In the Hamptons, where some of Long Island’s highest real estate prices are found, custom homes of all sizes line the South Shore. The well-appointed residences are typically built for extravagant entertaining and large groups of visitors. Numerous bathrooms, lavish soaking tubs and multi-head showers are the rule, not the exception. “Nine times out of ten, …Read More
US Boiler Report
Building a Life in the Trades
Regardless of the career path, the surest track to success is dedicating oneself to the craft. Anthony Ortiz is a 39-year-old project manager for Gateway Plumbing and Heating, in New York City. He recently passed his Master Plumber’s License exam, and loves just about every element of his work. But his future wasn’t always so …Read More
Tips for Making Your Business and Life Simpler
“It’s wonderful out here! You’ll love the weather.” I encouraged my brother and his family to move to the Ozarks. Three months after they settled in, their house was leveled in a tornado. He and his wife and two kids were huddled in the basement as the storm lifted their house, stick by brick by …Read More
When the Cobbler Gets His Shoes
People like to dream about what they’d do if given the opportunity to build their forever home. Maybe it’s a massive, luxurious abode designed for entertaining, or an architectural masterpiece with copious use of glass, open spaces with clean lines. Others might opt for smaller floorplan, green elements and a tiny carbon footprint. For Michael …Read More
Hiring Green (Part 1)
A strong economy over the past year has been a blessing for most businesses, though for many HVAC contractors there have been times that it has felt like a curse. New construction and renovations are up. Homeowner confidence is high, creating a surplus of replacement work, too. But the manpower challenge still exists: too much work …Read More
Race Across America
There are only so many hours in a day. What we fill them with is up to us. Usually, work consumes the largest portion of our time, especially when working in the trades as of late. Then there are kids and spouses who require, and deserve, a good deal of our attention. After that, typically, …Read More
E-Marketing Word of Mouth
Testimonials are the cornerstone of a successful marketing plan. We buy from people and companies we like and trust. And we go to people we like and trust for recommendations. If you are going out to dinner in a new town, you will ask a friend who lives there, “Where should we eat? Do you …Read More
The NEW Series 2!
Legendary Reliability and Value, Improved for Even Higher Performance Yup, you read that right… We’ve taken one of the industry’s most reliable, workhorse boilers and made it better. Why fix it if it’s not broken? We’ve upgraded the legendary Series 2 in preparation for the new 2021 Department of Energy (DOE) regulations. Instead of waiting …Read More
WOAH! Is that hot water boiler sized properly?
By Ron Beck, Outside Technical Advisor and Manager of Training for U.S. Boiler Company The phone rings and the voice on the other end of the line says, “This is Mr. Homeowner, and I’d like an estimate on a new boiler… when would you be available to give me a quote?” You show up for …Read More
Single-Family New Construction Increases
Lititz, Pennsylvania, has not seen a strong single-family, new construction market for almost a decade. However, due to recent growth, the economy in the southeastern part of the Keystone State is on the rebound. With interest rates still low, small business slowly blossoming, and nearby Lancaster City in the midst of a revitalization effort, framing …Read More
Looking to expand your marketing? Go digital.
By Billy Marshall, CEO, ServiceTrade Why do service contractors wrap their trucks and vans with logos, brand promises, and contact information? Simple. As they deliver service in their coverage area they want both their customers and prospective customers to see their brand in the neighborhood. Ideally, the logo and the brand promise are memorable, and …Read More
Mobile Live Fire Boiler Training
Among the services a manufacturer’s representative can provide to an HVAC contractor, few are as valuable as training. If the training is mobile, even better. After all, it’s easier for one rep to travel to the contractor’s place of business than to have a whole crew of technicians drive to the rep’s office, on the …Read More
The Clean Up
I am not a neat nick. I am not particularly tidy or organized. But, I have disciplined myself to be orderly and systematic because I don’t like the consequences of being a slob. I don’t like people to think that I am disorganized and out of control. I want customers, employees, vendors and subcontractors to …Read More
Steam Boiler Skimming
By Ron Beck, Outside Technical Advisor and Manager of Training for U.S. Boiler Company Skimming a steam boiler is the process of removing any oil from the water volume. If not completed properly, the presence of oil can cause the boiler to surge, as the water’s ability to flash to steam is affected. While U.S. …Read More
Long on Long Island Service
Above feature image provided by HomeServe USA. It was 1995 when Richard Kopec came to the United States. He was 18 years old and he started working immediately after arriving on U.S. soil. He walked onto a jobsite in New York City and did his best to communicate to the foreman that he wanted work. …Read More
A Steam Solution of Historic Proportions
The building at 20 West 44th Street in Manhattan ranks high on the list of historically significant places in New York City. It’s home to The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, which began in 1785. As the name implies, it was founded by a group of mechanics, tradesmen, free thinkers and entrepreneurs who vowed …Read More
Burnham Holdings Center for HVAC Technology At Thaddeus Stevens Expands College Program
Born with physical disabilities on a Vermont farm in 1792, Thaddeus Stevens grew up in a poverty-stricken, broken home. His father died in the war of 1812 when Stevens was 12 years old, leaving his mother to run the farm and raise a family. She knew that the only promising future for her two eldest sons …Read More
The “Fall on Your Sword” Speech
Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, was asked at the end of his remarkable career, “What would you have done differently?” He responded, “I should have moved faster. There were times I had already made the decision and then took too long to act.” This is interesting coming from a guy who is known …Read More
As Good As It Gets | Conigliari Plumbing & Heating, Flanders, NJ
David Conigliari has been in the plumbing and heating trade since 1985. He’s watched northwestern New Jersey grow, and with it, the demand for premium comfort. “Efficiency has always been a major determining factor when it comes to product selection and system design, but more and more, comfort is becoming as big a consideration,” said Conigliari. “There …Read More
Hydronics 101 for Homeowners
By Ron Beck, Outside Technical Advisor and Manager of Training for U.S. Boiler Company In our quickly changing industry, it can be a continuous struggle to keep up with advancing technology, trends and codes. And if you – who spends every day doing it – feel a bit overwhelmed at times, how do you think …Read More
Women in Energy Coming to EEE: Growth, Education, Networking
One of the fastest growing organizations within this male-dominated industry is comprised largely of women. Women in Energy was founded in 2017 to give women in our industry an arena to connect, learn, grow, and succeed. In 2016, when Marjorie Feinman, Associate Director of Fuel Merchants Association of NJ, and Judy Garber, Executive Director of …Read More
Women Trailblazers of the Mechanical Contracting Industry
By Candace Roulo On a January Sunday morning, I came across the article “Last Michigan WWII Fly Girl Dies at Age 97” in the Detroit Free Press. Her name was Jane Doyle and she was one of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) during WWII. The article was an interesting read as I wondered why …Read More
Heavyweight Bout – Sales vs. Install!
Does your business involve one person selling the job and others installing the job? Fair enough. It is a functional, typical approach that can result in the right people doing the right things for your customers. It also results in a natural dynamic between the install team and the sales team. That dynamic can be …Read More
New Condensing Boilers for Colorado Church
When Temple Baptist Church, located in Pueblo, CO, needed to replace their oversized, antiquated boilers, they called Moose Plumbing & Heating. Jason Mulso – whose friends call him “Moose” – started the company in 2005. He and his two employees serve southern Colorado. Residential work is the focus, but they do enough commercial work to …Read More
Is My Boiler Too Small?
By Ron Beck, Outside Technical Advisor and Manager of Training for U.S. Boiler Company If a client’s home is not as warm as they want it to be on extremely cold nights, they may question: “Is my boiler too small?” Do not automatically blame the boiler size. Another issue or a mix of several …Read More
The Warmest Yard
Super Bowl LIII is almost upon us! Before too much longer, we’ll watch the New England Patriots battle the Los Angeles Rams. As you slip into your recliner to watch the last game, you might complete a mental rundown of your Fantasy roster and what you wished you had done differently. Perhaps the thought of …Read More
Ask Ellen – Questions from HVAC Business Owners
Let’s open the Mail Bag! I get lots of emails from folks trying to clean up an accounting mess, solve a business challenge, or just make more money. Sound familiar? Read on! Dear Ellen, I’m new to business. Is it a good idea to offer a lower price than the ‘going rate’ when …Read More
Ahead to the Future of 3D Printing
By Candace Roulo When reviewing the history of plumbing, it’s impressive to see how pipes and plumbing systems have evolved throughout the times. But what would the Romans – known for using lead pipes to improve sanitary conditions and developing aqueducts, underground sewer systems, public and private baths and lead and bronze water piping systems – …Read More
That Dreaded Combustion Test
By Ron Beck, Outside Technical Advisor and Manager of Training for U.S. Boiler Company It is late in the day, you’re tired, hungry, dirty and looking forward to going home and spending time with the family over a cold beer. Before heading home, you take a few minutes and marvel at the heating masterpiece you …Read More
Gateway Plumbing & Heating Perfects Steam
It was 1976 on Staten Island, NY. John Cataneo Jr. was seven years old and his brother David was 11, and they were in the basement of their home learning to thread pipe. Their father had recently left the plumber’s union to found his own plumbing company, Gateway Plumbing & Heating. John Cataneo Sr. named …Read More
The Alliance Indirect Water Heater Goes Lightweight
Mass and strength are often closely associated. And why not? Guys like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Andre the Giant and Reggie White had both, in spades! Yes, it’s a relatively safe bet that the heavier something – or someone – is built, the more robust it will be. However, it’s not a hard and fast rule. Light …Read More
Heavy Duty Recycling
As a consumer, you do your part to recycle the items and containers you use on a daily basis. But you use – indirectly – far more material and equipment than you might expect. Your vehicle’s brake rotors eventually fail and get replaced. Old bulldozers that graded the lots in your development eventually can’t doze …Read More
Can You Bear the Market??
Have you ever done this: Called up one of your competitors, assumed a fake voice and asked, “How much do you charge?” Go ahead. Admit it. We’ve all done it. If you took Economics 101 in high school or college, you learned that selling prices for goods and services are determined by “what the market will …Read More
Hydronic Retrofit Yields 33% Fuel Savings for Elementary School
Some HVAC companies focus exclusively on home comfort. Others concentrate on commercial work. And then there are those that operate effectively in both markets. Bob Ives, president of Bow Plumbing and Heating Corp. in Bow, New Hampshire, explains that they specialize in home comfort, but their frequent high-efficiency boiler work makes his company a name …Read More
Alpine Multiple Boiler Installations
By Ron Beck, Outside Technical Advisor and Manager of Training for U.S. Boiler Company Some large homes and many commercial boiler applications will include installations of multiple boilers. The Alpine high-efficiency condensing boiler will allow up to eight boilers to be piped and wired together, all controlled by a single master boiler. The master can …Read More
Folds of Honor
For many of us, Veterans Day serves as a brief reminder of the sacrifice that our past and present armed service members make in order to protect the freedom we all enjoy. For others, that sacrifice is an ever-present consideration. Military men and women have paid a toll for which we cannot reimburse them. But …Read More
Troops to Trades
As the bulk of skilled tradesmen and women in the United States approach a decade or less before retirement, fewer Millennials are pursuing a career in the trades despite rewarding pay and job security. According to ManpowerGroup, in 2012, 53% of skilled-trade workers in the United States were 45 years or older, and almost 20% …Read More
Business Basics: The ONLY Three Ways to Grow Assets
You can turn around a bad financial situation if you are willing to apply some ‘bare bones’ business basics. In business, there is ultimately one financial scorecard: The Balance Sheet. Every other financial report is a subset of the balance sheet. The Balance Sheet equation: Assets = Liabilities + Equity Assets = Claims on the Assets. This …Read More
The Proper Disposal of Boiler Condensate
By Ron Beck, Outside Technical Advisor and Manager of Training for U.S. Boiler Company The decision to install a high efficiency, modulating, condensing boiler inevitably leads to some responsibility regarding disposal of condensate. While visiting jobsites to assist contractors, I’ve seen a multitude of ways that condensate is removed from the boiler room to be …Read More
A New Paradigm
While hydronic system growth across most of the country is slow, Metro Detroit is seeing a bit of a water-side resurgence, at least in certain segments. And it’s appearing where people are demanding the best. “We’re installing more boiler systems now than ever before,” said Joe Sullivan, president of Paradigm Plumbing & Mechanical, Inc. “We’re …Read More
When Recruitment Efforts Go Big League
With cooling season winding down and the depths of heating season still a few months away, now might be as good a time as any to consider what your company is doing to keep the ranks full. Have you made a concerted effort at recruiting new employees in the past year? Could you use an …Read More
Tracking Trends of Success
There’s almost no limit to the type and variety of mechanical firms that install and service heating systems across this great nation. Family-owned, local, state-wide, nationwide, union, non-union, commercial-only, residential-only, industrial, full-service or tightly focused. What really separates them, however, is their reputation, stability, and profitability. The greatest disparity between them is not their size …Read More
3 Etiquette Skills Every Plumbing and Heating Business Owner Should Master
You can develop better relationships, make more sales, and enjoy less turnover when you are polite. Here are a few vital “how to” tips: 1. How to Shake Hands Stand about an arm’s length from the person whom you wish to meet. Extend your hand, fingers long, so that you can clasp the whole …Read More
Woman-Owned, Quality-Driven
Deb Page and her husband Jim have written their own playbook for success, and it looks a lot different than most. The husband/wife team balances work, family and philanthropy with a flair that’s uncommon in modern American society. About seven years ago, Deb, after learning the ropes of the mechanical trade from Jim, decided to …Read More
U.S. Boiler Company’s Condensing Evolution
By Ron Beck, Outside Technical Advisor and Manager of Training for U.S. Boiler Company You may not realize it, but as heating contractor, you have a tremendous influence in what our company makes. A good example of this can be found in how our condensing boiler line has evolved over the past twelve years. In …Read More
A Contractor’s Real Mission
This month’s contractor feature story covers Antigua Mechanical in Manchester NJ. The company is interesting not only because it is a woman-owned firm, but also because the owner, Deb Page and her husband, Jim, have found a way to weave international and local philanthropy into the company. Or maybe… the philanthropy wove itself in. Their …Read More
Ditch the Yellow Pages (If You Haven’t Already)
Use Vehicle Wraps, Website Services, and Word of Mouth to Increase New Customer Leads By Candace Roulo As a new homeowner, I quickly realized how important it is for contractors to market and advertise their companies online. In our modern culture, contractors need to be utilizing online marketplace services such as Angie’s List and Home …Read More
Built to Serve
Service comes in a lot of different shapes and sizes. It can be as simple as lending a hand to someone in need, volunteering for a community project or, working in a line of duty that requires sacrifice or courage. Some people thrive on providing service. These individuals seem to check all the above boxes …Read More
Residential Indoor Air Quality Retrofits – Answers to a Growing Need
By Mike Lee, Regional Director for Steve Lee & Associates Ahhh, AC season. Time to think Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). But depending where you live, allergies are not the only airborne irritants, nor is late spring and summer the only time that brings these woes. 2017 was the year the West burned. Heavy snowpack and …Read More
New System Tool Gives Hydronics a Seat at the Table
For many years, HVAC industry professionals have lamented the inadequacy of efficiency ratings to evaluate different system types equitably, especially in the commercial realm. Suffice it to say, the cornucopia of dissimilar efficiency rating systems (EER, IEER, SEER, AFUE, COP, etc.) for different commercial HVAC equipment makes the task of comparing real-world, as-applied system efficiencies …Read More
Financial Troubleshooting Tips
Do you have an accounting mess on your hands? It happens! Here are a few tips and tricks for finding and fixing the loopholes in your accounting program. Financial Tips and Tricks: Understand and accept that it may be you. I often hear something along these lines, “That number wasn’t there yesterday! It must …Read More
Honesty Sells Itself
John Romano entered the trades the way most folks do. He began as an apprentice with a medium-sized mechanical company and learned as much as he could. His boss was a great teacher and a boiler mastermind. After years of learning and doing, Romano became a licensed plumber and a very savvy hydronic technician in his …Read More
Tips For A Successful Cast Iron Water Boiler Installation
I will always preach that a successful cast iron water boiler installation begins with proper planning. I worked for an oil company for 20 long years, and 9 years of that I was a Service Manager. During this time, I came across many problematic jobsites. I would evaluate the installation issues and try to figure …Read More
Combined Heat and Power
Have you ever wondered what kind of mechanical system you would build if the entire focus of the project was to maximize energy efficiency and minimize operating expenses and carbon footprint? In the commercial realm, that daydream might include what’s called “combined heat and power,” (CHP), also known as “Co-generation” (Co-gen). These systems continuously supply …Read More
Hydronic System Simplicity
Complex hydronic systems are so 2008, at least according to Mechanical-Hub ProStaffer Andy Mickelson, who owns Mickelson Plumbing and Heating in Missoula, MT. His three-man shop does plenty of high-end residential work, and their recipe for success, serviceability and efficiency includes a heavy dose of “keep it simple.” On a custom home, where some contractors may …Read More
Dealing with No
“NO!” This word usually stands between you and something you want. No wonder it is such a tough word to hear. But if you are going to survive in the heating and cooling industry, you are going to have to learn to hear “no” for an answer! You may say that you don’t want to …Read More
A Bunker Boiler in Boston
The seemingly endless list of Boston neighborhoods is nearly as famous as the iconic accent in which they’re typically pronounced by locals. Worcester is pronounced Woostah, Harvard Yard is, of course, Hahvuhd Yahd, and everyone knows that Southie refers to South Boston. Boston Standard Company serves most of these areas. And while Joseph Wood, the firm’s …Read More
Tips for a Successful Steam Boiler Replacement
U.S. Boiler’s technical service line receives many calls throughout the year from contractors, distributors, and our factory sales reps pertaining to multiple boiler installation scenarios. In fact, some of the Beck Tips I write about stem from these calls and questions. This month, I will address a call we receive a lot. The conversation goes …Read More
Drones Find Work in the Trades (Part 2)
In case you missed it, last month’s issue of the US Boiler Report featured an article about the use of drone technology in the HVAC trade. Alan Perlman, founder of Drone Pilot Ground School, weighed in with some additional information about operating drones commercially and acquiring a professional drone pilot’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration …Read More
Eastern Energy Expo Makes a Big Splash
Celebrating the third year that the Oil and Energy Service Professionals (OESP) and Eastern Energy Expo (EEE) shows have been combined, both organizations pulled out all the stops. The show was held at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut on May 20 – 23. “Attendance was great,” said Ralph Adams, president of OESP. “The floor …Read More
Coffee Shop Lessons
I’ve had about a thousand jobs. I’ve handed out cheese samples in the mall. I’ve hawked frozen pizzas in the supermarket. I’ve taught skiing and windsurfing. I’ve been a grape-picker, a maid, and a lifeguard. And, before I got into the plumbing industry, I spent a lot of time working in restaurants. Perhaps the job …Read More
The Legacies We Leave
To quote an old country song, “I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you… It’s what you leave behind you when you go.” Maybe this concept applies to situations aside from our own mortality. Maybe this thread should follow us through each chapter of our lives; career changes, moving …Read More
Drones Find Work in the Trades
Drone, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Small Unmanned Aerial System (SUAS)… Call them whatever you like, but they’re popping up everywhere, pun intended. And while your kids might own one, they’re not just playthings. When drones most often make headlines, it’s either something recreational (like drone fishing – Google that and thank me later) or obnoxious …Read More
Hire Your Best Team – In ONE Day!
Wouldn’t it be cool if you could magnetize, hire and orient your best team ever in a single day? Let me share a neat strategy engaged by one of my clients. Then, try it yourself and let me know how you made out! Pick the One Day… Put the date on the calendar. A Friday …Read More
Proposal Software – Efficiency, Accuracy, and Options in Bids
Being an early adopter of new technology is generally a good thing. Sure, it can take a little longer to learn than it would once the technology has gone mainstream. But even with the longer learning curve, you’re still way ahead of the crowd. Bill Buffington considers himself an early adopter. He has always been on the …Read More