Many of us are asking ourselves where the summer went, and it is difficult to find a good answer. I hope you had some deserved downtime with family at some point.

This past year on the Stronger Together tour, after the merger of the American Bakers Association (ABA) and the Biscuit & Cracker Manufacturers’ Association, we stopped at Kansas State University (KSU) to meet with the Bakery Science & Management students and participate in the Grain Science and Industry Advisory Council meeting.

All federal food policy is based on the recommendations stemming from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The American Bakers Association (ABA) leads the Grain Chain, an organization of 10 groups from grain growers and millers, as well as bakers and others who have an interest in growing grain consumption.

The 2020 election is over, but efforts to understand the impacts are just beginning.

 
 000
 WTPZ84 KNHC 210907
 TCVEP4
 
 HILARY WATCH/WARNING ADVISORY NUMBER 20
 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL     EP092023
 207 AM PDT MON AUG 21 2023
 
 .POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE HILARY
 
 CAUTION...THIS PRODUCT ONLY APPROXIMATELY CONVEYS THE EXTENT OF
 TROPICAL CYCLONE WIND AND SURGE WATCHES AND WARNINGS. PLEASE SEE
 THE LATEST PUBLIC ADVISORY FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER FOR
 THE PRECISE LATERAL EXTENT OF WIND WATCHES AND WARNINGS ALONG THE
 COAST...AS WELL AS THE APPROXIMATE LATERAL EXTENT OF SURGE WATCHES
 AND WARNINGS. THE PRECISE EXTENT OF SURGE WATCHES AND WARNINGS
 CAN BE FOUND IN THE NWS NATIONAL DIGITAL FORECAST DATABASE HAZARD
 GRIDS.
 
 CAZ043-048-050-055>058-060>062-065-087-088-358-362-366>383-548-552-
 554-211015-
 /O.CAN.KNHC.TR.W.2009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
 207 AM PDT MON AUG 21 2023
 
 $$
 
 ATTN...WFO...LOX...SGX...
 

Tool Tips—October 2018

Tool Tips—April 2019

Most plumbers are missing a golden opportunity for add-ons with point-of-use or whole-house water purification systems and/or water softeners. Consumer awareness of the benefit of water purification has been raised by the pandemic and well-publicized municipal failures. Many, if not most consumers are highly sensitive to contamination today, whether air- or water-borne.

Ninety percent of seniors would rather remain in their own homes than move to assisted living, according to AginginPlace.org. Given the costs of assisted living, aging-in-place makes financial sense as well. Yet, many homes are not ready, which presents an opportunity for plumbing contractors.

If the country is not already in recession, it appears likely one will arrive in 2023. Here are six ways to turn the downturn into an opportunity.

As the population grows older, there is a heightened need for affordable plumbing and HVACR systems that offer safety and accessibility.

AI is the cornerstone of innovation in home services, but its true essence is diverse and multifaceted. Bloomberg predicts AI will affect 40% of global job roles. AI's ripple effects will be consequential for paid and organic search.

Uponor North America celebrated the grand opening of its newly constructed Uponor Experience Center located at its regional headquarters in Apple Valley, Minnesota in September.

Contractors and technicians embrace AI to advance skill sets and grow businesses with solutions announced at ServiceTitan’s annual user conference.

Mechanical contractors are looking to improve operations by cutting costs and boosting efficiency while maintaining quality. A popular solution is the adoption of new technologies, specifically virtual inspection services, which have gained popularity since the pandemic.

HammerHead point repair resin is odor-free, styrene-free and VOC-free.

Available in sizes from ¾" to 2", the pipe is tested and proven to the highest industry standards and is fully compliant for water service applications to prevent costly errors, rework, and penalties.

The entire offering accommodates Uponor Engineered Polymer (EP) and Stainless-Steel Manifolds, but for the first time ever, four of the six new cabinets will accommodate Uponor Commercial Stainless-Steel Manifolds as well. 

From celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2018 to investing another $6 million to its joint venture company, Phyn, in 2019 to the release of the Phyn Plus Pro Edition at the 2020 International Builders Show, Uponor has certainly been busy the past few years.

MarginPoint, a provider of mobile-enabled, collaborative inventory management and field management solutions, is focused on helping plumbing industry pros to manage inventory replenishment, optimize business processes and drive revenue. 

After a stint as a top producer at Morgan Stanley, Andrew Ettinger was faced with years of struggling with business initiatives and eventually filed for bankruptcy. 

As an extension of the QuickDrain USA total shower solution, aimed to reimagine how drains should look and perform, the company recently launched its new SquareDrain point drain. Plumbing & Mechanical attended the virtual product launch event in April. 

The webinar series will cover conservation of energy, explaining why it should not be the prime focus but rather a product of achieving the desired indoor environment.

Proposals accepted by the technical committee will appear in the 2024 NSPC.

Drain cleaning and inspection services offer lucrative opportunities for plumbing contractors, especially with aging infrastructure. New technology makes these services easier than ever.

Wi-Fi technology has improved homes, including water heaters. The changing landscape of water heaters presents challenges for industry professionals. Nick Snell, director of plumbing sales at F.W. Webb Co., emphasizes the importance of working with a supplier that understands the evolving marketplace.

PEX's shape memory allows it to expand and shrink without compromising its integrity, making it highly resistant to damage in freezing conditions. This has proven to be a lifesaver in areas like Texas during unexpected mid-winter freezes.

Pressure and chlorine ratings revised.

For business leaders in the plumbing contracting industry, it is crucial to understand that problems always hold solutions. Instead of shying away from them or seeking ways to avoid bumpy roads and obstacles, we should embrace challenges.

A productive and positive state of mind and being is more important than ever.

Processes are the third component of our success strategy — organizational charts, scorecards, and processes. Two months ago, I began a three-part series to focus on each of them. This month, we are going to bring that strategy full circle by discussing processes.

“Water quality has grown 300% across the U.S. since the pandemic began,” says Glen Blavet, founder and CEO of HALO Water Systems. “People are at home, and they’re looking to improve their quality of life and their health, so they’re looking at the water they’re drinking out of the tap.”

There’s no doubt about it, concern over water quality is becoming more prevalent. One just had to walk the trade show floor during the 2022 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) to see plenty of new water filtration and management systems, some even dispensing sparkling water by user preference.

When you talk about water scarcity and the lack of clean drinking water, most people think about third-world countries. They don’t realize that there’s a growing threat to clean water right here at home in the United States. Look at the February train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, where a fire forced the controlled release and burn of toxic chemicals to avoid an explosion. The resulting contamination killed thousands of fish in nearby streams and ignited concerns over soil and water quality.

Point-of-use (POU) water disinfection isn't just about public health; it's also an essential engineering strategy in modern water systems, tackling waterborne diseases by ensuring safe drinking water directly at the point of consumption.

In the world of business, challenges are inevitable. Economic shifts, changing consumer demands and unforeseen crises are part and parcel of running a company.

Smatrix Pulse is the industry’s first multizone wireless control system for both radiant heating as well as forced-air heating and cooling.

Matt Millard, owner of Performance Mechanical in Edgartown, Massachusetts, loves to experiment with new technologies. Recently, Millard wanted to step up to hydronic radiant heating for his own home addition using an air-to-water heat pump.

Included in Interplay’s career development platform, SAM provides technicians with immediate guidance to help them gain skills faster and learn more efficiently in a more engaging manner. S

The donation, presented at WHVACR's 21st Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, includes $50,000 to be awarded in 2024 and an additional $50,000 in 2025. 

 All entries are reviewed and selected by a panel of third-party judges made up of distinguished ASHRAE members. Evaluations are based on overall innovative design, creativity of the product or service offered, product or technology real-world application, as well as overall potential market impact.

Paulozza and Desai will assume the new roles on Jan. 1, 2025.

The award is presented every two years to a nominee with attributes including technical mastery and a passion for hydronic technologies, demonstrated leadership as an educator and mentor, and an aptitude for cultivating fundraising opportunities for industry causes.

The event also offered ASPE-accredited Continuing Education Units (CEUs), enhancing participants' knowledge and professional development.

An electrician walked into the equipment room to diagnose and repair an electrical problem in the school. 

Targeted for buildings with high repeatable room types, Uponor Kitting Services provides all essential ProPEX fittings, rings, transitions, valves, stub outs, supports, and other components in individual kits labeled by room.

Last month, we began discussing the HVAC system installed at my church’s newly-constructed parsonage. In this month’s column, we’ll complete the picture.

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.

How is the aging population changing product design? Builders and designers have been hearing from clients that homeowners now want to age-in-place, and they also want to renovate their existing homes to accommodate various generations living under one roof. The lack of housing stock and current mortgage and interest rates have contributed to this phenomenon. This shift in living has been a boon to the renovation industry, and it has given rise to innovations and building processes that elegantly combine technology and health benefits in the service of independence for elderly or anyone with physical challenges.

In the United States, bidet sales have grown steadily at a year-over-year rate of 14% to 15%. According to Stephanie Ewing, director, Wholesale North America for Bemis Manufacturing Co., specifying bidets is “becoming a market need driven by market demand. The pandemic started the trend of increased consumer awareness that a solution other than toilet paper was available, as well as an increased focus on hygiene.”