ShopTalk

BrassCraft Manufacturing Co. is proud to announce the expansion of its SpeediOne one-piece water supplies with the addition of braided stainless steel connectors.

Designed for the professional plumber seeking a trusted and dependable product that will save significant installation time and ensures a leak free application they can be proud of. With no cutting or soldering required, the SpeediOne is great in cramped quarters.

The SpeediOne products are available:

• For compression, CPVC, PEX , cold expansion and Push Connect inlet connections
• With both angle and straight, multi-turn and 1/4 turn valves
• For toilet and faucet applications
• With braided stainless steel, braided polymer and vinyl connectors

“We continuously strive to evolve our products in a way that provides what the pros want, and we’ve crafted these products to make their job easier and more efficient” said Krisztina Wilson, Product Manager – Water Products. “And we’re proud that our SpeediOne products are designed, machined and assembled in the U.S.A.”

For more information about BrassCraft products, visits www.brasscraft.com

About BrassCraft
BrassCraft Manufacturing Company, a Masco-owned company, is a leading manufacturer of plumbing products for use in the new construction and repair and remodel markets. Founded in 1946, BrassCraft is headquartered in Novi, Michigan, and has manufacturing facilities throughout the continental United States. BrassCraft®. This is our Craft™

Weil-McLain^® offers the GV90+^® high efficiency cast iron boiler for energy efficient, comfort heating in residential applications. The GV90+ features streamlined controls with simple setup, low maintenance and durable design for the long run.

“The GV90+ is designed for homeowners who seek the perfect combination of ideal heating comfort, lower utility bills, peace-of-mind reliability and product longevity,” said Mike Boyd, product manager with Weil-McLain. “The unit features an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of 91%, exceeding ENERGY STAR^® program requirements. Installation of this system also allows homeowners to qualify for a local utility rebates, if available.”

Assembled in Weil-McLain’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Eden, N.C, the unit features a high performance durable cast iron primary heat exchanger made from approximately 70% recycled materials. A corrosion resistant stainless steel condensing secondary heat exchanger recoups heat energy from exhaust normally wasted, to further increase system efficiency.

“The GV90+ has an unsurpassed design in both the primary and secondary heat exchangers, maximizing heat transfer and optimizing boiler efficiency,” said Boyd. “This unique, durable unit is adaptable for most heating demands and effortlessly satisfies various comfort heating demands, from multiple in-home zones to driveway snow melting and even pool heating.”

Unlike most traditional cast iron boilers, the GV90+ offers a control design allowing easy integration of outdoor reset to take advantage of low water temperatures and improve overall system energy cost savings (GV90+’s optional kit may make homeowners eligible for an additional local utility rebate).

A built-in dual circulator system can accept return water temperatures as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit with no additional mixing valves, pumps, wiring and installation labor-saving customers hundreds of dollars.

The lower water temperature also allows homeowners the flexibility to add radiant heating for kitchens, baths or other living spaces without the added cost of special controls.

Simple diagnostics significantly reduce troubleshooting time by using flashing LED lights to easily communicate errors.

Other GV90+ key features include:

• Unique seven pass heat exchanger design maximizes heat transfer
• Vents with either stainless steel, CPVC or inexpensive PVC material
• Multiple sidewall or through-the-roof venting options (direct vent, direct exhaust, concentric)
• Extra-wide waterways allow system debris to flow through easily, limiting scale build-up
• Easy conversion to propane (kit included)
• Insulated heavy gauge steel jacket
• Stainless Steel base and burners
• Multiple sizes to satisfy every application

For demanding hot water applications, the high performance GV90+ boiler pairs seamlessly with the efficient and durable AHRI Certified^™ line of Weil-McLain AquaPlus^™ Indirect Fired Water Heaters for virtually limitless hot water for bathing, laundry, dish washing and cooking.

To learn more about the GV90+ boiler visit http://www.weil-mclain.com/products/gv90-gas-boiler or contact a Weil-McLain regional sales office at www.weil-mclain.com/en/weil-mclain/about-us/locations/.

For the construction professional looking for maximum versatility in an easy-to-use leveling solution, the answer is the Bosch GCL 2-160 Self-Leveling Cross-Line Laser with Plumb Points.

This all-in-one unit offers a high-visibility cross-line with two up/down laser points. The lines and points can be turned on independently or together for horizontal level, vertical level and plumb transfer applications. The laser has a visible range of 65 ft. and accuracy of 1/8″; the receiver mode allows it to work with optional Bosch line laser receivers (LR 6 or LR 7) for a working range of up to 165 ft. The unit has suitability to work both indoors and outdoors. And the laser has Bosch VisiMax™ Technology, which monitors power consumption to extend line visibility time and battery life.

Flexibility is Job One

The Bosch GCL 2-160 Self-Leveling Cross-Line Laser with Plumb Points is ideal for the multi-function user who works a variety of jobs involving leveling, aligning and plumbing. It has manual mode to lock lines for use at any angle. And the Smart Pendulum System self-levels with an accuracy up to ±4° and indicates out-of-level condition with blinking laser lines. It provides two highly visible lines and pulse functionality to work with optional Bosch line laser receivers to extend the working range. “The Bosch GCL 2-160 Self-Leveling Cross-Line Laser with Plumb Points is the versatile cross-line laser tool for the professional user,” said Tony Kang, product manager, measuring tools, Robert Bosch Tool Corporation. “If you’re a carpenter or a plumber and only have room for one laser tool, the GCL 2-160 is it. This tool was specifically made for you.” The GCL 2-160 includes the RM 1 Magnetic Rotating Mount, which rotates 360° and positions the vertical line to keep the unit centered on the plumb points. In addition, it has built-in magnets that secure it to metal surfaces. It’s well suited for ceiling installations, especially with the included ceiling grid clip. It has a slide-in locking base for quick and easy setup.

Added Features, Greater Ease of Use

The Bosch GCL 2-160 has a pendulum lock, which protects the laser diodes by locking the diode in place for use in angled applications, during storage or transport. The LED battery status is located on top of the tool for added user convenience. The unit offers robust over-molded construction built to the IP54 standard, which ensures splash water/dust protection for years of dependable operation. The Bosch GCL 2-160 Self-Leveling Cross-Line Laser with Plumb Points comes with the RM 1 magnetic mount, a ceiling grid clip, a hard carrying case, a laser target plate, and three AA batteries. To learn more about the Bosch GCL 2-160 Self-Leveling Cross-Line Laser with Plumb Points or to find a local dealer, visit www.boschtools.com or call 877-BOSCH-99. Check out www.bethepro.com for additional tips and videos.

While many contractors make a lot of money in a 4 month period during the summer, is there a chance you could do even better? Perhaps serve the customers better and improve your chances for referrals where there is no competition while earning trust from the consumer? Of course, YES.

Here are 10 ways to improve your company performance and keep your sanity during the hot weather.

1. Listen to your customers. Contractors often get too rushed in summer, realizing there are more customers to see in this time period then a few months ago. When moving too fast, this can cause many to stop or forget to do the very things that made them the kind of company the customer wants to see. Really pay attention to the customer. Listen to their story and don’t jump to conclusions before they finish. Repeat back what they said so you can begin earning their trust because they know you are listening. Then you can fix the problem.

2. Stay focused. Focus on the customer. Set aside the personal problems as they are not interested in your daughter’s broken arm, for instance. Leave the other customers outside your home, your family issues should not come in the house with you.

3. Make a good first impression. Yep, gotta get them booties out. I know it takes about 20 seconds to put on the carpet protectors, but it shows respect. Do it every time. And take 2 breath mints before you ring the doorbell. They don’t need to know you had garlic pizza for lunch. If you’re a smoker, at least put some Fabreeze spray on or something to help repel the smoke odor.

4. Clean shirt. Take a minute to be sure you are not wearing the last dirty service call. If you’re last service call made your shirt dirty, put on another new shirt. Yes, the back up shirt you should keep and always have available in your truck. When you use it, take the soiled shirt out of the truck that evening and get it cleaned. Also, clean up and straighten up that truck. Take 5 minutes at the end of each day to throw out the trash and make sure you have adequate supplies, with a simple quick overview to make sure you are always prepared for upcoming jobs.

5. Do a complete exam. When you go to the doctor, they take blood pressure, weight, pulse, and more, even when you tell him you have a rash on your arm. They are looking for other problems that may be a factor. We have to have that same attitude as contractors to look the entire system over. You may find a valve that leaks or another issue that, if found, could save your customer lots of money by correcting the problem early.

6. Quality over quantity. Recently, a contractor in California told me he had a tech who ran 12 calls the day before. Really? In California traffic? I did not ask how many he had to go back on, but when we are rushed, mistakes happen that can cost customers money and ultimately, yor company more future business. So a company may have to tell a customer the reality: to do this job correctly, you will be there tomorrow, or in two days if necessary. Realize the customer doesn’t want to hear this, but the dispatcher has to know there is a physical limit to what the company can do in a given day. This ultimately is good for the customer and your business. Stacking on more calls can weaken your effectiveness and your bottom line.

7. Start a maintenance agreement program. Yep, start it now! This is especially beneficial when you service HVAC units in addition to plumbing services. When you come upon a nasty problem, tell the customer the truth, they need a precision tune up and professional cleaning. In many cases, the unit has a problem that can be traced back to a lack of maintenance. You can even schedule that tune up for October, when the units are not used as much and it’s a more convenient time for your customer.

8. Do immediate maintenance on older equipment. If you have a customer contact you that has older equipment, schedule maintenance to be done quickly. Especially before summer for HVAC equipment, before it breaks down. That way you have a better chance to pick up a new customer when the competition can’t get to them.

9. Develop a “go now” attitude for replacement sales. Some contractors get the information for a quote and then take it back to the office to put together a proposal. Then “tries” to make an appointment to go back to share the numbers. When a call comes in, get to the home now and put together a proposal on the spot. Make it happen. And while you’re in the neighborhood, don’t fax or email a proposal. This stuff is sold face to face where people like to buy from people they like. 7% of communication is words, 38% is tone of voice, and 55% is body language. So you can gain more customers using good body language face to face.

10. Praise the successes. Publically. Thank the team members who go the extra mile and help a customer in unexpected ways. Correct the mistakes privately. Make sure the team understands you value them.

Although these ideas are simple, they are always good principles for every business and everyone needs a refreshing reminder from time to time.