PHC News

Feature

2019 Heating Season Preview

New technologies fuel energy-efficiency efforts.

August 6, 2019

The 2019 PHCPPros Boiler Report revealed that advancements in controls, building automation systems (BAS) and overall use of big data through integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) are changing the market.

Feature

Universal Design: More Relevant Than Ever

Wellness and accessibility are key themes when designing kitchens and bathrooms for all ages and abilities.

August 7, 2019

Linda Jennings

No Comments

Universal design is not a trend, but a real and growing movement that seeks to maximize the usability of a space for people regardless of their age, size or ability.

Feature

Hydronics in the High Country

You might be surprised where you’d find radiant heat. Steam, too.

August 7, 2019

Steve Fernandez

No Comments

Hydronics Country. What comes to mind? New England? New York and Pennsylvania? Maybe even the northern Midwest. But, likely, not the New Mexico-Colorado border.

Feature

Creating a Culture of Loyal and Happy Techs

It’s up to you to create a culture that thrives on the positive.

August 7, 2019

No Comments

So, how do we improve our culture to impact our technician and team member retention and acquisition? Let’s take a look.

Feature

Don’t Let Your Energy Go Down the Drain

Using Sewage Wastewater Energy Exchange to heat and cool buildings by capturing and re-using expended energy.

June 4, 2019

Don Posson, PE, LEED AP

No Comments

As much as 40 percent to 50 percent of a building’s energy is contained in sewage and literally goes down the drain every day.

Feature

Water Woes: A Unique Water Quality Challenge

This bucolic home in central Pennsylvania hid a myriad of plumbing and well problems.

July 3, 2019

John Vastyan

No Comments

The picturesque setting of this central Pennsylvania home gave no indication of the trouble lurking below.

Legal Pipeline

Not All Third-Party Beneficiaries Are Alike

Only intended beneficiaries may assert claims under third-party contracts.

August 6, 2019

Steven Nudelman

No Comments

May Contractor A sue Contractor B for breach of the developer’s contract — that is, the contract between Contractor B and the developer? In Arco In ge nieros, S.A. de C.V. v. CDM Int’l Inc., 368 F. Supp. 3d 256 (D. Mass. 2019), a Massachusetts federal district court said no.

Alternative Energy

Bringing Green Out of The Ground

Will the parks of the future be vertical?

August 7, 2019

Max Rohr

No Comments

Accommodating population growth challenges us to create more buildings without completely zeroing out the beneficial plant life that is crucial for our health.

The Riso Report

New School Messaging

The world of advocacy is changing at warp speed due to social media.

August 7, 2019

Mark Riso

No Comments

There’s enough room at the top for the ways of both the old school and the new school, and each are equally important in order to achieve success.

Momentum Building Marketing

Rebranding: It’s So Much More Than a Logo

Avoid common pitfalls with professional PR help.

August 7, 2019

Heather Ripley

No Comments

Have you ever thought about rebranding your plumbing business? Maybe you’ve added services such as HVAC and electrical. Maybe your company has changed ownership or merged with another company. Or maybe it’s just time for a change.

Business Uncomplicated

World Solutions: What to Do About Waste?

FloHawks’ JR Inman is a man on a mission: to help provide proper sanitation across the globe.

August 7, 2019

Ellen Rohr

No Comments

Wow. JR is a man on purpose. He inspired me and I am happy to share his story with you.

Contractor Profit Advantage

Stop Giving Estimates

Contract pricing allows contractors the opportunity to offer an upfront price that does not change for a described task.

August 7, 2019

Richard DiToma

No Comments

Contract pricing defines the parameters of any task and allows contractors to package prices in a fashion to recover their costs.

Contractor Stories

The Folly of Youth

August 7, 2019

Stephen Minnich

No Comments

Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-One. I figured I’d sound older and wiser if I typed it out rather than just a 1, 9 , 8, and a 1. Well, maybe not wiser but certainly older.

Geothermal HVAC

A Downtown Ambient Geothermal Main

A small Iowa town trades natural gas for ground-source heat to fuel its district heating and cooling project.

August 6, 2019

Jay Egg

No Comments

As part of the contributions needed to be made toward the elimination of combustion heating, “beneficial electrification” is becoming the clear choice. With proper education, consumers can come to see that it's a significant step forward toward modernization to be “all electric.”

Solar Solutions

Closed-Loop Solar Glycol: The Art of Fill and Purge

Follow procedures to ensure the system is configured correctly.

August 6, 2019

Bristol Stickney

No Comments

Hydronic heating systems must be filled with water to provide the heat transfer fluid (HTF) that makes them work. In the case of the closed-loop solar heating system, the HTF is typically a mixture of water and propylene glycol.

The Future is Now

R-744 in Ultra-Cold Climates

Seward, Alaska, is at the forefront of large-scale trans-critical heat pump systems using C02 refrigerant.

August 6, 2019

BF Nagy

No Comments

Crazy weather has become the norm everywhere, which is part of the reason for the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment, under which nations have agreed to move toward natural, global-warming-friendly refrigerants.

The Mill Rose Co. Blue Monster Arctic Armor

June 29, 2019

No Comments

A new thermal barrier that protects surfaces from heat damage during soldering, welding and brazing operations is now available from the Clean-Fit Products division of The Mill-Rose Co.

Brasscraft Mfg. Co. Safety+Plus2 Advantage Thermal Excess Flow Valve

Brasscraft Mfg. Co. Safety+Plus2 Thermal Excess Flow Valve

July 8, 2019

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The company has continued its legacy of innovation with an enhanced version of its patented Safety+Plus Excess Flow Valve (EFV).

Spartan and Picote Announce the Spartan Revolution

June 24, 2019

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The Spartan Revolution, a private label of the Picote Mini Cleaner, is a high-speed machine for cleaning, descaling and blockage removal.

Sioux Chief OmegaPlate and OmniPanel

July 10, 2019

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Both the OmegaPlate single valve outlet plate and the OmniPanel dual valve outlet panel allow contractors to install supply stops during the rough-in phase.

PRIER P-754 Hot & Cold Hydrant

July 9, 2019

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Borrowing the quality, design and function of the C-634 and the single-dial temperature control technology of the residential TrueTemp Single-Handle Hot & Cold Hydrant, the P-754 offers the best of both worlds to provide a better solution for tempered water in a commercial application.

General Pipe Cleaners Root 66 Drain Cleaning Machine

June 28, 2019

No Comments

With the versatility to handle 1 1/4- to 4-inch drain lines, General Pipe Cleaners' Root 66 is three machines in one.

PVI Conquest Condensing Gas Water Heater

July 15, 2019

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Water heaters feature a touch-screen operating control with plain text status and fault diagnostics, and are available in 399, 500, 600, 700, 800 MBH with 100- and 130-gallon storage tanks.

Flomatic Wafer Style Silent Check Valve

July 8, 2019

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The new, uniquely designed valve can be close coupled with a butterfly valve, eliminating the need for a spool piece.

Triangle Tube Instinct Boiler

June 20, 2019

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The new product is engineered and manufactured with reliability in mind and completes a state-of-the-art reliability validation, which includes environmental testing of sub-assemblies, stress testing, and simulated testing of appliances.

H2O Degree Submetering Guide

June 29, 2019

No Comments

The new comprehensive resource, "Utility Management Solutions for Multi-Family Facilities," provides product information, application details and case study examples.