During the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, also known as Superstorm Sandy, many companies in the plumbing industry gave support and aid to the hurricane’s victims along the East Coast. The following are stories that have come to our attention.

• Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and RenewABILITY Energy USA: The two companies established an agreement to help homeowners affected by the hurricane living in New York and New Jersey by installing Power-Pipe Drain Water Heat Recovery systems free of charge during any repairs made by Benjamin Franklin plumbers.

“As families look to return to a state of normalcy, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to help,” said Darren Dixon, vice president of operations for http://www.clockworkhomeservices.com/ Clockwork Home Services, owner of the Benjamin Franklin brand.

• Bosch: After hearing of the tremendous losses faced by East Coast communities, Bosch committed $340,000 in funding and in-kind donations worth $40,000 (boilers, security products, solar modules and water heaters) to help the victims.

“Guided by our slogan ‘Invented for Life,’ we are compelled to use our resources to let those impacted by the disaster know that we care,” said Mike Mansuetti, president of Robert Bosch LLC. 

The Bosch Community Fund, in conjunction with Robert Bosch Tool Corp., is contributing $100,000 in short-term relief to Habitat for Humanity earmarked to aid storm victims, as well as power tools worth $100,000 in value to support recovery efforts. Bosch and Lowe’s will furnish 24 vans donated by General Motors with power tools and equipment to assist residents of devastated communities in Monmouth County, N.J., and Breezy Point, N.Y.

A contribution of $100,000 will go to the United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley, Pa., to support home restoration for affected low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners in Bethlehem and surrounding areas.

• Dan Holohan:PM columnist Holohan penned this note a few days after the storm: “Never lost power but the roof blew off. We’re in DC today. Gas lines at the service areas on the New Jersey Turnpike are a mile long. Long Island is wrecked. 100,000 homes are lost. This is going to take a while.”

• Dellon Sales and Bradford White: Despite losing the roof on its 42,000-sq.-ft. warehouse and having employees dealing with their own issues after the hurricane, New York City-based manufacturers representative Dellon Sales partnered with Bradford White and Freeport, N.Y.’s Green Art Plumbing Supply for relief efforts.  

The team brought Bradford White water heaters and Baxi wall-hung boilers for residents in need and also organized donation drives to deliver food and supplies: nonperishable items, water, juice boxes, coffee, hot plates, toiletries, candles, diapers, baby wipes and batteries.

• Hurst Boiler & Welding Co.: The Coolidge, Ga., boiler manufacturer stepped up production and 24/7 emergency fulfillment of ready-to-ship stock boilers and equipment. To ensure the boiler needs of storm victims can be met, Hurst Boiler has offered to source any boiler products it is unable to provide.

•Liberty Pumps: Several Liberty Pumps employees purchased items to be shipped to help with relief efforts: cleaning supplies, first aid supplies, toiletries, food items, paper products, baby items, batteries, winter clothing, pet items and more. C&M Forwarding, a local trucking company, shipped the huge pallet of goods at no charge.

• Rheem: Because many homeowners needed to install new furnaces or air conditioners after the hurricane, Rheem — through its KwikComfort Financing program with GE Capital — offered a special financing option through Feb. 28, 2013, to residents of Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia. Consumers can take advantage of no monthly interest if they pay for their unit in full within nine months.

The company will donate $2 to the American Red Cross relief efforts for every nonweatherized residential furnace that the company ships to its Rheem and Ruud distributor partners in the affected areas. This is in addition to the Rheem-led online fundraising initiative for the Red Cross.

• Taco and Wales-Darby: Cranston, R.I.-based Taco has assisted Sandy victims since October when the company was just missed by the worst of the storm. Many areas to the company’s south and west were hit quite hard.

“It was clear to us that we had a mandate,” said President and CEO Johnny White.

Taco’s Steven Pearson, vice president of OEM sales, and Ken Anderson, vice president of sales in the Northeast region, joined a group of industry representatives and contractors at manufacturers rep firm Wales-Darby in Islandia, N.Y., to discuss how best to help the recovery and supply efforts. The meeting was facilitated by Greg Talbot, Wales-Darby vice president of sales, and hosted by Kevin Rooney, CEO of the http://www.ohili.org/ Oilheat Institute of Long Island. Attendees included representatives from several oil heating companies and Hunter Botto, New York state PHCC president. 

• Weil-McLain and MEP: Weil-McLain and Marley Engineered Products donated $10,000 to the Red Cross Superstorm Sandy Relief Effort. LaPorte County Indiana Red Cross Executive Director Bobbi Petru presented a plaque of recognition to President Tom Blashill.

In response to the multitude of inquires, Weil-McLain’s technical service and engineering departments put together a checklist to assist contractors on how to service a Weil-McLain boiler that has been partially or fully submerged under freshwater or saltwater. In addition, the company will award contractors with a $50 VISA gift card for installation of certain boiler models for hurricane victims through Jan. 15.                           

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