like to think that they’re mostly serving routine maintenance or installation customers, the most common nature of those calls is likely panicked customers with a burst pipe, a backed-up toilet or another emergency that needs a response ASAP.

As anyone in the profession knows, the plumbing industry is rapidly changing. Demand for plumbing services is reaching unprecedented levels, but so too is competition.

Water treatment education and certification for water treatment professionals is a critical part of the mission of the Water Quality Association. The association represents the residential, commercial and industrial water treatment and conditioning industry.

If you rely on search engine marketing for calls, you are putting your company at risk because you are relying on the unreliable. Here are eight steps to wean your company off big tech dependency.

Common sense runs through our veins and helps us avoid idiotic, absurd edicts handed down by well-intentioned, but seriously misguided politicians. The fact is, I’ve always felt that common sense, along with training and knowledge, often handed down from generation to generation, guides our hands and minds as we toil at PHVAC issues.

When faced with decisions, we humans are wired to seek out patterns to help make our choices. However, when we're faced with countless decisions — many of which do not offer a pattern to follow — we tend to develop what's called "decision fatigue."

Most hydronic systems have the boiler running up to 180° F with water returning from the system at 160°. This rarely happens in real life, but it’s the traditional way we do things.

 All boilers that burn hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas, propane, oil or wood produce water vapor as a byproduct of combustion.

A key part of the success of PHVAC contracting businesses is the ability to get plumbers and technicians to the jobsite on time. That means having reliable wheels carrying all the tools and parts that may be needed to get the job done.

An installer is asked to provide a 4-ton-rated (48,000 Btu/h) geothermal heat pump system that can provide space heating and domestic hot water.

Officially chartered in October 2022 as a PHCC-affiliated association in Arkansas, the chapter has elected officers, identified goals for 2022 and established a recruiting strategy to bring on new members to the organization. 

Each year, winners are chosen in ten industry categories to represent the most innovative products and technologies set to hit the market in the year ahead.

Nexstar Network's Super Meeting in Austin gave participants an opportunity to reconnect in-person, learn, work together on business challenges and gain new ideas.

Many pieces of news go viral within the plumbing industry. However, every now and then, something happens that reaches far outside of our industry bubble. This was certainly the case as the tributes remembering legendary businessman Herb Kohler circulated throughout national news outlets and social media everywhere.

The consumer mindset around bathing is evolving to view showering as far more than a simple rinse to get clean, but rather as a time to relax, unwind and wash away the day-to-day stresses of life. In fact, consumers are making purchases to support this shift. According to a recent survey commissioned by GROHE, more than 65% of respondents are enhancing their time in the shower with various add-ons, such as soothing aromas, music and gentle rain shower products to elevate their “me time.”

Pressure relief valves protect fire sprinkler system components by relieving excess system pressure from supply surges or temperature changes. Since the 2010 edition, NFPA 13: “Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems” has required pressure relief valves to be installed on all wet pipe fire sprinkler systems. But picking the correct relief valve for a specific system does need a little preplanning.

The last thing football players want to worry about after two-a-day practices or a hard-fought game is the locker room showers not having hot water. Student-athletes at Pasadena Memorial High School in Pasadena, Texas unfortunately were dealing with this situation far too often.

Grundfos announced the launch of the next generation of small circulators for the residential heating market with the introduction of the Grundfos Digital NEXT range — starting with the UPSe 15-58 in late 2022, followed by the release of the new, digital ALPHA 15-58 in early 2023.

The new 3/8” compression thermostatic mixing valve features solid, low-lead brass construction and integral check valves to prevent backflow and crossflow.

The Glycol Make-up Unit GF60 (GMU) automated 110V diaphragm pump with digital control is designed to maintain critical minimum pressure levels to make up for losses that may occur due to leakage.

Moen granite sinks are composed of natural sound-deadening material for a quiet experience with a stain-resistant surface to avoid cosmetic damage from food and liquids, and is heat safe up to 535° to withstand damage from hot pots and pans.

The ZoneBraker touchscreen multi-zone snow melting controller allows for zoned control of a snow melting system, breaking total heating coverage into four separate zones.

Walraven’s starQuick pipe clamp that can be used to quickly and securely install multiple pipe runs for electrical and plumbing installations.

Uponor North America’s new hot potable pipe and fittings help meet the demand for commercial domestic water systems, the company says.

Liberty Pump’s 1-HP grinder pump is designed for sewage applications. Higher flow rates allow use with 2" discharge lines.

The Voltex AL (anti-leak) hybrid electric heat pump water heater features integrated leak detection, smart connectivity, updated water connections for professionals and the highest overall Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) of 4.02 with the 66-gal. unit and the highest 50-gal.

Daikin Applied announced upgrades the 100%-configurable Pathfinder air-cooled screw chiller, including a higher efficiency compressor, factory-installed pump packages and ECM condenser fan motor options.

The GS and GR tankless water heater models feature cascading and common venting; variable heat control, adjustable from 95° to 140°; and bottom water connections.

With homes now doing dual duty as both a residence and a workplace, many people are spending double the time in the same space. This lifestyle shift has launched a home-renovation trend for people who are looking to change their current living spaces to better align with the needs of life and work in one place.

District systems, which have been around for centuries, provide buildings with a product created with technology beyond what an individual can either afford or apply. The primary advantage is the delivery of more cost-effective heating or cooling to the building.

The radiant heating market is one that took the industry by storm in the early 2000s. More than two decades later, the acceptance and applications of radiant systems have grown exponentially. Experts describe the radiant heating market in 2022 as “consistent” and “expanding,” citing labor, material and logistic uniformity shortages as the top challenges hindering radiant projects.

During the late, great Les Nelson’s last AHR conference in Chicago back in 2018, he asked me what our hydronics industry needed the most. He was on a mission to increase the visibility of the Radiant Professionals Alliance and give the industry something that it could really use.