Industry News

• Greensource CDi Series SM Model heat pumps available in packaged & split systems
• Split models separate condenser & fan coil for application flexibility
• Up to 33 EER (Part Load) – 24 EER (Full Load) with split model
• Condenser section can be installed outside the home

The Bosch Greensource CDi Series SM Model residential geothermal heat pump is now available in a split system for applications seeking to separate the condenser unit from the fan coil.

A split system allows the installer to separate the condenser section up to 75 feet away from the fan coil section to isolate sound, vibration and unwanted heat from the conditioned space. The condenser may be located indoors or outdoors.

The highly efficient CDi Series SM Split Model geothermal heat pump system comes equipped with Bosch’s commitment to quality, including up to 33.0 EER (part load) and up to 24.0 EER (full load) GWHP. Greensource CDi Series SM split models use a Bosch communicating thermostat that displays alerts and controls not only air temperature but also humidity levels.

Greensource CDi Series heat pumps – packaged and split models – are designed and built in Bosch’s ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified facilities in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They serve as a platform for renewable energy products in a residential comfort control system.

Both packaged and split models are ENERGY STAR rated and are awarded

ENERGY STAR 2014 Most Efficient product recognition. The new CDi Series meets ENERGY STAR Tier 3 requirements, making it eligible for up to a 30% tax credit. (See BoschGeo.com for details.)

Advantages for the installer include configurability – return air can be customized for the job, either left side, right side, or back or top of unit.

Encased in a white prepainted steel cabinet, each unit is equipped with scroll compressor technology for two-stage operation, a patent pending floating base pan, stainless steel drain pan, and an evaporator coil with tin-plated hair pins for durability and reliability. With an operating sound level as low as 52 dB, CDi Series units are some of the quietest in the industry.

Bosch provides 10-year parts and labor limited warranties on the CDi Series SM Model and split systems.

Sloan has expanded its Crown® piston flushometer line with the addition of sensor and manually operated urinal models flushing at 0.125 gpf or 0.25 gpf. These new ultra high-efficiency piston flushometers further expand Sloan’s wide range of high-performing plumbing systems for today’s commercial restroom.

The exposed and concealed 0.125 gpf and 0.25 gpf Crown flushometers are available as complete valves or they can retrofit onto existing 0.5 gpf flushometers to save even more water and money in a matter of minutes. Along with the introduction of these new models, Sloan has made Crown product line enhancements to ease installation and increase the performance of these systems, including a new Venturi piston design for water closets to improve flow efficiency.

Other Crown flushometer products include water closet models, operating at 1.6 gpf or 1.28 gpf, and 0.5 gpf and 1.0 gpf urinal models. Crown flushometers are available separately or packaged with Sloan vitreous china water closet or urinal fixtures.

Sloan patented the piston flushometer in 1929. The new Crown models join Sloan’s complete line of piston and diaphragm technology flushometers, which together meet the needs of all commercial applications and environments. Download this white paper discussing which conditions and usages impact the decision to choose a piston or a diaphragm flushometer: http://sloanvalve.com/Water_Efficiency/SLV3583-Diaphragm_Piston_White-Paper.pdf.

Gas station restrooms have a notorious reputation in general, but a series of renovated stations in Southern California—all of which incorporate Sloan flushometers—is changing people’s minds. In fact, these restrooms are designed to offer comfortable, leisurely waits for customers of the stations’ car wash and oil change services.

Erika Winters, principal of Erika Winters Design in Los Angeles, has led the redesign of five gas stations for her client and has more locations on the drawing boards. Bella Marketplace is the branded theme of the gas stations owned by Winters’ client with each location taking a slightly different take on the Italian villa look.

Customers of the Las Posas 76 gas station and car wash in Camarillo, Calif., for instance, are treated to restrooms with granite countertops, vessel sinks, Sloan sensor-operated toilets, marble tile and a chandelier. For stations in higher crime areas, Winters alters the product and material choices to keep the restrooms nice, yet vandal resistant.

“We’re happy with Sloan. They’re functional, and they always look good,” says Winters, who chooses either Sloan manual or electronic flushometers, depending on the station.

Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain™ Stands Out in Saturated Segment, Signs 18 Deals in First Quarter

While plumbing isn’t exactly known as a sexy business, that doesn’t mean franchises trying to compete in the segment have to flush all their creative thinking down the toilet. With a creative name and memorable, playful bright-blue frog as a brand icon, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain™ is poised to leap ahead of old-school competitors, closing deals with 18 new franchisees just four months after launching its franchise opportunity.

The emerging plumbing and drain-cleaning service, repair and replacement franchise has more to offer than just a catchy name. It’s backed by a major national franchise system with more than three decades of experience and a CEO who spent years with a key competitor in the space.

Mark Dawson, CEO and President of Home Brands Group™, parent company of Re-Bath® and 5 Day Kitchens™ and now, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, has a reputation for moving brands forward and building the right systems to help them sustain long-term growth. Dawson, a former franchisee of Glass Doctor and Mr. Rooter as well as former President of the Dwyer Group’s Glass Doctor, is set on a mission to build the next premier plumbing and drain cleaning franchise with bluefrog.

“I’m always on the look-out for my next challenge and this is one I’m truly excited to grow,” stated Dawson. “The plumbing and drain industry is saturated, but lacks the professionalism and courtesy that consumers seek. When we sought to create bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, we wanted to build a business that was not only customer-service oriented, but also had a fun personality and culture to back it up.”

bluefrog Plumbing + Drain launched in January to fill a void in the marketplace by creating a systematized plumbing and drain cleaning business that focuses on providing consumers with five key attributes that matter to them most, including: timeliness, safety, professionalism, consideration and a transparent value. All told, the plumbing and drain franchise plans to add upwards of 60 units, to its already operating territories in Omaha, Neb. and Pittsburgh, by the end of the year.

The new franchise opportunity adds an additional revenue stream that’s relevant to existing bath and kitchen re-modeling businesses. For instance, the 18 bluefrog Plumbing + Drain franchise partners are composed of Re-Bath franchisees looking to expand their service offerings, as well as independent plumbers who are looking to apply the proven system with a viable exit strategy.

“We’ve created a business that stands out from the competition. Not just with the name, but also our identity and core values,” added Dawson. “We didn’t want to be grouped in to the large amount of Rooters of the world, so we created a memorable brand to embody our ‘hop to it’ mentality, because the frog knows water best. Ultimately, this resonates more with consumers, which is what you need as a business owner in a highly saturated market.”

bluefrog Plumbing + Drain is looking to add trustworthy, independent plumbers who have an entrepreneurial drive to its franchise system. The ideal prospect is an established independent plumber who is bottom-line driven, customer-service oriented, and has a passion for community involvement. At a low conversion cost of $55,000-$300,000, the bluefrog Plumbing + Drain franchise model gives independent plumbers the blueprint to successfully convert and operate their business. The company also offers financing for prospective franchisee partners, as well as training and ongoing support in areas such as marketing, efficiency and management of the business.