Understanding and implementing water conservation strategies —such as low-flow fixtures, hot water system design and leak detection, and greywater and rainwater systems — contributes to energy efficiency and the well-being of ecosystems, in addition to water savings.

Active listening — not only hearing but listening — is a skill that helps us understand the needs of our clients, coworkers, family and friends. In a business relationship, that translates to using empathy to be aware of and sensitive to the thoughts and feelings of others.

How fire sprinkler piping is arranged affects the system through water flow changes, system calculations and components used. Installation requirements for any sprinkler system can be found in NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. 

In part 4 of commissioning/troubleshooting domestic hot water systems, Ron George discusses how long it takes hot water to get to all fixtures, temperature limit stops, water heater thermostats, digital mixing valves, water flow velocity, and balancing water conservation with health and safety.

If you’ve never been viewed on camera before, getting media training to ensure you look and sound professional while sharing your expertise is a good idea. Make sure to jot down some notes about what you want to say, but don’t script it. Practicing on camera can illustrate areas where you need to improve.

When customers call with an emergency — especially after business hours — you need a system to determine if it truly is an urgent situation. If it is, how do you determine what technician to send? An option to control after-hours chaos is to give that privilege to service agreement program members.

Don’t confuse habits for loyalty. The problem for some companies is they believe they know what customers think and want; in many cases, they don’t. 

Like a building’s water distribution system, fire sprinkler system piping can freeze in frigid temperatures and cause major damage. The checklist provided here can assist building owners or qualified technicians to properly winterize this life-safety system before the onset of cold weather. 

Part 3 of this series covers applications and locations for various temperature controls, DHW control valves, temperature control valve standards, and how to protect yourself from liability if the owner refuses to install a control valve serving the hot water distribution system.

Facilities using smart plumbing fixtures can save time, manage facility workflow and improve efficiency and sustainability. Advanced sensors detect changes and track product performance, providing maintenance staff with real-time insights into the performance of the facility’s smart products.