Contractor - January 2024

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JANUARY 2024

SERVING PLUMBING, HYDRONIC & MECHANICAL SYSTEMS PROFESSIONALS PLUMBING | PIPING | HYDRONICS | RADIANT | BATH/KITCHEN | TECHNOLOGY | TOOLS | TRUCKS | GREEN | MANAGEMENT

AHR Expo 2024 Preview

Biden Administration Issues Final Rule on Project Labor Agreements SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR

BY STEVE SPAULDING OF CONTRACTOR’S STAFF

The 2024 Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Exposition (AHR Expo) will be held this January 22-24 in Chicago, IL. The show is the premiere event for the HVAC/R industry, and, due to its size and scope, attracts attendees from across a broad spectrum of the ➤ Turn to AHR, page 52

The Chicago skyline seen from North Avenue Beach.

Construction Starts Hit 10-Month Low, Declining 15% in November SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR

HAMILTON, NJ — Total construction starts fell 15% in November, dropping to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $927 billion, according to Dodge Construction Network.

Nonresidential building starts fell 29% during the month, residential starts lost 6%, and nonbuilding starts dropped 2%. ➤ Turn to Construction, page 20

LABEL --Helping HelpingContractors ContractorsRun RunAABetter BetterBusiness BusinessSince Since1954 1954-2401CO_C1, 6-7, 12-13, 20-21, 52-53_Page 1.indd 1

WASHINGTON, DC — On December 18th the Biden Administration issued the final rule implementing Executive Order 14063, officially titled Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects.

The order will require that every prime contractor and subcontractor on a federal construction project of $35 million or more performed within the United States sign a project labor agreement as a condition of winning a contract (with some possible exceptions). ➤ Turn to Biden, page 12

Construction Employment Growth: November 2022 vs. November 2023

Construction Nonresidential* Nonresidential Building Nonresidential STC Heavy & Civil Engineering Residential** Residential Building Residential STC

2.6% 3.2% 4.5% 2.0% 5.3% 1.6% 0.5% 2.1%

0.0

1.0

2.0 3.0 12 Month % change

4.0

5.0

*Includes nonresidential building, nonresidential STC, and heavy and civil engineering **Includes residential building and residential STC Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

ID 10618326 © Marco Richter | Dreamstime.com

IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURE

of 26 Contractor The Year

Mike Prencavage Jr. —The Genuine Article

22

32

Schwartz on Linhardt on MANAGEMENT HYDRONICS ICC Presents at COP28

38

Feldman on TECHNOLOGY

6 Codes vs. climate change in Dubai.

Economic Forecast 24 2024 Residential, commercial, the labor market and more.

PRODUCTS

54

Voltex AL Smart Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater

1/2/2024 1:53:31 PM

BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY

“Flexi-Rooter’s ClogChopper rips open a hole for the chain knocker to work. It’s a great product.”

Seth Mikulin • SureFlo Sewer & Drain

Flexi-Rooter

Flexi-Rooter® featuring ClogChopper® Cutters

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Flexi-Rooter uses ClogChopper six-bladed cutters along with chain cutters (with and without carbide tips) to break through the toughest clogs, scale and roots. The cutters then grind up the stubborn stoppages and scour the pipe walls clean.

ClogChopper with carbide tip cutter

The rotating shaft is 10 times faster than traditional shafts, yet easy to handle. It’s extremely flexible for clearing 2" lines, yet strong enough to cut roots in 4" lines up to 75 feet long. Plus, the foot pedal leaves both hands free to guide it into the drain.

To learn more, visit www.drainbrain.com/Flexi-Rooter, or call the Drain Brains® at 800-245-6200.

Visit us at WWETT Booth #6561

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Industry News

Features & Departments

John W. Danforth Company Making Sprits Bright

6 ICC Presents at COP28 ICC talks about the role of codes in the fight against climate change.

8

SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR

BUFFALO, NY – With just over two weeks to go before Christmas, John W. Danforth Company, one of the largest mechanical contractors in the northeast, is once again helping The Salvation Army fill the holiday wish lists of hundreds of Western New York children and families in need this season.

Employees from Danforth arrived in a flash at The Salvation Army’s headquarters ➤ Turn to Danforth, page 16

Employees take part in Wreaths Across America.

24 Forum: Our 2024 Economic Forecast Inflation, interest rates, markets, labor and more.

26 Feature: Contractor of the Year Mike Prencavage, Jr. of The Family Plumber is the genuine article.

Danforth has been conducting an annual Veterans Holiday Food Drive at its Rochester office for the past six years.

ABC: Georgia Is the No. 1 State for Construction

54 Green Products 58 Editorial The Year Was 1954...

Columnists 22 Management by Al Schwartz

SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR

WASHINGTON, DC — For the first time, Georgia was named the top state for construction in Associated Builders and Contractors’ annual Merit Shop Scorecard.

The scorecard, released yearly since 2015, ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on policies and programs that strengthen career pathways in construction, encourage workforce develop➤ Turn to ABC, page 50

Marcone Honors Fallen Soldiers

Green Plumbing is Here to Stay

32 Hydronics by Pat Linhardt Will Decarbonization End Hydronics?

38 Technology by Patti Feldman Four for the Office and Beyond

40 Marketing by Matt Michel The Georgia State Capitol Building in Atlanta.

24 Recruiting and Retention Tactics For 2024

42 Best Practices by Lynn Karam Get Your Financial House in Order for 2024

DOL Announces Proposed Rulemaking to Modernize Apprenticeship Regulations SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR

WASHINGTON, DC – The US Department of Labor today announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to enhance the National Apprenticeship System by modernizing regulations for Registered Apprenticeships.

The proposed rule would include the following enhancements: • Strengthening of labor standards, quality and worker protections by making occupational skills and training more portable, enhancing alignment with postsecondary education and providing better performance data. ➤ Turn to DOL, page 10

Editorial Offices EDITORIAL STAFF Group Editorial Director-Buildings & Construction Mike Eby, meby@endeavorb2b.com Editor-In-Chief Steve Spaulding, sspaulding@endeavorb2b.com Editor-At-Large John Mesenbrink, jmesenbrink@endeavorb2b.com Contributing Writer Kelly Faloon COLUMNISTS Al Schwartz, Management Pat Linhardt, Hydronics & Radiant Patti Feldman, Technology Matt Michel, Marketing Art Director, Susan Lakin Ad Services Manager, Deanna O’Byrne Production Manager, Sam Schulenberg Classified Production Designer, Terry Gann Audience Development Manager, James Marinaccio

CONTRACTOR INFOCUS Producer Price Index Percent Change Inputs to Construction Industries

Percent Change

Endeavor Business Media, LLC

2019

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

2020

2021

2022

2023

CEO, Chris Ferrell President, June Griffin COO, Patrick Rains CRO, Reggie Lawrence Chief Digital Officer: Jacquie Niemiec Chief Administrative and Legal Officer, Tray Kane EVP Buildings, DI & Lighting: Lester Craft EVP Endeavor Business Intelligence: Paul Mattioli VP, Buildings & Construction, Mike Hellmann VP, Production Operations, Curt Pordes

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SUBSCRIPTIONS: Publisher reserves the right to reject non-qualified subscriptions. Subscription prices: U.S. ($ 93.75); Canada/Mexico ($ 137.50); All other countries ($ 150.00). All subscriptions are payable in U.S. funds.

Send subscription inquiries to Contractor, PO Box 3257, Northbrook, IL 60065-3257.

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Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2024 Endeavor Business Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

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CORPORATE OFFICE: Endeavor Business Media, LLC 30 Burton Hills Blvd, Ste.185, Nashville, TN 37215 800-547-7377, www.endeavorbusinessmedia.com.

November 2017 through November 2023

30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% -5% -10% 2017

VOLUME 69, NUMBER 1 CONTRACTOR (USPS Permit 131-320, ISSN 0897-7135 print, ISSN 2771-6465 online) is published monthly by Endeavor Business Media, LLC. 201 N Main St 5th Floor, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538.

Periodicals postage paid at Fort Atkinson, WI, and additional mailing offices.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopies, recordings, or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the publisher.

Endeavor Business Media, LLC does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person or company for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in the material herein, regardless of whether such errors result from negligence, accident, or any other cause whatsoever. The views and opinions in the articles herein are not to be taken as official expressions of the publishers, unless so stated. The publishers do not warrant either expressly or by implication, the factual accuracy of the articles herein, nor do they so warrant any views or opinions by the authors of said articles.

JANUARY 2024 • 3

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Industry News In Brief Business Development Resources, a training authority for home services professionals, introduces its Emerging Business Academy, a streamlined version of its flagship program tailored to the needs of small businesses. Designed for businesses with four people or fewer, the Academy guides owners to put specific systems and processes into place to reach revenues of $1 million and beyond.

Joshua Goldberg, business development manager of Asahi/ America, Inc. has been appointed chair of the Technical Committee of the Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. The announcement was made by the association’s board of directors. PPI is the major North American trade association representing the plastics pipe industry.

Armistead Mechanical, Inc., a provider of mechanical construction services throughout the NJ/NY area, has been recognized with a Platinum Safety Award from Highwire, a cloudbased mobile platform that aims to empower contracting industry companies to make smarter risk management decisions.

The distinction is reserved for companies earning safety scores of 95% or greater inHighwire’s Safety Assessment Program.

Interplay Learning has announced a partnership with C.H.O.I.C.E.S (Choosing Honorable Options Increasing Chances to Establish Success), a violence intervention program dedicated to reducing gun violence in Detroit.

C.H.O.I.C.E.S is using Interplay’s virtual reality and simulation-based training to empower at-risk youth and individuals affected by gun violence.

Training is offered in high-demand fields like HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Multifamily Maintenance, and Facilities Maintenance.

SCB (Systems Certification Body), part of The IAPMO Group, and the Baja Aerospace Cluster have entered into a memorandum of understanding to forge a stronger and more mutually beneficial partnership that will open the door for expanded trade between the US and Mexico.

Government officials, manufacturers, exporters and service providers from the US and Mexico attended the Nov. 16 signing ceremony.

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Industry News

International Code Council Highlights Role of Building Codes and Standards in Achieving Climate Resilience at COP28 SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR

WASHINGTON, DC — The International Code Council, a member of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), presented at COP28 throughout the two-week event. Held this year in Dubai, COP28 took place from November 30 through December 12, 2023.

The 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP), was hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

COP28 is meant to unite countries and push for increased mitigation and adaptation efforts in response to a changing climate.

Rebooting, Refocusing This year’s event is focused on rethinking, rebooting and refocusing global climate action. The work of the International Code Council and similar organizations is to spotlight the need to incorporate the buildings and construction sector in climate discussions.

The International Code Council team provided thought leadership and offered solutions in a total of ten sessions, including Decarbonizing the Built Environment: Building Codes and Capacity Building for Implementation and Enforcement and Sustainable Construction and Urban Development: Innovations for Carbon Reduction and Resilience. Information on all International Code Council sessions at COP28 including links to available live streams of presentations can be found at www. iccsafe.org/products-and-services/energy-codes-at-the-core. The International Code Council is also a supporter of the GlobalABC Buildings Pavilion, which hosted numerous building-related sessions during COP28 to raise the profile of buildings as a climate solution.

Buildings Breakthrough At last year’s event, hosted by Egypt, the governments of France and the Kingdom of Morocco called for the addition of a breakthrough focused on the building sector. The Buildings Breakthrough is set to be formally accepted as part of the Breakthrough Agenda at COP28

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The International Code Council provided expertise and solutions for governments and the building sector to help address the changing climate. with current support from 27 countries, including the United States and China.

Additionally, 17 initiatives have been recognized as supporting initiatives to the Buildings Breakthrough, including the Building Capacity for Sustainable and Resilient Buildings Initiative led by the International Code Council.

International Code Council Senior Vice President of Global Operations and Solutions Judy Zakreski presented the International Code Council’s Global Award to the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) during the conference. The PEC has taken an active role in improving the safety of buildings in Pakistan and has been working with the

International Code Council to adapt the International Building Code® to create the Building Code of Pakistan and the International Green Construction Code® to develop the Green Building Code of Pakistan (GBCP). They are currently working with the International Code Council to adopt a commentary and user guide for the GBCP.

A Top Priority “Sustainability of the built environment remains a top priority for our organization,” said International Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “We look forward to the honor of participating in and presenting

at this event every year to highlight the role of building codes, standards and building safety solutions in achieving international climate goals.”

Also taking place in Dubai from December 4 through December 7 was the Big 5 Global Event. The International Code Council exhibited to promote the family of building safety solutions to stakeholders from the regional and global construction markets. Additionally, International Code Council Regional Director of Operations for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region Mohamed Ahmed Amer hosted a discussion on December 7 promoting sustainability and construction. International Code Council Vice President of Innovation Ryan Colker presented on opportunities in off-site construction. More information on the Big 5 Global Event can be found at www.big5global.com.

Visit www.cop28.com/en for more information on COP28.

➤ www.contractormag.com

12/28/2023 4:23:11 PM

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Industry News

Marcone Honors Fallen Soldiers ST. LOUIS, MO — Employees of Marcone, a North American distributor of appliance, HVAC, plumbing, commercial kitchen and pool and spa parts,

recently joined thousands across the country in placing wreaths on the gravesites of fallen soldiers in an act of gratitude for their sacrifice.

for 2023. It purchased 1,000 wreaths and coordinated teams in 10 cities nationwide to place 100 wreaths each.

Employees responded eagerly and all

Employees lay wreaths on 1,000 grave sites around the country.

Marcone employees laying wreaths at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida.

On Saturday, December 16th, Marcone employees took part in Wreaths Across America, a nationwide initiative involving two million volunteers placing wreaths at more than 3,700 cemeteries across the US, Puerto Rico and abroad.

Although Marcone has participated in Wreaths Across America in the past with volunteer teams in St. Louis, Tampa and Pensacola, the company decided to expand its commitment

volunteer slots were filled in a matter of hours. Wreaths were placed on graves at the following cemeteries: • Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri • Memorial Park Cemetery, Tampa, Florida • Western New York National Cemetery, Corfu, New York • New Albany National Cemetery, New Albany, Indiana • Houston National Cemetery,

Houston, Texas • New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Vietnam Era Museum, Holmdel, New Jersey • Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida • Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear, Delaware • State Veterans Cemetery, Middleton, Connecticut • Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas “At Marcone, we make a point of remembering that our freedom came at a high cost,” said Avichal Jain, Chief Executive Officer. “We participate in Wreaths Across America as a remembrance of life and show of gratitude. It was a privilege for us to be able to offer this small act as a way of acknowledging their ultimate sacrifice.”

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Industry News

Proposed DOL Rulemaking on Apprenticeships ➤ Continued from page 3 • Better defining roles for State Apprenticeship Agencies and other stakeholders within the National Apprenticeship System.

• Codifies the Office of Apprenticeship’s role for national leadership, promotion and standards.

• Promoting apprenticeship pathways, including pre-a pprenticeship and apprenticeship readiness programs, by expanding performance and data requirements to improve accountability, transparency and program outcomes.

• Creating a student-centric model of Registered Apprenticeship, called Registered Career and Technical Education Apprenticeship designed to make them more

seamless for full-time high school and community college students to enroll in a Registered Apprenticeship. This approach is modeled after high-quality youth apprenticeship systems in states across the country.

“Equity and job quality have marked the most successful Registered Apprenticeship programs for workers and

The rulemaking seeks to promote equity and innovation, strengthen protections and improve outcomes. employers alike. This proposed rule codifies the Department of Labor’s strong commitment to these principles,” explained Acting Secretary of Labor

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Julie Su. “Importantly, the proposed changes will also provide strong worker protections, improved employer experiences and greater clarity about the roles of federal and state governments and their partners in the National Apprenticeship System.”

The proposal also affirms Registered Apprenticeship as the proven, gold-standard earn-and-learn model

for increasing earnings and getting workers into good-paying jobs in many industries; promotes enhanced accountability and transparency;

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and places added focus on data and outcomes. In addition, the proposed changes reinforce the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, and extend worker protections for apprentices across the industry sectors now benefiting from Registered Apprenticeships.

Upon publication in the Federal Register, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will be open for public comment for 60 days. The department encourages comments from all interested stakeholders and will consider all comments received before publishing a final rule.

Learn more about the proposed rule and instructions for submitting comments by visiting www.apprenticeship. gov/national-apprenticeship-systemenhancements.

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12/13/23 10:41 12/26/2023 9:25:10 AMAM

Industry News

Biden Admin Issues Final Rule on PLAs ➤ Continued from page 1 A Project Labor Agreement (PLA), also known as a Community Workforce Agreement, is a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement with one or more labor unions that establishes the terms and conditions of employment for a specific construction project.

The Biden Administration issued a statement on the final rule that reads in part: We must do everything we can to build a better America. Today, my Administration is marking another major step that will benefit American workers, communities, the economy, and our government. For the first time in history, Project Labor Agreements will be required on federal construction projects valued at or above $35 million. This means that projects funded by my Investing in America agenda will move faster and without delays, giving taxpayers better bang for their buck. Workers will have the security and peace of mind that collectively bargained wages and benefits bring, better pathways to good-paying jobs, and stronger health and safety protections.

The Biden administration expects the PLA rule to affect about 120 federal contracts valued at $10 to $14 billion per year, in total.

Industry Response

Associated Builders and Contractors, which has long opposed PLAs, issued a statement in which Ben Brubeck, ABC vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs, said, “The Biden administration’s burdensome, inflationary and anti-competitive PLA mandate rule will needlessly raise costs on taxpayer-funded construction projects and steer contracts to unionized contractors and workers. Absent a successful legal challenge, this executive overreach will reward powerful special

America’s construction industry who have made the choice not to belong to a union and want a fair opportunity to participate in federal construction projects—but cannot do so because of PLA schemes.”

In sharp contrast, United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) General President Mark McManus hailed the final rule as critical to modernizing the nation’s infrastructure and creating family-sustaining jobs.

“President Biden’s Executive Order is a historic and groundbreaking step

Order will require every prime contractor and subcontractor on a federal construction project of $35 million or more to sign a project labor agreement. interests with government construction contracts at the expense of taxpayers and the principles of free enterprise and fair and open competition in government procurement.

“ABC will continue to fight on behalf of quality, experienced contractors harmed by this rule and the 88.3% of

for working families across America,” McManus said. “For generations, project labor agreements have meant our members earn fair wages and benefits—and projects get completed on time and on budget. These common-sense agreements lead to better outcomes for all involved, whether

Biden-Harris Administration Proposes to Strengthen the Lead and Copper Rule WASHINGTON, DC – On November 30th, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal to strengthen its Lead and Copper Rule that would require water systems across the country to replace lead service lines within 10 years. EPA is also proposing additional improvements to protect public health, such as lowering the lead action level and improving sampling protocols utilized by water systems.

The Biden-Harris Administration is using every tool available to help communities and water systems Get the Lead Out—including investing a historic $15 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace lead service lines, providing technical

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assistance to communities, and supporting the development of a national inventory of lead service lines. The Lead and Copper Rule Improvements are central to the whole of government approach detailed in the Administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan.

“Lead in drinking water is a generational public health issue, and EPA’s proposal will accelerate progress towards President Biden’s goal of replacing every lead pipe across America once and for all,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.

Once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, EPA will accept comments for 60 days. The agency will also hold a virtual public hearing

on January 16, 2024, at which time the public will be invited to provide EPA with verbal comments. For more information about the proposed rule, including a pre-publication version of the proposal, fact sheets, and directions for submitting comment and registering for the public hearing, visit the proposed rule webpage at www.epa.gov/ ground-water-and-drinking-water/leadand-copper-rule-improvements.

you’re a project owner, contractor, or construction worker.

“This Executive Order will lower costs, create competition, and expand job opportunities for all Americans regardless of union membership. Even more, this action will fundamentally alter the landscape for working Americans as it will level the playing field across industries and give everyone a fair shot at the middle class. President Biden promised to be the most pro-worker President in American history, and this Executive Order is proof to his commitment to keeping that promise.”

Political vs. Practical In practice, the executive order will make it difficult for merit shops to bid on most federal projects exceeding $35 million. Supporters and detractors make diametrically-opposed claims as to the value of PLAs. The Department of Labor’s Project Labor Agreement Resource Guide lists many benefits of PLAs, notably that they organize complex construction projects to ensure their efficient and timely completion. Because PLAs (almost universally) contain no-strike, no-lock-out clauses they eliminate delays associated with labor unrest.

The Center for American Progress calls PLAs an effective tool for creating good value on taxpayer-funded projects.

One construction industry consultant found that union labor is 14 percent more productive than merit-shop labor, and projects with collective bargaining agreements experience lower turnover, fewer shortages, and an average overall 4 percent reduction in project costs.

Data from ABC (collected on their website, thetruthaboutplas.com) stands in stark contrast. According to their research, PLAs increase construction costs by 12% to 20%, reduce opportunities for qualified contractors and their skilled craft professionals and will exacerbate the construction industry’s worker shortage.

Editor’s note: CONTRACTOR is at this time unable to independently verify or disprove these competing claims, but welcomes expert opinions on the topic.

➤ www.contractormag.com

12/28/2023 9:32:39 AM

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Industry News

Greater Boston Plumbing Contractors Assn. Donates $35K to Area Nonprofits BOSTON, MA – The Greater Boston Plumbing Contractors Association, a trade organization that represents more than 65 of the largest Union plumbing companies in the region, has donated $35,000 to area charities as part of its annual holiday giving program.

Greater Boston PCA officials gave three checks for $5,000 each recently to the West End House in Boston, which provides education and enrichment services for city youth; Christmas in the City, which hosts a holiday party and provides support to homeless

families and children in Boston; and the Salvation Army’s Kroc Center, a recreational center for Boston’s youth in Roxbury. Also receiving $5,000 checks were Community Servings, a nonprofit in Jamaica Plain that provides healthy meals for families struggling with food

Boston, MA. insecurity; Rosie’s Place, which provides housing and support for homeless women and domestic violence victims in Boston; Father Bill’s, which operates homeless shelters in Quincy and Brockton; and the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program.

Plumbing industry trade group issued $5,000 to seven different charities to help the homeless and needy in Boston, Quincy and Brockton.

“All of these incredible nonprofits offer vital services to some of our most vulnerable community members,” said Greater Boston PCA Executive Director Andrew DeAngelo. “Having access to housing, offering services for the young people of our city, providing quality meals and health care are all things that everyone deserves, and our industry takes these issues seriously.

We appreciate all that these organizations do every day and are proud to be able to support each of them, especially during the holiday season.”

Checks were formally presented to West End House, Christmas in the City and the Kroc Center at Greater Boston PCA’s annual holiday gathering at the Boston Athenaeum on December 14.

1 142401CO_PHCC_GLAA.indd • JANUARY 2024

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➤ www.contractormag.com

12/18/23 4:42 PM

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Industry News

Making Spirits Bright: John W. Danforth Company Makes Special Deliveries ➤ Continued from page 3 on Main Street in downtown Buffalo this morning, carried not by a reindeer-pulled sleigh, but in a firetruck filled with donated holiday gifts. In all, they delivered more than four barrels filled with hundreds of toys, games, blankets, hats, gloves and more to help bring the warmth and spirit of the holiday season to fellow Western New Yorkers. The items were donated by Danforth employees during a monthlong collection drive at the company’s Tonawanda headquarters.

“The spirit of community and a commitment to helping our neighbors are things we celebrate and believe in very strongly,” said Danforth CEO Robert Beck. “Supporting outstanding partners like The Salvation Army means a great deal to everyone at Danforth.”

Each of the building’s 17 apartments on the Canandaigua VA campus received a basket with all the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Company efforts in Buffalo, Albany and Rochester support neighbors in need.

Strong Partnership Today’s donation continues the strong partnership developed between Danforth and The Salvation Army over the last several years, including annual holiday drives to collect food, toys, clothing, and other items, since 2018.

Last month, the Salvation Army presented Danforth its Corporate Citizenship Award in recognition of the company’s long-standing commitment to serving others. The award recognizes a company that exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding work ethic displayed through their hands-on commitment to their community.

Danforth’s annual holiday drive helps the Salvation Army’s efforts to provide toys for over 1,200 families in Western New York.

“Having a committed and supportive community partner like Danforth is incredible,” said Major Annette Lock, The Salvation Army Director of Operations, Erie County. “We can’t express just how much this partnership and the generosity of Danforth’s employees mean to the people we serve. The toys will be used during our toy distribution at holiday time, and the hats and gloves will be distributed to those in need during our cold winter months.”

16 • JANUARY 2024

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VA Medical Center campus. Danforth has been conducting an annual Veterans Holiday Food Drive at its Rochester office for the past six years. The drive supports residents living in Building 17 on the Canandaigua VA campus, which provides housing for Veterans who are disabled and/or low-income.

Each of the building’s 17 apartments received a basket with all the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Families with children also received a Thanksgiving turkey.

“We could not be prouder of the way our workers always embrace the opportunity to help make the holidays a little brighter for others in our communities,” Beck said.

John W. Danforth Co.

Employees from Danforth arriving at The Salvation Army’s headquarters on Main Street in downtown Buffalo, NY.

Neighbors in Need Earlier this holiday season, Danforth employees in Albany and Rochester, New York also reached out to help neighbors in need.

In Albany, Danforth organized a Thanksgiving food drive in conjunction with CAPTAIN Community Human Services, a volunteer-driven non-profit organization in Saratoga County. The Danforth team collected food and assembled 25 food baskets

for several local families. The baskets included everything needed for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, including a gift card for a turkey. Danforth has been partnering with CAPTAIN for the past four years, providing Thanksgiving baskets for more than 80 local families in need.

I n R o c h e s t e r, D a n f o r t h a g a i n stepped forward to support local Veterans and their families living in lowincome housing at the Canandaigua

Founded in 1884, Danforth has more than 1,000 employees across a geographic footprint that includes operations in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany, New York, and Columbus, Ohio. The company works collaboratively with its union labor partners including the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers, and several other labor partners across many local union jurisdictions throughout the northeast and beyond. Danforth operates an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, giving the company’s workforce an ownership stake in the company.

To learn more, visit jwdanforth.com.

➤ www.contractormag.com

12/28/2023 9:25:48 AM

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Industry News

New Model Specification for Polypropylene Piping IRVING, TX — The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) has released a new Model Specification document for selecting, specifying, and installing polypropylene (PP) plastic piping. PPI MS-8 Model Specification for Polypropylene (PP-R & PP-RCT) Pressure Pipe

Systems for Plumbing & Mechanical Applications applies to hot- and cold-water plumbing distribution, chilled water, cooling/condenser water, make-up water, and hydronic heating and cooling distribution piping systems, including district energy. It was prepared

as a service to the industry by the association’s Building & Construction Division.

PPI MS-8 is intended to be a guide to support engineers, designers, and specifiers with language that can be copied and pasted into design documents

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“Polypropylene is a versatile pressure piping material used in a wide range of applications,” stated Lance MacNevin, P. Eng., director of engineering for PPI’s Building & Construction Division.

“Product standards and specifications for PP piping have evolved in recent years, so a specifier who uses outdated language may inadvertently specify a product that no longer exists in the market, or one that is simply less capable than the current state-of-the-art.”

The team of experts from PPI member companies that developed MS-8 consulted with the latest model standards and codes from ASTM, CSA, NSF, IAPMO, and ICC when developing the content. The new model spec includes special requirements for potable water and chilled water applications.

Additional information and data about polypropylene and other piping materials is available from the PPI Building & Construction Division at www.plasticpipe.org/building construction.

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Industry News

Construction Starts Hit 10-Month Low, Declining 15% in November ➤ Continued from page 1 Year-to-date through November 2023, total construction starts lagged by 4% compared to the previous year. Residential and nonresidential starts were down 14% and 7%, respectively, but nonbuilding starts were up 19%.

“Construction starts are deeply feeling the impact of higher rates,” said Richard Branch, chief economist for Dodge Construction Network.

“While the Federal Reserve seems poised to start cutting rates in the New Year, the impact on starts will lag. As a result, starts are expected to be weak through the mid-point of 2024 before growth resumes.”

Nonresidential starts lead decline, dropping 29%.

Nonbuilding Nonbuilding construction starts in November fell 2%, amounting to a seasonally adjusted $223 billion. Highway and bridge starts decreased 8%, environmental public works starts fell 4%, utility/ gas starts rose 17%, and miscellaneous nonbuilding starts improved by 1%.

Year-to-date through November, nonbuilding starts were up 19% overall.

Utility/gas plants rose 49%, and miscellaneous nonbuilding starts increased 18%. Highway and bridge starts gained 9%, and environmental public works rose 11%.

The largest nonbuilding projects to break ground in November were the $834 million I-405 Brickyard to SR 527 improvements in Bothell, Washington, the $406 million second phase of the Sherco Solar Farm in Becker, New Mexico, and a $353 million addition to the Silverhawk Generating Station in Moapa, Nevada.

Nonresidential Nonresidential building starts decreased

29% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $345 billion.

Manufacturing starts plummeted 74% following a strong several strong project starts in October. Commercial starts fell 19% with office buildings being the only category to see a gain.

Institutional starts rose 7% due to a significant uptick in healthcare activity. Year-to-date through November, total nonresidential starts were 7% lower than in 2022. Institutional starts gained 5%, while commercial and manufacturing starts fell 13% and 18%, respectively.

The largest nonresidential building projects to break ground in November

Zoom Drain Appoints New Members, Advisors to its Board PHILADELPHIA, PA — Zoom Drain has appointed a new board member and two advisors to its board of directors in response to its rapid expansion in the franchising industry.

Zoom Drain President Ellen Rohr is assuming a key position on the board of directors which marks a significant step toward driving the franchise’s expansion. Her transition from president to this influential board role underscores her commitment to fostering growth and development within the growing organization.

20 • JANUARY 2024

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The company also welcomes two additional accomplished franchising experts as advisors to the board. The appointment of Sherry Rose, CEO of Stellar Service Brands, and Jessica Wescott, COO/CFO of Stellar Service Brands, signify a strategic move to enhance the company’s leadership and commitment to advancing the franchise to even greater success.

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were the $1.9 billion Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Inpatient Tower in Pennsylvania, the $1.6 billion LG Energy Battery Plant in Queen Creek, Arizona, and the $750 million expansion of the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown, Iowa.

Residential

Residential building starts declined 6% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $359 billion. Single family starts increased 1%, while multifamily starts fell 19%. Year-to-date through November 2023, total residential starts were down by 14%, with single-family starts dropping 15% and multifamily starts by 12%.

The largest multifamily structures to break ground in November were the $200 million 55 Broad Street residential conversion in New York City, the $200 million redevelopment of The Superman Building in Providence, Rhode Island, and the $185 million Union West mixed-use development in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Regionally, total construction starts in November fell in the Midwest, South Atlantic, South Central and West regions, but rose in the Northeast.

Watch Chief Economist Richard Branch discuss November Construction Starts in this YouTube video: www. youtube.com/watch?v=LHl1_04Uicw.

➤ www.contractormag.com

12/28/2023 9:34:18 AM

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Industry News

by Al Schwartz PLUMBING CONTRACTOR

Green Plumbing is Here to Stay

E

verywhere one turns these days, someone is touting a “green” product, process or ser vice.

What is “green”? The easy answer is that anything that purportedly does its job in an environmentally sensitive manner (i.e.-maximizes energy usage, uses less energy, renewable resource or has little or no environmental impact) can be considered “green.”

Whether or not such products, processes or service do what they claim to do, or are in point of fact “green,” is something each one of us must determine for ourselves.

We are right to be skeptical of the myriad dubious claims made by not only the purveyors of these products/ services, but by a government which now mandates them. There was no serious debate on this matter. It was, quite simply, an edict from on high, never taking into account the financial impact on those who would be required to fulfill the edict.

Like a vampire, a government program is almost impossible to kill (think farm subsidies). So once it has been ordained that “green” is to be the standard for everything from paper clips to skyscrapers there is nothing the great unwashed can do but to comply. No matter its efficacy, if it’s “green,” it’s here to stay.

Rising to the challenge For plumbers and HVAC contractors, diving into the “green” pool is good way to add an income stream to your shop, as well as moving the cutting edge of our trade into the 21st century.

The challenge now is to change our normally skeptical mind set and embrace the new technology, insofar as it is profitable to do so.

In every trade magazine I read today, there are articles and advertisements for “green” products and systems. This was not so a mere ten years ago. With the government providing subsidies (read “your tax dollars at work”) for using “green” products or systems, it is presently economically feasible for homeowners and commercial interests alike to install “green” systems and equipment that will, ostensibly, lower

22 • JANUARY 2024

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shop by expanding into the geothermal marketplace is a relatively easy thing to do too. It is still considered by the public to be exotic technology.

When you can sell it (with tax credits) as a low cost, no cost or money-making proposition, you’ve really got something. Now, if only the housing market would cooperate, eh?

The learning curve

Geothermal heating and cooling system with ground horizontal collector.

Diving into the “green” pool is good way to add an income stream to your shop, as well as moving the cutting edge of our trade into the 21st century. energy costs and in some cases (solar power is one) provide actual earned income to the owners.

Take, for example, geothermal HVAC and water heating. Years ago, the term geothermal had us all thinking about places such as Iceland, where escaping ambient heat from naturally occurring hot springs and steam vents from the volcanoes that dot the island, were used for heating homes, water and producing electric power through steam generators.

Fast forward to today. The natural temperature of the earth at -5’(deeper for lower frost line areas) or so below ground is around 55° F to 60° F, day or night, the whole year around. Now, below ground temperatures vary according to soil type, density, moisture content, etc. but it’s a sure bet that the temperature range below ground is between those numbers.

Since the average comfort level for humans is 72°F, engineers have designed systems that take advantage

of either the cooling or warming properties of the natural earth temperatures and brought that technology to us to sell. By burying piping below the earth and circulating either air or water through them, it is possible to either recover heat (for heating) or radiate it out (for cooling) thereby reducing or eliminating the energy required to heat or cool a structure.

Heating or cooling either air or water from 55 degrees is a lot easier than heating it from 40 degrees, and takes a lot less energy.

Radiant heating, geothermal heat pumps and solar water heating have expanded the scope of products and services our industry can market. The advent of reliable equipment for system controls was the last building block needed for the expansion of these systems from experimental to the general marketplace. With advances in computer controls and microelectronics that loop has been closed.

Adding the income stream to your

As with any type of new technology, there is a learning curve. You are going to have to make the investment in time, and money, to get good at installing and maintaining these systems. The payback is worth it, in my opinion.

Some of you might remember when you could pop the hood of almost any car or truck out there, fiddle with the carburetor or the points, or whatever the problem might have been, and get the thing running in short order. Care to try that today? Even fair to middling shade tree mechanics are wary when getting under the hood of a ten- to fifteen-year-old vehicle. Why? Because the technology now requires specialized training in order to properly diagnose and solve the problem.

So it will become with the newer “green” technologies. It’s not getting any easier to make a buck out there.

Learning how to install and service this new technology makes you that much more indispensable to your customers. Think about what it costs to have your vehicles worked on at the garage these days. Technology marches on. You can either ride the crest of the wave or be dragged along in the current. Either way, if you want to stay in business, you’re going to have to learn to swim.

The Brooklyn, NY-born author is a retired third generation master plumber.

He founded Sunflower Plumbing & Heating in Shirley, N.Y., in 1975 and A Professional Commercial Plumbing Inc. in Phoenix in 1980. He holds residential, commercial, industrial and solar plumbing licenses and is certified in welding, clean rooms, polypropylene gas fusion and medical gas piping. He can be reached at omeletman01@gmail.com.

➤ www.contractormag.com

1/3/2024 3:48:12 PM

2401CO

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12/20/23 11:59 12/20/2023 12:09:28 PMAM

Forum

CONTRACTOR’s 2024 Economic Forecast

BY STEVE SPAULDING OF CONTRACTOR’S STAFF

A

s we close out 2023, most of the major economic indicators look positive, with some surprisingly good. One key leading indicator, architectural billings, predicts a solid 2024 for the construction market, with a slower rate of growth than 2023.

According to the American Institute of Architects, overall gains in spending are projected at just under 6%.

Yet volatility in the labor market— particularly the skilled labor market— remains a problem. While many of the supply chain problems that plagued the pandemic years have been worked through, volatility in construction input prices, especially energy prices, remains a problem as well.

It looks like 2024—for good and for bad—might have some surprises in store.

200,000 jobs (2.6%), but that increase was not even across all segments of the industry. Heavy and civil engineering added 3,300 positions, while nonresidential building and nonresidential specialty trade lost 1,100 and 800 jobs, respectively.

Even as the labor market cools, high-demand jobs saw explosive wage growth in 2023, according to an

growth between 18% and 24%. Number 3 on that list of jobs was, in fact, Master Plumber, with a 21% wage growth ($82,700 median annual pay).

The State of Construction While final numbers for the year are not yet in, total construction spending in 2023 is forecast at $1,960 billion, an increase of 6.0% over 2022—with

It looks like 2024—for good and for bad—might have some surprises in store.

How We Got Here The economy continues to expand.

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 4.9% in the third quarter of 2023.

The key federal funds rate—the rate that banks pay to borrow—stands at 5.25%-5.5%. The US average for a 30year fixed mortgage stands at a little above 6.5%. Meanwhile, the annual inflation rate for the US was 3.1% for the 12 months ending in November. While not at the Fed’s target rate of 2%, still a steep decline from the peak of 9.1% in June of 2022.

Perhaps more important than that 2% target is how wages are keeping pace with inflation. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the 12-month average of median wage growth stands at 5.6%—making inflation-fighting less crucial to policymakers.

The Bill Comes Due As we move into 2024 the key watchword is debt, both public and private.

Consumer spending, the driving force in the US economy, increased to $1,5461.38 billion in the third quarter of 2023 from $1,5343.55 billion in the second quarter of 2023.

Much of that spending was made possible through debt. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, total household debt rose by 1.3% to reach $17.29 trillion in the third quarter of 2023. Mortgage balances increased to $12.14 trillion, credit card balances to $1.08 trillion, and student loan balances to $1.6 trillion.

Meanwhile, the national debt—the total amount of outstanding borrowing by the US Federal Government accumulated over the nation’s history— is now approaching $34 trillion. Interest payments to cover the debt soared to $659 billion in fiscal year 2023.

Labor in the Driver’s Seat The main reason for that growth in wages is the tight labor market, with companies in competition to hire and retain talent. November 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics has overall US unemployment at 3.7%.

The construction industry unemployment rate rose to 4.8% in November.

On a year-over-year basis, construction industry employment has increased by

24 • JANUARY 2024

2401CO_24-25, 49_Forum.indd 24

buildings spending up 22% year-to-date compared to Jan.-Sep. of 2022.

Associated Builders and Contractors’ Construction Backlog Indicator inched up to 8.5 months in November from 8.4 months in October, according to an ABC member survey conducted Nov. 20 to Dec. 4. The reading is down 0.7 months from November 2022.

Despite the monthly increase, backlog is currently 0.8 months lower than at July’s cyclical peak. The sharpest declines over that span occurred among contractors with more than $100 million in annual revenues, who reported fewer than 10 months of backlog in November for the first time since the second quarter of 2018.

ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales and staffing levels increased in November, while the reading for profit margins fell. All three readings remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations for growth over the next six months.

end-of-year report from compensation analysis company Payscale (www.payscale.com). Wages for the top 10 indemand jobs for the year experienced

nonresidential spending leading that growth. With nine months in the yearto-date for 2023, total all-construction spending is up 4.6%. Nonresidential

What Comes Next At some point, both the US consumer and the US government will be forced ➤ Turn to Forecast, page 49

➤ www.contractormag.com

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Contractor of the Year:

Mike Prencavage Jr. —The Genuine Articlee

By John Mesenbrink

I

’ve hosted my share of industry events and panels over the years, and usually when I’m done with a particular session, audience members rush to the stage to meet the esteemed panelists, and rightfully so.

I recall this one time that stood out— I believe it was a Plumbing-HeatingCooling-Contractors (PHCC session)— a younger gentleman was waiting—for me no less—when I descended off the stage. “Great job with the emceeing, and it’s really nice to meet you, sir.

My name is Mike.”

Turns out, Mike Prencavage Jr., owner of The Family Plumber, Los Alamitos, Calif., was the acting president of PHCC Orange County at the time, and he was networking the event. From what I gathered, this guy was making an effort to connect with everyone at the show. What I realize now these many years later is that Mike Prencavage Jr. cares a lot about people, his company, the industry, and how to move the needle forward.

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➤ www.contractormag.com

1/1/2024 10:06:39 PM

Mike Prencavage Jr.—The Genuine Article

For the past two decades, Mike Prencavage Jr. has been passionate about the plumbing trade, and his passion and true dedication to making the industry better is a prime example of his continued leadership within it.

The Family Plumber Crew.

All in the Name The Family Plumber performs service and repair for residential properties in and throughout Orange County and South LA County, and the team of 28 employees has experience repairing all systems, including pressurized water, sewer, gas, water heating and even sewer lining.

The Family Plumber is just that—rooted in family, so much so that the company slogan, “Just Like Having a Plumber in the Family,” rings true all around. Prencavage Jr. is a proud second-generation plumbing business owner, taking over the reins of the company from his father, Mike Sr.—eight years ago. While the company has been based in North Orange County, Calif. for more than 34 years, and Mike Jr. credits his father for being the face of the company for the past 25. In fact, Mike Jr.’s stepmother worked for the company, and while they are both retired, the company still uses her voice on special holiday recordings.

In addition, Mike’s brother Mitchell Prencavage joined the company two years ago and has been an instrumental partner in the company as well, managing many of the high-volume operational issues that

come up throughout the day-to-day operations. “He understands teamwork and how to build on company culture, which will be our focus now and well into the future,” says Prencavage Jr.

Getting Active Yet, Mike recalls those days some 16 years ago while in high school working summers helping his father trench water service lines, perform cleanouts and tight crawlspace work. “It goes without saying but working with family isn’t always the easiest, and for a brief period I was not least bit interested in taking over the family business,” says Prencavage Jr. “In my early 20s, my father and I didn’t always see eye to eye on the future expansion of the company, which lead me to move across the country to Boston to pursue a new career in the automotive industry.

Dishonesty and deceitful tactics I experienced over this three-year period really pushed me to re-think the opportunity to take over The Family Plumber.

It was perfect timing as my father was looking to set a date for retirement.”

And while Prencavage Jr. has brought a youthful enthusiasm to the company, he has learned to

➤ www.contractormag.com

2401CO_26-31_Feature.indd 27

Mitch Prencavage, Mike Prencavage Sr., and Mike Prencavage Jr.

JANUARY 2024 • 27

1/1/2024 10:07:06 PM

Mike Prencavage Jr.—The Genuine Article, continued.

Moreover, for Prencavage Jr., it’s all about process. “Process is so important to scale a company and if you don’t have SOPs (standard operating procedures), you surely will not grow. It’s important to know your numbers or at least the basic financial reports for your company. Set realistic goals and budgets on an annual, quarterly or monthly basis. Never price based on your competitors, always price based on your overhead cost and the profit percentage you seek to secure.”

So having said all of this, you could say Mike’s vision for 2024 is aggressive. “The fleet has grown at a steady pace of two trucks per year. We have been fortunate enough to grow our existing location in North Orange County and look to open a secondary location in the South Orange County area by the end of next year,” says Prencavage Jr.

respect the past but embrace change within the company. He also emphasizes building culture by being genuine with your employees and staying involved in the local communities wherever possible. In fact, Prencavage Jr. is proud to say that The Family Plumber supports multiple foundations throughout the world such as Samaritans Purse, Christian ChildFund, Wounded Warriors, and Special Olympics to name a few. Locally, the company supports its school fundraisers and the local youth center.

The Time Is … Now? Although most believe that plumbing is recession proof, Prencavage Jr. says that local California plumbing business owners are a bit concerned going into 2024. “The focus for our company is not so much to grow by size but rather fine tune Prencavage Jr. currently serves as a director for business development at PHCCour processes for the beginning National. half of the year. Training on soft skills with techni- practical conversion training for all our technicians cians will be a must as the economy produces these out in the field. We will be closely evaluating our unforeseeable shifts. We are focused on more direct numbers on a weekly basis to ensure our flat rate local community marketing practices along with pricing stays competitive.”

Mike Prencavage Jr. proudly displays the 2023 Contractor of the Year Award for the PHCC Orange County, Riverside and San Bernadino. From l to r: Mike Prencavage Sr.; Vicky Prencavage; Mike Prencavage Jr.; Mitch Prencavage; Monica Roach, PHCC Orange County Executive Director; and Doug Allen, PHCC Orange County Educational Director.

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Inside the PHCC Prencavage Jr. currently serves as a director for business development at PHCC-National. According to Prencavage Jr., PHCC is a long-standing organization whose members, history and chapters all have continued to contribute so much to the betterment of the trades.

Prencavage Jr. was first introduced to PHCC in 2012 by two local members who owned plumbing companies in and around Orange County. He was convinced to attend a local meeting, then soon after, registered for the PHCC National Connect Conference that same year. He began his journey with the organization more than 10 years ago, and over the past five years, he’s been honored to not only serve on the California State Board, Government Affairs Committee and Finance Committee, but serve his local Orange County association chapter as a Board Member, Treasurer, Vice-President and extended three-year Presidential term leader.

Now serving as a Director of Business Development for PHCC National, there is more to be done, says Prencavage Jr. Noticing the increase in youthful plumbing industry owners looking for more from an organization like PHCC, along with stagnated progression on membership, Prencavage Jr. felt compelled to do more, not only for the local chapter, but also statewide and nationally.

“The community of plumbing business owners, technicians, and apprentices that I’ve come to know in this industry inspires me not only to grow my own company but also to help grow the great organization of PHCC. ‘Best People Best Practices’ isn’t just a slogan, it’s a promise to uphold good integrity, business practices and professionalism. It is my promise to continue this legacy well into the future.”

Similar to the values of PHCC, Prencavage Jr. says The Family Plumber mirrors the message. “I see our company representing the best in professionalism, and a local household name that you can trust.

We also want our name to represent good character to our clients and employees. Our core team values will continue to ensure that our customers are 100% satisfied and that we uphold that top professionalism in the plumbing industry.”

➤ www.contractormag.com

1/1/2024 10:09:32 PM

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12/13/23 10:35 12/20/2023 10:30:20 PMAM

Hydronics & Radiant Presented in partnership with Radiant Professionals Alliance

by Patrick Linhardt

HYDRONICS MANAGER AT CORKEN STEEL PRODUCTS CO.

Will Decarbonization End Hydronics?

I

felt like a cub newspaper reporter on his first important assignment. A panel discussion was about to start at the HARDI convention in Phoenix, AZ. I’m on a hydronics committee for HARDI, which means Zoom meetings for most of the year, until the national convention. One of the committee members, Jeff Thompson of APR Supply, was going to moderate since it was his idea to assemble a panel of the experts from the boiler manufacturers.

Jeff works in the heart of the East Coast boiler market and is concerned with the political climate of the area and its trend towards banning fossil fuel heating equipment in new construction in certain cities. He wanted to get the boiler manufacturer’s ideas on their path forward. I used my limited pull with Lochinvar, our major boiler supplier, to get them to send Mike Junke, Product Marketing Manager.

The other members of the panel were David Walsh, VP of Sales for NTI, Tom Kelly, Technical Sales Manager for Bradford White, and Sal Brunetto, National Sales Manager for Bosch Home Comfort. Many thanks to all four panelists for coming to the desert in December to help shed some light on the future of the industry a lot of us hold dear to their hearts.

Changes and Challenges Jeff had everyone give their history in hydronics. All have experience ranging from 25 to 40 years and all have experience in product development. We’re talking about guys that have seen the changes that we have been dealing with since the elimination of the standing pilot.

Next topic was their opinions on the upcoming changes that the DOE and EPA are trying to get legislated. The big one being the requirement of residential size hot water boilers to be 95% efficient. Everyone was in agreement that the industry was prepared for that, since they all manufacture that type of boiler already. The bar for oil-fired residential boilers is up at 88%, which is above most equipment now, since it’s in the condensing range.

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than the US and Canada. Air-to-water heat pumps get more complicated at the higher design water temperatures we use on this side of the pond.

Expert Opinions

Our columnist turns reporter to cover the HARDI convention in Phoenix, AZ.

From the contractor and consumer prospective, the proposed changes could be quite problematic.

From the contractor and consumer prospective, the proposed change could be quite problematic. The obvious complications were the cost for some consumers, the flue changes that might not be able to done for some city/townhouse applications, and the training required for installation crews. The government is saying that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) should help the consumer, but it was agreed that the rebate is too low. Flexible PPL flue pipe should help, but won’t be the solution for every installation. Training will always be a concern, especially with a workforce challenged by retirements and limited new hires.

The Path Forward It was agreed that any changes to current regulations take time to become effective and are likely to be challenged by lawsuits from various groups, so don’t expect to see anything set in stone for at least five years (at which time I should be retired).

One of the alternatives that I can see as a path forward is the blending of non-carbon fuels into the current infrastructure of natural gas pipelines and propane gas delivery services. The best choice there is hydrogen gas. It burns the cleanest of the non-fossil fuels and

can be mixed initially with natural gas, but hydrogen is hard to separate from other elements to become a gas. The panelists concurred that it is one of the technologies being investigated.

Another obvious point of agreement from the panel was the comfort of wet based heat. It is almost universally accepted that a house with toasty warm hot water cast iron radiators is more comfortable than a house with semiwarm air blowing out of registers. Not a lot of love for the air-to-air heat pumps in this room.

That takes us to one of the alternatives to a fossil fuel fired boiler, the electric heat pump boiler, or the air to water heat pump. Each manufacturer has something like this in development.

Where they deviate is the refrigerant that they use, sorta like the HVAC manufacturers. Different refrigerants have pros and cons, and I won’t get too detailed about that. Some have flammability issues to overcome, while others have issues with water temperatures.

The Europeans are ahead of America again, since they are heavily into wet heat and have a similar political climate.

Their approach so far is with the air-towater heat pump, which works well in their market because Europe works on a much lower design water temperature

All heat pumps run on electricity from a grid that is currently not able to cope with the added burden of heating in extreme weather. Mike Junke of Lochinvar noted that the American electrical grid is not ready for heating homes and water. He cited a rolling blackout recently in Tennessee caused by cold, not even extreme, outdoor temperatures.

David Walsh of NTI commented that the trend towards high efficiency and decarbonization is irreversible. He also spoke of the pendulum effect. Swing too far one way and the pendulum swings back.

Tom Kelly of Bradford White was optimistic, saying America can do anything it decides to do. There is a history of innovation to overcome problems and whatever the future holds, American technology advances will prevail.

Sal Brunetto of Bosch Home Comfort was bullish on the health of hydronics. He agreed that technology advancements will provide solutions.

He also commented that consumers will help decide the direction that hydronics will go.

In closing statements, there was agreement that hydronics as an industry and source of comfort is not going away, just changing with the times and that hydronics will be improved, rather than eliminated. To me, that was good news. No magic solution or advancement, just good old trial and error to find out the best way forward for manufacturers, distributors, contractors and consumers.

Patrick Linhardt is a thirty-nine-year veteran of the wholesale side of the hydronic industry who has been designing and troubleshooting steam and hot water heating systems, pumps and controls on an almost daily basis. An educator and author, he is currently Hydronic Manager at the Corken Steel Products Co.

➤ www.contractormag.com

12/21/2023 11:51:42 AM

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Bradford White and Junior Achievement Celebrate Ribbon Cutting at New Facility GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, joined Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes and other supporting area organizations to celebrate a ribbon-cutting for the Karl & Susan Hascall JA Finance Park® on Monday, Dec. 4.

Bradford White supports JA Finance Park through Industry Forward®, its signature charitable giving initiative, developed to help advance workforce development and increase public awareness of career opportunities in the plumbing and HVAC industries. Bradford White has pledged $125,000 over the next

five years as a storefront partner in the “home improvement” category.

At JA Finance Park, middle- and high-school students can learn about the financial consequences of life choices as they’re introduced to important information about careers in STEM and the skilled trades.

“We’re proud to support Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes as a storefront partner in JA Finance Park and help students learn how to make educated decisions when purchasing an appliance such as a water heater for their home, as well as Bill Coderre, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of the MI Great Lakes (far left), joins with Bradford career opportunities available in White representatives, Tonya Westrate, Peter Kattula and Rebecca Owens, and others to cut the ribbon at Bradford White’s storefront space at JA Finance Park. the skilled trades,” said Rebecca Owens, senior manager of communications for Bradford White. “This is a unique opportunity for students

Intellihot Hires Chief Operating Officer CHICAGO, IL — Intellihot, a leading innovator in smart water heating systems, has hired Dave Martin as its new chief operating officer (COO).

With his exemplar y track record of successfully leading large companies, Martin is poised to take Intellihot to the next level of growth and innovation.

Dave Martin will oversee Intellihot’s sales and marketing teams, as well as day-to-day operations.

As COO, Martin will oversee Intellihot’s sales and marketing teams, as well as day-to-day operations, with a key focus on optimizing the company’s operational efficiency, streamlining processes, and enhancing

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Dave Martin. customer satisfaction. Additionally, he will play a pivotal role in strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders, including suppliers, distributors, and contractors, to further propel Intellihot’s growth trajectory.

“We are thrilled to have Dave join our team as our new chief operating officer,” said Sridhar Deivasigamani, CEO of Intellihot. “His extensive experience and proven leadership skills in scaling companies make him the perfect fit for our team.”

Martin comes to Intellihot with decades of experience in HVAC and

operations management. His previous roles include leadership positions at Coca Cola, Rheem and HTP Comfort Solutions. His keen strategic vision and ability to drive operational efficiencies have resulted in outstanding outcomes for the companies he has served.

Speaking about his new role, Martin said, “I am honored to join Intellihot and work with a team of exceptionally talented professionals who are pushing the boundaries of energy-efficient water heating technology. It is an exciting time to be part of the company, and I look forward to leveraging my expertise to contribute towards Intellihot’s continued success.”

The Karl & Susan Hascall JA Finance Park will help middleand high-school students learn about the financial consequences of life choices. throughout Western Michigan to learn critical financial decision-making in a simulated way, helping them be smarter consumers in the future.”

Junior Achievement USA is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success.

For more information about Bradford White Corporation’s Industry Forward® initiative, visit https://www. bradfordwhitecorporation.com/giving/.

➤ www.contractormag.com

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Racing Legend Ward Burton Chooses Tankless Heater for Wildlife Foundation SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR

A

fter winning the 2002 Daytona 500, racing legend Ward Burton turned his attention to something else near-and-dear to his heart—the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation. The Foundation has helped land owners in Virginia and Pennsylvania conserve over 45,000 acres of land, and owns and manages over 10,000 acres.

In addition to the foundation’s conservation work, it operates an outreach facility in Blackstone, VA that hosts hosts both large and small group events for veterans organizations including USO, Wounded Warrior Project, and Project Healing Waters, among others.

Activities include clay shooting, fishing, archery, axe throwing, hiking, and of course, plenty of time for fellowship and meals together.

Ward Burton has five career wins in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, including the 2002 Daytona 500 and the 2001 Southern 500.

The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation has helped land owners in Virginia and Pennsylvania conserve over 45,000 acres of land, and owns and manages over 10,000 acres.

Transporting the ProLine® XE Tankless Condensing Gas Water Heater to the mechanical room.

Wall-mount design saves valuable space and allows for additional storage and flexibility

Moving to Tankless Since the facility is not in use every week, Burton wanted to replace its standard gas tank water heater with a tankless unit that would provide hot water on demand rather than heating water continuously. With help from local contractor John Testerman of John Testerman Plumbing in nearby Sandston, Virginia, Burton chose a State Water Heaters ProLine ® XE Tankless Condensing Gas Water Heater with X3® Scale Prevention Technology. “ We d e c i d e d t o i n s t a l l a t r u l y 21st-century State tankless unit to make

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No standby losses, new scale prevention technology make the retrofit the smart move. it more economical for us when the facility isn’t in use,” says Burton. “It was important to me that we chose a unit that wouldn’t require routine maintenance since I’m not at the facility every day. With State’s innovative X3 Technology, I no longer have to worry about scale-related maintenance.”

Long-standing RelationshipWard is no stranger to working with State.

The relationship dates back to 2007 when the company began sponsoring his team at Morgan McClure Motorsports. In recent years, State has also sponsored Ward’s son, Jeb Burton,

and his NASCAR Xfinity Series racing career. The long-lasting partnership with State has continued thanks to a shared belief in the value of durability and dependability.

“It’s an absolute pleasure to work with a company that is excited to support our work with Veteran groups, including Project Healing Waters and others,” said Burton. “Thanks to the new State X3 tankless gas water heater, our guests will instantly get hot water when they need it — in a way that helps save money, which is critical for nonprofit operations.”

Certified up to 10,100 ft. altitude, ProLine® water heaters are residential products built to commercial-grade standard and are only available for purchase through professional wholesalers and contractors.

High Performance, Low Maintenance The advanced X3 technology allows mineral particles to pass through harmlessly while constantly protecting the heat exchanger from scale buildup. This eliminates the need for regular descaling maintenance and extends the unit’s life three times longer than models without X3 technology.

With X3 technology, customers avoid the hassle of filter changes and periodic system purges. “You get all the benefits of endless hot water without maintenance,” says Testerman.

“Most tankless water heaters require maintenance at least once a year, but not this one. It can go 15 years without descaling maintenance. If you try that with a conventional tankless unit, you’re in trouble.”

➤ www.contractormag.com

1/2/2024 9:12:35 AM

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Technology

by Patti Feldman COMPUTER AUTHORITY

Four for the Office and Beyond

Z

enbooker online booking and scheduling software (www.zenbooker.com) is a customizable booking system that enables a home services business to embed a customizable booking widget on your website so customers can get individualized real-time price quotes, check real-time availability, and book the company’s services directly without leaving your page.

Using the software on a desktop or mobile device, your employees (a dispatcher or other approved personnel) can see the whole team’s availability and assign jobs to staff members with a click.

The solution supports multiple service territories with unique hours, services, pricing, and assignable service providers. Management can create custom options and extras to allow customers to see real-time price quotes that reflect their needs.

Zenbooker integrates with the payment solution Stripe, enabling acceptance of credit cards with online bookings. Customers can securely save their cards, facilitating future bookings, deposit charges, and payment after the job is complete.

The software includes a mobile web app on which field personnel can see assigned work, mark jobs as enroute, started, and complete, and update notes. The solution also supports the ability for customers to cancel or reschedule jobs online, directly, in conformance with your cancellation policy.

CRM capabilities include viewing contact information, past and upcoming jobs, saved payment methods, and notes. You can customize your customer pricing to take into consideration customer location and time and day of the booking, coupon codes you may offer, and other parameters.

It is possible to set up automatic customizable text message confirmations and reminders as well as “on my way” messages with a real-time ETA. The software enables customers to schedule recurring services online and those bookings can reflect discounts for certain frequencies.

After completion of the job, you can

38 • JANUARY 2024

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Pricing: monthly fee per user, with flexibility to add, remove, activate or deactivate team members as needed.

OK EverConnect Live

The Zenbooker widget.

Reviews of Zenbooker scheduling software, the FieldPiece full-service solution, EverConnect Live lead-gen and the Repari-CRM mobile app. send branded invoices and payment receipts and can automatically request feedback from customers on how they rate the recent service The software can be configured so that your field service providers and office staff each have their own log-in and you can set individual user permission access.

Pricing: per month, no contract.

Free 14-day trial, no credit card required.

FieldPulse FieldPulse (www.fieldpulse.com), geared to medium- to large-size HVAC businesses, is a full-service solution that features scheduling and dispatch, and the software’s standard residential dataset. It also offers: estimates and proposals; customer management (including a booking portal); inventory tracking; GPS fleet tracking; and customizable invoicing and payments, including integration with QuickBooks.

The dataset offers configurable HVAC pricebooks to meet your own pricing needs with respect to items, markups and customizations, enabling you to manage proposals for the

book of services you sell ranging from full system installs to flat rate repairs.

Pricebooks can be set to include sales proposals, including a “maintenance” feature that enables technicians to instantly sell from easily accessible sell sheets for such options as extended warranties, service contracts, and maintenance agreements that can be signed on the spot.

The solution allows for variant proposals (good, better, best), and features detailed timesheets, easily updatable logs and status changes for each job.

Users can set up automated recurring jobs for maintenance contractors by creating one job and scheduling it to repeat at selectable interval options (e.g. weekly, quarterly, annually or custom ranges).

The FieldPulse mobile app (downloadable at Google Play and the Apple App) requires a FieldPulse account and is available on mobile, tablet and web browser. The Dashboard enables you to create customer, job, estimate, and invoice and keeps tabs on that day’s job activities including schedules, progress, and notes.

EverConnect Live (www.everconnect.com, an EverCommerce NASDAQ:EVCM solution) is a lead generation solution that provides contractors and businesses across the entire home services industry with highly qualified phone call leads at a fixed price.

Featuring a quick set-up, it enables a company to start receiving phone calls and generating leads within days. The platform offers flexibility to dispute leads or manage the flow by starting, pausing, or scheduling.

Companies have access to an intuitive dashboard, allowing them to specify lead criteria and target and update preferred geographic areas and allowing them to manage the flow by starting, pausing, or scheduling. The service also facilitates its customers (enrolled companies) to easily dispute leads through the online portal, helping ensure that they only pay for qualified leads.

Pricing: per lead, varying by service area and service vertical, billed weekly.

Repair-CRM Repair-CRM mobile app for HVAC companies (www.repair-crm.com) is designed to enable creating work orders and tracking onsite jobs. The software features scheduling and assigning of service technicians to jobs, along with online booking pages that enable customers to request a new job, attach photos of work needed, and state preferred time windows.

The solution, which includes photo and signature capture, enables creation of invoices from jobs with a single click.

Three plans are available. Starter, suitable for a solo operator; Grow, for 3 to 5 users; and Pro, for teams of 6- 10 users.

Pricing: per month with fee dependent on plan.

Patti Feldman writes articles and web content for trade magazines and manufacturers of building products. She can be reached at productpad@yahoo.com.

➤ www.contractormag.com

12/20/2023 12:11:51 PM

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Marketing

by Matt Michel MARKETING AUTHORITY

24 Recruiting and Retention Tactics For 2024 Let’s get right to it.

There’s been a lot of inflation. Make sure your pricing reflects the changes in your costs. Otherwise, you are subsidizing your customers. Do they need your subsidy?

where your plumbers and office personnel can advance over time. When an employee reaches training and performance goals, give them an opportunity for a better title and pay. If you do not, someone else will. Formal career paths will also give you a recruiting advantage.

2. Pay more.

13. Replace old trucks.

Your plumbers are feeling the pinch, just like your customers. Pay them more. Just make sure you build it into your pricing. Remember, if you are not paying your plumbers the most in your market, it’s not their fault.

Old trucks look poor and breakdown.

Breakdowns cost more than repairs.

While the truck is out of commission, it is not producing. Management is distracted. These are hidden costs that add up. Replace on old trucks on schedule.

3. Hire to your values.

14. Wrap your trucks.

One of the main reasons new hires fail is value conflict with management.

Unless your values are aligned, the fit will be a struggle. Identify your values.

Identify the behaviors that are consistent with those values. Talk with prospective hires about past behaviors or ask how they might handle a particular situation. Not only will this improve retention, but you will build a company culture that fits you.

Wrap them in any color but white.

Women think white trucks are abduction vans. You’re scaring your customers when you drive white trucks. Your plumbers are like your customers when it comes to your trucks. They want to drive nice, neat, spiffy looking trucks.

A good wrap gets attention of customers and prospective hires.

1. Raise your prices.

4. Build a recruiting brochure.

A recruiting brochure sells your company, benefits, holidays, training, and so on. Its purpose is to sell the spouse as much as the plumber. Without a recruiting brochure, you aren’t serious about recruiting.

5. Create an employee lounge.

Put some comfortable chairs, a TV, video games, and free snacks and soft drinks. The cost is minor, it gives you an edge when recruiting.

6. Offer better benefits.

As a rule, plumbers offer lousy benefits.

Offer better health care and pay 100%.

The difference between paying 80% and 100% is minor while the impact of “100% company paid” insurance is huge.

7. Subsidize vacations.

Vacation bundlers, like Destination Motivation, offer vacation vouchers for hotel/resort stays or short cruises.

These are sharply discounted. Consider offering them to employees who have

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Here are some simple ways to find, hire and retain the staff you need to take your business to the next level in the new year. been with you for at least a year. This boosts your employee retention and is great recruiting incentive.

8. Feed plumbers breakfast.

If you dispatch the first call from the shop, consider feeding your plumbers breakfast. This can be simple food like breakfast tacos or breakfast sandwiches. These are low cost, will differentiate you from other employers, and will result in higher sales, better performance, and greater customer satisfaction from plumbers who have something more than coffee on their stomachs.

9. Pay for haircuts.

In the Service Nation Alliance bi-annual survey of contractor customers, the most frequently mentioned complaint about field service people is poor grooming. If you pay your plumbers to wash their trucks, pay for their haircuts. Hire a retired barber to come in once a week to cut hair or work out a discount with a local barber and have him bill you for haircuts and trims.

This not only improves your company

image in the public, it becomes another employee benefit.

10. Offer regular training.

Training is like bathing. It wears off so you should repeat it regularly. Good training is also a recruiting tool. People want to grow and improve. Show them how they can in your company.

11. Train on technical skills, soft skills, and life skills.

The trade is pretty good on technical training. It is getting better on soft skills, such as being better communicators, asking questions, and so on. It is only beginning to recognize the importance of life skills. Sadly, too many young people today are not taught personal financial management, so they are always broke. They are not taught how to be good spouses and parents, so their home life ends up in chaos. Include life skills as part of your regular training.

12. Create career paths.

Everyone wants to know if there is a way to advance. Create a career path

15. Recruit minorities.

Plumbers as a rule, do a poor job recruiting minorities. Find good, young candidates by visiting with the preachers of African American churches and Catholic churches serving the Hispanic communities.

16. Fire prima donnas.

Prima donnas tend to be top producers who think their performance makes them untouchable. Fire them if they act up. They hurt company morale, causing others to perform worse.

They cost management time. They generate drama.

17. Hire apprentices.

Find people with the right attitude and aptitude and teach them the rest. Make them apprentices, working with your most seasoned plumbers. This makes work easier for older, knowledgeable plumbers, extending their work careers, and gives you a supply of up and coming talent with no bad habits. It’s a long term strategy for growth, but a proven one. ➤ Turn to Recruiting, page 51

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1/3/2024 1:06:23 PM

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12/7/23 1:39 12/21/2023 12:06:56 PMPM

Best Practices

by Lynn Karam

FOUNDER AND CEO OF LEK MANAGEMENT INC.

Get Your Company’s Financial House in Order for 2024

F

inances are the foundation of any business. Irrespective of the quality of the operational plan, marketing plan or human capital, the success of the company always depends on the financial structure that supports these plans. Just like the spine supports the human body, a company’s finances support the entire organization. To operate a business without a finance department or financial support is analogous to the body trying to function without a spine. Companies who are unable to implement an effective internal finance department should employ outside financial support in order to properly address their overarching financial needs.

G e t t i n g a c o m p a n y ’s f i n a n c i a l house in order is a tremendous task that must be implemented over time.

Here are a few basic tips to help get the process started.

Accuracy Matters When building your financial house from the ground up, begin by maintaining an accurate accounting system. If a system doesn’t already exist, set one up immediately. A strong accounting system in a non- negotiable business tool, and is a must-have for any business. When the system is organized in a way that tracks the relevant metrics to reflect a company’s strategic plan, it results in garnering information that is invaluable to the success of the business.

To make informed decisions, the company’s leadership requires many pieces of financial information, such as: revenue growth, cost of goods sold, gross and net profit margins, inventory turnover, operational efficiency, and debt ratio, to name just a few.

Track Changes It has always been my opinion that companies exist to solve a need and/ or a specific problem for their target audience. For that reason, ensuring the products and services provided by a company meet the needs of the clients is a critical part of the company’s

42 • JANUARY 2024

2401CO_42-48_Best Practices.indd 42

Manage Your Cash Flow

Getting a company’s financial house in order is a tremendous task that must be implemented over time. Here are a few basic tips to help get the process started. success. Changes in the demographics of the target market, cost of production, modes of distribution, and pricing must be constantly tracked, evaluated, and revised if necessary. In the current inflationary environment, where the costs of supplies change from one week to another, tracking becomes a critical activity.

The pricing strategy must begin with the costs of the products or services.

Once costs are calculated, the pricing should reflect the company’s overall strategic plan. It is our recommendation to place the adjustment of the prices of the products and cost of services as a high priority. This will set the tone for the entire year and the future of the company.

Plan Your Work - Work Your Plan All that said, it is now time to focus on creating a strategic plan for 2024.

Simply put, identify your desired goals for the year, and then create specific

plans to achieve them. Include all the resources that will be needed to a ccomplish each goal.

This will guide the company’s activities and increase the chances of success. Begin with the historical data by focusing on the information from the previous year. The outcomes of the decisions made over the last 12 months should be analyzed to determine their past success, and potential to build on that success in the new year. If there were any decisions made that adversely affected the company, those should generally be discarded; although you might consider repurposing or revising some past ideas if an appropriate situation presents itself.

While success is not always measured in financial terms or immediate financial gain, there should be enough successes measured by financial gain to ensure the company can meet its current expenses with the overall goal of course being to make the company as profitable as possible.

The adage “cash is king” has been proven time and time again. Cash flow management is one of the reports/tools used to manage liquidity, which is the company’s ability to meet its current financial obligation.

The report usually covers a period of one year, in monthly intervals, and it clearly delineates in which months there were cash shortfalls, as well as when there were overages. Management can plan ahead, especially to address the months where cash shortfalls are projected, preventing any disruptions in operations. The accounting system will assist with the company’s cash flow management.

As companies become increasingly more profitable, so does the probability of increased tax liability. No matter the size of your company, or what business you are engaged in, it’s essential to create a solid tax plan to identify ways to take advantage of current tax laws that can minimize tax liability. Consult and engage a tax professional to create a solid tax plan that is appropriate for your business model. Implementing and improving financial controls allows companies to avoid losses and increase profitability. As the new year begins, take stock of your company’s financial department and/or outsourced financial support, and assess how well the system functioned in 2023. Then make an informed decision to make the financial health of your business a top priority in 2024.

Founder and CEO of LEK Management Inc., Lynn Karam has two decades of experience in finance, operations, and strategic planning. Karam is an Enrolled Agent authorized by the United States Department of the Treasury to represent clients who are undergoing an audit and to negotiate with the IRS on her clients’ behalf. Her success rate in resolving even the most challenging of IRS scenarios has become the cornerstone of her success. As CEO, Karam uses her financial expertise to establish sustainable strategies that result in significant business growth for her clients.

➤ www.contractormag.com

12/20/2023 10:10:28 AM

Best Practices

by Ryan Johnson

CALLRAILS CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER

Three Ways AI is Powering Contracting Businesses

W

ith Winter quickly approach‑ ing, sub-zero temperatures are already leading to a spike in inbound leads seeking repairs—such as pipe bursts in homes, businesses, and other buildings. As contracting busi‑ nesses begin competing to take on this seasonal demand, it’s never been more important to streamline workflows so that service pros can focus on what matters most: converting leads, doing the job, and getting paid. One of the newest solutions that’s emerged to help is artificial intelligence (AI).

While there’s been a significant amount of chatter about how AI is be‑ ing used by larger enterprises, don’t be fooled—this technology has just as much potential to help home ser‑ vice businesses automate many of the backend tasks so service pros can fo‑ cus on what matters most—doing jobs and getting paid. There’s three specific ways that AI-powered solutions are helping contractors today that should be considered.

1. Accelerating Customer Acquisition

Companies are learning how to do more with less resources, and contrac‑ tors are no exception. AI-driven solu‑ tions can offer valuable insights and data that businesses can use to inform their marketing and lead generation ef‑ forts. For instance, data gathered from a customer chatbot or call conversation can reveal preferences, habits, and pain points that a business owner would not have had the time to manually ana‑ lyze. These insights can then be used to tailor service offerings, develop more targeted marketing campaigns, and inform overall business strategy.

There’s a lot that can be learned from a conversation by focusing on the key‑ words that surface frequently or at piv‑ otal moments within the call. Using AI to find and extract keywords and phrases your customers use can help you choose keywords to focus on for your SEO campaigns and allow you to tailor the messaging in all your marketing and communication efforts.

There’s three specific ways that AI-powered solutions are helping contractors today that should be considered.

In fact, most customers are not going to find contracting businesses in the phone book—they’re turning to search engines like Google to find “plumbers near me.” By optimizing these keywords in your marketing and SEO campaigns, your services and competitive differen‑ tiators can stand out in searches.

2. Improving the Customer Experience

Beyond operations, leveraging AIdriven customer support tools can streamline how a business interacts with customers while also extracting valuable insights to fuel growth and improvement. In recent years, AI has transformed how organizations deliver on customer service, helping to curate efficient and personalized experiences.

Selecting the ideal AI tools for customer service that are right for your business is crucial to staying competitive in today’s business landscape.

AI can help to automate simple cus‑ tomer service tasks (like responding to frequently asked questions) which frees up limited resources to focus on more complex business issues. AI tools can also help with personalization and customer experience. Using algorithms and machine learning, AI tools, like chatbots for example, can provide

accurate and personalized responses to inquiries like “My toilet is overflow‑ ing… what do I do?” to help ensure that customer issues are resolved quickly and effectively. When a customer re‑ ceives a prompt and accurate response in their time of need and panic (think: your house is flooding and valuables are getting wet or the toilet isn’t work‑ ing and company is on the way), they’ll be more inclined to trust you and become a repeat customer.

3. Streamlining Admin and Operational Efficiencies

Efficiency is the key to profitability in the home services industry. Many contracting businesses are faced with operational challenges, resource con‑ straints, and still rely on outdated methods to track customers and han‑ dle inbounds. With the influx of busi‑ ness this year, this can easily become overwhelming, especially as you’re attempting to direct customer calls to find practical insights from within the conversations.

Consider call tracking for example.

Some companies might try to find the time to manually listen to call record‑ ings to find the small key piece of in‑ formation‑—such as whether the leads that are being generated are actually

➤ www.contractormag.com

2401CO_42-48_Best Practices.indd 43

a good fit with the services being of‑ fered and how effective employees are at converting leads—in a long, un‑ eventful conversation. However, this couldn’t be more difficult for service professionals who are on their feet or the road most of the day.

Artificial intelligence can automate processes, streamline jobs and provide support for employees who have more complex tasks to deal with. At a most basic level, automating tasks like cus‑ tomer inquiries and data entry can save time, labor and prevent errors. Tak‑ ing this a bit further, AI can also help with things like staffing and human resources to improve profitability. For example, if you notice that most leads are asking for a specific service and employees are having a difficult time converting those inbound calls into customers, then you can turn to AI to help automatically provide suggestions for frontline staff to increase the rate of conversion. It is important to look at all your processes and administration and determine what would benefit your business the most through automation.

The incorporation of AI technolo‑ gies into business operations is prov‑ ing to be a game-changer across the construction industry. Evaluate your budget, resources and business needs when choosing the right solutions.

By accelerating customer acquisition, improving the customer experience, and streamlining administrative and operational efficiencies, you can be better equipped to meet your evolv‑ ing customer demands and improve overall revenue and profitability in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Ryan Johnson has 15 years of diverse product development leadership experience in early-stage startups and Fortune 100 companies. As Callrails Chief Product Officer, he leverages his passion for developing best-in-class products to solve real-world problems.

Prior to joining CallRail, Ryan lived in Las Vegas and lead development of Banjos world-class AI/ML products, helping raise $100mm in VC funding.

JANUARY 2024 • 43

12/20/2023 10:09:52 AM

Best Practices

by Mark Meier

DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SUCCESS AND SERVICES AT ARCORO

Veterans, Military Members are the Answer to Construction’s Labor Woes

T

awards honor companies or organizations committed to hiring transitioning service members, veterans and wounded warriors. Award recipients receive a certificate with their award year, a digital image of the medallion to use on their marketing materials, and are recognized on the program website. Their stamp of approval can help you attract top recruits from the military’s expansive talent pool.

here are more than 800 jobs across branches of service in the United States military, many of which require the same training and certifications that apply to construction workers. Though their specialized skills transfer seamlessly between these types of jobs, only 6.2% of male and 0.7% of female veterans work in construction. These stark numbers indicate contractors are not doing enough to tap into the potential of the veteran population to combat industry-wide labor woes.

A simple remedy is to leverage construction-specific human resource software solutions to attract veterans. In my experience as an HR technology professional and a soldier in the Iowa Army National Guard, it all comes down to how you market yourself as an organization and an industry.

Know Your Audience First things first, it’s important to differentiate between inactive and active members of the military. Veterans can benefit from assistance easing the transition from military service to the trades. At the same time, reservists may prefer special accommodations and benefits specific to their needs, including paid time off for monthly drills, military schools, and annual training.

Here are a few ways construction business owners can improve their offerings and optimize HR software to bolster recruiting efforts for these two populations:

1. Customize and leverage applicant tracking

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) prohibits civilian employers from discriminating against veterans based on present, past, and future military service. It also entitles service members, such as National Guard members and reservists, who leave their civilian employment to perform covered military service to prompt reemployment with their pre-service employer following the completion of their duty. When

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3. Develop or restructure your employee benefits to meet the specific needs of veterans and reservists

Here are six simple, effective ways to recruit them. prospective employees apply for jobs and disclose their military or veteran status, that information is captured in a company’s HR software.

Hiring managers can filter applicants based on their veteran or military status and even invite those flagged to apply for other vacant positions. They can take it one step further and add prompts to any given data set to determine, for instance, who among the veterans applying for a given job has a specific military training certificate or commercial driving license needed for that role. Another way to utilize advanced analytics in applicant tracking is to organize a veteran-specific job fair and invite those your system flags as veterans and service members to attend.

2. Partner with veteranspecific nonprofits for recruitment

Many national, regional, and even local chapters of organizations provide

training and job placement for transitioning active-duty military service members, veterans, members of the National Guard or Reserve, and their families. Contractors can partner with prominent organizations like Helmets to Hardhats and Hire Heroes USA, which often provide helpful recruitment and hiring resources.

Local chapters of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the American Legion are integrated into local communities and can function as important strategic partners to extend your immediate network. Business owners can also contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or their state’s workforce development offices to connect with veterans seeking trade opportunities. Each state typically has an online job board where companies can promote their vacant positions.

Another fantastic resource for employers is the HIRE Vets Medallion Program. Established in 2018, these

Pay differential programs for National Guard members and reservists can help employers stand out when recruiting.

While the law entitles military members to leave their civilian employers for covered military service—like monthly drills and their standard two-week annual training—it doesn’t require companies to pay them while they’re gone.

Some employers pay service members their full wage while absent for these trainings or provide an allotment of paid time off specifically for military training. Others allow them to use standard paid time off to cover their absence or permit them to take unpaid days. Another option is to pay Guard members and reservists the difference between their military and civilian wage since the military wage is typically lower. Supplementing their service pay with a differential wage or paid time off is a strong incentive to attract and retain the soldiers who already live, work, and serve in your community.

Offering a health insurance opt-out arrangement is another way to attract veterans and active-duty military members while reducing your company’s medical benefit costs. Under these arrangements, contractors pay service members to opt out of their insurance program in favor of TRICARE, the military’s health care program. TRICARE offers generous coverage, so many soldiers prefer it over private insurance policies, but few are compensated for ➤ Turn to Veterans, page 48

➤ www.contractormag.com

1/3/2024 4:05:42 PM

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8/16/23 3:42 12/19/2023 8:44:49 AMPM

Best Practices

by Holly Shadel

SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER FOR NIAGARA

The Smart Flush: Innovating Sustainability in Bathrooms

I

n the ever-evolving landscape of innovation, the bathroom is not left behind—it’s stepping into the future, one flush at a time. The smart bathroom market is riding the wave of progress, set to grow at a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.25% from 2020 to 2027, according to Grandview Research. This surge isn’t just about convenience; it’s a resounding echo of a collective call for sustainability. And as we delve into this domain where technology meets conservation, it becomes clear that the future of bathrooms is both smart and green.

the newer generations get, the greener their choices become.

The integration of cutting-edge technology into our bathrooms is transforming them into eco-conscious havens. Imagine a shower that adjusts its water flow based on real-time usage or a thermostat that optimizes energy consumption for the perfect bath temperature. These are not just conveniences; they are innovations that align with

The future of bathrooms is not just about having the latest and greatest; it’s about making choices that echo our commitment to the planet. our collective responsibility to preserve precious resources.

Plumbers: The Gatekeepers of Sustainable Plumbing

Smart Bathrooms: Where Convenience Meets Conservation The smart bathroom industry is booming, driven not only by the desire for high-tech convenience but also by an increasing commitment to environmental responsibility. These innovations are not just about gadgetry; they are a pledge to minimize water and energy waste.

Grandview Research’s projection speaks volumes about the growing appetite for smart bathroom solutions.

This isn’t a fleeting trend; it’s a shift toward sustainability. Nearly 90% of Gen X consumers have indicated their willingness to shell out an extra 10% or more for sustainable products. This figure barely tipped over 34% just a couple of years ago. It seems the older

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In this brave new world of smart bathrooms, plumbers are the unsung heroes. Plumbers are the gatekeepers, ensuring that the innovation we bring into our homes is not just convenient, it’s also sustainable. To navigate this evolving landscape, plumbers need to stay ahead of the curve and use products that acquire key industry cer-

tifications like WaterSense and MaP or MaP® Premium.

Briefly, WaterSense is a program by the US Environmental Protection Agency that certifies products that meet high water efficiency and performance standards. And MaP, or Maximum Performance, is a rating system that quantifies a toilet’s flush performance.

Both certifications act as plumbers’ trusty compasses, guiding them toward products that not only drastically cut water use but also maintain highperformance standards.

Choosing the right materials is another crucial aspect of sustainable plumbing. Vitreous China toilets, for instance, take the crown as both durable and eco-friendly. These toilets boast a lifespan of close to 20 years and, when their time is up, can be recycled. It’s not just a flush; it’s a cycle of sustainability that keeps on giving.

The responsibilities of plumbers extend beyond fixing leaks and installing fixtures. They are the stewards of sustainable living, ensuring that every aspect of our smart bathrooms aligns with the principles of conservation.

The plumbing profession is evolving into a sustainability-centric role, where expertise goes hand in hand with environmental consciousness.

The Bottom Line: Where Innovation and Sustainability Coalesce Innovation and sustainability are no longer distant cousins; they’re sharing the same bathroom space. The smart bathroom market’s exponential growth is not just a testament to our love for the latest gadgets but also our growing awareness of environmental responsibility.

As plumbers navigate this brave new world, industry certifications and material choices become their guiding stars.

WaterSense and MaP certifications act as the benchmarks for performance and efficiency, ensuring that our bathrooms don’t just look smart but act smart.

The future of bathrooms is not just about having the latest and greatest; it’s about making choices that echo our commitment to the planet. Next time you flush, it’s not just water flushing down the drain, it’s the opportunity to make a smarter, greener choice.

Holly Shadel is the Senior Marketing Manager for Niagara, the leading manufacturer of ultra-high-efficiency plumbing products.

Over the past five years, Holly was instrumental in successfully developing and launching an entirely new business unit for Niagara, as well as four new product lines, comprised of over 150 skus.

➤ www.contractormag.com

12/20/2023 9:52:57 AM

Best Practices

by Oscar Collins

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AT MODDED

Hydronic Heating and Sustainability

S

ustainability is a crucial consideration for any new project. People are more aware of climate issues and environmental regulations are rising. In light of this shift, sustainable building design will become increasingly in demand over the next few years.

Hydronic heating professionals are in an advantageous position ahead of this trend. Hydronic systems are inherently more eco-friendly than conventional alternatives. That said, a few practices can take these environmental benefits even further.

1. Right-Size the System Sustainability begins before construction, though these earlier opportunities are easier to overlook. System size may not seem relevant to a building’s sustainability, but it significantly affects energy efficiency.

If a hydronic heater is too large for a property, it’ll likely short-cycle, consuming more energy than necessary. On the other side of the spectrum, smaller systems must run for longer to reach desired temperatures, introducing excess power withdrawals.

Unfortunately, most domestic boilers don’t operate optimally, leading to energy waste at either extreme.

While performance optimization is a complex consideration, it starts with choosing an appropriately sized boiler and distribution system for the project at hand.

2. Use High-Efficiency Heat Sources

Heat sources are another important factor in sustainable hydronic systems. A high-efficiency water heater will maximize hydronic solutions’ energy-saving benefits. Upcoming legislation may require many heaters to achieve 91% efficiency, making this selection easier, but there are many ways to go about it.

The most straightforward option is to opt for EnergyStar-certified water heaters. However, looking outside the boundaries of traditional power sources may yield more impressive results.

As counterintuitive as it seems, many gas-heating solutions produce fewer emissions than electric ones, as most

electricity comes from fossil fuels.

Electrification opens the door to zero-emissions power through renewables. Powering water heaters through on-site solar will produce the most environmental benefits.

3. Ensure Proper Insulation Even the most efficient heat source will still consume more energy than necessary without proper insulation.

Windows are responsible for 30% of heat loss in buildings, so they deserve special attention. Using more insulated window panes is a good start, but contractors can minimize this loss through add-ons, too. Thicker blinds, curtains, automatic shutters and plastic window insulation wraps can all help.

Doors are another area to tackle to minimize heat loss. Electrical systems also demand attention, as any inefficiencies here will reflect in the hydronic solution’s operation.

5. Utilize Zoning Controls Contractors should also take advantage of hydronic systems’ unique additional features—namely, zoned heating. Zoning controls let building occupants heat different areas of the home to different levels. As a result, it’s easier to strike an ideal balance between comfort and energy consumption.

Here are seven ways to optimize hydronic heating systems for maximum sustainability.

Hydronic heating systems radiate heat by design, so this consideration can be difficult. The building must have enough insulation to prevent heat loss but not so much that radiant heating can’t work.

The key is insulating everything that isn’t supposed to radiate heat.

Radiators and radiant floors must be able to let high temperatures transfer, but virtually everything else requires thorough insulation. That includes walls, pipes, ceilings and any non-radiant parts of the floor. The EPA maintains a list of eco-friendly insulation standards to look for when choosing a material.

4. Combine Energy-Saving Technologies

Hydronic heating professionals should also work closely with other involved contractors to combine sustainability efforts. These solutions’ efficiency benefits are most significant when the building’s other systems don’t lead to excess heat loss or energy waste.

Hydronic systems can implement zoning in one of two main ways. First, contractors could design entirely separate systems for each area in the home.

Second—and more cost-effectively— they can place zoning valves between areas and connect the system to a smart control system to let occupants adjust each zone from one place.

These systems are more expensive than simpler alternatives. However, energy-efficient systems save money in the long run by reducing power spending. Focusing on these long-term benefits will help buildings retain their desirability even at higher prices.

6. Optimize Distribution Systems for Efficiency

Similarly, hydronic professionals should consider how their systems distribute heat. While radiant heating as a whole is more eco-friendly than other temperature control methods, not all radiant systems offer equal distribution efficiency.

One of the easiest ways to ensure

➤ www.contractormag.com

2401CO_42-48_Best Practices.indd 47

efficient water movement is to use shorter pipes. Longer pipes and more fittings will mean less internal pressure, requiring more energy to distribute liquid through the system. By contrast, smaller pipes will increase pressure to preserve power.

Newer, more energy-efficient pumps are another way to optimize distribution. Some projects have reduced their power consumption by 60% by simply upgrading pumps. Many of these more recent options can deliver the same power with smaller motors, creating energy savings significant enough to account for their upfront costs.

7. Consider Future

Maintenance Needs

Finally, contractors should consider the system’s maintenance. Sustainability is often a long-term game and ongoing energy savings are only possible if equipment remains in top condition. Consequently, hydronic heating systems should be easy to monitor and maintain.

Designing for simplicity is an important part of achieving this goal. A less complex system will be less prone to failure and easier to fix if something does go wrong. Similarly, buildings should hold key components like water heaters and pumps in accessible locations for faster inspections and repairs.

IoT is a potential game-changer in this area. IoT sensors can monitor hydronic systems and report their condition in real-time, alerting occupants or contractors when something requires attention. While more expensive, these systems will save money over time by preventing costly breakdowns.

Hydronic Heating Is a Natural Fit for Sustainable Design As sustainable building design grows more popular, so will hydronic heating. Professionals looking to take advantage of this trend should learn how their projects can offer even more environmental benefits than standard hydronic solutions.

Oscar Collins is the Editor-in-Chief at Modded. Follow him on Twitter @TM odded for frequent updates on his work.

JANUARY 2024 • 47

12/20/2023 9:52:21 AM

Best Practices

Veterans, Military Members are the Answer to Construction’s Labor Woes ➤ Continued from page 44 doing so. It’s a win-win because these annual incentives generally cost employers significantly less than paying their share of an insurance premium.

Another valuable benefit you can offer to help attract veterans is a robust employee assistance program (EAP). EAPs give employees and their families free access to licensed counselors and can be especially beneficial to those who have PTSD, which is common among veterans. These programs can help former military members cope with the stress of transitioning to civilian life. Evaluating the employee benefits in your HR portal through the lens of a service member can increase their appeal to this demographic of potential employees.

4. Revamp your learning management system’s offerings

When a service member is transitioning to civilian life, support from their employer can influence their success. While the US military has a

training allows you to show respect f o r t he ir accumulat e d sk i l l s and experience and help them transfer that experience into your workplace and processes.

Your HR software’s learning management system is a critical workforce

Build a framework to attract these candidates and you will fill your ranks. robust training and certification system, you will want to offer all new hires refresher courses on activities pertinent to their job. Consider even adapting a course geared toward the veteran population. Veteran-specific

Save Water, Save Energy.

development component. It should include training on Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) and EEOC compliance, job site security, sexual harassment training, and more.

5. Start a veterans resource group

Creating a veterans resource group (VRG) led by senior members of your staff who have served our country can make the transition to the civilian workforce less daunting. VRGs can recreate the sense of camaraderie many find in the armed forces. They also demonstrate a company’s values and commitment to supporting veterans.

Since construction operations are often spread out across a state or region, you can incorporate a virtual portal for the group to meet remotely.

6. Employee referral programs

NEOPERL® products help reduce water usage by 30% or more.

Replacing faucet aerators and shower flow regulators are the most affordable components of a water conservation program, and can also help earn LEED® points.

Visit us at AHR booth #S6555 & KBIS booth #N2673.

Neoperl, Inc. | Waterbury, CT us.info@neoperl.com | www.neoperl.us

48 • JANUARY 2024 2401CO_Neoperl_REV.indd 1

2401CO_42-48_Best Practices.indd 48

Employee referral programs are generally an effective way of pre-screening job candidates, as referees are more likely to have the skills and qualifications you seek. It can save companies time and money sourcing the ideal candidate.

Military camaraderie often translates to the civilian world, which means veterans have deep ties to other veterans. This esprit de corps can compel them to recommend employment with your company to other veterans if they find a supportive atmosphere within your organization.

Setting up a way for your employees to refer qualified candidates within

your HR portal can make referring friends and family more seamless and encourage engagement.

Additional Considerations In my experience, servicemen and women are more likely to support businesses that support soldiers and their families. There are many deliberate policies contractors can adopt to appeal to veterans and service members beyond the scope of HR software.

Corporate giving is a generous and strategic way to appeal to this demographic. By supporting organizations like K9s for Warriors or the Wounded Warrior Project and their causes, you send a message that your organization values military service.

Supporting veterans should also extend to their families. Military families make great sacrifices, relocating frequently when their active duty family members are reassigned to a new base. Contractors can offer military spouses priority for workfrom-home opportunities to make relocating easier. Offering them the option to work from home shows your appreciation for their commitment and sacrifice.

Veterans typically possess the technical, teamwork and leadership skills and experience we value in construction. Build a framework within your organization to attract these candidates and help them transition to civilian life, and you will fill your ranks with highly qualified workers, effectively combating the construction industry’s workforce shortage.

Mark Meier is the Director of Customer Success and Services at Arcoro, a provider of HR and management solutions for the construction industry. He leads multiple operations teams responsible for ensuring Arcoro’s customers have efficient workforce management processes and get the most out of their software and services.

Mark is also a member of the Iowa Army National Guard, where he has served for 14 years. Contact him at Mark.Meier @arcoro.com.

➤ www.contractormag.com 12/15/23 1:53 PM

12/20/2023 9:51:23 AM

Industry News

CONTRACTOR’s 2024 Economic Forecast ➤ Continued from page 24 to cut spending—but will that be this year?

For the US government, the two obvious solutions to tackling the debt are cutting spending and raising taxes, both of which are politically unpopular (and 2024 is a presidential election year). For the consumer, it looks like the rate of spending is already coming down: economists expect spending this quarter to slow to around a 2% pace.

In fact, the economy shows signs of cooling almost everywhere you turn: less spending, falling inflation, and a loosening labor market. If that wasn’t enough, the Fed has recently signaled it is done with its current program of raising interest rates.

Add all that up and the most likely scenario for the US economy in 2024 is a year of moderate growth, probably at a slower rate than in 2023. The same goes for the construction industry, with most of the real growth weighted on the nonresidential side as the steady drip of Federal infrastructure money wends its way to the people doing the work.

likely than not, got a significant raise or bonus at the end of 2023. Even in the face of rising debt, all those factors combined may have them feeling wealthy enough to keep spending through 2024.

Next, there will always be X-factors

in the economy beyond anyone’s ability to predict. Pandemics, natural disasters, geopolitical uncertainty, terrorist attacks and more could all factor into the coming year.

And last, although the US economy avoided a recession in 2023, recession

and expansion are natural parts of the economic cycle. There may or may not be a recession in the next 12 months, but there will be a recession at some point in the future. It never hurts to have some resources set aside to weather an economic downturn.

Our Heating Season Forecast We can’t predict the weather. But we can help you prepare for it. Shop our full inventory of parts and stock up now before the season gets busy. After all, the only thing better than predicting the weather is not needing to.

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

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“THERE’S A LEAK!”

FAULTY SENSORS

BUSTED BOILERS

“WEIRD NOISES”

But… However, there are a few key factors to keep in mind.

The Fed now stands poised to start cutting interest rates. As soon as those cuts begin to lower mortgage rates a lot of people who have been holding off on purchasing a home will get back into the market. At the same time, a lot of people who have held off on selling their home—why walk away from that 3% APR you locked in back in 2019?—will feel more comfortable putting their homes up for sale. Lower rates and an increase in stock for 2024 could mean a flurry of activity on the residential side.

Also, the markets saw an end-of-year rally. The Dow Jones industrial average in December hit its first record high close since January 2022, while the S&P 500 is within striking distance of its all-time closing finish. The S&P 500 rose 24.2% for the year.

There is a class of home-owning, stock-owning consumers who, more

2401CO_24-25, 49_Forum.indd 49

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Industry News

ABC: Georgia Is the No. 1 State for Construction ➤ Continued from page 3 ment and advocate for fair and open competition on taxpayer-funded construction projects.

“Commonsense conditions, policies and educational systems are vital in creating quality infrastructure built safely, efficiently and effectively for taxpayers,” said Ben Brubeck, ABC’s vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs. “More than 88% of the US construction industry has already made the choice not to join a union, and the construction industry is facing a skilled labor shortage of more than half a million people. Anti-competitive policies only impede the vast majority of merit shop contractors from building and working in their own communities and further exacerbate the industry’s labor shortage. Taxpayers are best served by policy and educational priorities that create a level playing field for all contractors to compete.”

the top 10 and continues to be a model state for the merit shop, exceling in the preservation of fair and open competition and creating a policy environment for the entire industry to succeed, especially in fostering a pipeline of highly skilled workers.

Among the top five, Arkansas ranked third, Wisconsin ranked fourth and Indiana ranked fifth.

Rounding out the top 10 states are Iowa, Kentucky, Alabama, Oklahoma and Mississippi, in order by rank.

Georgia’s construction industry earned the top spot due to the state’s continued dedication to workforce development.

Top Rankings Georgia’s construction industry continues to prosper, and it earned the top spot due to the state’s continued dedication to workforce development. This year, 99% of career and technical education students in the state earned a credential and/or continued to a career. Along with inclusive policies that welcome all of the construction industry to compete to build projects in their communities, Georgia’s construction employment continues to grow. Georgia claimed third in the 2022 rankings.

Florida followed Georgia in second in 2023. Since the inception of the rankings, Florida has placed in

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Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin have returned to the top 10 rankings this year. Indiana and Wisconsin have strong workforce development systems, seeing 99% and 92% respectively of the states’ career and technical education students earning a credential and/or continuing to a career. All three states have innovative and proactive approaches to upskilling, leading to a sustained, positive job growth rate in construction.

Notably, Wyoming climbed 10 spots to 20th. The state’s passage of the Fair and Open Competition Act

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Bottom Rankings Michigan continues to fall in the rankings, dropping from 23rd in 2022 to 31st in 2023. The state’s legislature unfortunately repealed right to work this year, which will take effect in 2024, stripping the right from workers to decide whether or not to join a union as a condition of their employment. Also, local lawmakers codified a prevailing wage executive order into law in 2023, taking effect in 2024. Repeal of the ABC-supported Fair and Open Competition Act is also in sights of the legislature in 2024. This is a trend for the state, as Michigan fell nine spots in 2022.

The bottom five states, in ranking order, included Hawaii, Rhode Island, New York, the District of Columbia and Washington, each receiving poor ratings in creating conditions and policies for merit shop contractors to thrive.

The 2023 Building America: The Merit Shop Scorecard rates state laws, programs, policies and statistics in seven categories: project labor agreements, prevailing wage laws, right-to-work laws, public-private partnerships, workforce development, career and technical education and job growth rate.

Sloan Earns Independent WAVE Verification FRANKLIN PARK, IL — Sloan, the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial plumbing systems, has earned verification to The Water Council’s WAVE program.

Independently awarded by SCS Global Services—an international leader in third-party sustainability verification—WAVE program verification indicates that Sloan has assessed water-related risks across the enterprise, identified the highest waterrelated impacts using credible water-related data, and implemented best practices in improving water stewardship performance.

In 2022, Sloan was among the first companies to sign on to The Water Council’s WAVE program, an initiative designed to help companies improve, report, and verify their water stewardship progress. Kirk Allen, Sloan’s Co-President and CEO, is a longtime member of The Water Council’s Board of Directors.

“Protecting our planet’s most precious resource is a fundamental responsibility of our business, and we

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in 2023 now protects local workers against government-mandated project labor agreements on state and local projects, as the Biden administration and union advocates press the use of PLAs on federally assisted projects. In Wyoming, PLAs would shut out 96% of the construction industry from bidding and working on public projects.

take this obligation very seriously,” said Paul Sambanis, Sloan’s Vice President of Sustainability. “Sloan is proud to achieve certification for The Water Council’s WAVE program. It is an exciting opportunity to lead by example.”

Sloan’s WAVE verification certificate from SCS Global Services required the completion of a six-step process, which included: 1. Promoting Sloan’s membership in The Water Council.

2. Performing an enterprise-wide review of current practices.

3. Performing a watershed risk assessment of key sites.

4. Prioritizing sites where water-related risks are highest.

5. Securing senior-level approval of an enterprise-wide statement on water stewardship.

6. Communicating an enterprise-wide action plan, resulting goals, and timeline for implementing water stewardship projects.

➤ www.contractormag.com 12/19/23 3:44 PM

12/27/2023 4:13:33 PM

Industry News

➤ Continued from page 40

18. Incent employees.

Pay your employees a bonus when they recruit a friend and give them a residual for 12 to 24 months (or longer) afterwards. This not only encourages your team to help recruit talent, but encourages them to help with talent retention.

to consider looking at other opportunities. Recognize spouses and the sacrifices they make. Send a gift card to a spa periodically, f l o w e r s o n a n a n n i v e r s a r y, a n d so on. There is power in appreciation.

24. Celebrate.

They make work a little more fun.

When the company achieves a milestone, celebrate it. Do something fun company wide. Throw a party.

Have a picnic. Buy everyone swag.

Celebrations are fun. They are contagious.

For more recruiting ideas and downloadable materials you can use to help your recruiting, check out the Service Roundtable at www.ServiceRoundtable.com.

19. Geofence suppliers.

It is possible to geofence around a supply house and then, bombard the social media and Internet advertising feeds of everyone who enters the geofence with recruiting ads for your business.

20. Tap into your customer base.

Your customers might know someone who could be a candidate for your company. This could be a friend, friend’s child, or a relative in the trade who works in another town who your customer wants to move closer. When you list the requirements to be a member of your team and send it to your customers, you are also communicating that you have great standards, good training, and so on.

CUT THE CORD AND KEEP ON WORKING

21. Recruit from other towns.

If your area has a cost of living, tax, or other advantage over another part of the country, consider running digital ads targeted to plumbers from the higher cost of living area and promote the better quality of life available. Instead of a hiring or sign-on bonus, offer to help with relocation expenses.

22. Be flexible.

Gen-Eye X-POD Plus

®

Recognize that your employees have lives outside of work and make adjustments for that. Adjust work hours to accommodate the family needs of employees. Let plumbers be off-call for things like school plays, spousal doctor appointments, and other personal needs. A little flexibility on your part will position you as a family-friendly employer and allow you to attract better talent.

NEW Gen-Pack™ Battery Adapter.

(Battery not included)

Now you can inspect drain lines far from a power source.

The Gen-Pack battery adapter allows up to 12 hours of remote operation with limited access to power. The Gen-Pack is also sold separately.

But wait, there’s more. You can now record onto a flash drive or send the recording to your customers with the built-in Wi-Fi transmitter. Also, you can track just how far the camera has traveled down the line with the on-screen distance counter.

For more information, visit www.drainbrain.com/XPodPlus, or call the Drain Brains® at 800-245-6200 Visit us at WWETT Booth #6561

23. Cater to spouses.

If a plumber’s wife is supportive of the company and wants him to remain, it becomes harder for him

© 2024 General Wire Spring

➤ www.contractormag.com

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PM JANUARY 12/7/23 20242:34 • 51

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Industry News

AHR Expo 2024 Preview ➤ Continued from page 1 built environment—contractors, manufacturers, engineers, wholesalers, distributors—including a large contingent of plumbing and hydronic heating professionals.

There have been 75 AHR Expos since the launch of the event in 1930 in Philadelphia as a spin-off of The National Exposition of Power and Mechanical Engineering. Since its inception, the show has been produced by the International Exhibition Company (IEC).

50,000 attendees will come to Chicago in January to see the latest technology and listen to the top minds in the industry.

In 1947, IEC brought in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) as a show co-sponsor and in the early 1970s the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) joined the co-sponsorship. Both esteemed organizations continue this partnership, with ASHRAE co-locating its Annual Winter Meeting with AHR to this day.

A shot from the show floor during AHR Expo 2023 in Atlanta.

The 2024 Expo is expected to attract more than 50,000 attendees, include more than 1,600 exhibitors from around the world and offer more than 370 speakers. Following are just a few of the more highly anticipated show offerings. For a full list of features, exhibitors, and education offerings, visit the AHR Expo site at www.ahrexpo.com.

On the Show Floor

be exhibiting at the big show. Drop by the booth to meet the editorial teams of all three brands, and to help CONTRACTOR kick off its 70th Anniversary celebration.

Intellihot (Booth #S9977) will display its Electron Series, the world’s first tankless heat pump water heater. Using a CO2-based refrigerant with zero Ozone Depleting Potential, the Electron Series provides a sustainable, efficient, and legislation-proof commercial tankless heat pump water heating system.

Lochinvar (Booth #S7155) will be debuting its Commercial Electric Boiler, Lectrus, at this year’s AHR.

More than 1,600 exhibitors will occupy more than 1,000,000 square feet of space across the North and South Halls of McCormick Place, displaying products and services in hundreds of different categories ranging from Accumulators to Zone Controls.

Most exhibitors will be offering attendees the chance to get hands-on with their products and equipment, and will feature subject matter experts on hand to answer questions, present use-cases and discuss features and performance. Just a few highlights: Ariston Group (Booth #N1140) will have on display the American Standard Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater. The heat pump is available in 40, 50, 65, and 80 gallon capacities, has five unique operating modes to suit a variety of needs, and. Features i-Memory, a habit-learning algorithm that ensures hot water when needed, and energy savings when it is not.

Endeavor Business Media (Booth #S6716), the parent company of CONTRACTOR Magazine and our sister brands Con- More than 150 New Product Presentations are currently scheduled for the tracting Business and HPAC Engineering will 2024 AHR.

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12/28/2023 9:35:04 AM

Industry News Rheem Water Heating (Booth #S7569) will be featuring its Triton ® Light Duty, billed as the “most intelligent” high efficiency commercial gas water heater on the market. Boasting built-in smart monitoring and precise leak detection, the unit prevents downtime, manages water heater issues, and keeps businesses running smoothly. Perfect for retrofit or new construction, the Triton was the winner in the Water Heating category for this year’s Innovation Awards. (For a full list of the 2024 AHR Innovation Awards, visit https:// www.contractormag.com/industry-event-news/ ahr/media-gallery/21275476/ahr-expoTwo separate Podcast Pavilions will put the top voices from around announces-2024-innovation-awards).

Watts Water Technologies (Booth the industry on stage, live and in-person. #N2124) will be showcasing The IntelliStation ® Jr. Educational Partnerships. Discover the impact collabwith IoT capabilities—a digital mixing valve that al- oration with an educational institution can have lows users to remotely control and monitor tempered on fostering a robust workforce. Panelists include Alison Neuman, North American Workforce Dewater distribution.

For anyone with an interest in codes and stan- velopment Program Manager at Johnson Controls, dards, both IAPMO (Booth #N1313) and ICC Eval- Bryan Feilen, at Lincoln Tech, Jose De La Poruation Services (Booth #S9013) will be in atten- tilla, Sr. Manager of Education and Training at dance to discuss coming code changes and what they Rheem Manufacturing, Scott Shaw, President & CEO at Lincoln Tech, Susan English, Sr. Vice Prescan mean for your business.

The Expo floor will be home to two Podcast ident of Career Services & Industry Partnerships at Pavilions, featuring key voices and lively discus- Lincoln Tech, and moderator Dominick Guarino, sions from around the industry live and in-person. President & CEO at National Comfort Institute.

For a full schedule visit https://www.ahrexpo.com/ Tuesday the 23rd, 11:30 AM, Room E350.

Attendees take note: only paid sessions will podcastpavilions.

Four New Product Theaters on the show floor will guarantee you a seat—seating is on a first-come host more than 150 presentations from manufactur- first-served basis. ers. Each rapid-fire 20-minute session will highlight the essentials of a new product and how it can solve Tips for the Show your customers’ problems.

Plan your visit to get the most out of the experience.

The show is simply too big to just wander around visEducation Sessions iting random booths. Ask yourself what you hope to The Expo will be offering more than 300 separate get out of the show and make some keyword searches educational opportunities including free semi- on the AHRExpo.com web site. Download the AHR nars, panel discussions, product presentations and Expo app from the Google Play Store or by visiting ASHRAE Learning Institute courses (the last of which https://www.ahrexpo.com/app. Build your show schedrequire payment). Industry experts will offer today’s ule (and be sure to book time to eat and relax). The best practices, industry trends, tips for improved ROI, app will synch automatically with your MyShow and professional growth. Among free session, some planner account on the AHR Expo online directory.

If something you see or hear at a booth catches stand-outs include— Building Trust and Success: The Essential Role of Repu- your interest, get your badge scanned. This will usutation in Home Services Businesses delivered by Heather ally get you on the company’s email list for updates Ripley, CEO Ripley PR, and Ryan Redding, CEO at on their latest product and service offerings. You can always unsubscribe at any time.

Levergy. Monday the 22nd at 9:30 AM, Room S405a.

Bring snacks. Food at convention centers is noThe Disruption of AI in the Trades. Learn how Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the trades indus- toriously expensive. Lines are often long and if you try and driving innovation. Presented by Joshua have a busy schedule getting a bite to eat may be too Crouch, co-host at Skilled Trades Syndicate, and time-consuming. Remember to stay hydrated.

Wear comfortable shoes—a million square feet is a Tersh Blissett, podcast founder at Service Business Mastery. Monday the 22nd, 11:00 AM, Room S401a. lot of space to cover.

If you’re feeling sick, stay at your hotel. If you Why Good Employees Quit. Learn why employees are currently quitting en masse and measures that think you might be sick social distance and wear a can be implemented to make employee retention mask. However you may be feeling wash your hands strong. Presented by Aleks Ozgur, Coaching De- frequently and thoroughly. The pandemic may partment Operations Manager at Service Training be over, but the endemic is here to stay and 50,000 Evolution, LLC. Wednesday the 24th, 9:30 AM, people in one building means someone is going Room S405a.Among panel discussions, the one not to catch something.

Safe travels, and we’ll see you at the show. to miss is Addressing the Workforce Talent Gap through

Leak control technology so comprehensive, it even protects your bottom line.

Sell your customers proven, premium leak control technology. Only FloLogic® has EverWatch™ flow-sensing, which constantly monitors for the tiniest of leaks anywhere. If one is detected, it automatically sends an alert and shuts off the water. Smarter water technology is also smarter for your business, providing higher margins with every sale and install.

Available in 1", 1.5" and 2" valves.

Learn about the best by visiting flologic.com or call 877-356-5644

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© 2023 FloLogic, Inc.

2/14/23 12:43 PM

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Green Products

green choice

WILO-STAR E 21 WET-ROTOR CIRCULATOR is designed for the

VOLTEX AL SMART HYBRID ELECTRIC HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER

residential and commercial HVAC market to improve performance and save energy consumption. The high-efficiency, EC motor-driven unit has differential temperature control that adjusts to the system demand to maintain the best heat transfer possible. The four-speed circulator has 3 HD modes of operation for proportional control.

from A. O. Smith features smart connectivity, and flexible top and side water connections. Leak protection technology includes leak detection and alerts, smart anode for added tank protection and optional automatic shut-off valve-compatible. Equipped with iCOMM, allowing homeowners to control their water heater and receive alerts/notifications.

User-friendly electronic interface allows easy control of temperature setting, operating modes and communicates diagnostics. Energy Star-certified.

A. O. Smith WWW.HOTWATER.COM/ RESIDENTIAL/

▼ FA3400 AUTOMATIC FAUCETS from MAC Faucets feature a square design in both 6” and 8” heights to accommodate different styles and functionality; one model for classic sinks and one for vessel sinks. Both faucets are available with a long spout reach to deliver water closer to users’ hands.

MAC Faucets WWW.MACFAUCETS.COM

EFLOW TANKLESS REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM from EcoWater Systems employs advanced filtration technology to remove impurities, contaminants and unpleasant tastes. With its continuous flow feature, homeowners can enjoy an uninterrupted supply of fresh, pure water. Its compact, tankless design fits seamlessly under sinks.

EcoWater Systems WWW.ECOWATER.COM

54 • JANUARY 2024

2401CO_54-55_Products.indd 54

Wilo USA WWW.WILO.COM

TWO-WAY ENERGY MANAGEMENT THERMOSTAT (RAK190V) from GE Appliances can control new variablespeed inverter models and works on all legacy GEA products.

One-way communication configuration works with all traditional six-, seven- and eight-wire setups, and is equipped with an occupancy sensor and energy-saving offsets.

GE Appliances WWW.GEAPPLIANCES.COM

5-SETTING SHOWERHEAD

NPF HYDRO-FURNACE from Navien is available in upflow and horizontal configurations, and two sizes: 60,000 Btu/ hr. and 100,000 Btu/hr. They meet 97% AFUE and the stringent requirements of SCAQMD rule 1111 for ultra-low NOx performance.

Dual stainlesssteel heat exchangers heat water in an isolated compartment out of the airstream, which provides sound reduction and energy efficiency.

Navien WWW.NAVIENINC.COM

WAVECREST DESIGNER COMMERCIAL SENSOR FAUCETS

features Touch-Clean spray holes to easily wipe away calcium and lime buildup from the spray face with the touch of a finger. Spray settings include: POWERush spray, full body spray, full spray with massage, massaging spray and pause.

from T&S Brass are offered in various refined designs, each with a choice of polished chrome, brushed nickel or fingerprintresistant matte black finishes. Standard or medical heights are available for additional customization. Featuring below-deck electronics, the faucets offer a sleek look with more intuitive sensor activation and auto-flush capabilities.

Peerless Faucet Co. WWW.PEERLESSFAUCET.COM

WWW.TSBRASS.COM

T&S Brass and Bronze Works

▲ TECHNOFORCE E-MTV

PACKAGED BOOSTER SYSTEM

from Bell & Gossett is a prefabricated solution built to maintain a constant clean water delivery pressure. A variety of fixed-SKU options all feature e-SV stainless-steel vertical multistage pumps. It is preconfigured for two to three pump configurations.

Bell & Gossett/Xylem WWW.XYLEM.COM /EN-US/ BRANDS/BELL-GOSSETT/

▲ FISHER FIELDVUE DPC2K DIGITAL PROCESS CONTROLLER from Emerson can be retrofitted as a direct replacement for the pneumatic controllers installed on most valves, regardless of manufacturer. Closed loop control is improved with configurable loop types, more than 150 units of supported measure, and other features.

Emerson Electric Co. WWW.S1-AUTH.EMERSON.COM

ELECTRIFLEX MD COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS are available in 50-, 80- and 119-gallon capacities to fit a variety of applications.

Featuring rugged Incoloy low-watt density elements that transfers heat directly to the water, field conversion kits to fit demanding applications, and a Hydrojet sediment reduction system.

Bradford White Water Heaters WWW.BRADFORDWHITE.COM

➤ www.contractormag.com

12/28/2023 9:24:50 AM

New Products

editor’s choice

▼ TANKLESS WATER HEATER

NO ROOF KIT is designed to expedite

DEARBORN 1-1/4" BRASS TUBULAR P-TRAP from Oatey is

made from durable 17- or 20-gauge brass with chrome-plated finish for wall-connected sink drains in tubular systems.

The convenient cleanout allows easy access to the building’s drain piping to clear clogs and debris. True Blue rubber washers offerer superior flex fatigue protection, which extends the life of the washer and provides a superior seal in brass connections. Available in four variations, including with a deep flange or brass nuts.

Oatey Co. WWW.WWW.OATEY.COM/PRODUCTS/DEARBORN114

MULTI/JOINT 3000 PLUS creates long-lasting flexible restraint connections for water, wastewater and gas applications of all pipe material.

Available in couplings, flange adaptors and reduction couplings from 2" to 42", the system’s wide range can connect different outside diameters.

GF Piping Systems WWW.INFINITYDRAIN.COM

▲ AMBIENT ELECTRIC BOILER from U.S. Boiler is designed for residential customers to electrify their hydronic heating systems. The 54 lb., ultra-compact, wall-hung boiler is available in three capacities: 16, 20 and 24 kW; or 54,600, 68,200 and 82,000 Btu/hr., respectively. Supply water temperatures between 90° F and 180° F can be provided. Features a control that provides dual setpoint operation, load management control, operation monitoring, with fault and dry-fire protection. The unit can be installed quickly and inexpensively because venting, fuel supply and provision of combustion air are not required.

U.S. Boiler Co. WWW.USBOILER.NET

▲ SIMPLE DUCTLESS WIRED

CONTROLLER from Mitsubishi Electric Trane is compatible with existing thermostat wire for easier installation.

Suitable for multifamily applications, the controller features programmable presets with 7-day scheduling. Users can select their preferred humidity level with the new Auto-DRY function.

from Watson-Marlow is designed for general fluid transfer applications at pressures up to 174 psi. The natural rubber hose can be used for handling sludge with a high solid content, food and beverage waste and abrasive slurries. The abrasion-resistant transfer hose is engineered so it lasts longer than competitor hoses and optimizes the performance of a peristaltic pump.

help reduce the environmental conditions necessary for Legionella and other bacteria to flourish. With standard tank volumes ranging from 23 to 528 gal., the unit provides precise flow channeling through a patent-pending head design.

Standard working pressure is 125 psi, with options for 150 psi and higher.

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology WWW.WMFTS.COM/EN-US

Taco Comfort Solutions WWW.TACOCOMFORT.COM

▲ BREDEL NR TRANSFER HOSE

▲ TOUGHBOOK 55 LAPTOP from Panasonic Connect is the third generation of the Mk3 and harnesses the power of the 13th Gen Intel Core i5 and i7 Processor with Intel vPro Technology and up to 14 cores. It also features a secondary NVMe OPAL SSD, delivering high bandwidth and low latency, which is especially useful for contractors handling complex blueprints. Key features include a 14-in. touchscreen, seven modular user-replaceable areas, and 512GB-2TB NVMe main storage (quick-release and user-upgradeable).

Panasonic Connect North America WWW.NA.PANASONIC.COM/US

➤ www.contractormag.com

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Noritz America WWW.NORITZ.COM

▲ HOT SHOT PIPE-THAWING

MACHINES from General Pipe Cleaners safely thaw pipe in minutes, without tearing up floors or walls, digging around pipe in frozen ground or using hazardous blow torches. The Hot-Shot 320 thaws up to 100' of 1½" pipe, yet weighs only 30 lb. The HotShot 400 thaws 1½” frozen lines up to 175' long.

General Pipe Cleaners WWW.DRAINBRAIN.COM

METUS WWW.MITSUBISHICOMFORT.COM

FLOW-THROUGH EXPANSION TANK from Taco is designed to

tankless water heater installation in residential applications.

With this accessory, premix burner Noritz tankless water heaters can be installed without the installer setting foot on the roof.

Drilling holes in the wall for exhaust is no longer needed.

The kit includes three 36" polypropylene pipes and a PP-PVC adaptor, a 2" single-vent conversion kit, and a diffuser kit.

WASHLET S7 BIDET SEAT from Toto features a precise, warm, aerated water spray with adjustable pressure and temperature settings for a thorough, comfortable cleansing. It features the ewater+ system, which mists and cleans the bowl water after every use. Fully automated, including remote control and heated seat.

Toto USA WWW.TOTOUSA.COM

JANUARY 2024 • 55

12/21/2023 1:14:49 PM

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to include your company in the next Marketplace section.

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JANUARY 2024 • 57

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Editorial

by Steve Spaulding EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Year Was 1954…

I

t was the year Marilyn Monroe wed Joe DiMaggio. Bill Haley & His Comets recorded and released Rock Around the Clock. That year the Supreme Court decided Brown vs. Board of Education. Joseph N. Welch asked Senator Joseph McCarthy, “At long last, have you left no sense of decency?” It was the year of the first Burger King hamburger, and the first hydrogen bomb test.

It was also the year that saw the very first issue of CONTRACTOR Magazine.

(You can see that first cover for yourself on pg. 4.)

The magazine was a new venture that grew out of another publication, Plumbing & Heating Business. The idea was to do something different. It would be independent, not attached to any special interest or association. It would be news-oriented with a format to reflect that: instead of a typical magazine cover readers discovered something that looked like a newspaper front page.

“The inside is outside,” that first editorial from Editor-in-Chief John Carlson

proclaimed. Dive right in and get reading. It had a large-sized tabloid format to make the news easier to scan.

When it first started publishing CONTRACTOR came out twice a month and cost 50 cents an issue. Looking back at that first issue it’s interesting to see

reader or whether this is the first issue you’ve ever picked up, we are grateful to have you along for this year-long celebration.

Over the decades CONTRACTOR has seen several changes of ownership, numerous changes in leadership

When it first started publishing CONTRACTOR came out twice a month and cost 50 cents an issue. how much the industry has changed and how much is still the same. One of the lead news items in 1954 was about federal infrastructure investment (of course, this was coming from the Eisenhower Administration). Another story predicted that year the supply of journeymen plumbers would exceed the demand—wouldn’t that be a problem we’d like to have!

This year marks our 70th year in publication, and whether you’re a regular

and has even flirted with changes in format. What hasn’t changed is our independence, and our commitment to our readers—plumbing and heating professionals from all aspects of the industry—and to delivering the news, insights and information they need to be more successful.

A part of that mission is, from time to time, singling out the people we feel are examples of the best this industry has to offer. Individuals who elevate the

profession, advance their employees, and give back to their communities.

This year we are proud to name Mike Prencavage, Jr., owner of The Family Plumber in Los Alamitos, CA, as our Contractor of the Year. (You can read our full feature article starting on pg. 26.)

Prevencage has built a culture that lives up to the company motto, “Just Like Having a Plumber in the Family.”

He has grown his business by putting an emphasis on processes and procedures, and by paying strict attention to his KPIs. He has generously supported a variety of charities and youth organizations and has given back to the industry through his service in the PHCC. He is currently Director of Business Development for PHCC National.

We congratulate Mike on his many accomplishments. At the same time, we’d like to thank our readers, whose support over the past 70 years has given us the opportunity to tell stories like his.

We wish you all a happy and prosperous 2024.

ADVERTISER INDEX Advertiser

Website

Page

Advertiser

Website

Page

A.O. Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hotwater.com/voltexal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

PHCC-GLAA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . flowexpousa.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Ariston Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AmericanStandardWaterHeaters.com. . . . . 37

Progressive Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . progressivecommercial.com. . . . . . . . . . . IBC

Bradford White. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.bradfordwhite.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

SFA Saniflo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . saniflo.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Cintas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cintas.com/contractormag . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Shortridge Instruments, Inc. . . . . . . . . www.shortridge.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,52

ECR International/Dunkirk. . . . . . . . . . www.dunkirk.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC

ShurTape Technologies, Inc.. . . . . . . . . Shurtape.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

FloLogic Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . flologic.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Stiebel Eltron Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.StiebelEltron.us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

General Pipe Cleaners. . . . . . . . . . . . . www.drainbrain.com/Flexi-Rooter. . . . . IFC,51

supplyhouse.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . supplyhouse.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Intellihot Green Technologies Inc. . . . . www.intellihot.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

The Best Postcards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.thebestpostcards.com. . . . . . . . in poly

LAARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . laars.com/commercialwallboiler. . . . . . . . . 11

Triangle Tube. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.triangletube.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Liberty Pumps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LibertyPumps.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,35

Tyler Pipe, McWane Plumbing . . . . . . . tylertough.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Merit Brass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.meritbrass.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

U.S. Boiler Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.usboiler.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Navien, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . navieninc.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

WATCO Mfg. Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . watcomfg.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Neoperl Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.neoperl.us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Watts Water Technologies, Inc.. . . . . . . training.watts.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,39

Omega Flex Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . tracpipe.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Woodford Mfg. Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.woodfordmfg.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

58 • JANUARY 2024

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SALES CONTACTS Associate Publisher & Midwest Bill Boyadjis 973-829-0648 bboyadjis@endeavorb2b.com South & West: Senior Manager, Business Development, Randy Jeter 908 Electra • Austin, TX 78734 512/263-7280 Cell: 512/426-9145; Fax: 913/514-6628 rjeter@endeavorb2b.com East Coast: Senior Manager, Business Development, Brian Sack 16 Abilene Lane • Manalapan, NJ 07726 Cell: 732/629-1949; bsack@endeavorb2b.com Classifieds/inside sales: Media Account Executive, Steve Suarez 10955 Lowell Avenue • Overland Park, KS 66210 Cell: 816-588-7372 Office: 941-259-0867 ssuarez@endeavorb2b.com Director of Sales, Buildings & Construction Group Joe Agron 941-200-4778 • jagron@endeavorb2b.com

➤ www.contractormag.com

1/3/2024 4:12:55 PM

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