PM Magazine

07/08/2024

Kenny Chapman tackles organizational charts in this month's column after a conversation with one of The Blue Collar Success Group members who shared what he learned in the military about organizational structure. His sentiment was, “Right person for the right job at the right time — wrapped with the right training — and you have a recipe for success.” Learn more about how organizational charts can help contractors succeed now.

Our training at The Blue Collar Success Group focuses on three crucial areas: scorecards, processes, and organizational charts. These components are essential for clarity, motivation, and accountability. This month, we will focus on organizational charts.

07/04/2024

Have a safe and Happy Fourth!

07/02/2024

Bradford White Corp., a manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, announced the acquisition of Heat-flo, a provider of stainless steel indirect water-heating and hydronic storage tanks for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Heat-flo’s expansive heating system solutions and indirect stainless steel product portfolio will allow the company to expand its capabilities to meet the rapidly evolving regulatory environment in the water heater industry.

Heat-flo’s expansive heating system solutions and indirect stainless steel product portfolio will allow the company to expand its capabilities to meet the rapidly evolving regulatory environment in the water heater industry.

07/02/2024

"Flow direction is certainly important in any hydronic system. In most proven hydronic system designs, flow direction is a certainty. However, there are some situations where the physics at work can turn things around."

Don't miss the latest from John Siegenthaler on how to prevent reverse thermosiphoning.

Flow direction is crucial in hydronic systems. Most designs have a fixed flow direction, but there are situations where reversals can occur. It's important to address these proactively to ensure smooth operations.

06/27/2024

Check out this demo the new Milwaukee Tool M18 FUEL RINGER Roll Grover from Milwaukee Tool Senior Product Manager John Karl.

06/27/2024

REMINDER: Tomorrow is your last chance to nominate a Next Gen All Star for our Top 20 Under 40 contest!

Plumbing & Mechanical, the information resource for contractors engaged in plumbing, piping, hydronic heating, fire protection and water treatment.

06/25/2024

“The fix for acidic condensate is easy and inexpensive, but it must be attended to,” Dave Yates says. If ignored, Yates warns, acidic condensate is free to literally “melt away” concrete floors and drain pipes, or worse. Learn more about condensate neutralizers now.

Dave Yates, an expert in forensic plumbing and mechanical systems, emphasizes that in condensing appliances, the acidity of the condensate is linked to three main variables.

06/24/2024

Visit PM Engineer at Booth 950 at the 2024 American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) Convention & Expo, in Columbus, Ohio from October 18-23. Register now at expo.aspe.org using promo code "BNP" and join thousands of plumbing and design engineers from across the nation.

06/19/2024

Sonnhalter is assisting PHCC’s overall marketing strategy and branding efforts for CONNECT 2024, including its creative, earned media, social media and influencer relations.

06/19/2024

Intentionality is a Multi-Million Dollar Word

To develop your own work force, build intentionality into your training blueprint and do not disregard the importance of Field Mentorship. Corinne Hall and Jeff Atwell, Workforce Development Coaches for Nexstar’s NexTech Academy, crunch the numbers and discuss the benefits – and the what-ifs of not being mindful – with your program. Listen Now!

https://www.pmmag.com/media/podcasts/2594-the-plumbing-and-mechanical-podcasts/play/118-intentionality-is-a-multi-million-dollar-word

06/19/2024

When a university in western Wisconsin was looking for an innovative, efficient way to heat and cool their new sports complex, the engineers and mechanical contractors decided a hydronic heating and cooling system with Uponor North America's PP-RCT would be the right solution for the job. Learn more about the project in the case study below.

A western Wisconsin university chose a hydronic system with Uponor PP-RCT piping for their new sports complex to meet project scope, timelines, and space constraints.

06/18/2024

Indulge in one of our top articles of 2024 (so far)!
Each year, Plumbing & Mechanical editors receive thousands of product releases from industry manufacturers. The 20 products highlighted here have earned the distinction of being Plumbing & Mechanical’s Top Products of 2023 based on the number of pageviews on www.pmmag.com.Read on to see all of 2023's top products!https://www.pmmag.com/articles/105336-plumbing-and-mechanical-top-20-products-of-2023

Plumbing & Mechanical, the information resource for contractors engaged in plumbing, piping, hydronic heating, fire protection and water treatment.

06/18/2024

As sustainability continues to drive innovation in the plumbing industry, heat pump water heaters (HPWH) represent a compelling opportunity for contractors to differentiate themselves and meet the evolving needs of their clients. We sat down with some industry experts from A. O. Smith, Rheem Water Heating, Bradford White Water Heaters, and Stiebel Eltron USA to discuss HPWH trends and what contractors should know about installation and maintenance.

The plumbing industry is evolving with a focus on sustainability. Heat pump water heaters (HPWH) present an opportunity for contractors to stand out and meet changing client needs, contributing to environmental conservation and demonstrating leadership in a dynamic market.

06/17/2024

The Blue Collar Success Group's Kenny Chapman tackles the inevitable transition from field to office in this month's column. "The transition from field to office represents a significant shift, not only in environment but also in required skill sets and leadership styles. Sure, they may have been comfortable managing major issues on job sites, but what about management in general? Let’s look at the ways we can support our team’s journey from roles like field supervisor or lead field tech to service manager or call center manager." Learn more now.

I have a question for all my fellow leaders in the trades: How well do you remember the days when you were solely in the field?

06/12/2024

If you want to be among the companies that deliver premium products and services and price high, Matt Michel discusses the four things you must do to justify a higher price in this month's column.

In every market, some companies offer low-priced products, while others offer high-priced premium products. If you want to justify a higher price, here are four things you must do.

06/11/2024

Building codes are important for creating safe, sustainable and reliable buildings for all occupants. As these codes are constantly updated, contractors need to familiarize themselves with recent code changes. The International Code Council's Lisa Reiheld discusses a few of the significant changes that were made to the 2024 International Plumbing Code in this month's Codes Corner column. Learn more about the changes here.

Contractors view the International Plumbing Code (IPC) as the top standard for creating safe buildings. But they may not know about the significant changes in the 2024 edition, including a new exception to toilet facility door locking.

06/10/2024

In this month's column, Scott Secor discusses how, as a plumbing contractor focused on hot water and steam heating systems, he still is often faced with work outside of his specialty, and how he handles each of those tasks.

Since the 1980s, my father's business has focused on wet heating systems, particularly hot water and steam. We still specialize in this area today, but occasionally encounter tasks that require expertise beyond our specialty.

06/06/2024

Please join us in congratulating our 2024 Manufacturers' Rep of the Year, Davenport Associates! The current third-generation rep agency owners are fairly young, yet already have the fourth-generation succession plan in place. The rep agency’s proactive approach to talent development and succession planning have earned the company this year's accolades. Learn more about them now.

Davenport Associates in Wallingford, Connecticut, has excelled in investing in employee skills and creating a culture of continuous learning to succeed. They have earned recognition as Plumbing & Mechanical's 2024 Manufacturers' Rep of the Year for their proactive talent development and successi...

06/04/2024

Attracting the next generation is only half the battle to solving the labor shortage. Once you have them on staff, you must keep them! Employee retention is just as important as recruitment. One of the most effective strategies to keep younger employees engaged and committed to the company is through recognition.

And what better way to recognize your team than nominating them for our Next Gen All Star Top 20 Under 40 contest!

Who can be nominated? Any professional working in any aspect of the plumbing industry, including plumbers and pipefitters, contracting business owners, professional engineers and plumbing designers, wholesalers, manufacturers and manufacturers reps.

06/03/2024

"I’m convinced that a significant percentage of designers or installers don’t fully understand why closely-spaced tees do what they do. They just install the tees as shown on plans and wait for the “magic” to happen," John Siegenthaler writes in his latest column. Learn more about hydraulic separation now.

Primary/secondary piping is a way to achieve hydraulic separation by connecting multiple hydronic circuits with their own circulators to prevent interference. Using a pair of closely spaced tees is a common method to achieve this.

05/31/2024

Water quality is a critical component to radiant and hydronic systems. Learn more from Resideo's Jason Abajian!

Boiler systems are essential for residential heating and hot water. Their efficiency and longevity depend on good water quality. Poor water quality causes corrosion, scale buildup, and higher costs. Maintaining high water quality ensures smooth operation and durability.

05/30/2024

During 2024, NIBCO is planning celebrations for its shareholders, associates, customers and partners, which will continue throughout the year leading up to the official anniversary date on November 12, 2024.

05/30/2024

The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) announced the winners of its Projects and Members of the Year for 2023. Projects that won ranged from the largest residential project in New York State to use a geothermal heat pump system to constructing a fish habitat with HDPE conduit made from recycled content.

Plastics Pipe Institute announces annual Projects and Members of the Year winners

05/30/2024

The PHCC National Association welcomed PHCC members, chapter executives and corporate partners to Washington, D.C., May 21-22, to meet with lawmakers and educate them on energy, economic, and workforce policies that are important to the industry and consumers.

PHCC’s Legislative Conference coincided with Air-Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute’s (AHRI) Policy Forum and Heating Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International’s (HARDI) Congressional fly-in. This was the second consecutive year the entire industry was present...

05/29/2024

Congratulations to Milwaukee Tool's Steve Richman on his promotion to CEO of Techtronic Industries Co.!

Richman’s appointment as CEO is effective immediately.

05/28/2024

After decades of focus on the traditional four-year college path, there is a notable resurgence happening within the skilled trades. Both PHCC Educational Foundation and Nexstar Network have reported an increase in enrollments in plumbing and HVAC programs. Learn more about this latest trend below.

There is a growing trend in the skilled trades, with more people turning away from the traditional four-year college path.

05/23/2024

Backwater valves play a vital role in preventing the reverse flow of water by effectively sealing off the drainage system. Learn more from Oatey's Sean Comerford in his May Plumbing & Mechanical article.

As plumbers, you understand the crucial role backwater valves play in maintaining plumbing system integrity, preventing sewage backups that can cause costly repairs and health risks. A backwater valve is a specialized device allowing wastewater to flow in one direction while blocking reverse flow, a...

05/22/2024

According to ServiceTitan's second annual Commercial Service Report, despite market uncertainties and macroeconomic challenges, 39% of commercial contractors expressed optimism for 2024 — a 17% increase compared to last year’s study, when only 22% of contractors had a positive outlook for 2023. Read more findings below.

The report surveyed over 1,000 commercial contractors across various trades and found that in the face of economic challenges, contractors remain resilient and are doubling down on sales and marketing while adopting new technology to help drive customer and business growth.

05/21/2024

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