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The January 2023 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical features NKBA celebrates 60 years; KBIS returns to Vegas, Commercial plumbing prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity, and much more.
As the water receded from Lake Mead this past year, all the major news headlines focused on the human remains it revealed. Very rarely did any mention the ecosystem in crisis as trees, fish and other aquatic creatures, birds and other species are dying out as they are left out to dry.
It’s no secret that there is a major shortage of skilled workers in the plumbing industry right now. According to one report, the booming real estate market, combined with piqued interest among homeowners in renovation projects during the pandemic, substantially increased customer demand for home services that isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Let me clue you in on a poorly kept secret: Traditional advertising is expensive. I know, this isn’t exactly shocking. Depending on your market, a month-long rental of a billboard could cost five figures. A week’s worth of 15-second radio ads can run up to $8,000 — and that doesn’t include the cost of producing them. And television? Forget it.
The Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) is developed to establish minimum requirements for the health and safety of occupants utilizing a building’s plumbing system.
Why are some plumbers winners, while others struggle? It is not the market, location of the company, the role of government, customers’ attitudes, the availability of manpower or any of the other excuses bandied about. Winning plumbers share a set of intangible traits that affect how they approach the world, how they see the world, and thus, how the world responds to them.
In last month’s column, I touched on air-to-water heat pumps because they are rapidly becoming very saleable to consumers. In some areas of the U.S., electric heating, cooling and production of DHW are no longer an option and fossil fuels have been outlawed.
Whether you’re bringing on new team members or looking to build a more cohesive group within your current team, the first box you need to check is whether or not you’ve clearly defined each role. This foundational step not only keeps everyone on the same page and working toward the same goals, it also makes your team easier to manage.
I began my career in the HVAC business in 1970 as a truck driver for an AC/refrigeration wholesaler. I stayed there just six weeks because my father — who worked for a manufacturers’ rep — told me there was an opening for a clerk at the rep. It paid $110 a week, which was $10 more than I was getting driving the truck. Plus, I’d get to work with him as my boss.
Although I’ve worked with hydronic heating for four decades and designed systems around just about every possible heat source, I would be hard-pressed to predict what might be available as hydronic heat sources 25 years from now.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association had a monumental year in 2022. It kicked off with the first in-person Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) event since 2020. Last year also marked the 60th anniversary of the association and the 10th year since KBIS and the International Builders’ Show (IBS) joined forces to create what is now known as Design and Construction Week (DCW)’s NAHB Builders Show.
Given the current prices for fuel oil and propane, and current state and federal incentive programs, many homeowners are asking heating contractors to replace their aging boilers with a geothermal heat pump system.
Seven students from the Harts Academy apprentice program installed a new complete system of water and sewer pipes for the project, which is renovating a home for a Tacoma family this holiday season.
Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke had a chance to sit down with Billy Stevens, founder and CEO of Sera Systems, a subscription software provider for the home service industry, to discuss current trends with contractor software.
Many people look for ways to update their homes to provide a sense of comfort and connection to the outdoors. Outdoor projects are currently flourishing, as people extend their living spaces to feel closer to their natural surroundings.
Over the past decade, society has been evolving. It is constantly rethinking discrimination, with growing social awareness of gender identity, differently-abled individuals and sensory sensitivity. The public restroom is one area that has come under fire during this social evolution.
The FieldPro App includes a fusion timer that incorporates multiple timers, pressure times and logging capabilities; a hanger spacing calculator that provides in-field access to all hanger spacing information; and a pressure-test assistant that provides step-by-step guides, timers, system integrity checks and submission of test results directly to Aquatherm.
The S86 series is easy to install with real language menus, basic and advanced HVAC installer settings, programmable and nonprogrammable options, and is home automation capable, the company explains.
The Hot-Shot 320 and Hot-Shot 400 pipe thawing machines from General Pipe Cleaners safely thaw pipes in minutes without tearing up floors or walls, digging around pipes in frozen ground or using hazardous blow torches, the company says.
Resideo’s new Braukmann L5 Wi-Fi Water Leak Shutoff Valve connects to the main water supply and can automatically turn off the supply to the home if a water leak is detected.
The Deckard single-control faucet from Pfister Faucets embodies soft-modern design by incorporating curves into the familiar sleek, hard-edge motif of modern aesthetics.
Infinity Drain expands several of its drain series to add greater flexibility for design, barrier-free bathroom accessibility and ease of installation, the company states.