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The popular, trade-exclusive American Standard Champion PRO toilet line has been expanded to include two new decorative tank designs that beautifully complement traditional bath decors. The new tank designs include Portsmouth, characterized by historic details reminiscent of Colonial Williamsburg, and Retrospect, which is distinguished by classically styled curves. Each new design coordinates with a corresponding collection of bath fixtures and faucets to make it easy to create a harmonized bathroom look.

Both the Portsmouth and Retrospect styles are available in standard height (15 inches) elongated models, plus in comfortable Right Height (16 1/2 inches) elongated and round front versions. These wholesale exclusive toilets provide a wide range of features designed to deliver reliable performance, easy maintenance, and personalized comfort.

For more information on this announcement, including a press release and downloadable hi-res images, please visit: http://www.americanstandard-us.com/pressroom/new-decorative-styles-added-to-high-efficiency-champion-pro-toilet-series/

Lochinvar, LLC announces the launch of its new FTXL™ Fire Tube Boiler for light commercial applications. With five models ranging from 399,999 to 850,000 Btu/hr, the FTXL Boiler represents a new generation of fire-tube technology, delivering up to 10:1 turndown and up to 98 percent Thermal Efficiency – higher than any other boiler in its class. Enabled for CON-X-US™ remote connect capability, the FTXL Boiler offers complete control from across town or across the country.

The Smartest SMART SYSTEM™

The FTXL Boiler is equipped with Lochinvar’s most advanced, all-in-one SMART SYSTEM™ control technology. With a redesigned multi-color LCD interface and a wealth of new control features, the state-of-the-art operating system offers the option of direct integration into a Building Automation System through communication protocols such as Modbus or BACnet.

The new CON-X-US remote connectivity option redefines monitoring by simplifying data acquisition and providing remote diagnostics. Status alerts can be sent to a smart device, and the user can monitor and re-program control parameters from almost anywhere.

Further expanding upon the SMART SYSTEM functionality, the new Loch-N-Load™programming feature allows the user to load proven parameters onto a USB drive and plug the drive into a port on the front panel of the boiler to upload them to the operating system. This shortcut can reduce installation and programming time by up to 30 minutes per boiler.

With SMART SYSTEM’s built-in cascading sequencer, up to eight FTXL units can operate efficiently with total inputs of up to 6.8 million Btu/hr. To protect the system from downtime, cascade redundancy allows for the second boiler to take the lead if the first boiler in the sequence becomes non-operational.

Exceptional Ease of Installation + Simplified Service

The FTXL Boiler is designed for maximum space efficiency and flexible placement in the mechanical room. Each model in the line features zero clearance on both sides and the same installed footprint of 6.2 square feet, which is 20-30 percent smaller than competitive boilers. The boiler allows for direct-venting up to 100 feet, using inexpensive PVC, as well as CPVC, polypropylene or stainless steel pipe. Multiple FTXL units can also be common-vented, which reduces installation time and materials cost.

In addition, the water, gas and venting connections are located on the back of the boiler for easy access. Adding to the convenience, the boiler’s hinged top puts all other components and electrical connections in quick reach for simplified service.

“With the introduction of the FTXL Boiler, we continue to redefine the fire tube boiler category,” said Jeff Vallett II, boiler product manager for Lochinvar. “We designed the new FTXL line to deliver best-in class AHRI thermal efficiency and footprints, more sophisticated SMART SYSTEM functionality than ever before, plus the convenience of remote connectivity to simplify and streamline operations for our customers.”

Flood Buzz™ Pro is an easy-to-use, low-cost, patent-pending, loud and effective water leak alarm designed to help mitigate damage caused by water leaks and to serve as a key marketing tool for plumbers, contractors and other building service professionals.

Flood Buzz™ Pro has an internal battery — so once it is placed near potential water leak locations, it will sound an alert to any potential flood condition when water touches the two prongs on the bottom of the product.

Flood Buzz™ Pro may be personalized with a company name and contact information right on the unit.  By placing the 2-5/8″ high x 1-7/8″ diameter alarm in their customers’ facilities – next to water heaters, laundries, under sinks, bathrooms, kitchens, etc. – contractors will get that service call when the Flood Buzz™ Pro sounds a 110 dB alarm. For plumbers and contractors, it’s like having their business card right there when their customers need them.

As a marketing tool, the Flood Buzz™ Pro provides contractors with an effective CRM strategy – customers are grateful that contractors proactively help manage potentially damaging water leaks. The Flood Buzz™ Pro delivers a cost-effective marketing advantage for all service-based companies.

Learn more at www.FloodBuzzPro.com.

By Patricia Bonacorda

Regardless of where your plumbing company is located, it’s probably not the only game in town. Just because a customer hires you to perform repairs once is no guarantee that he or she will hire you again in the future. That’s true even if you deliver service of the utmost quality. When the need for a plumber arises again, it’s all too easy for customers to forget the name of your business and to choose a different company at random.

Some plumbing business owners worry more about attracting new customers than about retaining existing ones, but that’s a big mistake. The fact is that it costs a lot less to keep current customers than it does to earn new ones. By ensuring that customers remember your company in the future, you’ll continue to earn their business. What’s even better is that when customers are able to easily recall the name of your company and are happy with the service you provide, they are more likely to refer people to you as well.

With so much competition out there, how can you make customers remember your plumbing company in the future? A few prime examples include the following:

Make Customers Feel Important

Building and nurturing relationships with existing customers increases the odds that they’ll hire your company again in the future. A great way to do this is by making customers feel special and important. A simple thank-you card can go a long way. Another option is to occasionally send special offers via regular mail or email. When customers know they’ll get a special discount by hiring you again, they’re a lot likelier to do so.
Use Promotional Items

People love getting stuff for free, so why not hand out promotional pens, notepads, magnets or other items after completing service calls? Promotional items can be ordered in bulk, which usually makes them affordable. With your company’s name, number and other contact information emblazoned on each item, people will be reminded of your plumbing business and know precisely who to call the next time they need help with a clog or other plumbing problem.
Follow Up after Completing a Job

Very few plumbing companies take the time to follow up with their customers to ensure that the work was done to their satisfaction, so this is a great way to stand apart from the crowd. By contacting your customers within a day or two of completing the work, you’ll show them that you really care. Most people are pleasantly surprised by such efforts, so the name of your business is much more likely to stay in their minds in the future.
Develop Strong Relationships

Rather than treating customers as a once-off proposition, make a point to get to know them to establish long-term relationships. Customer management software can really come in handy by allowing you to keep notes about each customer’s previous jobs and details about their homes. Simply making a point of referring to your customers by name as often as possible can have an enormous beneficial impact.
Send Helpful Newsletters

As the owner of a plumbing company, you undoubtedly know all kinds of tricks and tips that your existing customers will find useful. Why not share them by sending out newsletters on occasion? Whether you send the newsletters on a monthly or quarterly basis, they will help to keep your business in customers’ minds. They can be sent via direct mail or email. In the case of the email, be sure your customers opt in first.
Send Holiday Greetings

Very few plumbing companies bother to send greetings around the holidays. Other times, they only send cards to their biggest customers. Stand out among the competition by sending holiday greetings to as many existing customers as possible. Just remember that not everyone celebrates the same holidays, so keep the greetings somewhat generic in nature.
Make Effective Use of Social Media

You may have written off using social media because you don’t think anyone would follow a plumbing company on a site like Facebook. But if you give people a reason to do so, many of them will. Offer incentives to customers who follow your business on Facebook, and periodically post friendly updates to remind people that you’re available to help. The return on the minimal amount of time and effort needed to be active on social media can be considerable.
Conclusion

Don’t fall into the trap of exclusively focusing your marketing efforts on new customers. Your current customers are very valuable to you, so take steps to remind them of your plumbing business. You’re sure to be pleasantly surprised by the payoff.

Author Bio:
Patricia Bonacorda is the President of Spartan Plumbing a plumbing and HVAC Company that has been in business since 1964. Spartan Plumbing assists both residential and commercial customers all throughout the Washington DC Region.