Tool Tips—September 2018

Tool Tips—October 2018

Tool Tips—November 2018

Tool Tips—December 2018

Tool Tips—January 2019

Tool Tips—February 2019

Tool Tips—March 2019

Tool Tips—April 2019

Tool Tips—May 2019

Tool Tips—June 2019

Tool Tips—July 2019

When it comes to a well pump that has fallen off the pitless to the bottom of the well due to a broken adapter, it can cost a homeowner a lot to fix.

A lot of times a snake cable will just stir up the sludge and I have seen cables in clean-outs or manholes downstream where the pipe is still clogged.

On our trucks, we keep all our soldering material, such as solder, paste, pipe cutters, emery cloth, inspection mirror and other miscellaneous items, in small tackle boxes.

This tool tip made my co-worker and our customer so happy that he made one and wrote my name on it. 

Leaking fixtures can waste a lot of water and money. 

When installing a toilet, the final touch is caulking around the base which can sometimes be a mess. 

First, remove the overflow trim. Then, insert a water hose down overflow. 

We do gas and electric water heaters for lots of residential customers. 

The customer says there is water at the base of the toilet after flushing, which means you get to replace the wax seal. 

Every time I installed an ice maker supply line, I was always concerned that it may leak — pushing and pulling on the fridge. 

Carry lengths of pipe in a standard cargo van and eliminate roof racks.

When installing a shower arm or hand held hose wall elbow, thread a ½" coupling onto the male ends and select the appropriate size pipe nipple to use as a lever.

I have seen and experienced draining a water heater for replacement, and the drain is clogged and won’t let out any water.

We are a full service plumbing company. There are times when we have to gain access to the roof of million dollar homes. 

I have been reading a lot of tips about setting toilet bowls. 

We keep super glue on the truck for any time we run into needing an O-ring, but don't have the exact size. 

Recently, while doing an emergency water heater replacement, I needed some lube for the small O-rings on the mixing valve. 

You may be the best technical plumber in town, but you will earn poor reviews and bad word-of-mouth if you cannot communicate well. Here are nine simple steps you can take to improve your communication skills. Almost all of them are non-verbal.

You know him (or her). He is the irrational employee. The irrational employee is usually a good producer or an essential person. Here is how to manage him, instead of letting him manage you.

The new integration will empower franchise owners to maximize business performance, grow profitably, and deliver a superior customer experience.

Gen-Ear LE can pinpoint water leaks in residential and commercial water lines – including problems in walls and under concrete slabs, swimming pools and hot tubs.

 Like all Unipipe systems, UnipipeEZ features a proprietary stainless steel clamp ring that bites into the aluminum pipe, creating a connection rated for over five times the pressure of other systems. 

PM Engineer Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke sits down with Lance MacNevin, director of engineering, building and construction division of the Plastics Pipe Institute, to discuss top trends influencing the use of plastic pipes in commercial applications.

When installed properly and protected from incompatible chemicals, CPVC can deliver years of reliable service in even the most aggressive water conditions. Get tips on installing and servicing CPVC pipes.

PPI MS-7 includes detailed specifications for four plastic piping materials which have been proven in ground-source heat exchange systems: HDPE, PE-RT, PEX, and PP (PP-R and PP-RCT).

Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke had the chance to chat with Jason Klaus, senior sales manager of HammerHead Trenchless about the growing market demand and the benefits of offering trenchless solutions.

The U.S. EPA's "Fix A Leak Week" runs March 18-24.

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

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.

A strong banking relationship is critical for securing loans and for establishing and maintaining lines of credit. Relationships are not built overnight. Here are the steps you need to build a good relationship with a bank.

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.

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

In order to be an effective leader, you need to first understand what leadership actually is. Many people mistakenly believe that leadership is simply overseeing a group or organization. However, there's much more to it than that. Effective leaders possess a number of qualities that allow them to successfully navigate through challenges and inspire others to do the same.

The most effective leaders understand that leadership is more than just giving orders and dictating how things should be done. It’s about understanding the unique needs of everyone in your company (or department) and finding a way to lead in a fair and compassionate manner.

As service business leaders, we often focus blindly on the results — key performance indicators, sales targets and other specific goals. But when it comes to success in any industry, relationships are often much more important than simply reaching a result-based goal. This is especially true for plumbing contractors who need trust and cooperation from our manufacturers, distributors, clients and other partners to succeed call after call, day after day.

In today's fast-paced world, many people in the trades are seeking a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. One area where we can find this sense of meaning is in our professional roles, particularly when we provide leadership.

Regardless of how long you’ve been in the trades, I’m sure you know how important learning is to your journey. Let’s take a deeper look.

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?