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How to design and size PEX pipe the right way

Best practices for designing and installing PEX to leverage the benefits of installation efficiencies, job-site safety and profitability potential.




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Atlantic Hurricane Milton Tropical Cyclone Update


000
WTNT64 KNHC 100756
TCUAT4

Hurricane Milton Tropical Cyclone Update
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL142024
400 AM EDT Thu Oct 10 2024

...STRONG WINDS SPREAD ALONG THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA AS THE CENTER
OF MILTON NEARS CAPE CANAVERAL...
...400 AM EDT POSITION UPDATE...

A sustained wind of 83 mph (134 km/h) and a gust to 92 mph (148
km/h) was recently reported at a Weatherstem station in Marineland.
A sustained wind of 67 mph (108 km/h) and a gust to 73 mph (117
km/h) was recently reported at a Weatherstem station on South
Hutchinson Island. A sustained wind of 54 mph (87 km/h) and a gust
of 83 mph (133 km/h) was recently reported at buoy 41069 near Ponce
de Leon Inlet. A sustained wind of 54 mph (87 km/h) and a gust of 84
mph (135 km/h) was recently reported at Daytona Beach International
Airport.

This will be the final hourly position update for Milton since the
center of the hurricane is moving offshore of the east coast of
Florida. The next full forecast advisory for Milton will be at 500
AM EDT (0900 UTC).

SUMMARY OF 400 AM EDT...0800 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...28.5N 80.7W
ABOUT 10 MI...20 KM NW OF CAPE CANAVERAL FLORIDA
ABOUT 35 MI...55 KM E OF ORLANDO FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH...135 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NE OR 55 DEGREES AT 18 MPH...30 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...977 MB...28.85 INCHES

$$
Forecaster Reinhart/Mahoney




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Nicole Krawcke: Technology and trends to watch in 2023

Does anybody else feel like 2022 just flew right by, or is it just me? It seems too early for Christmas decorations and music — just a few short weeks ago, Michigan was still having 70-degree weather! But ‘tis the season!




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Nicole Krawcke: Plumbers can do their part to protect water for future generations

As the water receded from Lake Mead this past year, all the major news headlines focused on the human remains it revealed. Very rarely did any mention the ecosystem in crisis as trees, fish and other aquatic creatures, birds and other species are dying out as they are left out to dry.




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Nicole Krawcke: Use exit interviews to strengthen your plumbing company

In my years in the workforce, I’ve had jobs with amazing bosses and managers. On the flip side, I’ve also had terrible managers who made me question whether or not I wanted to stay in that organization.




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Get creative to attract and retain top talent

Plumbing and HVAC contractors need to market themselves to potential employees just like they market to their customers.




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Contractors should prioritize giving back to their communities

Generosity is the new marketing. In this era of social media, charitable companies can earn an enhanced brand reputation as being a “good” company and will make people want to do business with them.




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PM seeking nominees for Next Gen All Stars Top 20 Under 40 contest

Who can be nominated? Any professional working in any aspect of the plumbing industry, including plumbers and pipefitters, contracting business owners, professional engineers and plumbing designers, wholesalers, manufacturers and manufacturers reps.




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Ensure clear, effective communication with customers and your team.

I reached out to some of the best coaches in the industry for some perspective on communicating clearly and effectively with customers and each other and best practices for how contractors should handle communication breakdowns.




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Want to retain employees? Give them a reason to stay

Retaining skilled employees is vital for plumbing and HVAC contractors. High turnover leads to disruptions and decreased customer satisfaction. To address this, many are finding innovative ways to encourage retention, including unique approaches from new companies.






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America’s return to global manufacturing leadership

Energy independence, anti-dumping laws aid slow return to power.




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Adams Hudson: 3 marketing mistakes to avoid

Not every ad is for leads, and your message is more important than you think.




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Adams Hudson: How to get and convert more leads

You’ve already paid for the lead, so why not extract its full value?




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Adams Hudson: How not to choose a contractor

Selling — even upselling — is a service, and let no one tell you differently.




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Adams Hudson: How much experience is too much?

Don’t let experience turn into complacency and a lack of differentiation.




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Justin Jacobs: Does your direct mail marketing need a touch-up?

Direct mail hits on the high points that anyone would want from an effective marketing campaign: Print builds trust more easily than digital ads. 




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COVID-19 tips for plumbing contractors: How to adjust your mindset and your marketing

By following the tips below, you can mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on your business and lay some groundwork that will make your company more successful in the long run.




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Marketing Magic: 8 local SEO tips for plumbing and mechanical contractors

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Marketing Magic: How contractors can get the most out of their fleet graphics and branding

According to a white paper authored by venture capital firm ARD Ventures, each fleet vehicle, on average, receives between 30,000 -70,000 impressions daily. 




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Marketing Magic: Before you talk to the media, read this

One of the toughest calls I receive as the owner of a public relations agency specializing in the home services industry is from a plumbing or mechanical business owner asking for my help after they find themselves, or their business, in the middle of a crisis.




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Marketing Magic: The secret to success may be a tool you're not using

Let me clue you in on a poorly kept secret: Traditional advertising is expensive. I know, this isn’t exactly shocking. Depending on your market, a month-long rental of a billboard could cost five figures. A week’s worth of 15-second radio ads can run up to $8,000 — and that doesn’t include the cost of producing them. And television? Forget it.




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Not everybody has access to clean water and indoor plumbing

Life in Ghana: The search for water.




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Training to be a plumber in Ghana

Despite not having electric tools, these young plumbers make it work.




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Dan Holohan: Who gets to work on steam?

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Dan Holohan: The case for radiator covers

In March 2010, a nine-month-old boy rolled off his sister’s bed in Jersey City, New Jersey, and got stuck between the bed and a cast-iron, steam radiator that was as hot as it’s supposed to be. The radiator delivered third-degree burns to the infant and left him with permanent scars.




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Dan Holohan: So easy to blame the boiler

A homeowner posted a question on The Wall at HeatingHelp.com about a drumroll sound that was coming from his brand-new steam boiler. What could it be? He included a video so all could hear, and sure enough, it sounded like a snare drum.




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Dan Holohan: Good help is hard to find

My neighbor, Tony, loves his house. We live in a low-crime neighborhood on Long Island but Tony is always on guard against miscreants. He has a Ring camera on every side of his house, mounted high so they’re protected from spray paint. Some of the cameras turn on klieg lights and alarms if I step outside at night to toss the trash in the can. 




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Dan Holohan: Tough job site conditions call for creative workarounds

In the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, which snuggles into the center of the state, you will find Mount Saint James, and upon that steep hill, you will find The College of the Holy Cross.




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Dan Holohan: Why it’s so hard to find workers

My shop teacher was a wiry man who loved hand tools. We spent a week making a buzzer base. He taught us how to saw, sand and varnish. He introduced me to a Brace & Bit hand drill and went on and on about how this was better than an electric drill. “Can you feel the wood? It’s alive!” he said, and I could.




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Dan Holohan: Pipe stories

I called the plumber because there’s an immediacy to plumbing; and I’m old enough to know that it’s best for me not to touch pipes. To each his own trade.




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Dan Holohan: The geography of auto-feeders on steam

I have heating (plumbing, fire suppression, etc.) shops in New York and New Jersey. This is very much steam country, and we repair and replace steam boilers and systems all week long and have been for decades. All that is fine, but what I find incredibly odd is the polarized perception of the automatic water feeder.




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Dan Holohan: Do you prefer educated customers?

Over the years, I've had many homeowners read my books and then write to tell me they knew more about their system than the contractors that came to their houses. This was particularly true when it came to steam heating.




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Dig deeper into system factors behind at-risk actions

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How to deliver in-depth safety learning

Deloitte (2014) describes the modern learner in its infographic, “Meet the Modern Learner.” The infographic shows multiple constraints employees face when developing necessary skills. Many writers and training professionals interpret this to say that people today learn differently. Learning has evolved with the office.




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How to attract, retain & reward employees

Our company has been roofing/remodeling injury-free since inception in 2004. The behavior of people is the predominant cause of accidents and the variable that is most easily changed. Although this article is based on our roofing experiences, the principles are easily applied to any industry, especially those that involve hard labor, high turnover, or dangerous conditions.




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Are toxic cultures rampant?

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Department of Labor issues Mental Health Toolkit

The U.S. Department of Labor has launched a new resource to help employers better understand mental health issues, and obtain guidance on how to cultivate a work environment that supports employees with related conditions.




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Saving a culture: Going from worst to first

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Healthcare facilities gain expert help in meeting regulatory and accreditation requirements

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J. J. Keller to provide free safety & compliance event for healthcare facilities

Complimentary webcast on March 21 will cover the most pressing challenges in the Environment of Care and Life Safety.




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NIOSH to offer free black lung screenings for coal miners

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DOL awards $3.8m to Florida after Hurricane Ian

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PFAS Chemicals: What they are and 3 ways to control them

Organizations around the world are becoming extremely wary of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, otherwise known as PFAS or forever chemicals. But why is this important to your organization and how can you control them? 




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$10.5M in gov funding available to support mine safety, health training, education

Grant applications must be submitted by August 20, 2024, and grants will be awarded on or before Sept. 30, 2024.




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DOL announces proposed rule to protect workers from extreme heat

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Silica protocols should include proper ventilation and cleaning process

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Why is respiratory protection one of OSHA’s most cited standards?

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Current uses of asbestos exceed exposure limits

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Sensidyne launches Gilian Go-Cal Pro air flow calibrator

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How to protect yourself from silicosis on a jobsite

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