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Codes Corner: Water efficiency is critical to creating sustainable and resilient communities

As the creation of sustainable and resilient buildings becomes a greater priority, especially over the past year, one critical component will be to ensure our buildings are water efficient. 




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ICC, PMI announce transition of Matt Sigler to Code Council’s plumbing and mechanical team

Sigler is a well-known and highly respected technical expert in the industry with over 20 years of experience in construction, codes and engineering.




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ICC, RESNET to develop standard on Remote Virtual Inspections for energy and water performance in buildings

The new standard will provide guidance for implementing RVI for energy code compliance and for energy and water efficiency performance.




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IAPMO solicits public comments on 2024 UPC, UMC

No comments will be accepted after the 5 p.m. PST deadline on Jan. 4, 2022. All public comments will be distributed to the technical committee members in March and reviewed at their meetings, May 2-5, 2022, in Anaheim, California.




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IAPMO makes Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) available for public comment

The deadline to submit comments is Sept. 5.




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Commercial water heating market moves toward electrification

As more and more cities and states seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it’s clear that regulatory activity is clearly driving the push to electrification and decarbonization.




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Best practices for venting tankless water heaters

Here's what you need to know about venting for tankless water heaters and how you can approach it for the least cost and best results.




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F.W. Webb's hydronic panels, born of circumstance, succeed

Leave it to good old fashioned ingenuity. F.W. Webb recognized an opportunity during the pandemic that resulted in a new revenue stream and an influx of satisfied customers.




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Master the basics of sewer root removal

Root intrusion in sewer systems causes blockages, slow drainage, unpleasant odors, and overflow. Preventative root control is essential to maintain the sewer system's hydraulic capacity. This issue deserves our full attention.




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Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater lowers racing legend’s home energy bills

NASCAR legend Ward Burton installed a Premier AL Smart Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater in his 1999 home, saving up to $300 monthly on electric bills. Homeowners can save 75% or more on energy costs with this unit.




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Best practices for managing finances

As Leap Partners' CFO I handle financial statements, acquisitions, and sales. Small businesses often find finance tasks overwhelming. I work with them daily, guiding them to secure their financial standing. Through this, I've learned about common financial trends and errors. Recently, I shared my insights with a friend.




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4 things you must do to justify a higher price

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.




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How should you handle merchant service fees?

Some customers prefer using credit cards, but accepting them means paying merchant service fees. Contractors may offer cash discounts or add an upcharge, so consider how to handle merchant services.




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Leadership tips and best practices

When we hear about a 'dream team,' our minds envision the perfect basketball team or a group of highly skilled attorneys assembled for a high-profile legal matter. But creating a team that consistently delivers great results shouldn't be limited to sports or legal teams.




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Applying the Water Demand Calculator: Public fixtures in multi-family buildings

The IAPMO Water Demand Calculator has faced challenges due to exclusions from its documentation and calculations, causing difficulties for engineers in luxury apartment buildings.




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Customer service 101: Don't burn bridges

If you treat a customer well, they will recommend your services to three others. However, if you treat a customer poorly and make them feel cheated, they will spend a lot of time spreading negative feedback, especially on social media.




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Junkyard ruminations from a hydronic heating contractor

Junkyards are one of those forgotten places we in the heating business must visit on occasion.




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The psychology of plumbing pricing

We all know about pricing, right? Hopefully, we know the difference between markup and margin. We know how to calculate break even. Here are eight things you should know about the psychology of pricing.




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4 reasons hydronic radiant heating promotes sustainability and indoor environmental quality

With remote work becoming the standard for many employees across the U.S. and homeowners spending even more time indoors as a result of the pandemic, a new focus is emerging on the need for sustainability and indoor environmental quality in homes. 




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BoilerMag magnetic filter

Installing the magnetic filter will increase energy efficiency, significantly prolong boiler life, protect pipework and considerably reduce maintenance calls, the company notes.




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Adventures in Hydronic Heating Volume 4

We are proud to present the fourth of the four-part eBook series that chronicles Dave's "Adventures in Hydronic Heating."




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Happy as a pig? PP-R pipe excels in tough agricultural application

A happy sow is a better sow. If you didn’t know that, don’t worry: The people who need to know it do. 




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VRF versus hydronics

With a considerable volume of contradictory information in circulation regarding the application of different technologies for HVAC systems, this article seeks to explain some of the technical aspects of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, and offer comparisons on the basis of cost and performance to more standard hydronic systems. 




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Hydronic heat pumps ride the tide of electrification

According to the United Nations, 2019 was the second warmest year on record at the end of the warmest decade (2010-2019) ever recorded.




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Hydronic contractors becoming control consultants

For decades, changing out a thermostat for a retrofit hydronic heating system was a simple task for a service technician. From Bangor, Maine, to Breckenridge, Colorado, the mere two, 18-gauge thermostat wires running through a home was not a concern (short of the random nail or mouse taking one of the two out).




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The gold standard: Protection from dissolved oxygen and debris in hydronic systems

Water is the life-blood of hydronic systems. Just as we strive to maintain the health of our own circulatory systems, it’s important to maintain the health of the water-based solutions that circulate through the hydronic systems we construct and maintain.




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Hydronic retrofit brings utility and style together

The age-old question of function versus form has confounded experts in every field for countless decades.

Jeff Sweenor, president and CEO of Sweenor Builders in Wakefield, Rhode Island, looks at it differently. He asks, why not both? Function certainly comes first, but when the dust settles, his projects look as good as they work.




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Kenny Chapman: Motivation is not about carrots or sticks

Motivation. It’s something we all need and want, but that’s where the commonality ends. Each of us needs different things to motivate us to get things done. That means that when you talk about motivation, you need to know what kind of motivation your specific team member is interested in and what they will best respond to.




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Authenticity creates abundance in business

The challenge for most of us can be identifying how we foster an abundance mindset—a key ingredient to achieving success—in our daily lives and workplace cultures.




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Nurturing the next generation of leaders in the home services trades

Succession is a crucial phase for leaders. Proper planning and strategy can make it the best decision for the company.




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Shifting leadership styles from field to office

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?




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How organizational charts accelerate team efficiency

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.




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The importance of processes in the home services trades

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.





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Nicole Krawcke: ‘Tis the season

As I write this, I cannot believe next week is Thanksgiving, and after that, just a few short weeks left until Christmas. 




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Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder charged in Flint water probe

Nine individuals have been indicted on a total of 42 counts related to a series of alleged actions and inactions that created the historic injustice of the Flint Water Crisis.




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Franklin Electric acquires water treatment company

Puronics is a residential and commercial water treatment products and services provider operating four company-owned service centers.




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Water filtration demand grows post-pandemic

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.




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Best practices for Legionella prevention in plumbing systems

Plumbing & Mechanical and PM Engineer Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke sits down with Legionella expert Dr. Janet Stout, PhD, to discuss best practice strategies in the plumbing industry for implementing risk assessments and Water Management Programs.




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Point-of-use water disinfection: a necessary public health solution

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.




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Honest Water Filter Co. receives NSF Standard 53 Certification

NSF International Standard 53 is internationally recognized as the benchmark for water filtration systems’ effectiveness in reducing specific health-related contaminants. 




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BNP Media's Plumbing & Mechanical Media Group receives award for publication excellence

The APEX Awards are based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content and the ability to achieve overall communications excellence. 




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Caleffi automatic filling valve with backflow preventer

Caleffi's new AutoFill has a fill rate of 5.5 GPM and maintains stable system pressure, ensuring consistent results without the need for constant monitoring.




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Create mobile workstations using smart upfitting solutions to maximize jobsite efficiency

Efficient fleet management is essential for plumbing and HVAC contractors looking to optimize operations and improve service. Customizing fleet vehicles to meet specific company needs is a key strategy. Modern upfitting now includes advanced technology and ergonomic designs, creating mobile workstations that boost efficiency on job sites.




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Truck of the Month: Beltz Home Service Co.

U.S. Navy Veteran Brian Beltz got his start in the trades during his service as an interior communications electrician stationed on the destroyer, the USS John Hancock.




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Truck of the Month: The American dream

Edwards Plumbing & Heating, a third-generation contracting business, was founded back in 1948 by Charles W Edwards. Charles Edwards, a pipefitter by trade prior to WWII, became a Navy Seabee, building runways in the pacific.




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Today’s Technology to Market (T2M) – the bidirectional thermal district

District systems, which have been around for centuries, provide buildings with a product created with technology beyond what an individual can either afford or apply. The primary advantage is the delivery of more cost-effective heating or cooling to the building.




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SunTouch electric floor warming kits

SunTouch ConnectPlus WarmWire Kits provide heat to warm floors and help keep bathroom, kitchen and entry way floors dry and safe.




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A radiant revolution: Innovations illuminating the future of hydronics

Within the halls of our recent meetings, the RPA community witnessed a defining moment. Committees were not just formed; they were crafted as engines of change.




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MrPEX announces Integrated Dynamic Control system

MrPEX’s Integrated Dynamic Control (IDC) is a PC-based intelligent control system which delivers optimized comfort and maximized efficiency.




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NextGen Boiler announces electric boiler

The NextGen Boiler is a hydronic appliance that when installed, allows the homeowner to have peace of mind about their radiant heat applications.