2022 January

The January 2022 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical marks the live return of the AHR Expo in Las Vegas. Features include Code change prompts parking garage pipe replacement, The push for greater sustainability, and others.

Nicole Krawcke: Diversifying the trades

Broadening your recruiting efforts to minority groups can help alleviate labor shortage pains.

Nicole Krawcke

January 10, 2022

When I first began covering the HVAC industry almost eight years ago now, I was one of few women — if there were any others — in the room. Since that time, I have started seeing more and more women at the various industry events I attend, and I am overjoyed.

Guest Editorial

Stephen Dale: Improve customer relations by providing employees with a work/life balance

High demand for services and low supply of technicians has increased the chances of employee burnout.

Stephen Dale

January 7, 2022

From a very young age, we are taught the importance of having a successful career. Whether it’s our parents or a teacher, we know that by the time we reach adulthood, we will have a job. But not every job is created equal.

Communicating with the next generation of customers

Guest Editorial

Jenelle Nappi: 5 ways to modernize our home service business

Communicating with the next generation of customers.

Jenelle Nappi

January 6, 2022

The home service industry is constantly evolving. Although they’re based on traditional trades like HVAC, plumbing, electrical and piping, home services are also expanding into less charted territory. Today’s homeowners are modernizing and aspiring to more eco-friendly living situations supported by radiant heating, geothermal and solar thermal energy.

Service plumbers do not make assumptions

Service Plumbing Pros

Matt Michel: 7 things your service plumbers should know

Don’t make assumptions.

Matt Michel

January 5, 2022

As business leaders, we often make assumptions about what our field service personnel know. In addition, they make their own assumptions about us. The result is they know less than we think, and think they know more than they do. Here are seven things your service plumbers should know about their profession.

CONTRACTOR’S CORNER

Dave Yates: Propane tanks and outdoor temperatures

Another lesson learned in the school of hard knocks.

Dave Yates

January 4, 2022

You ever have one of those jobs where nuisance heating system lockouts drove you crazy?

THE BLUE COLLAR COACH

Kenny Chapman: Setbacks are next level setups

Setbacks are a perception.

Kenny Chapman

January 4, 2022

Whether you’ve been in business for a week, a year or a decade, you have undoubtedly experienced more than just a few setbacks. We’ve all had major setbacks in our lives and businesses, and we generally respond to setbacks with our world-conditioned responses involving pain. We have pain, we have trauma, and we have turmoil, challenges, etc.

Heating Help

Dan Holohan: The case for radiator covers

Common sense isn’t always that common.

Dan Holohan

January 3, 2022

In March 2010, a nine-month-old boy rolled off his sister’s bed in Jersey City, New Jersey, and got stuck between the bed and a cast-iron, steam radiator that was as hot as it’s supposed to be. The radiator delivered third-degree burns to the infant and left him with permanent scars.

HYDRONICS WORKSHOP

John Siegenthaler: No passwords required

Hydronic systems don’t have to be complex to be sophisticated.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

January 3, 2022

If your office routine is anything like mine, you’re probably typing cryptic passwords into your desktop computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet throughout the day to access websites or cloud-based software that’s essential to your business.

AHR Expo returns live, sparks anticipation in PHVAC industry

The AHR Expo will be held in Las Vegas Jan. 31-Feb. 2.

Nicole Krawcke

January 11, 2022

After taking a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 AHR Expo will return in person Jan. 31 — Feb. 2 in Las Vegas. AHR Expo Show Manager Mark Stevens notes that this year’s event, in many ways, is more significant partly because of last year’s cancellation.

The Glitch + The Fix: One shot after another

January 25, 2022

A technician encounters a system installed in the 1980s when radiant floor heating was relatively new in North America.

Gideon Plumbing in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada

Truck of the Month: A dream realized

Gideon Plumbing | Duncan, British Columbia, Canada

Nicole Krawcke

January 24, 2022

For the past 15 years, Steve Baker had a plan to start his own plumbing company. Last year, that dream was finally achieved with the opening of Gideon Plumbing in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada.

IPEX announces new North Carolina distribution center

November 29, 2021

Located at Creekside Commerce Center on John Price Road in southwest Charlotte, at over 200,000 square feet, the new facility nearly doubles the company’s warehouse space in the region. The DC will serve IPEX’s customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky.

The Copper Development Association names new president and CEO

November 29, 2021

The Copper Development Association (CDA) announced the appointment of Andrew G. Kireta, Jr. as the association’s next president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2022.

Sloan headquarters achieves Alliance for Water Stewardship certification

December 6, 2021

Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical acquires America’s Plumbing & Sewer

December 9, 2021

In October, Hiller launched the newest of its 14 locations in Chattanooga. With this expansion, Hiller’s coverage area includes the entire state of Tennessee and operations in its fourth state, Georgia.

The push for greater sustainability

Environmental concerns drive manufacturers to find innovative, smart solutions.

Josh Greene Mike Juhnke

January 21, 2022

For years, environmental considerations and sustainability have influenced innovation in manufacturing, and in 2021, those factors became the driving force behind new product development.

Nucleus line of electronic mixing valves

The case for the master mixing valve

Installing a master mixing valve on a domestic hot water system adds an extra layer of safety.

Rick Cota Eric Costa

January 19, 2022

Hot water has been around since man first harnessed the power of fire, but when at elevated temperatures, it is dangerous and even deadly. Today’s hot water heaters offer a diverse range of technologies that perform leaps and bounds ahead of their predecessors, but what temperature should they deliver?

3 reasons why a single-source of truth is vital to MEP contractors

A common data environment can help MEP contractors stay on schedule and on budget.

Taylor Dean

January 17, 2022

It’s no secret that MEP contractors deliver massive value on every project out there. In 2019 alone, MEP contractors generated 46.3% ($70 billion) of total revenue delivered by the ENR Top 600 Specialty Contractors.

Code change prompts parking garage pipe replacement

CRW Mechanical goes big with Viega’s press connect system.

Kristen White

January 13, 2022

Time savings, cleanliness and ease of installation — there were many advantages to CRW Mechanical’s use of Viega MegaPressG recently on a large project in Virginia.

Product Focus: Pipe, Valves & Fittings

Watts balancing valve

January 26, 2022

Watts iDROSET calibrated flow measuring and balancing valves offer integrated flow measurement technology, a large dial for direct reading of flow, hand wheel for setting flow rate without the need for tools, and positive shut-off ball valve.

Product Focus: Pipe, Valves & Fittings

Viega ball valve

January 25, 2022

Viega’s new 3-piece ball valves for its MegaPress carbon and stainless steel pipe pressing systems are approved for all MegaPress applications, excluding natural gas.

Product Focus: Pipe, Valves & Fittings

Uponor polypropylene pipe

January 24, 2022

Uponor PP-RCT is a polypropylene pipe that is a lightweight, durable product that resists corrosion, rust and scale buildup, making it ideal for mechanical HVAC piping applications, such as hydronic heating, hot water and chilled water, the company points out.

Product Focus: Pipe, Valves & Fittings

PRIER freezeless roof hydrant

January 21, 2022

PRIER’s new freezeless roof hydrant requires no winterization or drain line, which saves installation time, material, maintenance and labor costs, the company points out.

Product Focus: Pipe, Valves & Fittings

Matco-Norca transition couplings

January 20, 2022

Matco-Norca’s stainless steel shielded transition couplings are for use with dissimilar DWV pipe and fittings with an installation torque of 60" lb.

Product Focus: Pipe, Valves & Fittings