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Contest recognizes outstanding customer service; Winner receives $500 cash! 

Malco Products, one of the nation’s leading solution developers and manufacturers of a variety of high-quality tools for the building trades, today announced the launch of its brand-new Counterperson of the Year Contest. 

Malco is looking to recognize and celebrate outstanding counter staff at its U.S. wholesale distribution locations who demonstrate the same values that make Malco great: dedication to superior customer service and going above & beyond to ensure contractors have the Malco tools they need to get the job done.

There are great prizes lined up not just for the winner, but for the contractors and distributors who nominate as well:

• The winner will receive $500 cash.
• If the winner is nominated by a contractor, the contractor receives $100 in Malco tools of their choosing, plus the distributor/contractor team will receive lunch!
• All qualifying nominees and nominators will receive a Malco golf shirt, hat and product catalog.

Malco is also making it easy for contractors to nominate counter staff, with 3 options to enter:

• Grab a printed form at your local distributor location and mail it in (PO Box 400, Annandale, MN, 55302)
• Enter online at www.malcoproducts.com/counterperson-of-the-year
• Submit a brief video, which can be emailed or texted to Malco’s marketing department at 612-325-1502 or marketing@malcotools.com.

All entries must be received by Thursday, August 31, and the winner will be announced in October. Please note, this contest is only open to nominees in the United States.

For more information about Malco Products and to enter the contest, visit www.malcoproducts.com/counterperson-of-the-year

By Sean Comerford

Plumber’s putty and silicone sealant are two common types of sealants used by plumbing professionals. But which one does what? And when should each be applied?

This article provides a detailed breakdown of the key differences between these two popular products and when to use them.

What is plumber’s putty?

Plumber’s putty is a sealing staple for professional plumbers. This easy-to-use product will prevent the migration of water between two rigid surfaces, keeping your fixtures leak-free. A malleable, clay-like compound, plumber’s putty creates a watertight seal by filling in the space under a flange to prevent water from seeping through.

What is silicone sealant?

You’ve probably noticed the terms ‘caulk’ and ‘sealant’ are often used interchangeably.  The two products serve a similar purpose, which is to act as sealing agents to fill gaps and cracks, as well as bonding agents between building materials, such as joining countertops to sink bases. Intended to prevent leaks, they are both applied to surfaces using a caulking gun, which likely explains why a sealant is technically categorized as a type of caulk.

The key distinction between a caulk and sealant? Elasticity.

— Caulk is typically made from a mixture of latex and acrylic materials, which make it more rigid and prone to shrinking when cured.

— A sealant offers superior elasticity and water resistance, because it primarily contains silicone. The silicone material allows a sealant to easily expand and contract during changing temperatures without losing its airtight/watertight seal.

Therefore, sealants are a smart choice for areas that experience frequent weather fluctuation and high moisture levels, such as kitchens, bathrooms, as well as around doors and windows.

The two most important factors to keep in mind when selecting a caulk or sealant are the temperature range and moisture level at the site of application. Silicone sealant can be applied at temperatures between 0 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and can withstand operating temperatures of -70° F to 400° F.

4 key differences between plumber’s putty and silicone sealant

1. Dry time: Plumber’s putty has no dry time, whereas silicone requires cure time. Typically, most siliconized sealants or caulks need approximately 24 hours to cure completely or a minimum of eight hours before exposing it to water or moisture.

After plumber’s putty has been applied and the fixture put in place, the latter can be used immediately. However, if putty is being used in colder applications, we suggest waiting 10 minutes after the initial installation to confirm the product does not need an extra turn to ensure it is properly secured.

Typically, most types of sealants need approximately 24 hours to cure completely or a minimum of eight hours before exposing it to water or moisture.

2. How it dries: Silicone sealant or siliconized caulk is an adhesive and cannot be remolded or replaced after it has dried. Plumber’s putty is an easily workable, soft, pliable, fixture-setting compound. Unlike some other sealants, plumber’s putty remains soft over time and can be easily modified after its first application.

Plumber’s putty will remain pliable when not exposed to air and can be used as a bedding compound for strainers, faucets, and tub waste and overflows once out of the container. However, if the putty is exposed to air for an extended period of time, it will harden and become brittle. Once the putty has dried, nothing can be added to regenerate the putty without affecting the quality of the product.

3. Clean-up: Plumber’s putty is also easier to clean than silicone, because it does not stick to hands and requires no additional tools. Applying silicone can get messy. As a result, many contractors carry additional products, such as a caulking gun or a silicone spray, to make the application easier. In contrast, when using plumber’s putty, you need no more than a tub of putty to get the job done.

4a. When and where to use it — Plumber’s Putty: Plumber’s putty is specifically designed for plumbing applications. It is ideal for setting faucets, sink basket strainers, shower and pop-up drains. It’s easy to wipe away after installation and will not be visible from the outside of the plumbing fixture once installed. Oatey Plumber’s Putty, for example, will last two years from the manufacture date if the lid is sealed properly.

Because plumber’s putty is oil-based, it can stain porous materials, such as granite, marble, quartz and sandstone. For application on these surfaces, use a stain-free plumber’s putty, as this product is oil-free and will not stain the porous material.

Plumber’s putty is shaped by hand before it is applied to the plumbing part. Prior to using plumber’s putty, ensure all surfaces are dry and free from hardened putty, dirt, wax, oil and grease. Remove debris by wiping with a cloth, scraper or wire brush as needed and dry the surface.

Read this blog for the steps to apply plumber’s putty.

Do NOT use plumber’s putty in these instances:

• On plastics (acrylic or ABS — Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), because it will affect the integrity of the material and lead to product failure.
• In any pressurized connection, such as a gasketed fitting or on the thread of pipes. Although plumber’s putty creates a watertight seal, it is not an adhesive or glue.
• To seal a leaky toilet or toilet bowl to a finished floor, because plumber’s putty will dry out in the applications and is not waterproof. Cleaners and urine can also compromise the integrity of the putty if they come in contact with one another on the bathroom floor.
• To seal windows or doors, because plumber’s putty lacks any insulating qualities
• To install a drain on an acrylic tub and/or shower uni Stain-free and regular plumber’s putty can have an adverse effect on the finish of acrylic surfaces, similar to its effect on ABS plastic materials. You should use only 100%-silicone for this application.

4b. When and where to use it — Silicone Sealant: Due to a silicone sealant’s strong adhesiveness, elasticity and water-resistant properties, it’s an excellent choice for kitchen and bath applications, including:

• bonding top-mount and undermount sinks to countertops;
• bathtub/shower surrounds, doors and drains;
• sealing gaps and seams in gutters;
• filling exterior holes made by nails or screws;
• HVAC applications.

The bottom line

Plumber’s putty and silicone sealants are both great products to use on your projects, but they each have their own set of uses and benefits.

• If you’re looking for something that will withstand frequent weather fluctuation and high moisture levels, silicone sealant might be the best option.
• On the other hand, if you need something to prevent the migration of water between two rigid surfaces, keeping your fixtures leak-free, plumber’s putty is a smart choice.

About the author: Sean Comerford is a Technical Applications Manager at Oatey Co. He is a third-generation tradesman with nearly 20 years of plumbing experience, including serving as the lead plumber for commercial/residential new-construction, service and fire protection jobs. He holds a State of Ohio Fire Protection License for Sprinkler and Standpipe.

If you run a service contracting business, you might be happy with how things are going. You might think everything is fine and there are no changes you have to make. However, is this really the case? In reality, there are usually all kinds of things you can do to make your business better, even if it seems to be going well right now. The thing to remember is that there is always room for improvement. To help you get an idea of the kinds of things you might want to improve in your service contracting business, we’ve put together a list of a few ideas. Read on to find out more. 

Modern Payment Options 

How do your customers pay you right now? It might be that although the payment methods you have right now are technically fine, other, more modern methods might be better. Being paid by cash can be problematic as you might lose it or spend it before you can put it back into the business. Cheques are an issue as they might not clear, which means you have extra work to do to get paid again. Bank transfers take time to set up, and your customers might forget. 

By adding different methods like card payments, you make it easier for people to pay you instantly, and they can choose the card type that works best for them. This might even entice more people to use your business because they know they can pay for the service easily. The key thing to remember is to pick the right card processing software – take your time making sure you have something that works well for you. After all, credit card processing for CBD businesses might be different from credit card processing for plumbing businesses, and you want to help your customers, not hinder them

Embracing Technology 

Plumbing is a service that has been around for a long time, and many of the methods used today are the same as they have always been. So if you work in this way, it can be hard to think of making any changes. However, it might be that you can become more efficient and cost-effective (for you and your customers) if you start to embrace technology more and use it to your advantage. 

Following on from the point above, you can use technology to make invoicing and accounting easier, for example. Or you can use different technology to help with certain plumbing tasks. You could even create an app for your customers so they can book appointments easily and learn how to do some plumbing jobs themselves (boosting their trust in you and saving you time to work on larger jobs). You don’t have to change everything – some older ways of doing things are better and could even be your USP – but changing what you can and embracing technology will definitely update and improve your business. 

Better Marketing 

A lot of the time, plumbing businesses rely on word of mouth and positive reviews and recommendations to get more business. They will do a good job for a customer who will then go on to recommend the company to friends and family, and so it keeps going. 

However, if you want to update your plumbing business and do more, you’ll need to think about better marketing methods. Word of mouth is excellent as it doesn’t cost anything, but it’s wise to invest some money in marketing to enhance your reach. Do some market research to determine who your target market is and create a marketing campaign that is tailored to them and used in the places they spend time, whether that’s social media or somewhere in the ‘real world’. 

Every business is going to be different, so it might be that social media is the right place to advertise, but it could be that you need to invest in print advertising, radio spots, or even billboards. The more you put into your marketing, the more you’ll get out of it, but do remember to have a good plan in place first so you don’t overspend and you remember to test that each marketing method is really working. 

More Training 

Plumbing is not an easy sector to work in and it takes a lot of effort and studying to get to a point where you can be qualified and do good work. However, it’s crucial that you don’t assume you know everything once you get your qualification – there are always new ideas coming out. 

This is why you need to keep up with your training and do refresher courses from time to time. It’s also wise to watch vlogs, read blogs, and go  to industry conferences so you can always be up to date with new ways of working. 

Nashville field tech enablement software provider equips HVAC leader’s nationwide dealer network with comprehensive technical services solution

XOi, a leading provider of technician-focused technology solutions, announces an enhanced collaboration with Carrier, an industry leader in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration solutions.

Dealers will benefit from a more streamlined experience between Carrier technical support services and distributor and dealer networks by utilizing XOi’s advanced technology for improving real-time installation or maintenance troubleshooting.

The Carrier Digital Advantage is a fully connected, incentivized ecosystem of digital tools and technologies provided to Carrier dealers and technicians. This program empowers dealers to provide best-in-class customer service by being more productive and efficient.

“The collaboration with XOi supports the Carrier Digital Advantage by empowering service teams with data insights and virtual support tools for each step in resolving service requests,” said Bob Lang, Director of Quality Assurance, Carrier. “Field technicians can quickly access resources from the Carrier support team to provide exemplary HVAC service.”

With XOi, Carrier technicians can access educational resources and equipment information to enhance efficiency and accuracy and provide exceptional customer service.

“We’re enhancing how information is shared among Carrier distributors and our dealers,” said David Kesterton, President of Mingledorff’s, a large HVAC distributor in the Southeast. “The collaboration between XOi, Carrier and our distribution team drives an even more efficient process for reporting and resolving issues in the field and keeping projects on track. Technicians have immediate access to the information they need with a tablet or smartphone. That kind of accessible, easy to navigate knowledge base helps deliver a premium customer experience.”

“Having both the distributor and Carrier technical support teams utilizing XOi brings closer alignment on field needs in real-time,” said John Holloman, Distributor Service Manager for Robert Madden Industries of Lubbock, Texas. “This enhancement to the partnership helps provide superior customer service to our dealers and each customer.”

Equipped with the data and analytics capabilities of XOi’s curb-to-curb solutions, Carrier service technicians can collect, index and analyze jobsite information and build an accessible institutional knowledge base that supports real-time decision-making.

“Expanding this collaboration to all service technicians helps Carrier contractors meet and exceed the demands of their customers,” said Aaron Salow, CEO and Founder of XOi. “The unique functionality and comprehensive communication and support XOi delivers supports Carrier’s commitment to providing an extraordinary service experience.”

XOi helps field service contractors and their teams drive productivity, elevate customer experience and help identify skilled technicians. For more information about XOi, visit https://xoi.io.