Editor’s Notebook

TERRY Tanker Publisher ttanker@hvacrbusiness.com

PETE Grasso Editor pgrasso@hvacrbusiness.com

MEGAN LaSalla Art Director mlasalla@hvacrbusiness.com

BRUCE Sprague Circulation Manager bs200264@sbcglobal.net

BARBARA Kerr Executive Assistant bkerr@hvacrbusiness.com

ADVERTISING STAFF EAST COAST/SOUTHEAST JIM Clifford Regional Sales Manager Tel 201-362-5561 Fax 201-334-9186 jclifford@hvacrbusiness.com

MIDWEST ERIC Hagerman Regional Sales Manager Tel 216-409-3246 Fax 440-731-8750 ehagerman@hvacrbusiness.com

WEST COAST TERRY Tanker Publisher Tel 440-731-8600 Fax 440-731-8750 ttanker@hvacrbusiness.com

HVACR Business, founded January 1981, is a monthly national trade magazine serving contractors, mechanical engineers, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, distributors, trade associations, and others in the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry primarily in the U.S. The editorial focus and mission of HVACR Business is to provide business owners and managers with the very best business management concepts available. Critical topics covered include leadership, management, strategy, finance, sales, marketing, training, education, staffing, operations, human resources, legal issues, customer service and more. We are dedicated to helping contractors master these key management skills and provide them with the resources necessary to build strong, profitable companies. Every effort is made to provide accurate information, however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for accuracy of submitted advertising and editorial information. Copyright©2020 by JFT Properties LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced or retransmitted in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or any information storage retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Unauthorized copying may subject violators to criminal penalties as well as liabilities for substantial monetary damages up to $100,000 per infringement, costs and attorneys’ fees. This publication should not be utilized as a substitute for professional advice in specific situations. If legal, medical, accounting, financial, consulting, coaching or other professional advice is required, the services of the appropriate professional should be sought. Neither the authors nor the publisher may be held liable in any way for any interpretation or use of the information in this publication. The authors will make recommendations for solutions for you to explore. Any recommendation is always based on the authors’ research and experience. The information contained herein is accurate to the best of the publisher’s and authors’ knowledge; however, the publisher and authors can accept no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information or for loss or damage caused by any use thereof. Subscription Rates: Free and controlled circulation to qualified subscribers. Non-qualified persons may subscribe at the following rates: U.S. and possessions: 1 year $48; 2 years $75; 3 years $96; Canadian and foreign, 1-year $108 U.S. funds only. Single copies $8. Subscriptions are prepaid, and check or money orders only. Subscriber Services: To order a subscription or change your address, write to HVACR Business, 31674 Center Ridge Road, Suite 104, North Ridgeville, OH 44039 or call (440) 731-8600; or visit our Web site at www.hvacrbusiness.com. For questions regarding your subscription, please contact bkerr@hvacrbusiness.com. HVACR Business (ISSN 2153-2877) Copyright ©2020 is published monthly by JFT Properties LLC,31674 Center Ridge Road, Suite 104, North Ridgeville, OH 44039, Phone: 440- 731-8600. Periodicals postage is paid at North Ridgeville, OH and additional mailing offices. (USPS 025-431) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to HVACR Business, 31674 Center Ridge Road, Suite 104, North Ridgeville, OH 44039.

31674 Center Ridge Road, Suite 104 North Ridgeville, OH 44039 Tel: (440) 731-8600 Fax: (440) 731-8750 Web site: www.hvacrbusiness.com (ISSN: 2153-2877)

BY PETE GRASSO

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

One of the hardest hit areas of COVID-19 cases has been New York City and the surrounding area. Carmine Galletta, owner of GallettAir Inc. in West Babylon on Long Island, has had to adjust to a new normal when it comes to doing business.

Like many business owners, Galletta has had to cut back on the amount of people in his office — but he has not let anyone go and has not reduced anyone’s pay. He applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan (pg. 11) but has yet to see any money.

The office is down to a team of about four, all separated by cubicles and wearing masks, with many answering calls from home and working on laptops. Technicians are dispatched from their homes each day, coming in twice a week to restock their vehicles with parts.

“We sanitize every day … we clean everything,” Galletta says. “I’m trying to keep the number of people reporting to the office at a minimum.”

GallettAir has been proactive on its social media channels, communicating to its more than 20,000 service contract customers. The message is clear: GallettAir employees are healthy, they get their temperature taken every day and, if they feel even slightly sick, they don’t come in to work.

“When customers call for service, we also ask if there’s been anyone sick in their homes,” Galletta says. “We make sure they know, when we come to their home, we wear masks, gloves and shoe covers … that’s the protocol now.”

To limit exposure for his team, Galletta admits that they’ve been postponing many of the scheduled maintenance appointments this spring.

disinfectant to sanitize them for reuse, he decided to act.

“I knew that couldn’t be good … it would definitely compromise the masks,” he says. “I did some research, went into my garage and built a sanitizing box with a UVC light.”

Having used UVC lights in filtration systems for the last 25 years, Galletta was familiar with how they worked and how effective they would be for sanitizing PPE. He ordered 150 UVC lights from his supplier.

“Initially, we made a small box to sit on a desk; which my son helped fabricate in his friend’s shop,” Galletta says. “Then we came up with the idea of using a two-drawer office file cabinet and outfitting it with the UVC lights, a GFI and threaded rods across each drawer.”

Each UVC file cabinet box can hold about 16 N95 masks and takes about eight to 10 minutes to completely sanitize. In addition,

Galletta says they designed the top drawer so that it can hold cell phones, wallets and other small items to be sanitized.

Aside from the few he’s kept for

GallettAir’s own use, Galletta has donated all of these units to local fire and police stations, townships and doctor’s offices.

“At times you have to put yourself out there for the greater good of others,” Galletta says. “If every person who had an idea that could potentially help in extreme conditions such as we are in now abandoned it due to fear, then technology, inventions and cures would not exist.

“This is about helping others, not about capitalizing on a bad situation. It’s the old-fashioned American way,” he continues. “Helping our fellow Americans conquer a common adversary. In this case, one we cannot see.” u

“We explain to our customers, if they have a problem with their system, we’ll come service it,” he says. “But, we’re not going to risk our guys to go out and simply do basic maintenance or change a filter. The less exposure we have, the better off we are for everyone.”

Always one to look out for his community, Galletta decided to use his time and resources for good. Hearing about the shortage of PPE and N95 masks and seeing how some people were spraying