These are the Dead Men that PM columnist Dan Holohan holds in high esteem.

Plumbers have given way to scientists as modern inventors.

One of the legacies of the old Trade Extension Bureau that remains alive today was its effort to standardize industry vocabulary.

The debate over who Thomas Crapper was - or even if there was a Thomas Crapper at all - continues.

American plumbers have accomplished more in two centuries than the Romans did in 10.

People take for granted devices such as the T&P valve, kitchen disposal, flush toilet and so many of our industry's other useful gadgets that have made lives safer, healthier, more comfortable and convenient.

Tool Tips—August 2018

Tool Tips—September 2018

Tool Tips—October 2018

Tool Tips—November 2018

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Tool Tips—January 2019

Tool Tips—February 2019

Tool Tips—March 2019

Tool Tips—April 2019

Tool Tips—May 2019

Tool Tips—June 2019

Tool Tips—July 2019

When it comes to a well pump that has fallen off the pitless to the bottom of the well due to a broken adapter, it can cost a homeowner a lot to fix.

A lot of times a snake cable will just stir up the sludge and I have seen cables in clean-outs or manholes downstream where the pipe is still clogged.

On our trucks, we keep all our soldering material, such as solder, paste, pipe cutters, emery cloth, inspection mirror and other miscellaneous items, in small tackle boxes.

This tool tip made my co-worker and our customer so happy that he made one and wrote my name on it. 

Leaking fixtures can waste a lot of water and money. 

When installing a toilet, the final touch is caulking around the base which can sometimes be a mess. 

First, remove the overflow trim. Then, insert a water hose down overflow. 

We do gas and electric water heaters for lots of residential customers. 

The customer says there is water at the base of the toilet after flushing, which means you get to replace the wax seal. 

Every time I installed an ice maker supply line, I was always concerned that it may leak — pushing and pulling on the fridge. 

Carry lengths of pipe in a standard cargo van and eliminate roof racks.

Contractors are a mobile breed — constantly on the move, from job to job. With so much shuffling around, there is more opportunity for human error — tools ending up on the wrong jobsite on the wrong day. When you have inventory tied up across different jobs, in the back of a work truck or van, or in a warehouse on a high shelf that’s rarely dusted, it’s easy for mistakes to be made.

When installing a shower arm or hand held hose wall elbow, thread a ½" coupling onto the male ends and select the appropriate size pipe nipple to use as a lever.

I have seen and experienced draining a water heater for replacement, and the drain is clogged and won’t let out any water.

We are a full service plumbing company. There are times when we have to gain access to the roof of million dollar homes. 

I have been reading a lot of tips about setting toilet bowls. 

We keep super glue on the truck for any time we run into needing an O-ring, but don't have the exact size. 

Recently, while doing an emergency water heater replacement, I needed some lube for the small O-rings on the mixing valve. 

The acquisition strengthens Anvil International’s fire protection product package.

The Yankee chapter will now be known as the Patriot chapter in the New England area.

NFPA 70 provides the important details for design.

Former Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer leads charge for residential fire safety.

The Johnson Controls GRINNELL G-Fire One-Bolt Coupling features a single-bolt design that eliminates alternate tightening.

Effective July 8, 2019, Victaulic has purchased Globe Fire Sprinkler. Combined, these two respected companies will have the resources and capabilities to bring exciting new solutions to the fire protection industry around the world, Victaulic notes.

Spencer Bell has been a fan of HoldRite plumbing brackets and the TESTRITE DWV testing system for years. So recently, when he heard that HoldRite had innovated the cast-in-place firestop sleeve process, he didn’t waste time learning more about it.

BNP Media Plumbing Group Multimedia Editor Nadia Askar recently sat down with Michael Whiteside, president and owner of Chicago-based MIFAB.

Now that many jurisdictions across the country are mandating fire sprinkler systems in new-home construction, de-signers need to be aware of the requirements and challenges these systems can face in relation to water meters.

How can engineers and contractors design wet fire sprinkler systems equipped to prevent corrosion and dry systems equipped to prevent freezing? That has long been a question central to code requirements and new product development.

Pressure relief valves protect fire sprinkler system components by relieving excess system pressure from supply surges or temperature changes. Since the 2010 edition, NFPA 13: “Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems” has required pressure relief valves to be installed on all wet pipe fire sprinkler systems. But picking the correct relief valve for a specific system does need a little preplanning.

Concealed attic spaces combine some of the most difficult aspects of fire protection design and require carefully tailored fire sprinkler solutions for effectiveness.

Corrosion in fire sprinkler systems can go undetected until it's too late, causing damage or loss of life. Traditional ITM protocols can accelerate corrosion, but new advancements offer better prevention and monitoring for protecting lives and property.

Eighty-two percent of respondents use digital tools daily to help streamline training and development programs. The majority of respondents within this group recognize the diverse benefits that digital tools offer the skilled trades industry.