June 2012 - PHC News

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HYDRONICS
KITCHEN + BATH
GREEN SYSTEMS
2012 Tankless report
K/BIS 2012 recap
The Solyndra Shame
p 42
p 54
p 62
Land of
the Lead Free
p 22
Scan with your smart phone or visit online at
qr.qg.com/HZLLJd to renew your subscription
to Phc News today!
june 2012 Vol 12 | No 6
Lead free
legislation is a
game changer
phcnews.com
e Circle 1 on reader reply on page 71
CONTENTS
COVER STORY
Find us online
twitter.com/phcnews
facebook.com/PhcNews
HYDRONICS
KITCHEN + BATH
GREEN SYSTEMS
K/BIS 2012 recap
The Solyndra Shame
p 42
p 54
p 62
Land of the Lead Free
PLUMBING
18
Contractor demand for lead free plumbing
components in California and Vermont, the first
two states to pass their own lead free plumbing
laws, is an ongoing need with no turning back.
JUNE 2012
Richard DiToma
The payoff in educating contractors in sound
business procedures
Land of
the Lead Free
p 22
22
Land of the lead free
Lead free legislation is a game changer
p 22
Scan with your smart phone or visit online at
qr.qg.com/HZLLJd to renew your subscription
to Phc News today!
28
june 2012 Vol 12 | No 6
Lead free
legislation is a
game changer
Precision Plumbing Products
Building on success with third generation
phcnews.com
32
www.phcnews.com
Revisiting homes of the future
Rainwater system prompts LEED Platinum
Certification
HYDRONICS
A COMPLETE SOLUTION
FOR ANY TANKLESS WATER
HEATER INSTALLATION
38
Dan Foley
Tackling increased demand for geothermal
heating systems
42
The latest trends in tankless products
PREMIUM
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SPACE
SAVING
MECHANICAL
CONTRACTING
RECESSED
BOXES
50
Morris Beschloss
National employment mobility guarantees
long-term rental swing
KITCHEN + BATH
54
Pete Schor
A wrap up of K/BIS 2012.
BUSINESS RESOURCES
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GREEN SYSTEMS
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62
(800) 225-9529
Max Rohr
Making sense of the Solyndra controversy
PATENTED TECHNOLOGY
64
Bristol Stickney
Piping the solar collectors with flexible tubing
67
Options with drainback solar hot water
Drainback technology matures to offer
sensible design options
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EDITORIAL OFFICES
2165 Shermer Road, Suite A
Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: 847/564-1127
Fax: 847/564-1264,
publisher@tmbpublishing.com
22
67
CONTENTS JUNE 2012
IN THE NEWS
8
Construction backlog down 5.4% in Q1
10
Nebraska adopts the UPC
12
RPA board of directors has new officers
14
ASHRAE launches online technology site
16
SunMaxx Solar opens New York training facility
16
Construction industry trade groups promote drug-,
OWNER
Tom M. Brown, Jr.
MANAGING EDITOR
James Schaible
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
John Abularrage
Morris R. Beschloss
Richard DiToma
Dan Foley
Linda Jennings
Max Rohr
Ellen Rohr
Peter Schor
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Cate C. Brown
alcohol-free workplace
DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER
Mark Bruno
FROM THE EDITORS
74
Phc News’ owner Tom Brown announces new editor
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Sadie Bechtold
SALES OFFICES
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PHC NEWS (USPS NUMBER 022-074) IS PUBLISHED 12 TIMES YEARLY BY TMB
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phc june 2012 www.phcnews.com
INDUSTRY NEWS
8
Construction backlog down 5.4% in Q1
WASHINGTON — On May15,
Associated Builders and Contractors
released its Construction Backlog
Indicator (CBI) for the first quarter of
2012. CBI is a forward-looking
economic indicator that measures the
amount of construction work under
contract to be completed in the future.
CBI declined 5.4% from the previous
quarter, dipping from 7.8 months to
7.4 months but is slightly higher
compared to the first quarter of 2011.
“On the heels of a mixed bag of
national economic news, CBI declined
for the second quarter in a row,” said
ABC chief economist Anirban Basu.
“The nation’s nonresidential
construction activity will remain soft
during the summer months, with flat
to declining nonresidential
construction spending.
“The ongoing instability in the
nation’s nonresidential construction
industry appears to be related to the
period of economic weakness that
developed in the broader economy
last year, as well as to concerns
[about] recessionary forces in Europe,”
Basu said. “The result is that many
prospective construction projects
were cancelled or postponed.”
Regional highlights
• Compared to the first quarter of
2011, construction backlog is slightly
higher in every region, with the
exception of the Northeast.
• In the West, construction backlog
expanded by 0.46 months from the
fourth quarter of 2011 to the first
quarter of this year.
• The Middle States have the
shortest backlog at 6.34 months and
the South continues to register the
lengthiest backlog at 8.88 months.
Analysis
The South, which includes a
number of rapidly expanding,
commodity-rich states, continues to
produce the most new opportunities
for contractors. Although average
construction backlog in the South was
roughly flat during the past quarter,
backlog is up by seven-tenths of a
Construction material prices inch up 0.1% in April
I
n a sign of easing inflation pressure,
the nation’s construction materials
prices increased 0.1 percent in April,
according to the May 11 Producer
Price Index report by the U.S. Labor
Department. Construction materials
prices are up 2.5 percent compared to
the same time last year.
Nonresidential construction materials
prices were unchanged for the month
but are 2.4% higher than one year ago.
Prices for plumbing fixtures and fittings
decreased 0.7% for the month but are
up 2.5% compared to the same time
last year. Other materials, such as
nonferrous wire, concrete, steel mill
Noritz marks 10th year in
North America with contractor promo
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIF. — To
celebrate the 10th anniversary of its
entry into the U.S. tankless water
heating market, Noritz America
Corporation recently unveiled a 10month contractor appreciation
promotion designed to recognize and
reward members of its ongoing
PROCard Program, as
well as to attract
additional professional
installers to the group.
By submitting
warranty registrations
on Noritz products
installed between
March 1 and
December 31 of this
year, participating
contractors will earn chances to win
prizes in monthly and quarterly
drawings. All participants will also be
eligible for the grand prize drawing
in January 2013 when the winner
will receive a new Yamaha Rhino
700cc fuel-injected, side-by-side
month from one year ago. No other
region has generated an increase in
backlog that large.
Construction backlog expansion in
the Middle States continues to be
stifled, with sporadic gains in
industrial production during the past
year, too scattered to induce the next
wave of manufacturing-related
construction projects. Average
construction backlog in the
Northeast has fallen on a year-overyear basis. Last year’s soft patch,
including the economic weakness
associated with the debt ceiling issue,
appears to have impacted the
financial institution-rich Northeast
more than any other region.
utility vehicle, valued at $19,000.
Noritz will actively promote the
2012 PROCard Promotion through
trade-publication advertising,
promotional fliers and supply house
counter displays, articles in the
monthly PROCard Newsletter, and
postings on the company’s Facebook
and Twitter sites as
well as the PROCard
website. “The goal of
this promotion is not
just to celebrate our
company’s tenth year
in North America, but
also to express
appreciation to our
PROCard members
for their loyal and
enthusiastic support of our product
line over the past decade,” said Jay
Hassel, VP-marketing for Noritz
America.
The 2012 PROCard Promotion is
open to all program members in the
United States and Canada at
products and lumber posted small
increases in April and increases of about
2% over last year’s figures. Prices for
roofing and siding dropped 2.6% and
3.3% over April 2011.
“Recent news pertaining to the U.S.
nonresidential construction industry
has been somewhat disheartening of
late,” said Basu. “Still, at the very least,
contractors have been enjoying the
benefits of stable materials prices.”
Basu further explained that
materials prices are subject not only
to specific demand but to the whims
of equity and bond investors looking
to reduce exposure to other assets.
www.noritz.com/10-year-promo/. To
join PROCard, interested contractors
should visit procard.noritz.com or
call (866) 766-7489.
Each month, Noritz will draw five
entries from the pool of warranty
registrations for the previous 30 days,
awarding each contractor-winner a
prize valued at between $250 and
$1,750. Awards will include Noritz
NRC83-DVC tankless water heaters,
as well as a selection of power tools
and electronic equipment, such as
Apple iPod Touch music and video
players, DeWalt 18-Volt Cordless 4Tool Combo Kits, Kindle Fire
elec-tronic readers, Bose iPod Sound
Docks, and Sony PlayStation® 3
Systems.
In June, September and December,
Noritz will draw one additional
winner who will receive a Yamaha
TW200 Dual Purpose Dirt Bike or a
Yamaha Raptor 250 All Terrain
Vehicle, valued at $6,000 each. All
PROCard members who submitted
at least one warranty registration
over the previous 90 days, including
the monthly winners, will be eligible
for these quarterly drawings.
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RUN-TIME
INDUSTRY NEWS
LINCOLN, NEB. — The state of
Nebraska has formally adopted the
2009 Uniform Plumbing Code®
(UPC), an American National
Standard developed and published
by the International Association of
Plumbing and Mechanical Officials
New business guide
10
(IAPMO) to serve
as the statewide
plumbing code for the Cornhusker
State.
On April 2, Gov. Dave Heineman
signed Legislative Bill 42 (LB 42)
amending sections of “Reissue
Revised Statutes of Nebraska; to
update references to the 2009
Nebraska adopts UPC
FALLS CHURCH, VA. — In April,
every PHCC contractor
member received a
complimentary printed
guide, The True Costs of
Doing Business. The guide
steps contractors through
properly calculating their
overhead and determining
a selling price that covers
all their costs and delivers
a net profit. It was written
by Foundation seminar
speaker Michael Bohinc, based on
training materials developed by the
Foundation for their Overhead and
Profit Calculator software.
Sections covered are: Calculating
Direct Labor Costs; Calculating
Overhead Costs;
Identifying and
Calculating “Billable
Hours”; Computing the
“Break Even” Cost on a
Billable Hour Basis; Markup Vs. Margin Methods;
Mark-Up: The Wrong Way
to Make a Profit; Margin:
The Right Way to
Calculate Your Sales Price
and Computing a Selling
Price Based on Billable Hours.
For information, log on to
foundation.phccweb.org.
Uniform Plumbing Code for counties,
cities and villages.” The changes go
into effect on July 1.
State Sen. Amanda McGill,
chairwoman of the Urban Affairs
Committee, Dave Wagoner,
plumbing contractor from Kearney,
Neb. and IAPMO region 4 manager
Bill Schweitzer worked closely with
State Sen. Galen Hadley and his
legislative aide Berri Balka on the
drafting of LB 42.
Bob Siemsen, chief plumbing
inspector for Lincoln, Neb.; Mick
Gage, a contractor from Iowa; Stacy
Grewek, director of the PHCC of
Nebraska; Pete Leddy, business agent
for United Association Local 16 and
Jim Wonder, chief plumbing
inspector for Omaha, Neb., all
offered testimony and support
during an Urban Affairs Committee
meeting debating LB 42. Following
that meeting, the committee
recommended adoption of LB 42
and sent it to the Senate floor, where
it was passed and sent to Gov.
Heineman’s desk.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
12
RPA board of directors has new officers
MOKENA, ILL. — The Radiant
Professionals Alliance (RPA) board of
directors has new officers as
appointed by the International
Association of Plumbing and
Mechanical
Officials
(IAPMO) board
of directors.
These officers,
along with
seven directors at large, will ensure
that the purpose of the RPA
continually remains current, relevant
and on course to meet the ongoing
goals and objectives of RPA members.
The new officers are:
• Mark Chaffee, chairman:
Chaffee is director of marketing,
Residential Products, for Taco Inc.
• Ingrid Mattsson, vice chairman:
Mattsson is senior manager — Brand
Management for Uponor.
• Carol Fey, recording secretary:
Fey founded Carol Fey & Associates
Inc. and is a degreed technical trainer,
troubleshooter and author.
• Mike Dietrich, treasurer:
Dietrich is business team manager
for Radiant Heating/Cooling and
Energy Transfer Piping Systems in
Leesburg, Va.
• Dorothy Biggs, immediate past
chairman: Biggs represents Viega,
manufacturer of plumbing, heating
and pipe joining technology.
A. O. Smith commits
to major sponsorship
with PHCC
ASHLAND CITY, TENN. — A. O.
Smith, along with its family of
wholesale water heater brands —
A.O. Smith, State, American and
Takagi — has signed on as a major
sponsor of the Plumbing-HeatingCooling Contractors — National
Association (PHCC). The company’s
commitment will help fund vital
education, training, research and
scholarship programs for PHCC, the
PHCC Educational Foundation and
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PHCC’s Quality Service Contractors.
A. O. Smith’s contribution will
assist programs like the Oct. 3 – 5
CONNECT 2012 conference, the
PHCC Educational Foundation’s
Plumbing Apprentice contest, the
Skills USA Plumbing contest, online
communications, the Invest in Your
Future campaign, PHCC chapter
education programs and other
strategic projects.
As the official education sponsor
of QSC, A. O. Smith will provide
many of the tools and resources used
to supply contractor education to
QSC members throughout the year
as well as at bi-annual power
meetings. The company contribution
also funds bi-weekly tech training,
human resources consulting and
other online resources for contractor
members.
“A. O. Smith is delighted to support
these vital programs that advance the
professionalism of the industry,” said
Jeff Storie, senior manager, contractor
& consumer marketing for A. O.
Smith Water Heaters. “We
share the commitment of
PHCC, the Educational
Foundation and QSC to
effectively train and educate
those in our industry today
as well as the workforce of
tomorrow.”
Pro-Pal brochure
now available
WORCESTER, MASS. — A
new edition of Webstone’s
Pro-Pal brochure showcases
an array of labor-saving
valves for the
plumbing and
heating trades.
The ball drain
eliminates
assemblies
needed to isolate
and drain any
portion of a
piped system; a T Drain
installs anywhere a drain or
purge valve is required; the
expansion tank valve
replaces seven components
and allows contractors to
easily install, isolate, drain
and replace any expansion
tank; the purge and fill valve
lets you simultaneously drain,
flush and refill any hydronic
system and a purge tee
allows for placement of a
ball valve between closely
spaced tees.
www.webstonevalves.com
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Greenlee mobile vans market tools at jobsite
ASHRAE
launches online
terminology site
ATLANTA — Common definitions for
terms found in ASHRAE standards and
other publications can now be found at
a new website from the Society,
14
www.ashraewiki.org. The site contains
more than 6,000 terms related to
buildings, with a particular focus on
mechanical, envelope, electrical,
lighting, load calculations, design, water
design/conservation and energy use and
measurement metrics.
ASHRAEwiki can create custom
reports of terms and primary definitions
that will aid in the development of
ROCKFORD, ILL. — Tool
manufacturer Greenlee has
launched a new mobile marketing
program for its power tool
accessory products with the
introduction of three vans, each
designed to go directly to an end
user’s doorstep, conduct hands-on
active product demonstrations and
encourage end user product trials.
Greenlee’s three vans, packed with
power tool accessories, will visit
plumbing contractors at commercial
and industrial worksites in the
Midwestern, western and eastern
states. Each van is equipped with a
wide variety of power tool
accessories, ranging from
reciprocating saw blades, bi-metal
holes saws, stainless steel hole cutters,
carbide grit hole saws, stud punches,
step bits and auger bits to power
tools, test instruments and knockouts.
Visit www.greenlee.com.
standards, guidelines, handbooks and
other ASHRAE publications. Each term
in the wiki has one or more primary
(recommended) definitions, notes in
which ASHRAE standard(s) the term is
used and gives the definition source and
known legal information such as
trademark registration. It also lists any
secondary definitions used in an
ASHRAE standard or guideline. Terms
are grouped by words, symbols,
abbreviations and acronyms. Definitions
that include units may use Inch-Pound
(I-P) or International System (SI) as
“The ASHRAEwiki goal is to
primary units.
“The ASHRAEwiki goal is to improve
improve communication by
communication by encouraging the use
encouraging the use of
of consistent terminology definitions
within ASHRAE and the industry,
consistent terminology
worldwide. There is no requirement to
definitions within ASHRAE
use an ASHRAEwiki primary definition,
and the industry, worldwide.”
but standards developers should be able
to see the value in
consistency across all
standards,” said Art
Hallstrom, a member of
www.phpinc.us
ASHRAE Technical
Committee 1.6,
Hydronics TM
Terminology.
“ASHRAEwiki content
is controlled by the
IMITED INSTALL SPACE
editors and TC 1.6, but
TM
suggestions from
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individuals or
From basic hydraulic separation to full primary/secondary zoning system, PHP
organizations are
provides cost-effective, space-saving, innovative piping solutions with our new U.S.
welcome,” said Bruce
Patent Pending products.
Billedeaux, TC 1.6 vice
The Allcan™ is a hydraulic separator with a high quality air separator built in. It
chair. “Suggestions can
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be entered in the wiki
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discussion section or
to aid in easy piping to the secondary-loop heating zones. This product comes
sent to the
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ASHRAEwiki editor.”
vent, secondary loop Grundfos 15-58 end-suction zone pumps (standard) or Taco
ASHRAEwiki
00R-MS in-line pumps (optional), primary loop pump/indirect water tank pump as
replaces the proposed
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ASHRAE Standard 166P,
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Conditioning and
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Refrigerating
For ordering and information also try www.hydronicworkshop.com.
Rev 12/11
Terminology.
ASHRAEwiki is in
Precision Hydronic Products
Division of JL industries, inc.
English but might be
Patent Pending Components
6807 NE 79th Court Ste E - Portland, OR 97218
Made in the USA.
Phone: (503) 445-4188 - FAX: (503) 445-4187
expanded to other
We do not export labor.
©2009
www.phpinc.us
languages in the future.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
16
Construction industry trade groups
promote drug-, alcohol-free workplace
WASHINGTON — Five of the
nation’s largest construction trade
associations have teamed up to form
the Construction Coalition for a
Drug- and Alcohol-Free Workplace
(CCDAFW). The coalition’s mission
is to provide the construction
industry with the resources necessary
to implement drug- and alcohol-free
policies into their business practices.
CCDAFW has launched a
nationwide effort urging
construction-related firms and
organizations to sign an online
pledge signifying they will create and
maintain a workplace free from
substance abuse.
The CCDAFW is comprised of
Associated Builders and Contractors
(ABC), the Associated General
Contractors of America (AGC),
Construction Industry Round Table
(CIRT), Construction Users’
Roundtable (CURT) and Women
Construction Owners Executives
(WCOE).
“We are driving an industry toward
world-class safety,” said ABC
president and CEO Michael D.
Bellaman. “If we want to have an
industry that is world class in safety,
we have to start with a rock-solid
foundation that includes an
environment free of drugs and
substance abuse. This coalition is a
way to help companies build that
foundation so we can continue
toward our goal of eliminating all
fatalities on construction worksites.”
SunMaxx Solar opens New York training facility
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — SunMaxx
Solar has opened its new solar
training facility in Binghamton. The
2,000-square-foot indoor training lab
was designed with a presentation
area and a separate large open space
for hands-on system component
installation. Led by SunMaxx
educator John Maliwacki, training
takes students through the science,
installation and marketing of
domestic and commercial solar hot
water systems. The creation of this
facility is part of SunMaxx's
continuing effort to make the
company’s solar thermal training one
of the best in the industry.
The SunMaxx Solar training facility
provides
accelerated
training classes
for contractors,
electricians, engineers, solar energy
entrepreneurs, sales executives and
anyone who is considering a career in
the growing solar industry. Certified
solar training programs are structured
to help individuals and licensed
contractors get into the solar industry
and excel in the solar job market. The
hands-on courses in solar hot water
and photovoltaic (PV) system design
and installation help train students to
meet the requirements of launching a
solar installation business or finding
green jobs.
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on page 71
PLUMBING
PLuMBING BuSINeSS
Nassau County N.Y. PHCC and Dellon
Sales Company get involved in education
BY RICHARD DI TOMA CONTRIBuTING WRITeR
I
18
believe in educating contractors in sound business
procedures. I also emphasize the delivery of excellence
to consumers. I am ecstatic whenever contractors who
listen and properly implement my theories and methods
improve their business results, increase their ability to
deliver excellence to consumers and lower their businessrelated stress levels.
My euphoria escalates when organizations like the
Nassau County PHCC and Dellon Sales Company, a
manufacturer’s representative, both located on Long
Island, N.Y., come together to help in the effort. This
commentary is dedicated as a thank you to those two
institutions and as an example of how to start improving
our noble industry.
Dellon Sales Company has graciously provided their
training facilities to the Nassau County PHCC so they
can offer educational programs to PHC contracting
businesses to help contractors improve their business
expertise.
My involvement started when Bobby Gramman, a
contractor friend with the Nassau County PHCC, asked
me to speak at an association event sponsored by Dellon
Sales Company on May 9, 2012. I had the honor of
speaking to over 50 PHC contracting businesses about
improving their business results and lowering their
business stress. Dellon provided their facilities and a
sumptuous BBQ meal. Attendees had the opportunity to
win great door prizes, and a contribution was presented to
Habitat for Humanity.
The Nassau County PHCC/Dellon Sales Company
alliance and the assistance I have offered to them, will
make a better tomorrow for everyone in that area,
including the consumers served by the PHC industry.
Dellon Sales Company
Dellon Sales Company is an award winning operation
staffed by a very talented and energized group of people
led by owner and CEO Scott Dellon. Scott is the fifth
generation of Dellons serving the plumbing industry, and
his son David has extended that string to a sixth
generation. Scott believes his staff is the reason Dellon
Sales Company is a unique enterprise, with the ability to
deliver superior quality service to their clientele.
Dellon Sales Company is dedicated to the
improvement of the industry through excellence and
education and has created the Dellon University to keep
clientele abreast of the latest technologies. I asked Scott
the following questions to understand his perspective on
this joint educational undertaking:
Why is Dellon Sales Company joining forces with the
Nassau County PHCC to sponsor events for PHC
contractors?
“Dellon Sales Company has always enjoyed working
closely with various organizations related to the plumbing,
heating and fire sprinkler industry. We enjoy developing
relationships with members of our industry. PHCC is an
excellent organization and actually adds value to its
members and helps make our industry better. We are a
The Nassau PHCC Dellon Sales Company Team left to right. Front Row:
Debbie Margolies, Brent Brake, Jennifer Levine. 2nd Row: Giovanni
Cerroni, Joe Cornetta, Scott Dellon, Ron Doughty, Jeff Goldman. Back
Row: Brian Linder, Shelley Conn, Arthur Brendell, John Delvecchio,
Terrance Harwell, Andrew Messiner, Joe Knott, Bruce Wolk, Carl Bodener,
Bob LaGuardia, Spencer Bodner, Paul Nodel.
member and try to support and help them out in any way
that we can.”
What educational programs does Dellon Sales
Company provide at your university?
“We have a classroom here that we call Dellon
University. It can accommodate over 50 people and
has operating displays and audio visual aids. We
provide training and certification classes on virtually
all the lines that we represent, including Baxi wall
hung boilers, Roth dual containment oil tanks, Anvil
Gruvlok and Blazemaster Fire protection. We teach
plumbers and service techs on Bradford White
residential and commercial water heaters. We even
host AIA and CEU courses for American Standard,
Elkay, Mr. Steam, InSinkErator and Eemax for
architects and engineers.
I am ecstatic whenever
contractors who listen and
properly implement my
theories and methods improve
their business results, increase
their ability to deliver
excellence to consumers and
lower their business-related
stress levels...
e Turn to DI TOMA on p 20
PLUMBING
| PLUMBING BUSINESS |
‘We also hold NKBA meetings here to review industry
trends and opportunities for their local chapter.”
Who are the people at Dellon Sales that are
responsible for your educational programs?
“Various members of the Dellon team are involved in
running Dellon University. Different Dellon teammates
do the scheduling, planning and training, depending on
the topic of the training session or the group or
organization involved in the course. I would say it’s a
team effort.
“Our marketing manager Brent Brake helps coordinate
the trade groups’ activities as well as handling and being
on the board of the NKBA. Spencer Bodner, Joe Knott
and John Delvecchio handle our heating department and
all activities that revolve around it. Jon Ross and Tony
Pennello handle everything that has to do with the
engineering community and the plumbing trade. Ken
Shwab specializes in Elkay and Mr. Steam. David Dellon
and I oversee everything that goes on in Dellon University
and help out wherever we can.”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
PHCC is always promoting education and, when possible,
discounting to our members.”
What is the purpose of your meetings sponsored by
Dellon Sales Company?
“Basically to promote the PHCC. Dellon Sales is an
associate member of the PHCC and pays to participate in
our meetings.”
Ron Doughty, vice president of the Nassau County
PHCC, had a different
perspective on the
biggest problem in the
industry. He thinks
that the lack of
continuing education
is the major problem.
From a technical view,
he feels that
contractors who
received their licenses
years ago may not be
The Nassau County, N.Y. PHCC
20
I also spoke with Joe Cornetta, president of the Nassau
County PHCC. Joe is the third generation of Cornetta
Bros. Inc., a plumbing and heating contracting firm
established in 1946. He says that the PHCC has exposed
him to countless ideas and opportunities. He regularly
attends conventions and trade shows, because the industry
is in a constant state of flux due to the fast pace of
technological advances. He says, “If you don’t learn, you
get left behind.”
I posed the following questions to Joe about the
association’s objectives regarding this alliance with Dellon
Sales Company:
What is the mission of the Nassau County PHCC?
“The PHCC is dedicated to the promotion,
advancement, education and training of the industry for
the protection of our environment and the health, safety
and comfort of society.”
From a technical view, Ron feels
that contractors who received their
licenses years ago may not be
keeping up with technological
advances and code changes.
What do you consider to be the biggest problem in the
PHC industry?
“There is a real problem with today’s generation getting
involved. It’s not just the PHCC. It’s all organizations.
Call any local volunteer fire department and ask if they
need help. The few who do join don’t really get involved.
Your fellow author Dan Foley hit the mark in Feb. 2012.
He asked, ‘What will a gym membership do for you if you
don’t participate?’ “
What is the solution to the problem?
“We are currently working with Nassau County to
achieve a county-wide license. One of the stipulations
would be that continuing education be required to renew
a plumbing license. The PHCC would head up training
and offer our members discounts or even include it in our
dues. This type of exposure will hopefully lead to more
members, some of whom may ‘get involved.’ Similar to
what you and I discussed regarding your seminars, the
Joe Cornetta,
President of Nassau
County NY PHCC
keeping up with technological advances and code changes.
As a local PHC inspector, he sees this problem first hand.
Regarding proper business protocols, Ron believes that
contractors don’t really know their true cost because they
lack business acumen. He says, “A good plumber is usually
a bad business person.”
Joe Cornetta and Ron Doughty both have valid points
about that which they believe is the problem. When
contractors don’t get involved they can’t keep up on
proper technical and business procedures.
Getting involved
The Nassau County PHCC and Dellon Sales Company
should be applauded for choosing to get involved by
becoming part of the solution rather than staying part of
the problem by doing nothing. Those of you reading this
would serve yourselves and the industry well by
emulating the efforts of these two great and caring
organizations.
Joe Cornetta is right! If you don’t get involved, nothing
gets done. Get involved; send a message in your area. Tell
PHC contractors, associations, wholesalers and
manufacturing representatives that you want them to do
their part to improve our industry by supporting
education in proper business protocols. With the right
education, it is possible to improve your business results
and lower your business stress levels. If you need my
assistance, give me a call at 845/639-5050. I am looking
forward to helping the Nassau PHCC and Dellon Sales
Company achieve their educational goals. I’d love to help
you with yours. l
Richard P. DiToma is a contracting business consultant
and active PHC contractor with over 41 years of experience
in the PHC industry. To receive more info about his
contracting business coaching, consultations, business books,
seminars with solutions, customized price guides, business
forms, etc., contact Richard by phone at 845/639-5050,
email richardditoma@verizon.net, fax 845/639-6791or
write R & G Profit-Ability Inc., P.O. Box 282, West Nyack,
NY 10994.
PLUMBING
22
U.S. strives to become “Land of the Lead free”
Lead free legislation is a game-changer
“C
onverting from standard
brass to lead free plumbing
components is kind of like
an old man who needs to ease into a
hot tub,” said Darrell Read, operations
manager at wholesaler F. W. Webb’s
Williston, Vt., branch, New England's
largest plumbing and heating, cooling
and industrial supplies distributor,
with more than 70 locations in New
England and New York. “Here, in a
state most immediately affected by
the legislation, we recognize the need
to make changes and to provide the
new lead free products quickly, but we
also recognized the need to be
deliberate about it,” added Read.
By now, contractor demand for lead
free plumbing components in
California and Vermont, the first two
states to pass their own lead free
plumbing laws, is an ongoing need
with no turning back. During the next
year and a half, wholesalers and
contractors in all other states will need
to comply. Read’s advice: “Ease your
way into it. Sell or install all of the
standard products now while you can
and, as inventory is reduced, replenish
supplies with the new lead free
technology.”
Last month Watts Water
Technologies conducted a random
survey of 16 wholesalers and
contractors in Vermont and California.
They found that wholesalers were
generally eager to talk about the
impact of lead free technology and
that their contractor customers, as a
Minnesota Master Plumber Eric Aune, president of Zimmerman, Minn.-based Aune
Plumbing, says that he’s gradually making preparations for the switch to lead free
plumbing components.
whole, were receptive to the change.
The key variable they found,
however, was the way manufacturers
responded to the need to retool their
products and how effectively they
introduced wholesalers to the new
products. Watts Water managers were
delighted to learn from wholesalers
and contractors that they (Watts
Water) handled the transition well.
There are many facets and some
challenges to the seismic shift to lead
free plumbing components. As a
leading producer of lead free products
and technology, the brands of Watts
Water have also made a commitment
to being an information leader as well.
Learn more at
Eric Aune also has a few opinions about the U.S. economy and our responsibility as
buying/consuming Americans. “We owe it to our own labor force and
manufacturers to buy American,” he said.
www.WeAreLeadFree.net.
In the opinion of contractors
Minnesota Master Plumber Eric
Aune, president of Zimmerman,
Minn.-based Aune Plumbing, says that
he’s gradually making preparations for
the switch to lead free plumbing
components. “I’d like to be ahead of
the curve, not behind it,” said Aune.
“Typically, I’m not real fond of
federally-mandated changes, but this
one has consumer safety at the core,
so I know I’ll need to remind myself of
that occasionally,” added Aune. “A
concern of mine is product availability.
When lead free goes large scale, the
last thing I’ll want to hear when I go
to my supplier at Twin Cities
Winnelson is that lead free products
are unavailable. Knowing that Watts
made a proactive commitment to be
ahead of the curve and to have the
broadest line of lead free products on
the market makes a very important
statement to me.”
He’s also got a few opinions about
the U.S. economy and our
responsibility as buying/consuming
Americans. “We owe it to our own
labor force and manufacturers to buy
American,” he said. “The lead free
issue is one we’ll all have to deal with,
so, as we respond, we can at least help
by installing products made here in
the U.S.
One of Read’s contractor customers
in Vermont is Kerry White, service
manager for Vermont Mechanical
PLUMBING
based in Williston. “My best advice for
transitioning to lead free components
is to maintain stock and inventory of
the lead free ball valves and fittings for
heating and plumbing applications.
We chose to switch to lead free for
everything from the get-go. That way
there were no mistakes.”
“It’s impossible to be too well
prepared,” added White. “Invariably,
suppliers will be limited in their
ability to meet the demand for lead
free products; short supplies means
that both installers and wholesalers
will have issues. If you can, stock up
on essential components.”
It’s a done deal
In December 2010, politicians and
industry experts anticipated new
legislation that would make the “Land
of the Free” also the “Land of the Lead
free,” pending a single but very
important signature.
Of course, we now know that in
January 2011 President Obama signed
the “Reduction of Lead in Drinking
Water Act” (or Senate Bill S.3874)
which set a new, federal standard for
the level of permissible lead in
plumbing fixtures that carry water for
human consumption. The Land of the
Lead free now begins in just 18
months. By 2014, the allowable lead
content in products providing water
for human consumption will change
You should start your transition soon, and smartly. A good first move: Contact each
supplier to confirm that their products are already lead-free compliant.
engineers should be proactive. Don’t
wait too long to start the transition,
because delays may ultimately be
costly.
2. Team up with quality
manufacturers. The new law will
change both the material and
manufacturing process for bronze and
brass products used in potable water
systems. The change is comprehensive,
requiring that manufacturers have
ample R&D resources.
3. Protect your business: Fines and
lawsuits may be just around the
After January 4, 2014, every potable plumbing
product that does not meet the new federal
standard will be illegal and cannot be sold or
installed for use with potable water.
from up to eight percent to not more
than a weighted average of 0.25
percent of wetted surfaces. The new
bill will align allowable lead levels in
all 50 states with the earlier adopted,
permissible lead levels in California,
Vermont and Maryland state
legislation.
“In our opinion, the legislation
appears sufficiently simple and
straightforward. However, if you are in
the business of installing, specifying,
distributing or manufacturing
products to comply with the
legislation, there is much more to it
than meets the eye,” said Stephanie
Ewing, director of strategic
partnerships, Watts Water
Technologies.
Act, partner, protect
With mandatory, U.S.-wide
compliance set for January 2014, it’s
now time to grapple with the
implications. Watts Water
recommends:
1. Distributors, contractors and
corner for those who don’t abide by
the law.
“Lead free is a game changer,” adds
Ewing. “Our customers in California,
Vermont and Maryland can attest to
the impact to their business. We do
believe that proper planning and
compliance will shape our success or
failure for years to come.”
After January 4, 2014, every
potable plumbing product that does
not meet the new federal standard will
be illegal and cannot be sold or
installed for use with potable water.
Period. States will be required to
implement the new lead free
requirements through state or local
plumbing codes, and some states may
also enforce the requirements through
consumer protection statutes or other
laws. Violators of the federal law may
be subject to monetary penalties,
government lawsuits or civil lawsuits
brought by concerned citizens.
Managing risk
Lead free changes the landscape for
your business and introduces risks;
from your competitors, from product
quality issues and possibly from legal
and regulatory action. Another facet of
the lead free movement is that
allowing your competitors to get
ahead of you means running the risk
of losing your customers and sales.
Invariably, some suppliers and
manufacturers will take shortcuts.
When this happens, product
deficiencies, failures and (Who
knows?) lead in lead free metal
formulations will only become
apparent after purchase and
installation. Good advice: Protect your
business. Work with reputable
suppliers and manufacturers. This will
ensure that the products you sell start
from the highest quality materials and
processes and are able to meet or
exceed lead free requirements.
Failure to plan is not an
option
You should start your transition
soon, and smartly. A good first move:
Contact each supplier to confirm that
their products are already lead-free
compliant; if not, determine whether
they have clear plans to transition to a
lead-free equivalent in time for your
business to keep pace with the
legislation.
In most cases, you’ll want to
identify and sell off low-volume
specialty or seasonal products first.
Transitioning to high-volume lead free
products will typically occur later in
the transition plan.
Watts Water has taken the
implications of the federal mandates
seriously. They’re focusing R&D
resources on the lead free conversion.
They have also broken ground on a
30,000+ sq. foot expansion to their
Franklin, N.H. foundry. The plant’s
e Continued on p 24
23
e Continued from p 23
PLUMBING
producing lead free products.
Materials and manufacturing
The primary options available for
materials are lead free brass and
bronze, stainless steel and plastics.
Each lead free technology has costs
beyond the basic raw material to
consider.
multi-million dollar expansion is
expected to be complete by February
2013 and will focus exclusively on
24
Selecting lead free materials is not
as simple a process as it would seem.
There are many options available to
manufacturers; each option has its
own set of limitations. When
complying with the lead free laws,
there are many variables to address
that cover multiple manufacturing
processes, while being mindful of
material suitability and product cost.
The primary options available for
materials are lead free brass and
bronze, stainless steel and plastics.
Each lead free technology has costs
beyond the basic raw material to
consider.
“Manufacturers have a
responsibility to deliver lead free
compliant products that meet
customers’ expectations for
performance and serviceability. With
the various material options that are
available to meet the requirements of
the lead free statutes, development of
a material strategy is critical to
maintain performance and deliver
value to the end user,” said Jeff
Scilingo, director of R&D engineering
for Watts Water Technologies.
How to get started?
For those impacted by the new
national lead free legislation, making
the transition to lead free products can
appear overwhelming at first.
“Partnering with a manufacturer who
understands the impact of the law and
has experience with the challenges of
a change of this size is important,” said
Bill Tracey, western regional manager
for Watts Water.
Ultimately the goal is to offer
products that provide safer, cleaner
water for families, communities and
the future.
One of the best sources of
information about current lead free
needs here in the U.S. is the website
developed by Watts Water
Technologies,
www.WeAreLeadFree.net. The
website offers frequently-updated
news about what is happening around
the country with lead free legislation
and requirements. l
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phc_06_pgs_22_27_Layout 1 5/30/12 2:28 PM Page 25
THE INTELLIGENCE BEHIND INSTANT HOT WATER.
3-J
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Rinnai Luxury Series
t4BGFUZ-PDL1SPUFDUJPO
t&OIBODFE4DBMF%FUFDUJPO4ZTUFN
t-FBL%FUFDUJPOGPSJOUFSJPSNPEFMT
36J
Rinnai Ultra Series
t"MMUIFQSPUFDUJPOBOEEFUFDUJPO
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What’s more, our trained staff will partner with you to select the right pump
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5
12:13 PM
PLUMBING
| BUSINESS SUCCESSION |
Precision Plumbing Products —
Building on success with third generation
BY JACK VILENDRE SPECIAL TO PHC NEWS
P
28
recision Plumbing Products
was founded in the early 1960s
as Tempera Valve Corporation.
At that time Tempera Valve Corp.
had developed and patented a
pressure balancing valve and a Bac-2Bac manifold, which was sold
directly to the plumbing market in
the Pacific Northwest. In 1968 a
Plumbing Code Official from
Washington State who had
developed and patented a piston
type Water Hammer Arrestor, a
"pressure drop" activated floor drain
Trap Primer, and a Distribution Unit,
enquired with the three shareholders
of Tempera Valve Corporation to see
if there was an interest in marketing
these items. All shareholders agreed
that these new products should be
added to the Tempera Valve
Corporation product line.
Perrott and the
beginning of PPP
Chuck Perrott was employed by
Tempera Valve Corporation as their
one and only salesman. It was his
suggestion that they rename the
company “Precision Plumbing
Products Inc.” in order to better
define the new line of products.
Chuck spent the next ten years
traveling first through the Pacific
Northwest, and then eventually
expanding east calling on Plumbing
Code Officials and engineers, slowly
introducing the Water Hammer
Arrestors and Trap Primers to their
various jurisdictions. A number of
At right is Jack Vilendre, owner of Precision Plumbing Products as part of J. L. Industries, Inc.
since 2003, with his daughter Alison Amundson and her husband Tom, both of whom will
take full control of business operations and continue to run the firm out of its Portland, Ore.,
facility.
independent plumbing
representatives became interested in
the products offered by Precision
Plumbing and signed contracts with
Mr. Perrott to help him in the
wholesale distribution and
specification of our specialty product
line.
The company began to grow and
in 1982 Chuck’s CPA presented an
opportunity to acquire the business
and pay back the shareholders that
had originally founded Tempera
Valve Corporation. It was important
to Chuck to give the shareholders a
return on their investment and thank
them for giving him his start. Chuck
was 65 when he decided to put his
house on the line to fund the buyout
and acquire Precision Plumbing
Products, Inc.
Chuck hired me in 1984. We
worked together to grow the
business over the years and in the fall
of 2003, I was given the opportunity
to present a business plan to the
Board of Directors of C.H. Perrott,
Inc. for the purpose of purchasing
control of Chuck’s company. I was
successful in a shareholder buyout
plan and in October 2003, I formed
the new parent company, J. L.
Industries, Inc. with five operating
divisions.
The second generation
Jack Vilendre has been with Precision Plumbing Product since 1984 and bought
the company in 2003. His daughter Alison Amundson has been with the company
for 10 years, starting as a marketing assistant and learning as she moved up.
In 1975, after spending three years
in the military and graduating from
Portland State University with a
degree in International Marketing,
Omark Industries Inc., a construction
fastening manufacturer in Portland,
Oregon, gave me the opportunity to
take an outside sales position. This
new opportunity moved my family
to Omaha, Neb. I successfully
worked as a manufacturer's
representative in the construction
PLUMBING
business for five years. Omark was
acquired by ITT Corporation in
1980 and offered me a position of
Product Line Manager for their
Construction Fastening operation in
Portland, Oregon. Putting my
international marketing education to
work, two years later we successfully
launched a European fastening
manufacturing and marketing
product line. I had gained a great
deal of manufacturing and marketing
experience from my time at Omark
Industries and ITT Corporation.
Then in 1984, Mr. Perrott asked me
to join him at Precision Plumbing
Products. I was to now prepare for a
new challenge, only this time it was
all about family.
Tom Amundson visits with an employee as she assembles PPP products.
Early marketing plans for
growth
I joined Precision Plumbing
Products (PPP) in October 1984.
The remainder of that year, Chuck
and I worked in the plant on my
product orientation and planning for
the following year. The company to
that point had been engaged
primarily with the annual ASA
&PHCC trade show. There was no
product advertising in any of the
trade journals and we had a very
limited catalog. After spending
several months looking at the
number of variations of products sold,
cataloging a broader product line
became my first priority. I hired a
photographer and we went to work
expanding our catalog. At the same
time I designed an ad program
featuring all of our products in full
color.
The new catalog added a much
larger product display. We then
expanded PPP’s trade show schedule,
which attracted a lot of attention for
Precision Plumbing Products and also
gave me the opportunity to
reorganize our sales force over the
following two years. When hiring
our sales representatives, I stressed
product specification and stepped up
the focus on the engineering
community. Educating the
plumbing contractors was important
in designing a needed sales pull
through incentive for wholesale
distribution. I wanted to see “PPP”
in the master spec, and the
contractor asking for us by name.
Branding our product line as “PPP”
was most instrumental in the
sustained growth of our business in
North America.
At the same time I was working on
the North American marketing plan
we were getting quite a number of
inquires to represent our product
line in Asia and the Middle East. I
had placed our catalogs with a
number of marketing groups
specializing in companies wanting to
expand their foreign sales activities.
Adding representation in key
markets has been a very interesting
process and yielded not only amazing
growth but lasting friendships.
During these early years at PPP, I
felt it was very important to become
closely associated with the plumbing
codes and standards organizations
that propel our industry forward. I
acted as an advocate to promote
public health and safety through the
adoption of various ASSE standards.
I attended many code meetings and
also supported the code officials by
attending their annual meetings,
purchase booth space and sponsoring
elements of their events. I spent a
number of years as a member of
various ASSE working groups
developing standards, and eventually
was asked to join the ASSE
Standards Committee. We continue
to serve as a manufacturing member
of this group. In 2005, the Oregon
Governor’s commission appointed
me as a member of the Oregon State
Plumbing Board, where I am
currently serving a second term.
Facility size and operation
J. L. Industries, Inc. is comprised of
five operating divisions:
• Precision Plumbing Products
(PPP)
• Northwest Automated
Machining (NAM)
• Cascade Precision Molding
(CPM)
• Precision Hydronic Products
(PHP)
• Precision Metal Brazing (PMB).
Our manufacturing facilities are all
located in Portland, Oregon and we
produce nearly all of the parts
necessary to support PPP and PHP at
our facility. We have experienced
steady growth and expansion since
1985, but with these tough
economic times we have been forced
to “tighten the belt”, but still remain
strong and optimistic.
The importance of
wholesale distribution
Our long-standing relationship
with our plumbing wholesalers has
been a key element to our success.
The importance that we have placed
on these relationships is key to the
success of the distribution of our
product line in North America. We
are not the company that would
pursue “Big Box” distribution
channels. Instead, our loyalty has
always been with our plumbing
wholesale distributors. Their staff
gets the job done when the licensed
plumbing contractor has questions
regarding the right product for the
application.
Because “PPP” is a highly
engineered product line, we need
sales expertise provided by our
distributors to insure the right
product gets to the job every time.
Our representatives have worked
hard to help brand the product line
so the plumbing contractors know to
ask for “PPP” when purchasing
specialty plumbing items over the
counter. I have developed a number
of incentive plans to improve the
wholesale profitability and therefore
improve the flow of product across
their shelves. In the long term, and
as my company transitions into the
next generation, our relationship
with the plumbing wholesaler will
remain a key part of our continued
success.
Branding the “PPP” logo/brand
goes hand in hand with product
recognition. But, I think we are best
known for consistency in regards to
the quality of our products. The
outstanding growth element in our
e Continued on p 30
29
PLUMBING
the market on time.
Transition for the future
On the factory floor, Jack, Tom and Alison discuss production with an employee
who begins turning raw copper tube into finished products.
30
product line by far has been the
Floor Drain Trap Primer. Forty
different valve models provide
potable water, making the floor drain
trap seal. In my opinion, Precision
Plumbing set the standard and
without a doubt when you ask,
“What valve do you most often use
for your Trap Priming needs?”
Licensed plumbing contractors will
say, “PPP”. We hold many patents in
this field and Precision Plumbing
Products was the first company to
develop and market a Piston type
Water Hammer Arrestor. We
continue our inventive processes and
pay close attention to manufacturing
a quality product, and getting it to
Like the man said: “You’re not
getting any younger”! The transition
was a decision my wife and I made
jointly to begin to wind down my
participation at J.L. Industries, and
look forward to spending more time
together traveling and spoiling the
grandkids.
I had been doing a lot of research
on succession planning and of course
there are many examples of success
and some significant examples how
not to proceed. Since I had family
members already working in the
company, and a very dedicated work
force, I was not in favor of selling the
business. A better plan, in my view,
was to pass it through to a third
generation. I told my advisors that
we needed to work on a plan that
will be embraced by the entire family.
It took some time to structure a plan
that made good business sense, but
also satisfied those family members
who would not be directly involved
in the business going forward.
After meeting first with those
family members who would not be
directly involved in the day to day
business, and gaining their
unanimous support, I was free to
move forward. Therefore I am
pleased to announce that 100% of J.
L. Industries, Inc. stock will pass
directly through to a third generation
of family members.
Tom and Alison Amundson will
take full control of business
operations and continue to operate J.
L. Industries, Inc. out of our Portland,
Ore., manufacturing facilities. Alison
(my daughter) has been a full-time
employee for 10 years, starting as my
marketing assistant, and interfacing
with our sales representative on a
number of levels. Currently she
operates my Heating & OEM
divisions. Alison performs all of the
customer service functions while
managing purchasing and inventory
control activities for both Precision
Hydronic Products and Precision
Metal Brazing. Over Alison’s term of
employment she has become very
familiar with the overall operations,
and recently joined the Board of
Directors.
Tom (my son-in-law) joined the
company two years ago as Product
Line Manager. Prior to taking the job,
Tom had obtained three under
graduate degrees from Portland State
University. Tom worked
independently in the financial service
industry for five years and during
that time showed me that he was a
man that could be successful and
perform well under very difficult
circumstances.
Tom started at Precision Plumbing
by working in my machining and
product assembly operations as his
initiation into the business. I felt it
was very important that he start in
the business the same way I had
from the ground up. After six
months in the plant handling a
variety of jobs he joined me in the
office. Tom started picking up
technical calls while performing
other product line management
duties. Tom is also a member of a
number of standing committees and
is Chairman of the Product Cost
Reduction Committee. Most
recently, I have assigned Tom the
responsibility of managing the JLI,
Inc. Purchasing and Inventory
Control Department. Over the next
few years both Alison and Tom will
be groomed to lead our family
enterprise providing Leslie and I a
stress-free retirement.
In conclusion, Leslie and I are very
comfortable in our decision to pass J.
L. Industries, Inc. through to our
third generation. This decision has
had a very positive effect on my
entire employee base — providing
them a sense of security in a very
difficult economic environment. We
also made a similar announcement to
our manufacturing representatives,
which were met with unqualified
support. Tom and Alison look
forward, with confidence, to the
challenges and opportunities that lay
ahead and I am reassured that the
company remains in good hands. l
Jack Vilendre is president of J.L.
Industries, Inc. For more information,
visit www.pppinc.net.
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PLUMBING
31
PLUMBING
Revisiting ‘Homes
of the Future’
Rainwater
system prompts
LEED Platinum
Certification
32
I
n 1933, the Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA) constructed a
model community, Norris,
Tennessee, as part of the Norris Dam
project. The series of small homes
served as the archetype for modern
and efficient living in that time
period. Over the course of the last
two-and-a-half years, 50 University
of Tennessee-Knoxville students have
been reviving the spirit of the old
town by building the new Norris
House.
“The project began in fall of 2008
to commemorate the TVA’s 75th
anniversary and is a 21st century
reinterpretation of the original series
of Norris homes,” said research
specialist and UTK architectural
alumnus, Samuel Mortimer.
The Norris House is the largest
design/build project ever conducted
by UTK students. The home aspires
to become one of only seven
certified LEED Platinum homes in
Tennessee. To accomplish this rating,
many factors come together, lending
to the project’s resolved focus on
sustainability.
“As unique and ingenious as the
whole project is, the heart and soul is
the Brae rainwater collection system,”
said Scott Robinson, owner of Scott’s
Plumbing in Knoxville.
“About 80 percent of the roof’s
surface area is used to collect
Over the last two-and-a-half years, 50 University of Tennessee-Knoxville students
have been building the new Norris House, complete with a plumbing system,
reverse osmosis system, greywater distribution system and solar domestic hot
water system.
rainwater,” said Mortimer.
From the roof, the water goes
through a series of pre-filters before
entering an above- ground, 400gallon storage tank. When the “house
tank” reaches capacity, overflow runs
into a 200-gallon tank below the
garden. The garden tank is equipped
with a hand pump to supply water to
the landscape and a vegetable garden
sized to grow enough produce for
two people.
The average annual rainfall on
campus is 54 inches per year. At that
rate, and with the roof area that
feeds the catchment tanks, the
system collects nearly 21,000 gallons
annually. With water saving fixtures,
calculations show that, with two
inhabitants, annual water use for the
home is 16,500 gallons, well below
the harvesting system’s capability.
According to Robinson, the system
that was installed during the home’s
construction — technology supplied
by BRAE, — harvests more rainwater
than Norris House occupants
typically use. Scott’s Plumbing, with
the help of the UTK team, also
installed portions of the home’s
plumbing system, a domestic water
solar thermal panel and a greywater
distribution system. The way the
system is set up, rainfall usually
exceeds the use of stored rainwater
and simply flows out onto a terraced
spillway, watering the gardens.
The spillway is made up of five
multilevel flower beds, each
e Continued on p 34
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PLUMBING
34
containing hearty local plant species.
“Landscape architecture majors
helped design the overflow beds,”
said Mortimer. “They carefully
selected plant species that can not
only handle being inundated with
water but also thrive in a droughtlike condition.”
“It’s very important to keep the
greywater from entering the sterile
city water,” said Robinson. “The
students worked to shed light on the
safety of using a greywater
distribution system as well as a rain
collection system. The town of
Norris was rightfully concerned
about greywater entering the
landscape.”
Since the greywater system is
experimental, both the city of
Norris and the design team wanted
a fail-safe alternative so, with the
flip of a valve, the system can be
easily diverted to serve the city
sewer.
Norris House greywater is
collected from the bathroom sink,
shower and washing machine. It is
piped underground and enters the
landscape through a perforated
canister buried in a large bed of
mulch and soil. The bed is sized to
hold approximately 150 gallons of
greywater before saturating and is
also planted with native plants that
were selected based on anticipated
greywater volume.
“The UTK team worked closely
with the Tennessee Department of
Conservation and the Norris Water
Commission to ensure health and
safety,” said College of Architecture
and Design assistant professor Tricia
Stuth. “The city manager worked on
ordinance revisions that were
ultimately passed by the city council.
The building permit allows systems
to operate for one year, under the
oversight of the UTK team, and data
collected will be used to support
making the temporary permits
permanent.”
The 768-square-foot home will
provide verifiable technical data to
demonstrate the viability of
residential rainwater collection and
use. The project was initiated as an
entry into the EPA’s People
Prosperity and the Planet (P3)
competition, a national competition
that encourages students to propose
“solutions to real world challenges
involving the overall sustainability
of human society.”
The first of four phases was a
research and design period, funded
by a $10,000 grant from the EPA.
Ultimately, UTK’s team was chosen
as one of six winners from among
40 teams, and the EPA granted
$75,000 to the project.
In phase two, students began their
collaboration with Clayton Homes,
manufacturer of modular homes.
Together, they established goals,
targeting a LEED for Homes
Platinum rating. Some students
collaborated with Clayton Homes
during the design phase. Others
prepared the physical site in Norris.
Another team began work on
various components of the
building’s interior for later
installation. During the fall 2010
semester, phase three construction
began.
“The students always bring a fresh
perspective to things that we do
every day,” said Andy Hutsell,
Clayton Homes designer. “They’re
passionate about their work, and
they’ll be much better equipped
when they go out into the world
because of the Norris House
experience.”
Now, in the midst of the
“demonstration and evaluation”
phase, the college’s chair of the
Master of Landscape Architecture
program and his wife will live in the
home. Energy consumption,
temperature, relative humidity,
water use and water quality will be
measured. At the end of the
evaluation period, the home will be
up for sale; proceeds will be used as
seed money for the next project.
From the standing seam alloy roof
to the reclaimed oak flooring, the
home is a prime example of what
LEED construction should be. With
a super-tight, heavily insulated
building envelope, the structure
loses very little energy to the
outside world. Every square inch
that could be insulated, was
insulated. Foundation block cores
were filled with Perilite as the
building footprint started to take
shape. Inside the foundation walls,
two inches of rigid insulation was
used, and the foundation rim was
sprayed with Icynene.
“We decided to use advanced
framing techniques, which results in
a 17 percent reduction in lumber
and substantially more insulation,”
said Mortimer. The 24-inch stud
bays are filled with thick batting
insulation. On the outside of the
walls, one-inch rigid insulation curbs
any thermal bridging across the twoby-six studs. The ceiling rafter bays
and gable ends were also filled with
batting insulation, and sheets of
half-inch rigid insulation were hung
before the drywall was installed. The
outside of the building is clad with
Atlantic white cedar. Double-pane,
low-E coated, argon-filled windows
The home aspires to become one of only
seven certified LEED Platinum homes in
Tennessee. To accomplish this rating, many
factors come together, lending to the
project’s resolved focus on sustainability.
also limit energy transfer.
“We calculated the home’s heat
loss at 17,442 Btu,” said Mortimer,
“or 19.5 Btu per square foot. The
blower door test yielded .04 ACH,
the lowest score ever verified by our
green-rater.”
A four-by-eight foot Enerworks
solar-thermal panel on the roof
supplies hot water to an 80-gallon
tank in the home. A 1.5 gpm
electric instantaneous water heater
supplements the solar-heater water
when necessary.
Heating and cooling the home is
achieved through the use of a
multiple-head mini split system.
The building has one traditional
bedroom as the first zone, a “swing
space” that can be used as a second
bedroom and a kitchen. Each of the
three zones calls for a separate air
handler; all are connected to a single,
multi-zone condensing unit. As an
addition to the HVAC system, the
new Norris House has an energy
recovery ventilation (ERV) system
in the sealed crawlspace under the
building. Depending on the season,
the ERV either pre-cools or prewarms incoming fresh air.
Throughout the project, goals set
by the student team were
consistently met. “UTK has never
done anything like this before,
especially on this scale” said
Mortimer.
“The Norris House project was
real-life work experience that’s
invaluable to the students who’ve
been involved,” said Mary French, a
College of Engineering grad student.
“I’m really glad I had the opportunity
to participate.” l
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36
Tempered water
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the water and condensing the
steam. A mixing valve blends
heated and cold water to
produce a consistent output of
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HYDRONICS
FROM THE FIELD
Geo: Lessons learned (Part 1 of 2)
BY DAN FOLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
W
38
hen I started my company ten years ago, I
wanted to focus on radiant floor systems and
mechanical systems for large custom homes. By
and large, I have been successful in meeting that goal.
About 40% of my business by dollar volume is in the
custom home market, and the majority of my systems
feature some form of radiant heat.
Early on, when I received queries on geothermal heating
systems, also commonly called ground source heat pumps
or GSHPs, I would pass the lead on to fellow contractors
who were experienced in designing and installing these
systems. As more and more of my clients began requesting
geo systems, I had to rethink my business strategy. When
the federal tax credits went into effect, the requests grew
dramatically, and I had to make a decision; educate myself
on geo systems or get left behind.
About six years ago, I took the plunge. After attending
manufacturer training and certification classes, my
company did its first geothermal installation. We have
since installed multiple projects, everything from small
residential projects to an 80-ton, 19-system commercial
project and everything in between. We currently have six
geo projects in progress at various stages of completion. I
have made many missteps along the way and have taken
some lumps. I still have much to learn, but I will share my
experiences with you.
As I sat in my first geothermal class, one thought struck
me: While the equipment was new, and I had to learn
some of the terminology, these were basically hydronic
systems. The ground loop was the source, the heat
exchanger was the load, and the physics of energy transfer
through the piping and pump were the same as a hydronic
heating or cooling system. In studying the piping diagrams,
the lack of an air separator and expansion tank caught my
eye. When I asked about this, I was told these were not
needed in a geo system. Supposedly, the flexibility of the
HDPE loop field piping and the small temperature deltas
did not warrant the need for these devices. This made
absolutely no sense to me.
I have installed air separators and dirt separators (or
combi dirt/air separators) on all of our loop fields. I also
install expansion tanks and pressurize the systems. I treat
these as I would any other hydronic system. I have to say I
don’t understand the concept of the “push/pull” pump
stations with two pumps. I prefer to install one properly
sized pump that pumps away from the expansion tank and
point of no pressure change. Installed this way on a
pressurized system, it minimizes the chance of pump
cavitation.
As I have been called out to service systems not installed
by my company, a common condition is a “flat” system
where the loop field lost its pressure charge. Typically, the
compressor is off on high head pressure due to a lack of
flow in the loop field. In any system, there will be minute
leaks through valve packing, flanges, threaded joints, etc. It
does not take much for the system to lose its charge. This
condition also wreaks havoc on the loop pump. A loss of
When I started my
company ten years ago,
I wanted to focus on
radiant floor systems
and mechanical systems
for large custom homes.
charge can cause the inlet side of the pump to drop below
atmospheric pressure, which can cause pump cavitation.
When I see a stack of 26-99s or 0011s in the corner, I
know it is time to pipe in the expansion tank. A good
quality air separator is essential to remove the dissolved air
that will inevitably come out of solution. A pump cart
won’t do this. A dirt separator will also help eliminate the
sand and sediment that invariably finds its way into the
loop piping as it is being assembled.
I am very conservative when designing my loop fields. I
design around 85º EWT (entering water temperature) as I
do not want to be short. It is not easy or inexpensive to
correct an undersized loop field.
Last summer, I was called to look at an underperforming
geo system. They had also recently lost two compressors in
the system. When I surveyed the system in early June,
before the heat of summer, the loop field was running at
109 F. Compressors don’t last very long running at 109 F
condensing temperature. Capacity suffers dramatically as
well. This loop field was drastically undersized.
During my survey, I found out that the owner had
added an addition that included a wine cellar and
commercial refrigeration equipment. All the new
mechanical equipment was water cooled and tied into the
existing loop field, which had already been designed to the
edge of the envelope. I tried to explain that the loop field
was like an ATM machine, you cannot withdraw more
than what is in the account. This account was overdrawn!
Due to landscaping, hardscaping, stone walkways, stone
patio, a pool, heli-pad and outbuildings, fixing this
problem was nearly impossible without major demo and
excavation work. An air cooled water tower was added
temporarily to Band-Aid the system. I do not know how
this was permanently resolved, as I politely excused myself
from this one.
I realize drilling is expensive. In my market, we pay $15
– $18 a foot, depending on location and geology. It can be
more on small infill lots in town. Additional casing, if
required, can add to the cost. That is pocket change
compared to going back and trying to fix a short well field.
Be conservative in your design; it is cheap insurance.
Many of my projects have multiple systems. I have been
on multi-system jobs where each system had its own
pump station and loop field. Properly sized, there is
nothing wrong with this approach, but, in my opinion, it is
e Turn to FOLEY on p 40
Ther
re ar
re
e some things
things you can
c always depend on...
There
are
strong
and, at Utica Boilers, we believe a str
ong family should be one of them.
STAR
ENERGY STAR
Contractor
Assistance: 800.325.5479
800.325.5479
www.uticaboilers.com
HYDRONICS
40
| FROM THE FIELD |
not an ideal design philosophy. The problem is that each
loop field must be designed for peak load. Peak load rarely
(or never) occurs in all zones at the same time, which
leads to a wasteful design.
I prefer to design around one loop field that is sized for
a diversified load. A typical system will have one variable
speed loop pump that operates off an integral delta P
control or a 0 – 10v signal from a BMS (building
management system). Each heat pump will have a
motorized valve at the condenser inlet. As systems come
on line or cycle off, the variable speed loop pump will
ramp up or down accordingly. I will install a standby pump
that will automatically come online in the event of a
primary pump failure. It will also automatically rotate for
even wear. With this system, each heat pump “sees” the
entire loop field, which helps manage peak loads easily.
Most of our early projects featured fusion-welded
HDPE loop field piping. The last four or five projects we
have done have featured the Rehau Rau-Geo system. I
really like several features of this system.
1. I like the heavy duty PEX pipe. It is tougher than
HPDE and handles the jobsite abuse inevitable when
pulling loops.
2. I like the one continuous loop with no joints at the
bottom of the well.
3. I like the fact that all loops tie in to a manifold,
which allows for flow measurement and balancing of each
loop. It also allows for isolation of individual loops in the
rare event that one is hit, allowing for at least partial
system capacity.
4. I like the four-pipe system (two loops per borehole),
which increases the heat transfer capability.
Properly designed, installed and maintained, either
system will work fine. I just wanted to share my
experience with this relatively new product.
We typically run the loops back to a vault as shown in
photo # ( ). We then run a large dimension PEX back into
a basement mechanical room. This line is typically 2”, 2
1/2” or 3”, depending on flow requirement. This setup
minimizes the wall penetrations required and keeps the
mechanical room piping neat and tidy.
It is imperative to properly seal these wall penetrations. I
have seen too many geo systems where the leaders were
stuck through the foundation wall with some hydraulic
cement slapped around the pipe. Invariably, the wall is
stained by water leaks, and mud and sediment is puddled
on the floor below the penetration.
I prefer to either core drill or sleeve the foundation and
seal around the pipe with properly sized Link-Seal. This
will ensure a watertight seal. If you do use sleeves, be sure
to order the sleeves with the
ring around the middle,
which seals against leakage
around the outside of the
sleeve. I have seen jobs
where the well intentioned
installer used schedule 40
PVC for the sleeves and
properly Link-Sealed the
pipe. The problem occurred
when the concrete shrunk
away from the PVC and the
leak path was around the
sleeve. After backfilling, it is
very difficult to fix these
leaks. Spend a little time up
front and save yourself from
headaches and angry clients
down the road.
Geothermal systems are a
fast growing market niche in
my company. Stay with me
as I cover more of our design
and installation details in
next month’s column. l
Dan Foley is president
and owner of Foley
Mechanical Inc., based in
Lorton, Va. (www.
foleymechanical.com).
FMI specializes in radiant,
hydronic and steam systems,
as well as mechanical systems,
for large custom homes. He
can be reached at 703/3398030 or via email at
dfoley50@verizon.net.
In response to requests from customers across
North America, last year Spirotherm introduced
the Spirovent Quad® — a world class air eliminator,
dirt separator, and hydraulic separator designed as
a low loss header. The response has been fantastic,
and we are now excited to follow through on
another request for combination air eliminators/
dirt separators in brass construction for use on
systems where hydraulic separation is not needed.
WE’RE STILL LISTENING.
The Spirovent® VDR Series is being introduced
this year and includes again all of the world class
features of our Spirovent and Spirotrap® products
in one compact unit. For ease of application and
installation, it is available in either threaded or
sweat connection by simply changing the tailpiece.
Offered in sizes from 1” through 2”, the VDR will
be a cost-effective product for smaller systems
and allow for two full-flow functions (air and dirt
removal) in one product.
Spirovent®
VDR Series
Also coming this year will be a 2” Brass Spirovent
Quad to extend that line into larger copper
systems that may not require the steel commercial
unit.
And last but certainly not least, the original
Spirovent VJR Air Eliminator product line will be
enhanced with the introduction of 11⁄ 2” and 2”
sweat models.
All of these new products are because you, our
loyal quality contractors, have asked for them.
Air Eliminators, Dirt Separators, Combination
Separators, and Hydraulic Separators — all from
one source and backed by the world leader in air
elimination technology. Check with your local
wholesaler on availability.
Thanks for the continued input and we’ll keep
listening!
Spirotherm, Inc.
A Spiro Enterprises Company
25 N. Brandon Drive
Glendale Heights, IL 60139
www.spirotherm.com
T 630-307-2662
F 630-307-3773
E info@spirotherm.com
THE ULTIMATE IN DISTRIBUTION EFFICIENCY
©2012 Spirotherm, Inc.
TANKLESS REPORT
Tankless water heating catching second wind
I
n the wake of the most severe economic downturn since
the 1930s, the tankless water heater industry struggled
along with most other manufacturers as potential
customers retreated from purchases of products they saw
as “boutique” items. However, with more awareness of
rising energy costs and an increasing “green” attitude
among consumers, tankless technology has begun to
rebound as its efficiency and convenience is better
understood. Commercial buyers also favor tankless water
heating because of its obvious economy. ;
A. O. Smith
500 Tennessee Waltz Parkway
Ashland City, TN 37015
800/527-1953
www.hotwater.com
42
COMPANY HISTORY: A. O. Smith produced its first residential
water heater in 1939, establishing a tradition of innovation that
continues to this day. In 1953, A. O. Smith shipped its first
commercial water heater equipped with a “glass-lined” tank,
which remains the industry standard for protecting steel from
the corrosive effects of water.
In 2004, A. O. Smith reaffirmed its mastery of glass lining
technology by introducing patented Blue Diamond™ glass
coating on its best Conservationist® residential water heaters.
Blue Diamond provides the ultimate protection, with more than
twice the corrosion resistance compared to industry-standard
glass lining.
Company News: Recently, launching a new era in high
efficient products, A. O. Smith introduced a comprehensive line
of innovative new products, including hybrid gas, hybrid electric
and solar technologies.
A. O. Smith is now including a remote controller and/or
power cord with each tankless purchase. Indoor residential
tankless units will come with a remote controller and power
cord. Due to varying installation regulations from state to state,
outdoor residential tankless units will come with a remote
Just part of the A. O. Smith family of tankless water heaters.
controller only.
The remote controller will make installation and maintenance
easier for the contractor and homeowner alike by providing
access to information that could previously only be gathered by
removing the front panel of the heater. This includes the ability
to adjust the water temperature and view diagnostic data such as
incoming water temperature, flow rate, error code history and
total amount of Btu-run through the unit. Finally, this addition
allows the contractor to leave an avenue for end users to interact
with their appliance, giving the homeowner a level of control
they have never had before.
Tankless forecast: Previously, indoor tankless units arrived on
the jobsite with only positive and negative leads. The inclusion of
the power cord, which includes wire nuts and clamps, will
decrease the amount of time preparing for installation, with the
end result of more profit for the contractor.
The tankless industry has experienced phenomenal growth in
the past few years. However, for 2012, the elimination of the
federal tax credit has had a significant impact on the tankless
market, which has experienced roughly a 10 percent contraction
compared to 2011 figures year to date. We see this impact
continuing throughout 2012 unless other federal incentives are
implemented.
Assistance to contractors: A. O. Smith recently announced the
opening of its West Coast Training Center in Irvine, Calif. The
center is now offering training courses on the entire A. O. Smith
product line, including both high efficiency product family and
high efficiency tankless gas water heaters. Plumbing contractors
and wholesalers will be able to participate in hands-on training
courses catered to three skill levels: basic training, technical
trouble shooting and certified installer.
The new, 6,230-square-foot facility also houses an impressive
showroom featuring A. O. Smith’s entire high efficiency product
family on display. This state-of-the art facility will serve as a
model for future A. O. Smith training efforts.
Tankless FAQ: What are the special conditions that must be
taken into consideration when installing a tankless model? There
are two key points to consider for tankless installations. First, due
to the higher Btu input, tankless models require at least a ¾” gas
line to the unit. Most homes utilize a ½” gas line to the water
heater, so, in replacement applications particularly, the
homeowner will most likely need to upgrade to a larger gas line,
which is a major expense in
replacement applications.
Non-condensing tankless models
require stainless steel vent material
and cannot use the exiting B-vent
commonly used with most
conventional tank-type water heaters.
Stainless venting can be expensive,
although tankless models can be
vented horizontally through an
outside wall, which can help offset
the venting cost. Condensing
tankless models can use PVC
venting, which is less expensive than
stainless steel venting. In warmer
climates, tankless models can be
installed outdoors, eliminating the
need for venting altogether.
Biggest positive influence: The launch of the A. O. Smith
Warranty Check app made the company the first manufacturer
in the water heating industry to create an application of this kind.
Designed specifically for contractors and plumbers, the free app
allows plumbing professionals to easily check water heaters in
the field for warranty information and product details on both
residential and commercial products.
Since its launch, the Warranty Check app has had more than
2,300 downloads, with an average weekly growth of 13 percent.
Contractors have used it to check the warranties on more than
10,000 water heaters.
In addition to the new facility, A. O. Smith continues to offer
training workshops across the country. To register for a workshop
in your area, visit: http://www.hotwater.com/service/tanklesstraining/. ;
AHI Technologies, LLC
3411 Silverside Road
Hanby Building 103
Wilmington, DE 19810
Tel: 1/877-NO COILS
www.DemandWaterHeaters.com
www.AmericanHometec.com
COMPANY HISTORY: AHI Technologies LLC is an innovator in
water heating technologies. It was founded as American Hometec
Inc. in 2006, with initial funding and
support from Ben Franklin Technology
Partners of Pennsylvania. The company
changed its name last year to its current
name. The new product line targeting
later this year with AHI brand will be
equipped with AHI’s unique
ThermoLock function, in addition to its
Coilless Technology.
Company News: A new line of AHIbranded electric tankless water heaters
targeting both commercial and
residential applications will be coilless
technology-enabled as well as
ThermoLock digital temperature control
equipped. This new generation of coilless technology-enabled
tankless also comes with many structural enhancements for
improved durability and serviceability.
AHI is launching a Tell us Your Story promotion. Send AHI your
story about anything related to your AHI product experience, along
with installation information and photos to MyStory@
AmericanHometec.com. A contractor can receive a rebate of $50
for sink units and $100 for AHQ-T16 or AHQ-TB32. If you have
more than one AHI story, multiple rebates are allowed.
Tankless forecast: Tankless is in higher demand with more end
users looking for energy saving solutions and eco-friendly products.
With improved economic conditions and building industry forecast,
tankless is on a track for higher growth.
Assistance to contractors: AHI provides extensive training
through its HotShotTM Installer program and a dedicated technical
support line for contractors who need help on specification, sizing,
installation or other technical supports.
Tankless FAQ: Which side of the pipes is a pressure relief valve on?
Local code typically requires the valve to be installed on the output
water pipe. The pressure relief valves supplied from AHI, however,
can work on either the incoming or the output water side.
Biggest positive influence: On tankless sales — new construction.
More engineering firms that specify for new construction jobs are
making inquiries. With improving economic conditions, some of the
construction projects that were on hold are now gradually being
restarted.
AHI-TB18 has a max capacity of 17.5kw at 240v. For more
information, visit www.Coilless.Com or call 1/877-No Coils. ;
Eemax Inc.
353 Christian Street
Oxford CT, 06478
800/543-6163
www.eemax.com
COMPANY HISTORY: Established in 1988, Eemax Inc. has quickly
emerged as the market leader in electric tankless heaters for
use in commercial, industrial and residential applications.
Eemax tankless products activate on demand and deliver
an endless supply of hot water at a preset temperature
to any point of use with 99% energy efficiency. Eemax
products are lead-free and ruggedly constructed to last
for many years. The company produces green products that
save water, conserve energy and reduce costs. Eemax’s entire
focus is on electric point-of-use water heating. This focus is the
primary driver for Eemax’s industry leading array of electric tankless
solutions, from 3Kw to 150Kw.
Company News: Eemax continues product introductions and
product line extensions. Eemax has seen increases in code-driven
solutions such as the Accumix® product line for public hand washing
and solutions for meeting tepid water requirements for the safety
marketplace. The introduction of the one- and six-gallon mini tanks
Bosch Thermotechnology North America
50 Wentworth Avenue
Londonderry, NH
Tel. 603-552-1100
NEW FAX # 603-965-7568
Company News: Bosch Thermotechnology North America, a
leading provider of energy efficient water heaters, heating and air
conditioning systems as well as solar thermal systems for
commercial and residential use, announced an efficiency increase of
two percent to its popular Therm C 1050 ES tankless water heater,
increasing its total energy factor (EF) to 0.94 overall.
Also, the C 1050 ES, along with three other Therm models; C
1210 ESC, C 1210 ES and the new C 950 ES, meets the new,
stricter, low NOx requirement passed by utility regulatory agencies
in California and Vermont. Effective 2012, the new regulations
require water heating units to limit NOx emissions to 14
nanograms per Joule (ng/J) or 20 parts per million (ppm).
Therm units from Bosch include a unique design using a wide
flame pattern and secondary dilution air that results in a lower
flame temperature during the heating process. Combined with
condensing technology, which utilizes a secondary heat exchanger
to capture more heat from the exhaust for preheating incoming
cold water, these models offer
an attractive tankless water
heating option that meets
future code requirements
today while offering optimal
efficiency.
The complete Therm line
from Bosch features models
with updated software that
delivers performanceenhancing features, including
a minimum activation flow
rate of 0.5 gallons per minute
and the ability on many
models to cascade up to 24
units for larger commercial
applications. The Therm line
includes ENERGY STAR®
rated models, powered by
natural gas or propane, which have an industry-best 15-year
warranty.
About Bosch Thermotechnology: Bosch Thermotechnology is a
leading supplier of resource-efficient heating products and hot
water solutions in Europe. In fiscal 2010, the company generated
sales of 3.1 billion euros (68 percent outside Germany) and
employed approx. 13,450 people. Bosch Thermotechnology has
strong international and regional brands and manufactures a
diversified product range in 21 plants in 11 European, North
American and Asian countries. Further information is available at
www.bosch-thermotechnology.com. ;
in 2011 has fueled the growth of this segment as well. The company
recently announced plans for physical expansion and will continue to
operate in Connecticut.
Tankless forecast: The tankless market continues to be driven by
energy conscious consumers and system designers. There continues to
be growth in the segment, driven by LEED design requirements and
awareness of the technology. As the economic recovery
continues, the market for tankless solutions will
continue to grow.
Assistance to contractors: The Eemax Qualified
Installer program allows a contractor to select, install and
service Eemax products effectively, enhancing customer
satisfaction and minimizing the potential for callbacks.
Contractors completing the qualification program receive a
loyalty incentive for every Eemax tankless heater that they
purchase and install. For details, go to http://eemax.com/plumbereemax.
Tankless FAQ: Piping & venting for tankless installations? One of
the inherent advantages to electric tankless technology is the
elimination of any venting. The product may be installed virtually
anywhere. Piping is very straightforward; the most common piping
technique is to ensure that a unit is close to the point of use for near
instantaneous hot water delivery. ;
e Continued on p 44
TANKLESS REPORT
43
TANKLESS REPORT
44
Rinnai America Corporation
103 International Drive
Peachtree City, Ga. 30269
Customer Service: 866/ RINNAI1
Dealer Product Support: 888/748-6247
www.rinnai.us
COMPANY HISTORY: Headquartered in Nagoya, Japan,Rinnai
Corporation is Japan’s largest manufacturer of gas appliances.
Established in 1920 as a manufacturer of pressurized oil cooking
stoves, Rinnai has expanded its product portfolio to include a wide
range of residential and commercial gas appliances for efficiently
heating water, air and food. The company has built a global
reputation upon its products’ superior quality and safety, its
technological innovation and manufacturing efficiency and is now
one of the largest companies in Japan.
Company News: In 2012, Rinnai America Corporation is
expanding its current portfolio of trusted products with enhanced
engineering and products, new technologies and accessories,
including: Ultra Low NOx tankless water heaters; Condensing
tankless water heater with top-down burner; Dual pipe venting
option; Leak detection (for interior models only); Enhanced scale
detection; and Child-lock protection.
Assistance to contractors: Rinnai provides superior customer
support before and after all sales. For residential applications, Rinnai
tankless water heaters come standard with a 12-year heat exchanger,
five-year parts and one-year labor warranty, extended to five-year
labor when the unit is registered (registration not required in Ontario
or California) within 30 days of purchase. See complete details at
www.rinnai.us/warranty. By offering customers technologically
advanced controls, ultimate comfort and an endless supply of hot
water to meet home or business demands, Rinnai has the answers
and support team to ensure 100% satisfaction.
Tankless forecast: Since 2000 the tankless water heater category
has experienced market growth. Currently, tankless water heaters
account for about 5% of the total market. Based on recent data
with green operational trends becoming more prevalent, we believe
this will include an increased adoption of tankless water heaters
among consumers. The biggest sources of growth in 2012 are
commercial, new home construction and high-end replacement
with recirculation.
Tankless FAQ: Why does Rinnai use polypropylene tubing instead
of PVC or CPVC pipe for exhaust venting its condensing tankless
water heaters?
Polypropylene (PP) is superior to PVC pipe for exhaust venting
because it has a maximum temperature rating of 248°F compared to
156°F for PVC and 194°F for CPVC. Unlike PVC and CPVC, PP has
been specifically engineered and certified to be used with condensing
tankless water heaters and other condensing appliances. ;
Quietside Corporation
8750 Pioneer Blvd.
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Phone: 888-699-6067
Fax: 562-699-4351
COMPANY HISTORY: Founded in 1998, with headquarters in
California, Quietside imports and manages equipment sales to
HVAC/R wholesale distributors throughout Canada and the U.S.
Quietside focuses on products that are accepted worldwide and
in niche markets within North America. By
providing distributors a wide range of related
products from a single
source, Quietside
PVC-vented
becomes a value-added
tankless water
supplier. The success of
heater
The wall-hung
this approach has
ODW is available increased opportunities
in four capacities, with current
from 99,000
manufacturers and has
Btu/h to 199,000
increased inquiries from
Btu/h. S line heat
potential partners,
exchangers can
continuing to expand
reach efficiency levels over 92, so
Quietside’s presence and
qualifies for the 30% federal tax
rebate. Condensing, unit vents with value to the 1,300
distributor locations
schedule 40 PVC.
STIEBEL ELTRON INC.
17 West St.
West Hatfield, MA 01088
Bill Riley, Sales and Marketing Specialist
Phone 413/ 247-3380 or 800/582- 8423
Fax 413/247-3369
COMPANY HISTORY: Dr. Theodore Stiebel founded Stiebel Eltron
in Berlin, Germany, in 1924 and the company manufactured
electric water heaters for the German market. In the decades that
followed, Stiebel Eltron added products and pioneered the
development of tankless electric water heaters starting in the 1950s.
Today, Stiebel Eltron is the largest manufacturer of tankless electric
water heaters in the world. Solar water heating and heat pump
systems have been developed over the last 30 years, and Stiebel
Eltron is a world leader in solar thermal
and heat pump technology as well. The
sales and service operation for the North
Tempra Plus® whole house tankless
electric (99% efficient) water heaters
feature advanced flow control.
American market is located in West
Hatfield, Massachusetts, where Stiebel
Eltron maintains a sales, service, distribution and spare parts facility.
the company has been located in North America since 1980.
Company News: Stiebel Eltron’s new 32,000-sq.-ft. warehouse
in West Hatfield, Mass. is slated for completion in 2012. It will be a
state-of-the-art, energy efficient building and feature solar thermal
radiant floor heating, a super-insulated structure and a green roof.
Assistance to contractors: . Stiebel Eltron knows that contractor
training is very important to assure the application is sized and
installed properly, and regularly conducts training sessions with
representatives and contractors around the country. Stiebel Eltron
encourages customers to call them first rather than the contractor
with problems, as most can be sorted easily over the telephone.
Tankless forecast: The short term economic forecast for the
tankless market over the last few months has shown an overall
increase in tankless business, in spite of some monthly ups and
downs. Given the current general demand for more energy efficient
products, Stiebel Eltron is optimistic that the longer term will bring
increased tankless sales for the year 2012. Stiebel Eltron believes
energy saving products are here to stay, and its tankless electric water
heaters and other products are a great hedge against the price
volatility of fossil fuels. As more sustainable options come along for
the production of electricity, Stiebel Eltron should be well positioned
for future growth. ;
currently being served across North America.
Company News: Recently, Quietside announced the addition
of 25,000 square ft. to its 50,000-sq-ft. facility in Carlisle, Pa.,
and hosted a grand re-opening ribbon cutting ceremony with
the support of the Carlisle Chamber of Commerce, Quietside
president and CEO Sang Woo Lee and vice president John
Miles. One year before, Quietside opening their 75,000-squarefoot facility in Fort Worth, Texas. With these three facilities,
Quietside supports all sales, warranty and technical training.
Assistance to contractors: Ample amounts of stock to support
each region; offes tech support at each location as well as training
upon request at any stocking distributor location. Quietside
includes most everything the contractor will need for a tankless
installation — unit in natural gas, the control, isolation service
valve kit, termination kit and 10' of condensate hose.
Tankless forecast: Because of the lack of federal tax credit the
tankless market as a whole is in decline. However, as consumers
learn more about the technology they tend to prefer tankless
over tank type water heaters.
Tankless FAQ: Why do the majority of brands still vent with
costly stainless steel? When Quietside first came to market with
tankless several years ago we chose to offer only PVC-vented
options. Each unit is condensing and, therefore, more energy
efficient. PVC venting cuts costs in half, compared to venting
with stainless.
Visit www.quietside.com. ;
Navien America, Inc.
20 Goodyear
Irvine, CA 92618
(800) 519-8794
info@NavienAmerica.com
COMPANY HISTORY: In 2006, Navien America, Inc. was established
to open new markets in the United States and Canada for KD
Navien’s technologically advanced products. Navien America is
eager to continuously provide higher quality and innovative
products that are more environmentally friendly, energy
saving and comfortable and convenience to society.
Company News: Navien America has seen a slowdown in
new construction installations, but has seen a gradual
increase in the residential replacement and
commercial applications. Its Condensing Tankless
water heaters are perfect for large commercial
applications since they are the only tankless
manufacturer that can link 60+ units without using
any external controllers.
Assistance to contractors: With Navien’s A models, contractors get
a system that is ready to be installed in a recirculation application,
with a built in buffer tank and a recirculation pump allowing a onestop shop. Navien tankless units also feature an independent
mounting bracket that saves the contractor time and money since
only one person is needed to complete the whole installation.
Tankless FAQ: What type of venting do I need to use?
With Navien America’s Condensing Tankless water heaters you can
use PVC (schedule 40).
Where can I install a Navien Condensing Tankless unit?
With a very small foot print compared to a 40-gallon tank, you can
install a unit in any location throughout the home.
What size of gas line do I need?
Noritz America
11160 Grace Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
714-433-2905 Fax: 714-241-1196
COMPANY HISTORY: Established in 2002, Noritz America is the
U.S. arm of the Japan-based Noritz Group, the largest producer of
tankless water heaters in the world. The Noritz Group began
producing water heaters in 1951 and tankless water heaters in 1966.
In 1981, Noritz developed the first electronically controlled tankless
water heater, which is the precursor to today’s advanced tankless
technology.
Company News: Condensing technology: The tankless market is
continuing the trend towards higher-efficiency, PVC-vented,
condensing water heaters, with the momentum carrying through
2012 and beyond. Noritz launched its new website on May 18, 2012.
The new site offers quick and easy access to essential information on
Noritz products and services. One of Noritz’ most critical objectives
is to help make its local PROCard program the local experts on
tankless technology for home and business applications with a
technical support website and an in-house call center.
New residential products: To meet the growing demand for
condensing water heaters, Noritz America completed the launch of
two additional condensing units late in 2011 to round out its full line
of residential condensing models.
Lower emissions: Both of the new condensing models feature a
high-efficiency, low-NOx Eco-Burner™ with a nitrogen-oxide
emissions level that is within 20 ppm and complies with the new
South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)
regulations that went into effect on January , 2012.
Assistance to contractors: Noritz continues to focus on
communicating the message through comprehensive, tradeeducation programs, and has added more courses to the Noritz
University (NRU) catalog to meet contractor needs. Trainings are
held at branch offices and off-site locations. To register for a program,
contractors should visit noritz.com/professionals/
support/monthly_training/.
Tankless forecast: Every home in America has a water heater of
some sort, so the repair and replacement market will always be a
strong influence for growth at Noritz America. Alternatively, Noritz
is also seeing a huge increase in interest and business in the
commercial channel.
In most situations, increasing to 3/4" line will provide enough Btu/h,
and the gas meter also needs to be upsized to meet the whole home’s
demand. Consult with your plumber.
What is a Condensing tankless water heater?
Condensation is created inside Navien’s condensing heat exchanger
(secondary heat exchanger) from the incoming cold water, cooling
the hot gases inside the unit, recovering heat that normally would go
up the flue, making the process highly efficient and economical.
Navien Tankless Condensing technology is ideal for all
categories of the market, with several key features geared
toward repair and replace. Navien America was the
first tankless manufacturer to offer PVC vented units,
so installers can replace a tank water heater with a
Navien unit at a lower cost than a non-condensing
tankless water heater. PVC allows 0" clearance to
combustibles — perfect for long runs of vent at an
affordable cost. Navien’s Ready Link® System is the best
alternative for large volumes of hot water. With its easy
venting and installation, unlimited Navien Water Heaters can
be set up as one system and sudden hot-water cutoffs can be avoided.
Other features include:
• Abundant Hot Water Supply: 16 units can be linked as one group
within the system and several groups can be linked-up into one
system.
• Energy Saving: industry's most efficient multi-unit system with
an exceptional 98% efficiency.
• Easy Wiring Connection: simple wiring link without complicated
communication cables and controllers.
• Easy Ventilating: built in APS for longer vent pipe.
• Low Maintenance Cost: even if one unit of the system fails, the
rest will operate without any problems.
• Full Modulation System: units activate individually as the
demand for hot water increases. ;
Tankless FAQ: How do I vent tankless water-heaters?
For conventional models with efficiencies in the mid-80s, Category
III stainless steel venting is required. (Note: Existing B-Vent from
tank-type heaters cannot be reused.) For condensing models with
efficiencies in the mid-90s, solid-core Schedule 40 PVC pipe can be
used to vent.
What maintenance is recommended for tankless water heaters?
The filter, located on the cold-water inlet fitting, should be
checked for debris about once a year. The front cover, fan and
venting should be checked for dust and debris. Depending on water
quality, a heat exchanger flush may be necessary as well.
What should I do to treat hard water?
There are several technologies used to treat hard water, either by
changing its chemical nature or by removing scale-producing ions.
Noritz offers two such scale treatment devices: the H2Flow and
Scale Shield. A detailed flush procedure may be found at
noritz.com/u/descale_procedure.pdf.
How do I flush the heat exchanger?
Flushing or de-scaling is part of the
regular maintenance of a Noritz heater.
It involves circulating a solution of pure
vinegar or diluted CLR through the
heat exchanger, using a submersible
pump. You will need the following
equipment to conduct a de-scale:
bucket; submersible pump; isolator
valve kit (installed on heater); water line
connections (the isolator valves have
3/4" hose thread connections on their
flush ports) and de-scaling solution
(vinegar, dilute CLR, dilute lime-away).
For more information, consult the
“FAQ” section at support.noritz.com/. ;
The NRC83-DV, an indoor model with
a two-pipe direct vent system, uses
condensing technology to achieve an
Energy Factor of 0.92 or 0.94,
depending on the fuel type. It can be
vented with 3" or 4" Schedule 40 and 80 PVC or CPVC pipe, which
is less expensive and quicker to install than the Category III stainless
steel that must be used on conventional tankless water heaters.
e Continued on p 46
TANKLESS REPORT
45
TANKLESS REPORT
Rheem
1100 Abernathy Road; suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30328
866/720-2076
www.rheem.com
COMPANY HISTORY: Founded in
Emeryville, Calif., in 1925 as Pacific
Galvanizing Company by brothers Richard and
Donald Rheem, the company made steel drums and other metal
products, and later narrowed its production to heating, cooling and
water heating solutions. Rheem began full-scale manufacturing of
water heaters, boilers and tanks in 1930; its water heating production
was significantly boosted in 1960 when it acquired the technology of
Norwegian water heater inventor Edwin Ruud. Today, the company’s
water heating product portfolio includes residential and commercial
tank, tankless, point-of-use electric tankless, solar and hybrid heat
pump water heaters, swimming pool heaters and commercial boilers.
Rheem is headquartered in Atlanta and its Water Heating division is
based in Montgomery, Ala.
Company News: In early 2011, Rheem invested more in
technology, innovation and product development over the past three
years than at any other point in the company’s history. Late in the
year Rheem introduced its Ultra Low NOx gas tankless water heaters
throughout the United States. In January 2012, Rheem debuted the
first-of-its-kind H2AC™ rooftop unit with eSync™ integration
technology for full-service restaurants.
Assistance to contractors: Some measures are offering new training
opportunities, supporting natural gas utility rebate programs, arming
contractors with resources to quickly develop marketing collateral and
streamlining our shipping program to better accommodate large orders.
Rheem has revamped its popular tankless training so that it focuses on
providing hands-on trouble-shooting and servicing. Rheem has
developed a variety of attractive vent termination kits that match the
upscale aesthetics featured on higher-end homes.
Tankless forecast: Greater awareness from homeowners about
tankless water heaters is helping the
industry at large. Today’s marketplace still
shows much greater demand coming
from replacement scenarios. With the
introduction of gas utility rebate
programs — and greater education on
the energy-specific benefits of tankless
water heaters from manufacturers —
Americans are becoming more aware
of the potential savings and benefits of
upgrading their water heaters to
tankless units. ;
The Prestige™ Series condensing
tankless water heater operates at 94
% thermal efficiency and features an
industry-best minimum flow rate of .26 gpm
and a minimum activation flow rate of .40 gpm.This unit
complies with SCAQMD.
46
WaiWela (ETS)
5350 Joliet Street, #1
Denver, Colorado 80239
800/605-6542
303/339-4909 (fax)
sales@waiwela.com
www.waiwela.com
COMPANY HISTORY: WaiWela Tankless Water Heaters is
represented by Efficient Technology Sales LLC in Denver, Colo.
Company founders have been committed to energy
conservation and environmentally sound products since
1977. ETS pioneered the use and
development of tankless water heaters in the
U.S. Tankless supplier is Paloma Industries
of Nagoya, Japan. Today, WaiWela tankless
gas water heaters and mini tanks have
gained wide acceptance and brand
recognition. In a crowded field, ETS is
distinguished through product quality,
exclusive product features and unparalleled
education and customer support.
Company News: WaiWela introduced two
new products to the extensive line of gas
tankless water heaters and mini water heaters.
The high efficiency condensing tankless gas
water heater, PHH-32 is ENERGY STAR rated,
has a 0.94 Energy Factor and is the most efficient gas tankless water
heater in the market. New to the line of WaiWela mini water
heaters is the WM-6.0, a six gallon, under-the-sink, electric water
heater. ETS has conducted several training sessions regarding
tankless and solar thermal installation in the newly constructed
mezzanine classroom and training facility.
Assistance to contractors: ETS’ relationship with the contractor is
one of exceptional, individualized service to offer personalized
engineering and technical support before and after a sale, in addition
to free lifetime technical support. Educating and training the
contractor on proper tankless applications and installations, in turn,
educates the consumer on the benefits of tankless water heaters.
Tankless forecast: Growth in the tankless industry, and for ETS,
is conducive with solar hot water and repairing and replacing old,
inefficient tanks with modern, efficient technology. ETS is stepping
forward as a leader in green building products. Consumers in the
residential and commercial segments are looking for lower
operating costs, space saving options and green initiatives. ;
Grand Hall USA, Inc.
3838 West Miller Road
Garland, Texas 75041
1.866.946.1096
www.eternalwaterheater.com
COMPANY HISTORY: Grand Hall is an
international company that has served as a
leading manufacturer of innovative gas
appliances and components for more than 30
years. In 1985, the Eternal manufacturer
opened the U.S. office in Dallas, Texas. Today,
the 200,000 sq. ft. distribution facility built in
2003 utilizes state-of-the-art technology to
enhance operations. In 2006, Grand Hall
launched the first Eternal hybrid water heater in the U.S., released
the third generation of the series in 2010, and introduced the
GU100 Eternal hybrid water heater for retrofit applications.
Company News: In January 2012, Grand Hall USA launched the
GU100 Eternal hybrid water heater for the residential retrofit
marke; it runs on a 1/2" gas line, supports up to two applications
simultaneously, is 96% thermal efficient, and comes with a 15-year
residential no leak warranty. Recently, Eternal hosted its first FAST
training class in the new Eternal training facility in Dallas, Texas.
Attendees got hands on experience and met Eternal personnel. For
information call 866-946-1096. Service videos are available online
at www.eternalwaterheater.com/training.
Assistance to contractors: Eternal offers contractors training classes
throughout the U.S. that provide detailed instructions on the
installation process, and a 15 year residential/5 year commercial no
leak warranty, 24/7 technical support, and a network of distributors
with replacement parts.
Tankless forecast: The water heating industry has been stagnant
for years but is about to change with the DOE’s final rule for the
2015 minimum efficiency levels for all gas fired water heaters sold
in the U.S. The new standard could lead to a price increase on
standard tanks, close the gap with on-demand water heaters and
boost the on-demand market as consumers look for more efficient
water heaters. The repair and replace segment of the market is
growing due to the weak economy; with a lot of buildings and
homes having deferred maintenance and old equipment
Tankless FAQ: What about venting and piping? The Eternal can
be power vented or direct vented with 2" or 3" SCH 40 PVC. It
has a standard top connection on the unit which reduces
soldering time. ;
Chronomite Laboratories, Inc.
17451 Hurley Street
City of Industry, CA 91744
Telephone: (800) 447-4962
Email: info@chronomite.com
www.chronomite.com
COMPANY HISTORY: Chronomite began in 1966 providing hot
water for point-of-use commercial and industrial applications.
At only the size of a dictionary, Chronomite tankless water
heaters use electricity to supply hot water on demand to
remote locations. After developing Omni Flow Controls in
1982, the company proved that water flow rate could be
reduced while still producing a pressure-compensated flow rate.
In 1992, Chronomite Laboratories Inc. patented the first
microprocessor controlled tankless water heater to provide
unlimited hot water simultaneously to multiple lavatories with
one heater. Utilizing state of the art technology, the
microprocessor reduces hot water delivery time, is 99% energy
efficient, and meets user demands for a cost-saving, quickreturn product.
Company News: An
all-new Web site at
www.Chronomite.com
that now features an
online configurator to
determine the precise
model that's right for the
job. The site also includes
more educational and
product resources,
including step-by-step instructions on how to install. Updated spec
sheets, downloads, comparison
charts, and online manuals make
finding information more userfriendly.
Tankless forecast: The current
or conventional infrastructure in
place for energy, water, and
utilities is being reevaluated to
protect our precious resources,
and the alternative has the
potential to be costly. Now, more
than ever, there is a demand for
eco-friendly alternatives. But also
because of the economy,
companies must provide
solutions that are immediately
accessible—low-cost alternatives
that produce quick results in
efficiency and fast payback for
utilities.
Assistance to contractors:
Chronomite has two warehouses
one in California and the other
in Georgia; along with a vast
network of
representatives/distributors to
assist the contractor with
availability and accessibility to
our products. Our website has
been designed with state-of the
art literature that can facilitate
with specification, product
determination, submittals and
installation sheets to aid in
selecting the desired product for
the application. Contractors
know we offer a quality product,
every unit is tested at the factory
prior to shipping, this results in
fewer call backs and that in turn
translates into more profit.
Tankless FAQ: If not gas, oil, or
propane, how does the Chronomite
tankless heater operate?
TANKLESS REPORT
It requires only a cold water line and
electrical hookup – no need for costly
piping/valving associated with
conventional tank heaters. The element
assembly houses a series of ingeniously designed coils that instantly
heat water as it flows through the vessel. A unique power switch
automatically applies electrical current to the coils when hot water is
requested. The electrical current is not applied when water is not in
use. The microprocessor can be preset at the factory to maintain a
constant output temperature, even at varying flow rates of the unit.
Will a Chronomite Tankless water heater supply my whole house?
A single Chronomite Tankless Water Heaters are designed for a
point-of-use commercial and retail applications, or in remote locations
which require warm water on-demand (i.e. outdoor pool showers,
restaurant service sinks, etc.) However, you can supply hot water to an
entire house with a Chronomite Parallel Kit. The parallel kit features
two Instant-Flow Micro heaters connected together to produce a
greater flow rate at 99% energy efficiency. The parallel kit easily
accommodates or retrofits in instances where higher volume (gpm) of
water is required, which requires higher amperage. Each heater uses a
digital microprocessor for temperature control and provides unlimited
hot water with no need for a mixing valve. Meets applicable building
codes including ADA, UL, IAPMO, UPC.
What would you say is the biggest positive influence (as far as
growth) for your company in 2012? (Repair & replace, new
construction, commercial, solar hot water, etc.): As the economy
begins to strengthen we look to new construction along with
repair/replace work to remain a strong source of sales. A tankless unit
is used to bring hot water to a remote location saving in time and
resources and this provides an opportunity to supply a more efficient
and greener product in a retrofit situation. We are also looking to
develop new products as the need arises to meet demand. ;
INDUSTRY NEWS
47
HYDRONIC PRODUCTS
Heavy duty 3-speed pump line
New heavy-duty 0015-IFC 3-Speed pump is ideal for
medium-sized hydronic systems where installers require
maximum reliability and versatility from a powerful, high
performance motor and durable 3-speed switch and the
highest starting torque in its class. Designed for a wide
range of flow and head requirements, 3-Speed switching
capability matches it to a wide combination of tube
diameters and run lengths. Offered with in-line or rotated
flange orientation and includes a removable, uni-body
integral flow check that prevents gravity flow, reduces
installation costs and improves pump performance.
Available in cast iron and stainless steel for use with open,
freshwater systems. Taco.
48
Automatic air
vents
MINICAL® automatic air vents
remove air that accumulates in
heating and air conditioning
systems without the need for
manual intervention. Enhances
the life and performance of the
system by reducing the affects of
pockets of air trapped in heat
exchangers; cavitation in the
circulation pumps and corrosion
due to oxidation. Vents air that is
released from the water while
being heated. A check valve
allows for easy replacement of
air vent without purging the
system. Caleffi.
Primary/
secondary
purge T
Stop fabricating closely spaced
tees! Pro-Pal primary/secondary
purge T provides the precise
distance required to achieve
hydraulic separation across the
tees. Integrated ball valve
permits power purging of the
individual loops in a hydronic
system, providing functionality
that cannot be duplicated with
off-the-shelf components.
Replaces five components,
eliminates four leak paths and
saves over 30 minutes of labor.
Webstone.
Pumping System
The Grundfos BoosterpaQ® Hydro
MPC is an integrated pumping
system that offers up to six vertical,
multi-stage CR pumps in parallel
operation designed to optimize
pumping efficiency over a range of
flow rates. These pumping systems
are ideal for domestic water pressure
boosting, industrial process, irrigation
and HVAC
applications, as
well as any
application
where variable
flow
requirements are
present. The
integrated
pumping systems
utilize an
advanced
controller that
along with variable frequency drivecontrolled motors, adjust pump
speed and the number of pumps in
operation to meet frequently
changing system demand. The MPC
controller is specifically designed to
control the operation of multiple
parallel connected pumps based on
differential pressure, proportional
pressure, constant pressure,
differential temperature, constant
temperature, and constant flow
control parameters. Moreover, the
intuitive user interface makes
operating the wide range of features
and functions simple. Grundfos.
The only commercial condensing
tankless water heater on the market.
From restaurants to schools and hotels, Bosch Condensing Tankless Water Heaters excel in
commercial applications.
PHC N
DW Ad2 04 25 12 i dd 1
Copyright © 2012 Bosch Thermotechnology Corp. All rights reserved.
4/25/2012
/ 012 3:47:48 PM
MECHANICAL CONTRACTING
PVF
National employment mobility
guarantees long-term rental swing
BY MORRIE BESCHLOSS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A
lthough a case has already been made for
homeowning stability at near current price levels, as
long as minimal mortgage rates exist and credit is
not harder to come by, a longer term prognosis would point
to the dominance of renting, at least for the next few years.
What has previously not been emphasized is the
extreme mobility of America’s huge and active 140-million
strong employment force. Whereas Americans have been
traditionally more mobile than other nations if better
opportunities exist in other parts of the country,
the current major hesitancy has been the
ability to shed their homestead to provide the
50
Even if economic
conditions exceed
current projections
up to 2020, the
combination of
demand exceeding
supply, resulting in
ever-higher real estate
prices, will likely not
be replicated in the
current generation,
spanning a 25-year
period.
liquidity to re-establish themselves elsewhere. This had not
posed a problem in the past 25 years, as home prices and
sizzling demand were not negative factors in flipping their
existing residences for relocation to new areas of
opportunity.
Even if economic conditions exceed current projections
up to 2020, the combination of demand exceeding supply,
resulting in ever-higher real estate prices, will likely not be
replicated in the current generation, spanning a 25-year
period. The stark reality, at a time when income-making
opportunities are increasingly difficult to find in the
proverbial backyard, is that the "employment factor" will
provide an overwhelming undertow to the tens of millions
wishing to keep their "job fulfillment" options open,
wherever they can be found within the confines of these
United States.
Anecdotal surveys have disclosed that this concern with
relocation is top-heavy for those rejecting the temptations
of long-term mortgages and financial risk in an economic
climate displaying little long-term hope for the price
improvement of a home-owning asset.
Since the post-World War II years, the home has been
the rock-solid asset centerpiece for the vast majority of
America’s wage earners. The nightmarish swing from asset
to liability since 2008’s Great Recession start has been a
traumatic blow from which few, if any, see any recovery
within their lifetimes.
Weighing the pros and cons of economic factors due to
emerge in the years to come (inflationary high interest
rates and tightening credit), it’s a safe call to predict that
rentals in major metropolitan areas and suburbs, as well as
in most outlying sectors, will become a permanent fact of
life.
More minimum wage legislation runs counter
to badly-needed employment opportunities
While President Barack Obama rails about millionaire
and billionaire tax surcharges and a minimum federal tax of
30% on all those with incomes over a million dollars (the
Buffett rule), the constant push for higher minimum wages
continues to boil at many state levels while still percolating
in the Oval Office, ready to spring on Congress when least
expected.
What proves the “Buffett rule” to be pure gimmickry is
that, if perfected, it would hardly collect $45 billion over a
decade but holds the “super-rich” up to scorn as greedy,
money-grubbing narcissists. Buffett, the nation’s
unchallenged super-investor, has lent himself to this
charade by charging that he pays a lower percentage of
federal tax than his secretary does, whose annual salary is in
the $75,000 range.
On the other end of the income spectrum, the jobrestraining incubus of minimum federal wage has
prohibited the hiring of tens of thousands of teenagers and
others in the growing unemployment sector. Many of them
would be readily employed by thousands of small
companies not ready to comply with the federal minimum
wage of $7.25 per hour.
A growing number of states have raised that bar ever
higher, even during the Great Recession. While Washington
State leads that parade with a $9.04 minimum,
Massachusetts is ready to approve a mandate of $10 an
hour, with Illinois right behind. Many job openings would
be available at competitive hiring rates for fast food
purveyors, where tips and other types of commissions
could be made available to those hired. Such positions are
going begging for those unemployed who comprise a
preponderant amount of job seekers, both percentage-wise
and numerically.
In the irrational world of current federal government
manipulation of wage levels, the major harm being
committed is to those who would prefer any job in
preference to the extension of the government dole of
unemployment compensation.
What the White House and Washington, D.C. fail to
understand is that “gainful employment” continues to be
the overriding problem of America’s shifting economy.
What the so-called progressives don’t want to face is that
increased minimum wages are the wrong way to go in a
e Turn to BESCHLOSS on p 52
MECHANICAL CONTRACTING
| PVF |
languishing economy with maximum unemployment. The
current attitude displayed by union-driven state legislators
is that the already overburdened unemployment rolls are a
direct result of not allowing the marketplace to work at a
time when a waiver from minimum wages, not an
escalation, is needed.
Strong vs. weak dollar arguments often based
on false premise
52
Back in the “good old days,” those rooting for a strong
dollar (a consistent position of U.S. Treasury Secretaries)
believed that a powerful greenback signaled a strong U.S.
economy. The weak dollar camp, however, (hoping for
cheap dollars to ship their goods abroad and enhance
incoming tourism) perceived a distinct advantage in a soft
national economy. But like the currency in general, and all
aspects of life in particular, relative currency values are
getting more complicated.
More often than not, the long-term value of the
greenback is a reflection of its relationship to a basket of
major world currencies, such as the yen, pound, euro and
Chinese yuan. The dollar, the most widely used currency in
international trade, has constantly been in competition
with the relative strength of these leading world monetary
standard bearers.
With the lightning speed of economic globalization,
these hidebound historical scenarios are now in a constant
state of flux. The dollar reached maximum strength in the
early 1980s, when double digit interest rates for the
popular 10-year note enticed record influx from all over
the world. This was true as the monetary world saw
investment in U.S. debt as a no-brainer, providing
maximum security, combined with a heretofore unavailable
double digit yield. The fact that the U.S. was experiencing
runaway inflation did not discourage global investors, who
continued to view America as the ultimate pillar of
investment safety. Also, the U.S. debt had barely reached $1
trillion.
The relatively weaker dollar today is primarily a function
of historically minuscule interest rates generated by the U.S.
Treasury’s yield curve, despite a national debt that has
multiplied 15 times in the past 35 years. As was true during
America’s hyper-inflationary binge, the nation’s record
deficit spending and debt accumulation seems to be
overshadowed by the continued vote of confidence that
the bulk of the world’s money retainers exhort toward U.S.
domestic repayment and on-time interest payments.
With globally traded commodities such as oil, copper,
coal, iron ore and a raft of agricultural products
denominated in the greenback, the dollar has stayed
somewhat stronger than could be expected, based on the
U.S.’s weakened deficit condition. This may be changing for
the worse as the Chinese
yuan is finally left to float
against the dollar, after having
been artificially devalued for
years. This China seachange
has been caused by that
nation’s shift to internal
economic development,
necessitating expanded and
cheaper imports, while
Beijing’s exports have slowed
due to higher labor/benefit
and transportation costs. This
has significantly increased
China’s outward bound costs.
The Japanese yen has
maintained its strength due
to the “carry trade” which has
allowed currency traders to
borrow against the near zero
cost of the Japanese currency
and to profit by the higher
margins available from a
variety of global investment
opportunities.
While a historically strong
dollar has signaled an equally
sound U.S. economy, the
current aforementioned
circumstances have generated
a much more turbulent
volatility. l
Morris R. Beschloss, a 55year veteran of the pipe, valve
and fitting industry, is PVF
and economic analyst emeritus
for sister publication The
Wholesaler.
KITCHEN + BATH
| SHOWROON STYLE |
K/BIS 2012 —Innovative new and
hot kitchen and bath happenings
T
he Kitchen and Bath Industry
Show, held from April 24 – 26
at McCormick Place in
Chicago, was an “excellent” show,
with more than 500 exhibitors.
There was a heavy turnout of
manufacturers from China and
Taiwan, some of whom meet
American and European ISO quality
standards.
walk-in baths, the Elevance Rising
Wall provides a traditional bathing
experience, while offering increased
accessibility. The extra-wide opening,
integrated grab bar and chair-height
seat make entering and leaving easier
than a traditional walk-in bath.
Elevance provides comfortable
The best K/BIS keynote
speech in the last 25 years
54
This was one of the best keynote
speeches that I have ever attended.
The subject was the connection
between the Internet, technology
and our industry. Michael E. Werner,
president and CEO of Globe Union
Group Inc., provided an overview of
how we should envision the future in
business and how technology
advances will alter the industry.
Werner addressed the ways that
technology impacts our current
landscape, how it has evolved and
how we can best prepare for
upcoming shifts. Through ongoing
advancements in technology,
everything has become possible,
accessible and more affordable.
Navigating and embracing the
redefined course of business as
industry professionals will ensure the
success of the industry. With proven
facts and evidence, Werner showed
the capacity-filled audience that the
Internet is a friend to all and that it is
not the case of “the showroom versus
the Internet.” If you think that
having a website is enough, you will
be surprised to learn what has
happened and what will take place in
the next couple of years. (Mary Jo
Martin, editorial director of The
Wholesaler, did an exclusive article
on Michael Werner’s presentation on
page 48 in this issue. Don’t miss it!)
The Best of K/BIS 2012
awards
The winners of the Best of KBIS
were announced on Wednesday,
April 25. The eight winning products
were selected for their functionality,
quality/durability, flexibility,
aesthetics/style and innovation. The
winners were:
Best Universal Design Product:
The Elevance Rising Wall bath by
Kohler (www.kohler.com)
A stylish alternative to traditional
soaking depth with an integral
relaxing waterfall fill and an
ergonomic back and neck rest. It is
designed to fit into a standard 60”
bath footprint for remodels and new
builds.
Best Green Product:
MotionSense™ faucets by Moen
(www.moen.com)
MotionSense provides an intuitive,
hands-free kitchen faucet experience
that responds to users’ simple hand
movements to activate water flow.
There are three ways to turn on
faucets with MotionSense: the wave
sensor at the top of the faucet, the
ready sensor near the base of the
faucet that identifies when an object
is placed beneath the spout and the
handle on the side of the faucet,
which offers traditional manual
operation.
Best of Bath – Gold Award:
Redi Trench by Tile Redi USA
LLC (www.tileredi.com)
The most exciting marriage of
design and function in the bath
industry, Redi Trench meets the
needs of building pros with an
innovative, exclusive design added to
the established utility you expect
from their Tile Ready shower pans.
Features give endless design
flexibility: any size Redi Base (52" –
72"); Plank pitch™; Molded-in
trench; any trench location; any drain
location(s) in trench and Your
Choice tileable or grate top.
BY PETER SCHOR
SHOWROOM SPECIALIST
Best of Bath – Silver Award:
Alessa shower base by Fleurco
Products Inc. (www.fleurco.com)
This bench will appeal to people
looking for a seat, a stool or a
footrest while showering. Parents will
find that washing their kids is easier
with the bench. Storage space
beneath the seat is perfect for
keeping shampoos and soaps at hand.
This IAPMO-approved base comes
with a selection of decorative linear
drain finishes.
Best of Kitchen – Gold Award:
Stainless steel kitchen sink by
ROHL LLC (www.rohlhome.com)
Handcrafted in Italy, ROHL’s line
of commercial grade stainless steel
and stainless copper plated sinks are
designed for the high-end residential
market. Unlike traditional stainless
sinks, ROHL’s sinks are constructed
of 16-gauge commercial stainless
steel for extreme durability. Crafted
with a unique “tangent edge,” a
rounded, a bottom edge radius and
zero-edge side wall, each carries an
insulating undercoat, a “quiet coat,”
reducing splash-back sound.
Best of Kitchen – Silver Award:
Liebherr HC 1540 by Almo
Specialty Products
(www.almospecialty.com)
Liebherr’s fully integrated HC
1540 refrigeration unit offers the
convenience of 30" sizing with
Liebherr’s signature sleek, European
styling and state-of-the-art
performance features. The HC 1540
can be concealed behind cabinetry or
stainless steel, giving designers
flexibility and the homeowner ideal
food storage conditions. This 30"
model also offers the possibility of a
custom design feel with flush 24"
deep cabinet installation, a feature
not available in competing units.
Best of Show:
Segmented cooktop:
gas/griddle/induction by Bertazzoni
(www.bertazzoni.com)
Bertazzoni sets the new standard
in surface cooking flexibility with its
new Design Series segmented
cooktops. Housed in a sleek and
sophisticated low-profile, stainless
steel frame, this new 36" cooktop is
available in six combinations of gas,
electric griddle and induction to
perfectly match any style of cooking.
e Continued on p 56
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KITCHEN + BATH
People’s Choice Award:
U-socket wall outlet with built-in
USB ports by U-Socket
(www.weircomfees.com)
U-Socket is an AC receptacle with
built-in USB ports that can power
any device capable of being charged
via USB, including iPods, iPhones and
iPads. Designed to replace a
traditional wall outlet, U-Socket
eliminates the clutter of AC adapters
that stick out and take up space.
Enjoy the convenience of a charger
built right into the wall. U-Socket is
also eco-friendly, thanks to its 5-star
energy efficient design that autosenses wattage and only outputs full
power if something is connected to it.
Bathroom trends and new
products — Electronics
For the past five years, I have
written about “electronics” becoming
more important in bathrooms each
year. These include electronic faucets,
floor warming, chromeatherapy
showers and baths, LCD-mirrored
TVs, magnification mirrors and backlit lighting systems, washlet seats and
bidets, heated toilet seats, steam
baths with sound systems, saunas,
towel warmers, nightlights with wall
switches and more. Digital and LED
lighting was everywhere at K/BIS
2012, including digital electronic
showerheads that operate from the
bather’s wall mount remote control.
Merging sound and vibrations, the
new KOHLER Underscore
VibrAcoustic baths are engineered to
ease tension and stress. Vibroacoustic
is a technology-based sound therapy
defined as hearing and feeling sound
vibrations through the body.
Additionally, the quality of the sound
system on the bath is so good that it
can be used as a stand-alone audio
solution for the entire bathroom. The
bather can stream music and
podcasts through the bath from a
56
mobile device wirelessly or via
hardwire connection. The
VibrAcoustic technology is
controlled by an intuitive full-color
touch screen user interface. Do you
have all these types of products in
your showroom?
Shower and bathing
products
• Pulse Shower Spas
(www.pulseshowerspas.com) offers
one of the hottest new bath product
categories in years. These preplumbed shower columns (panels)
are code approved, some even use
the existing shower valve, making
them ideal for retrofit. You remove
the shower arm, quick connect to the
1/2" I.P.S connection and fasten to
the wall, all in about 15 minutes.
• Tyrell and Laing International
Bathtubs (www.TandLinternational
.com) offer an exclusive range of cast
stone Luxury Lifestyle bathtubs,
lavatories and shower bases. These
bathtubs have been designed for
ultimate relaxation and comfort,
along with elegance and beauty. T&L
bathtubs are made in the USA, have
a 10-year warranty and are offered in
an infinite number of colors and
numerous textures. Grab this one for
your showroom before it is gone.
• ThermaSure
(www.temperatesystems.com) not
only keeps your bath water warm
but also gives the bather a warning
sign, both audibly and visually, when
the water is too hot. It purifies the
water, killing off any viruses or
bacteria and making it really safe. l
The remainder of this column
can be found online at
www.phcnews.com
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From the leader of energy- and water- efficient
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Peter Schor, president of Dynamic
Results Inc., is a bath/plumbing
industry speaker, educator, author,
columnist and consultant in the
many segments of our industry. For
the past 20 years, he conducted
seminars and speaks at numerous
conventions. Schor has great
expertise in the field of showrooms
and hotel bathrooms and has won
many industry awards. He also
consults manufacturers in taking
their products to market in the areas
of sales, marketing and public
relations. Schor can be reached at
1302 Longhorn Lane, Lincoln, CA
95648, phone 916/408-5346, fax
916/408-5899, email
pschor@dynamic resultsinc.com or
visit online at
www.dynamicresultsonline.com.
BUSINESS RESOURCES + TOOLS
BARE BONES BIZ
Tips for upgrading your
accounting system
BY ELLEN ROHR CONTRIBUTING WRITER
D
ouble-entry accounting hasn’t changed one bit
since the mathematical equation was codified
by 15th century Italian mathematician, Luca
Pacioli. Here is the accounting formula:
Assets = Liabilities + Equity
What you HAVE = what you OWE + what you OWN,
or
What you HAVE – what you OWE = what you OWN
58
Keeping this equation in balance is the function of
double-entry accounting. Assets have a debit balance;
liabilities and equity have credit balances: Debits =
Credits.
An automated accounting system is supposed to make
it easy for you to keep track of assets, liabilities, equity,
sales and expenses. You could do it all by hand. From
the 1400s until recently — in my lifetime — we all did.
Now, accounting software and iPhones and Tablets and
laptops and soon-to-be-extinct desktop computers make
short work of the addition, subtraction and division.
However, the universal laws of accounting always apply:
Debits = Credits.
Are you ready to make a move to a different
accounting software program? Perhaps you’re ready to
get an accounting program in place for the very first
time? Here’s some help for making a smooth transition.
Well, smoother than it might have been if you didn’t
read on.
• Pick an accounting software program. If you are a
small shop, under $750,000 in sales, use QuickBooks. I
would hold off on any industry specific software;
QuickBooks is a rock solid accounting program. For
larger shops, QuickBooks has limitations. It doesn’t have
a dispatching module or a good way to keep customer
history. So, consider an “add on” program that does
those things and can interface with QuickBooks. Or, you
can find an industry specific program that does it all;
the accounting, dispatch, customer service history…and
will make you a sandwich. (Just kidding about the
sandwich.)
Contact folks who are using the software you are
considering as part of your due diligence.
• Get thee to the Cloud. Consider a program that
connects via the Internet. You won’t need servers.
However, you are trusting your data to the Web. Plan to
regularly download and store your company
information on a drive and keep it in a fireproof safe.
• Pick a date for your transition. This is the date on
which you enter all data into your new accounting
program and stop entering data into the old program.
Pick the beginning of a year or a quarter. It’s easier to
make the switch at the beginning of your fiscal year,
because the income statement starts over every year.
Use the time between now and then to craft your plan.
• Follow the software guidelines. Honor the software
and the way it was designed. You’ll have more success if
An automated accounting
system is supposed to make
it easy for you to keep track
of assets, liabilities, equity,
sales and expenses. You could
do it all by hand. From the
1400s until recently — in my
lifetime — we all did.
you learn and follow the intentions of the
software developers as you proceed. Get transition
information from them and work together for best
effect.
There will probably be sample data in a “dummy”
company file. Go ahead and play around. That’s what it
is there for. Do the tutorials. Figure out how the
software works.
• Back up the old files. Create the option of restoring
to where you were before you started the conversion in
case something goes awry.
• Assemble the data you will need for the beginning
balances. What do you have for assets? For liabilities?
There will be verifiable evidence, such as bank
statements, credit card statements, loan documents,
invoices for asset purchases and the tax return. If you
had solid financial reports in the old system, it is a lot
easier to migrate to the new system.
• Create the new file. Always create the working file
of a new program on the last day of the previous year,
even if your transition date is in the middle of a year.
Enter ending balances in the balance sheet accounts as
of the last day of the last year. These balances become
the beginning balances for the current year.
• Update, upgrade your chart of accounts. Delete or
make inactive accounts that you don’t want or need.
Explore the options for organizing the data: classes,
departments, items and account numbers. Map out a
strategy for getting enough information about different
areas of your business (i.e.; big jobs, small jobs) without
overdoing it. Update the accounts and the setup screens
as needed.
• Enter customers and vendors. Unless you are certain
the data will come through in a useable fashion, don’t
bring the dollar transactions with the vendor and
customer files. Just bring over the empty accounts to be
populated moving forward.
• Create the AP and AR. As of the last day of last year,
enter any invoices that were created in the prior year
but not paid until the current year. Do this for vendors
and customers to create Accounts Payable and Accounts
Receivable.
• Get going! Enter data from the beginning of the
current year and get caught up ASAP. As you go, create
written procedures for the following data entry
e Turn to E. ROHR on p 60
©2012 WD-40 Company
BUSINESS RESOURCES + TOOLS
60
transactions:
•
Entering sales
•
Applying customer
payments
•
Making the deposit
•
Entering bills
•
Paying bills
•
Entering credit card charges
•
Paying credit card
statements
•
Entering payroll
• Don’t bother setting up realtime inventory. Don’t connect the
inventory module. Expense
everything you buy to a cost of
goods sold (COGS) account/s. Plan
to count your inventory once a year,
or every quarter if you want to be
anal retentive. Then adjust the asset
of inventory and the COGS
account for materials to “right.”
• Regarding payroll…consider
using Paychex or ADP. Payroll is so
much easier to enter as a journal
entry than as an integrated process
in accounting. If you were doing inhouse payroll, you may still need to
wrap up the payroll liabilities
incurred prior to the switch. Find
out what was owed, what is owed
and adjust the balances to right
with your tax preparer’s approval.
• Reconcile the bank statements,
month by month. Use process in
the new accounting system for your
bank reconciliations. While you
might make a mistake in data entry,
if you get the cash accounts right,
you have a good chunk of the data
entry right.
• Hold off on integrating an “addon” customer service and/or
dispatch program until you are solid
with your QuickBooks file. Make
sure QBs is up and running and that
you can follow the flow of debits
and credits throughout the program
before you integrate another
program. Then be anal retentive as
you structure the setup so that you
understand the “hand-off” of data
from one program to the other.
• Involve your CPA or tax
preparer in the process. Bottom line,
the balances have to be right. The
accounts should reflect what you
have, owe and own. The accounting
should accurately record sales and
expenses. And the balance sheet as
of your last fiscal year should “foot”
to the tax return for that year.
Don’t stop until it’s right, current
and you understand it. Make sure
your CPA signs off on your plan and
your implementation.
• If you make a mistake, learn
from it. It’s a bummer to have to
redo or start over. Go ahead and cry,
if you need to, but keep going.
Remember that inside every
accounting program is the basic
accounting equation:
Assets = Liabilities + Equity
Once you understand this, you
can decipher any accounting
program. It’s like, once you know
how to drive, you can decide which
car best suits you. But essentially a
car is a car; an accounting program
is an accounting program.
Easy peasy. l
“Like” my Facebook page,
www.facebook.com/barebonesbiz,
reach me at 417/753-1111 or
contact @ barebonesbiz.com.
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GREEN SYSTEMS
62
The Solyndra Shame
BY MAX ROHR CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I
n 2011, a solar panel
manufacturer in California
named Solyndra filed for
bankruptcy and left 1,000 workers
jobless. Solyndra would have been
just been the story of a company that
tried to develop a unique nonsilicone photovoltaic panel and hit a
ditch when silicone prices
plummeted. The scandal that
followed was because Solyndra
received over 500 million dollars in a
rushed, guaranteed federal loan.
Some point out that this funding
project originated in 2005 with
bipartisan support during the Bush
administration. Regardless of the
start of this funding, the Obama
administration took the torch and
ran with it. They heralded Solyndra
as a prime example of future of
green collar jobs in America, made
speeches, and stood for photo ops at
the factory.
It is apparent that the Obama
administration and the Department
of Energy (DOE) put too many eggs
in one basket with Solyndra. Critics
show this as a prime example of
Chicago-style cronyism and bad
business sense at the taxpayer’s
expense. At the very least, it was a
hasty selection of a company to be a
poster child for a larger energy
agenda.
An always or never approach is
how solar funding seems to be
proceeding in the wake of Solyndra.
The Treasury Department was given
only one day by the DOE to review
the Solyndra loan in 2009. This lack
of diligence blew up in the DOE’s
face. However, now the DOE is so
gun shy that the 16.7 billion dollars
allocated for research and
development assistance is locked up
tight (WSJ 2012). The full throttle
or full break approach to energy
investment is toxic. Railroading
loans through is a bad idea. Not
funding anything on the possibility
that a particular company might not
be a home run is even worse. Even
in the event a company doesn’t live
up to its hype, that doesn’t mean
progress isn’t being made. Just think
of how many startups and small
businesses tried to build flying
machines over the years. We have all
seen grainy old videos of hilariously
ineffective flying machines. While
unsuccessful, they were part of the
important scientific process of
elimination.
Not all technology companies will
change the world, yet every company,
failed or successful, teaches a lesson.
What to do or what not to do are
both important to someone who
takes the time to learn why. A 500
million tax dollar loan shouldn’t be
handed to any company without due
diligence. It is an additional shame
when 1,000 jobs are lost. However,
it shouldn’t be forgotten that other
manufacturers can learn from
Solyndra’s mistakes and the solar
industry, nation, and world progress.
While Solyndra leaves a bad taste
in our collective tax paying mouths,
we can’t afford to continue our
current stagnant funding strategy for
solar energy research and
development. In 2009, the federal
government spent around three
billion dollars on energy research
according to an American Energy
Innovation Council (AEIC) study.
To give a sense of this funding as
compared to other sectors, the
National Institutes of Health
received 36.5 billion and defense
researchers received 77 billion. (I
would argue that investments in our
energy independence are actually
investments in our national security,
but that is another topic).
The harshest skeptics of the DOE
have deduced that government
money spent to aid the creation of
green jobs or products is a complete
waste. The Heritage Foundation’s
Morning Bell posted an article titled,
“Solyndra Scandal Ends Green Jobs
Myth.” Solyndra doesn’t prove that
green jobs are a hoax just like the
Ford Edsel doesn’t prove that all new
automobiles will be flops.
Additionally, the Solyndra loan made
up only 1.3% of the money given to
green energies that year (Washington
Post 2011). The other 98.7% of the
investments don’t seem to get much
media attention. The idea that green
jobs, as a sector, are worthless is the
narrowest of tunnel vision. I would
equate this logic to a man standing in
the middle of a desert next to a
barrel of water and laughing at
anyone who decided to leave and
look for more water. The amount of
water in the barrel doesn’t matter, it
will one day run out.
The shame of Solyndra is that it is
a black eye on the face of solar
energy research. As a 26-year-old,
there is a possibility I will see oil dry
up in my lifetime. As a country, we
can’t afford to let solar energy
research and development be shelved
or underfunded. The amount of coal,
oil, and natural gas left on earth is
not easy to nail down in a terms of
years left. It is with absolute
certainty that we have a finite
amount of oil, coal, and gas on Earth
and more developing countries are
ramping up their consumption. The
sun will shine on the day we use the
last drop of oil. Whether or not we
are prepared for that day is what we
will decide in the next few decades.
If we stop funding solar with public
or private dollars, we are doing a
disservice to our future. Solyndra
was a failure, but the solar sector is
still worth backing. I would rather
my tax dollars go to companies who
search for new ways to harvest free
clean energy than to someone
standing next to a barrel of water in
the desert. I won’t defend the
decision to fund Solyndra with so
much money, but I hope that it
doesn’t become an excuse to not
look for future energy in the sun. l
Max Rohr is a graduate of the
University of Utah. He is currently an
outside salesperson at Shamrock Sales
in Denver. He has worked in the
hydronics and solar industry for the
last 10 years in the installation, sales
and marketing sectors. Max is a
LEED Green Associate and a BPI
Building Analyst and is passionate
about green technology. He can be
reached at max.rohr@mac.com.
References
http://www.washingtonpost.com/b
logs/ezra-klein/post/five-mythsabout-the-solyndra-collapse/2011/09
/14/gIQAfkyvRK_blog.html
http://www.americanenergyinnova
tion.org/2011-executive-summary
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10
00142405270230407200457732416
2418181128.html
http://blog.heritage.org/2011/09/1
6/morning-bell-solyndra-scandalends-green-jobs-myth/
More than just a company that makes things.
My family’s passion is to provide Taco people with the
their jobs because your success matters to all of us, and
opportunity to learn, grow, and prosper. It’s why our
to America. Next time you buy, think about the people
500 employees love what they do and make the highest
and the passion behind our brand. One thing is certain:
quality systems in the industry. They put everything into
when you choose Taco, you’ll do your best work.
JOHN HAZEN WHITE, JR., OWNER
www.taco-hvac.com
phc June 2012 www.phcnews.com
GREEN SYSTEMS
SOLAR SOLUTIONS
Bristol’s Six Principles for Good Solar
Hydronic Design #47: Piping the solar
collectors with flexible tubing
BY BRISTOL STICKNEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
T
64
he best innovations in solar heating systems in
recent years have evolved by combining preengineered and pre-assembled components. When
multiple components are matched and assembled during
manufacture, it eliminates the labor of assembly and the
high potential for error in the field. In solar home heating
systems, the use of modular heat distribution manifolds
and pre-engineered pump stations, for example, has
gained in popularity because of the speed of installation
and the increased reliability of the results.
Another area where modular equipment is now
available is in the solar connective piping itself. The
insulated (metal) supply and return piping that connects
the solar collectors to the boiler room must be resistant to
very high temperatures. The outdoor runs must be
resistant to weather and sunlight. The path of this piping
often runs through tight spaces with awkward angles and
bends. Traditionally, this piping has typically been done
with copper tubing in a meticulous three-step process
The best innovations
in solar heating
systems in recent
years have evolved
by combining preengineered and
pre-assembled
components. When
multiple components
are matched and
assembled during
manufacture, it eliminates
the labor of assembly and
the high potential for error
in the field
involving (1) soldering copper pipe
together with couplings and elbows, (2)
installing the insulation and (3) finishing
with a weatherproof cover. The use of preinsulated flexible piping can eliminate most
of that work in the field, saving many hours of installation.
Flexible stainless steel insulated pipe
Figure 47-1 shows the construction detail of a stainless
steel solar supply and return pipe assembly using an
example available from Caleffi Solar. It consists of two
corrugated stainless steel pipes inside an EPDM closedcell foam insulation jacket with an integrated sensor wire
built in. It is most commonly packaged in 50-foot coils.
The insulation is coated with a copolymer foil that
protects against damage from solar UV radiation. It comes
in three common sizes, ½”, ¾” and 1”
nominal pipe sizes. This modular tubing
is lightweight and easy to bend, with a
springy feel to it. The two corrugated
pipes are made of 316L stainless steel
with a bending radius of 5 inches, a
working pressure rating of 150 psi and a
maximum fluid temperature of 350 F.
The stainless tube can be cut using a
tubing cutter, the same as that used
with copper tubing. It requires special
adapters at each end to allow
connection to standard U.S. pipe thread.
Adapters are available from suppliers,
and it is always a good idea to order a
few extra to have on hand in the field.
e Turn to STICKNEY on p 66
e Circle 37 on reader reply on 71
phc June 2012 www.phcnews.com
GREEN SYSTEMS
The adapters that I have used so far are surprisingly fast
and easy to install and “act like” a threaded brass union
with a flat gasket when making the final pipe connection.
Short pieces can be cut and fitted with adapters to make
other connections to the glycol system or to other boilerfluid piping.
66
The pressure drop
Because the tubing is corrugated, the inside surface has
a rough finish, which results in a higher pump resistance
than smooth copper tubing. This must be taken into
account when designing the solar glycol loop and the
glycol pump to go with it. At common glycol flow rates
to the pump resistance due only to the
supply/return piping. Other plumbing
components, such as collectors, heat
exchanger, shut off valves, elbows and
other fittings that provide additional
resistance must also be included to
obtain the total pressure drop for the
entire glycol loop. The circulator pump
must be sized to overcome the total
resistance to flow.
The glycol mixture and its average
temperature have a significant effect
on the pump resistance. Figure 47-2
covers a typical mixture and
temperature (as labeled), but colder
temperatures or thicker mixtures (for
example) will have different results.
Figure 47-2 presents the flow through a pair of pipes,
one supply and one return. This means that a 50-foot long
sample actually contains 100 linear feet of pipe.
Sometimes you have to look at the labels or fine print
carefully to avoid comparing a single pipe to a pair of
pipes when looking at the flow resistance of different
products or brands.
Final notes
These articles are targeted toward residential and small
commercial buildings smaller than 10,000 square feet.
The focus is on pressurized glycol/hydronic systems, since
these systems can be applied in a wide variety of building
geometries and orientations with
few limitations. Brand names,
organizations, suppliers and
manufacturers are mentioned
only to provide examples for
illustration and discussion and do
not constitute recommendation
or endorsement. l
These articles are targeted toward residential and
small commercial buildings smaller than 10,000
square feet. The focus is on pressurized
glycol/hydronic systems, since these systems can
be applied in a wide variety of building geometries
and orientations with few limitations.
for solar collectors, the difference is in the range of 20 –
30 percent higher pump resistance than in comparable
smooth pipe. Figure 47-2 shows how the corrugated
stainless compares to copper tube, using the Aeroline
products, for example. Aeroline makes pre-insulated
smooth copper tubing, assembled in the same way as their
stainless steel product, so a direct comparison can be
easily made.
For example, on Figure 47-2, a flow rate of 5 gpm
through a pair of ¾” tubes 50 feet long requires about 10
feet of head to pump through copper (seen as a red line
and labeled “CU”). The same flow rate through
“Aerorapid” corrugated ¾” pipe requires over 12 feet of
heat (seen as a blue line). If 1” corrugated pipe is used
with the same flow rate, less than 4 feet of head is
required.
Figure 47-3 shows the pump head available from a
common Grundfos 3-Speed circulator. Notice that, for
this example, at 5 gpm the 1” corrugated could be
pumped at low speed and the ¾” copper could be
pumped at medium speed, while the ¾” corrugated may
require high speed.
Other considerations
Remember that the discussion above has been limited
Bristol Stickney has been
designing, manufacturing,
repairing and installing solar hydronic heating systems for
more than 30 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in
Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed mechanical
contractor in New Mexico. He is the chief technical
officer for SolarLogic LLC in Santa Fe, N.M., where he is
involved in development of solar heating control systems
and design tools for solar heating professionals. Visit
www.solarlogicllc.com for more information.
In this series of articles, I have been making the case
that the key ingredients for solar/hydronic design and
installation can be divided into six categories, roughly
in order of their importance.
1. Reliability
2. Effectiveness
3. Compatibility
4. Elegance
5. Serviceability
6. Efficiency
The success of any solar hydronic home heating
installation depends on the often-conflicting balance
between any of these six principles. Finding the balance
between them defines the art of solar heating design.
CONSIDER SIOUX CHIEF AS YOUR
ROUGH PLUMBING ARMORY.
TOGETHER, WE WILL TAKE THE FIELD.
Supply
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TAKE THE FIELD.
GREEN SYSTEMS
Options With
Drainback Solar
Hot Water
BY PETER BIONDO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
S
ince the early1980s, solar hot
water collection by drainback
has undeniably been a reliable,
efficient and low maintenance
system. Drainback technology has
matured to offer sensible design
options.
In this article, we will explore
68
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www.jrsmith.com
00/"OXs-ONTGOMERY!,s4%,s&!8
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innovations to drainback systems
that build on the expectations that
most solar design builders desire;
flexibility, simplicity, longevity and
economy. The information about
advances in drainback noted here
results from speaking with industry
specialists throughout North
America who have a thorough
working knowledge of these systems
and, in many cases, have determined
that drainback is the optimal choice
in solar hot water collection. This
opinion is shared by “new”
generation solar designers who work
with both custom closed loop and
drainback system designs.
I work closely with a young
design engineer named Russell. He
makes it clear to me that drainback
is simpler to design, requires less
maintenance and is installed at a
lower cost. At 26, Russell has five
years experience in active solar
design, primarily with commercial
closed loop systems. He is a sensible
designer who understands the
advantages and disadvantages of
drainback and closed loop systems
and prefers to design for drainback
when the option is available.
Designed for “fail safe”
Drainback is regarded as a “fail
safe” system. The collectors remain
empty outside of collection cycles.
Empty collectors are protected from
freezing water breaks in the cold
season or from steam generated by
high temperatures of the transfer
fluid. Because they are empty, there
is no harm to the collectors when
the system is not operational.
In contrast, closed loop systems
contain a circulated pressurized
glycol solution that requires vigilant
maintenance. To prevent stagnation
of the working fluid, more attention
to detail is required. In order for
closed loop systems to be
fail safe, the glycol would
have to be contained or
drained if the pumps shut
down, and a shutdown
would possibly need to be
followed up by a service
call.
In a closed loop system,
the collectors can be
installed anywhere in
relation to the solar tank or
heat transfer. Collectors for
drainback, on the other
hand, must be mounted
above the drainback
reservoir, although not
necessarily above the solar
storage tank. Drainback
works well with most roof
mounted collectors, since
the working fluid can drain
back by gravity into the
reservoir. To ensure draining
by gravity, drainback design
should include the
specification that there
should be no slope ratio on
the collectors and that
piping be secured dead level
to a roof.
It is advisable to add
freeze protection
(propylene glycol) to the
drainback reservoir to
prevent the potential freeze
that could occur if the array
piping sags over time. Dead
level installs are often used
for rooftops with large
collector arrays and large
diameter supply and return
piping. An excellent
example of dead level
drainback is the largest
domestic hot water system
in the state of Wisconsin,
located at the Kalahari
Resort in Wisconsin Dells.
The rooftop is home to 104
vertically-mounted flat
plate collectors installed
dead level.
horsepower can be expensive.
Overcoming lift can be an expensive
problem when drainback reservoirs are
installed in a basement or on a lower floor of
a high-rise building. To avoid this problem,
the drainback reservoir should be mounted
at a high elevation, such as on the top floor.
The system pump does not have to be raised
with the drainback reservoir but can be
installed in the mechanical room with the
controls. Installing the reservoir somewhere
below the rooftop under the freeze line will
allow you to take advantage of smaller pump
sizing. I have heard of drainback designs
including ridiculously large and very
expensive pumps because the engineer did
not understand that pump lift requirements
e Continued on p 70
Efficiencies gained
Savings in drainback
pump first cost and
operating costs can be made
when selecting the
drainback reservoir location.
A drainback pump has to
lift a column of water from
the reservoir to the top of
the collectors. The greater
the height of the lift, the
greater the pump
horsepower needed. High
lift and greater pump
69
GREEN SYSTEMS
GREEN SYSTEMS
70
are smaller if the reservoir in a tall
building is at a high elevation.
Another option for savings is to
have two pumps installed on the
drainback loop. At start-up, pump 1
energizes to “on” and pump 2
energizes with an “on, time delay to
off” sequence. At start-up, both
pumps are needed to overcome
total lift; to push the air bubble out
of the collectors and into the
drainback reservoir. Once the air has
been displaced into the drainback
tank, considerably less lift is
required for circulation. The
pressure drop requirement is
lowered and system circulation
becomes comparable to a closed
loop system. Once water is flowing
throughout the loop, the second
pump is “time delay to off” until the
next cycle of solar collection begins
and total lift is required once again.
This option allows for the use of
smaller, less expensive pumps and
increases electrical efficiency.
A variety of options are available
for the mechanical transfer of
energy from the drainback reservoir
to the solar storage tank. Drainback
thermal transfer may include a heat
exchanger in the drainback tank, a
heat exchanger in a hot water
storage vessel or an external heat
exchanger.
Drainback reservoirs are sized
large enough to displace the volume
of air in the collector loop with
water while maintaining a flooded
drainback pump. If there is a coil
heat exchanger in the drainback
reservoir, it must be completely
submerged during the collection
cycle. Normally a site glass on a
drainback reservoir is used as a
gauge for fill. Drainback reservoirs
are manufactured in 10-, 15-, 20-,
40- and 60-gallon sizes, with
stainless steel tanks.
Reservoirs for larger arrays may
be piped together in parallel to
accommodate volumes over 60
gallons or when port capacity
requires more flow (port size may
be limited to ¾ or 1 inch). It is
standard practice to install the
drainback reservoir on a wall stand
above the solar storage tank. This
helps position the drainback pump
below the bottom of the reservoir.
The pump should be installed
vertically and should pump against
gravity to avoid pump cavitation.
For better pumping characteristics, a
drainback loop can be sealed closed
so that it is airtight and the entire
loop charged to 10 psi or more.
Pressurizing a drainback closed loop
raises the boiling point while
compressing entrained air out of the
working fluid during circulation.
For larger systems with an
external heat exchanger, two pumps
may be incorporated on the
drainback reservoir; one for the
solar collector loop and the second
for the reservoir heat
exchanger loop. This
design separates two
(usually high) pressure
drops into two loops.
Separating the loops
helps size for smaller
pumps and enables a
more efficient control
sequence for heat
transfer, since the
drainback tank can now
be first “primed” with
heat, prior to transfer to
the solar storage tank.
External heat
exchangers allow for
additional flexibility
with the installed
location of the solar
storage tank. Since
pressurized water is
circulated from the heat
exchanger to the solar
storage tank, the solar
tank can be installed in
any location relative to
the drainback tank.
Limitations may occur
for long pipe runs and
heat loss but, if
necessary, a solar storage tank may
be installed above the collector
height.
Many early large drainback
systems had insulated fiberglassreinforced plastic tanks, which are
still quite popular today. Water
from these tanks flows directly into
the collectors. These tanks contain
stainless steel or copper heat
exchange coils sized in length to
accommodate a large enough
surface area for a sole pass high
temperature rise. As an example,
cold water is preheated through the
submerged coils in the atmospheric
tank, raising the cold inlet
temperature close to the solar tank
temperature en route to the backup
water heater.
Active solar hot water heating
designed properly is an efficient
method to collect, store and
distribute solar thermal energy. As
the solar thermal industry matures,
drainback will most likely gain
higher ground and increased market
share for commercial systems due to
the most basic demand of building
owners and their maintenance staff;
desire for a high performance
system with a long life cycle,
designed for low maintenance and
priced for value.
Owners may be uncomfortable
with a closed loop system if the
building’s hot water load varies or
shuts down from time to time, such
as in a school. Those manufacturers,
designers and installers who don’t
get involved with drainback will do
just fine with closed loop system
design and installation. But those
who have a complete knowledge of
both system types have an
improved opportunity to satisfy
their customers’ requests for the
simplicity drainback systems
provide.
Both closed loop and drainback
systems will satisfy performance
expectations when designed and
installed correctly. The question is
which system is better suited for a
specific commercial application and
hot water load variations. Drainback
could provide simple solutions to
some of the
complex issues
closed loop
systems
present. l
Peter
Biondo is the
technical sales
coordinator
for Oventrop
Corporation.
For more information...
71
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VIEWPOINT
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Welcome aboard, Jim!
BY TOM M. BROWN, JR., OWNER
A
s one door closes another opens. On
behalf of the TMB Publishing team I
want to wish the best to John
Mesenbrink as he moves on to another venture,
and at the same time to welcome Jim Schneider,
who assumes John’s role as editorial director of
Phc News, as well as its sister publication,
Plumbing Engineer. Jim’s comittment to editorial
quality and consistency is unmatched, and we
feel that his expertise will guide both magazines
to new heights.
Jim has been working in trade publishing for
almost 15 years. He began his career in education
publishing, serving as the managing editor of
T.H.E. Journal, a monthly educational
technology magazine based in Tustin, Calif., from
1997 to 2001. In 2007, Schneider came on board
at the Chicago office of Washington, D.C.-based
construction publisher Hanley Wood as senior
editor of Eco-Structure, a green-building
magazine, and Metalmag, a metal design and
construction magazine. In this role, he worked
with contractors, engineers, and architects to seek
out, write, and develop relevant content for the
magazines. In 2009, he was promoted to lead
editor of Metalmag, and became solely
responsible for that brand’s content, while
| ADVERTISERS’ INDEX |
A.Y. McDonald ............................51
www.aymcdonald.com
Accel Profit Systems ....................21
www.accelprofitsystems.com
Bare Bones Biz .............................30
www.barebonesbiz.com
Bosch ...........................................49
www.bosch-climate.us
Bradley ........................................10
www.bradleycorp.com
Calculated Industries ...................70
www.calculated.com
Cash Acme ..................................53
www.cashacme.com
Centrotherm................................31
www.centrotherm.us.com
Chicago Faucets...........................17
www.chicagofaucets.com
CS Unitec ....................................47
www.csunitec.com
Dormont..........................................35
www.dormont.com
DuPont ........................................13
www.hydro.realteflonbrand.com
Eemax .........................................57
www.eemax.com
Franklin Electric...........................55
www.franklin-electric.com/lg
General Pipe Cleaners, a div.
of General Wire Spring........19, 40
www.drainbrain.com
remaining a
contributing editor
to Eco-Structure.
During his time at
the helm of
Metalmag, he
spearheaded its
redesign and
oversaw the relaunch of its website.
Jim tells us that
he enjoys working
with contractors,
engineers and
designers to
JIM SCHNEIDER
better understand the issues and challenges
facing them in an effort to produce the best,
most useful content possible. He has a
longstanding interest in sustainability and
efficiency technology and techniques and earned
a LEED AP accreditation from the U.S. Green
Building Council in 2009.
Jim will assume editorial control of Phc News
and Plumbing Engineer starting with our July
issues, so please feel free to contact him by
phone or e-mail at editor@phcnews.com and
editor@plumbingengiener.com. l
J.C. Whtilam ................................25
www.jcwhitlam.com
John Guest...................................69
www.johnguest.com
Liberty Pumps ...........................IFC
www.libertypumps.com
LSP Products ...............................52
www.lspproducts.com
Mestek .........................................33
www.spacepak.com
Milwaukee Tool .............................9
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Navien ...........................................7
www.navienamerica.com
Noritz ..........................................65
www.noritz.com
PEXSupply ..................................37
www.pexsupply.com
Precision Hydronics .....................14
www.phpinc.us
RIDGID ......................................15
www.ridgid.com
Rinnai ....................................26, 27
www.rinnai.us
Saniflo .........................................11
www.saniflo.com
Sioux Chief..................................67
www.siouxchief.com
Sloan............................................56
www.sloanvalve.com
Smith Mfg. Co., Jay R. .................68
www.jrsmith.com
Solar Logic...................................72
www.solarlogicllc.com
Speedclean...................................12
www.speedclean.com
Spirotherm ..................................41
www.spirotherm.com
Stiebel Eltron...............................24
SureSeal.........................................3
www.thesureseal.com/phcn
Taco .............................................63
www.taco-hvac.com
Utica Boilers ................................39
Vaughn ........................................60
www.vaughncorp.com
Viega ..............................cover wrap
www.viega.com
Wal-Rich......................................16
www.wal-rich.com
Watco ..........................................61
www.watcomfg.com
Watts .........................................IBC
www.watts.com/purwater
WD-40 ........................................59
www.wd40.com
Webstone ...................................4, 5
www.webstonevalves.com
Zurn ...........................................BC
www.zurn.com
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Introducing Pure Water by Watts
ure Water by Watts is a nice
change. Your customers will
like the easier installation and
better-than-bottled water quality.
What you’ll find refreshing are
the new opportunities Pure Water
offers for new and incremental
business.
P
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customers already want
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disinfection and conditioning
t#SPBEBSSBZPGGJMUFSDIBOHF
kits and replacement
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petitor-compatible options
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support and quick-turn
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Scan this QR code
to view our entire
Pure Water line
watts.com/purewater
— Water Softening —
Whole House Water Softener
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signed for residential and light commercial use applications ranging from
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removal capacity at flow rates up to
15.5 gallons per minute.
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and ready for install
r6QUP
-grain capacity
rNN
plumbing
connections
— UV Disinfection —
UV Disinfection Systems
This durable system provides high
quality UV disinfection at a superior
value. Provides disinfection for chlorine-resistant bacteria, virus and cysts.
Ideal for wellwater applications.
Connection Sizes: ½"-1" (15-25mm)
Flow Rates: Up to 12 gpm (45 lpm)
A Watts Water Technologies Company
For more product information visit
www.watts.com/purewater
Advertorial
W H E N YO U R B U I L D I N G’S AG I N G O R O U T DAT E D
WAT E R S YS T E M S C A L L F O R A C U R E,
ZURN LISTENS.
Water is said to be the
key to all life. Nowhere is
that statement truer than
in a hospital. So when
we replaced all the brass
fixtures and backflow
valves here, we needed
the most dependable
products with the fastest
installation times. That’s
why we called Zurn.
RETROFIT AND REPLACEMENT SOLUTIONS
Lead-free backflow valves with the lowest life-cycle cost. High-efficiency toilets and valves.
And hands-free faucet and toilet sensors that reduce the spread of bacteria. When it comes
to saving time, money, and maybe even a life, one name is the remedy to all your building’s
needs. Zurn. For your next retrofit and replacement project, give us a call. We’ll listen.
zurn.c m
1 . 8 5 5 .O N E . Z U R N
Sensor Flush Valves
375XL Lead-Free
Reduced Pressure
Principle Assembly
Sensor Faucets

June 2012 - PHC News

Transcription

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