When I asked Conrado Ensenat Jr.—aka @conradtheplumber—if he ever considered himself a role model to young people thinking of entering the trades, he unequivocally answered, “No, absolutely not.” Yet his answer wasn’t completely without, perhaps, an internal epiphany. You see, according to Conrad, the way he does things may not be the way others do Read more
RIDGID
When I asked Conrado Ensenat Jr.—aka @conradtheplumber—if he ever considered himself a role model to young people thinking of entering the trades, he unequivocally answered, “No, absolutely not.” Yet his answer wasn’t completely without, perhaps, an internal epiphany. You see, according to Conrad, the way he does things may not be the way others do things. And that’s okay. But in reality, unbeknownst to Conrad, he may just be moving into that role model role as we speak. “What I am is a plumber that has no problem taking the time to answer any kind of question an apprentice or a student in school may have about our trade,” says Ensenat. “I believe we are more approachable today more than ever; communication is so much easier with social media. So, for me, a role model I am not. But a plumber with the love for the trade and wanting to see young people succeed if they want to pursue a career, then I most certainly am.”
His Calling
Early on, Conrad was working for a restaurant and just starting at a local community college, yet he wanted something more. Working with his hands always appealed to Conrad so he quit the restaurant and started working as a carpenter’s helper. “It was okay, but saw what the plumbers were doing with the soldering and PVC, and I was intrigued,” Conrad says.
Conrad was hired as a helper cutting and removing cast iron pipe in a building in downtown Miami and loved it right away. “Sure, I was dirty and smelled bad but learning about the pipe and how it works was just really cool. Seventeen years later and I’ve never looked back; plumbing was my calling.”
Conrad’s journey into the plumbing trades technically began full time in 2002 where he started on “snake patrol,” as he was given a van full of all types of machines for drain cleaning—RIDGID, Electric Eel, General Pipe Cleaner, etc. “I learned quickly how to use these machines—I got slapped in the face by a cable, had my shoelaces ripped off after the cable got tangled on them and got splashed with sewer and grease—and all of this happened within my first two days.”
After one year, Conrad begged his boss for an upgrade and was moved over to camera inspections. Here, Conrad learned the insurance side of things for residential and commercial applications—how it all works and the importance of video and the location of problems. At this time, Conrad also was installing temporary sinks and water heaters, and doing leak detection as well. After about six months, Conrad went into new construction, completing multiple high-end buildings and renovations in multiple hotels. After about a year, Conrad took over as lead plumber on two high-end homes in Sunset Island and Hibiscus Island, Miami Beach. “One project took seven years to complete while the other took four, and that meant a lot of money and a lot of change orders,” says Ensenat.
At this time, Conrad bounced from lead plumber to supervisor—in charge of about 17 plumbers and 10 helpers—ordering material, pricing out jobs, and meeting with contractors and owners. “I didn’t carry a tool or do any labor for about four years; it was mostly delegating and office work. It was a bit boring at times and the days were long and sometimes stressful, but you go on,” says Ensenat.
Conrad with Omar Harris (left).
After the company closed its doors and went into new ownership, Conrad decided it was time to go on his own. He opened a company with a partner and ran it for four years.
“I tip my hat to all the business owners, but there’s another side to that coin. The long days and nights—being held accountable for what your plumbers and helpers do, calling contractors for payment, supply houses, bills, gas, insurance, marketing, etc. It was great for a while but I was working a lot, and when you’re on your own, you want every call and every job as the stress of business falls on you. You need to bring in the money for your plumbers and office staff. They depend on you.”
But in the end, family was most important to Conrad. There was a time Conrad was working 6-7 day a week, 15-20 hours per day. “So, I closed shop and went and worked for a commission company, which was not the best decision, but I did see another side of plumbing I hadn’t seen, which I am not too fond of. But I did meet my best friend Omar Harris there, and met some great plumbers like Hiram Martinez and Joey Neal. These are great guys with vast knowledge of the trade.”
After leaving that company, Conrad joined the Broward County Parks and Recreation Division, where he has been for the past three years. “I couldn’t have made a better choice for me and my family.”
Looking back to when he started, Conrad says he didn’t know what he was doing but always enjoyed learning. And, as he was putting systems together and turning on/off the water, gas, or testing a drainage system, there was a sense of accomplishment. “We all have that story where we figured out a leak when five other plumbing companies could not. Where we worked all night, were dead tired, and when they asked, you said ‘you had to be there.’ The journey is different but the end result is the same,” says Ensenat. “The customer is coming to you with a problem and needs you to solve it. Putting that trust in you is a great feeling and honor; they could’ve picked anyone but they picked you.”
Learning from the Past
Conrad owes a lot of what he knows in the trades to William Gonzalez. “That man taught me a lot and would become my future father-in-law. He was an old-school plumber since the ’70s and he did not take it easy on me—probably because I was dating his daughter, lol. But he showed the business side of plumbing. He pushed me in new directions and always challenged me, whether it was reading plans delegating or a simple stoppage. His passion became my passion and my drive to learn all new methods of plumbing. I will be forever grateful to him, leaving me with the knowledge to make it in this trade; he may be gone, but never forgotten.”
Conrad’s brother-in-law, Guillermo Gonzalez, also taught him a lot about gas, and working with tankless water heaters. “Like his dad, he is a great person, and I was very lucky to be welcomed into the family—not only have they shown me love but they showed me a trade and a skill that will never be taken away. I have taken what they taught me and I have taught others as well,” says Ensenat.
Social Media All-In
According to Conrad, social media has been a great tool from talking to people all over the world to seeing the different methods of plumbing that are used—from the equipment to the way others approach the work. “We are a community here to help each other answer questions: we are at a time with social media where you can ask a question to a professional and get a real answer from the people that do it and live the trade,” says Ensenat.
Speaking of helping others, Conrad and his best friend Omar Harris (@omartheplumber) are in the initial stages of their PipeTalk “Instacasts”on Instagram. “We want a show where we can talk about anything in the trade, not a show about showcasing tools or doing giveaways. Real talk about experiences in the trade. How we can truly help apprentices understand what they are getting into,” says Ensenat.
In the end, for Conrad, it’s important to show new apprentices that the plumbing trade is not just about labor-intensive work; there is a future beyond just being a plumber. For instance, you can become lead plumber or foreman, says Conrad, or you can get your license and become an inspector or a plans processor. “There are so many great paying jobs with opportunities revolving around plumbing than just installing pipe, tubs and toilets all day. And this goes for any man or woman and every color and race—you have the opportunity to go far as you want.”
And with that hard work comes a little down time. Before the pandemic, Conrad would take multiple vacations a year to spend time with his family. “When I’m off work, I’m off. The two days a week I’m off, it’s all about either what I’m doing or spending time with the kids or the wife,” says Ensenat.
During football season, it’s all about the Miami Dolphins—Conrad would enjoy tailgating and going to games, including road games. Oh, and the last time Conrad said today is a great day? “I opened a cleanout at the front of a house holding water. Stuck the cable in 3 feet and it cleared without turning the machine on. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.”
Hoffmann Brothers Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Electrical & Appliance Repair in St. Louis, MO, has added RIDGID® K9-306 FlexShaft™ Drain Cleaning Machines to every new plumbing service truck they outfit after experiencing the tool’s versatility and time saving benefit. “It’s definitely a time saver, simply just loading and unloading it, going from heavier machines to Read more
Hoffmann Brothers Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Electrical & Appliance Repair in St. Louis, MO, has added RIDGID® K9-306 FlexShaft™ Drain Cleaning Machines to every new plumbing service truck they outfit after experiencing the tool’s versatility and time saving benefit.
“It’s definitely a time saver, simply just loading and unloading it, going from heavier machines to lighter, more compact machines, saving time right there, then add speed and cleanliness on to that,” said Christian Telford, Master Plumber/Drainlayer and Field Operation Manager at Hoffmann Brothers.
“You also just can’t get the thorough cleaning with standard equipment like you can with FlexShaft,” he said. “The ability of the expanding chains to maximize the pipe size allows for a full pipe cleaning, coupled with how clean the machine itself stays, you just provide the client with an overall better experience.”
Christian notes that the FlexShaft is 10 to 25 percent faster at cleaning drains and for a flat-rate fee company that means saved labor costs and the opportunity to complete more jobs in a day.
In business for over 40 years, the team at Hoffmann Brothers prides themselves on the quality and integrity they bring to every job. That means not only providing the best customer service to clients, but also staying on top of the latest technology and equipment to be at the top of their industry.
A couple of years ago they purchased a heavier and more expensive high-speed descaling machine that’s used solely for drain lining work. The cost kept it from being added to other service trucks. After learning about the K9-306 at WWETT and its enclosed cable drum for enhanced cleanliness they started using it regularly and quickly found out what a versatile tool it is.
One of the impressive uses the Hoffmann Brothers team has found for FlexShaft is root clearing.
“We were very pleased at how well it actually did with roots without binding up too much,” Christian said. “We’ve had heavy balls of roots that our sectional and drum machines usually have to make several passes. With FlexShaft you may have to make one additional pass to make a final polishing while running water, which by this time you have again saved time and given the client a thorough cleaning which is a huge win for both parties.”
They are also using FlexShaft on descaling job sites.
“Lining has become a very valuable part of our business, however one key part of this is being able to get the original host pipe as clean as possible. This means sometimes taking a 100-plus year cast iron pipe and descaling it, a very delicate and painstaking task,” Christian said.
Hoffmann Brothers decided to run the K9-306 through the course to see if it could meet up to their lining work quality standards and allow them to utilize it for their pre-qualification process.
“Not only did it meet our expectations, but we decided to also take it a step further and try to use it with reinstatements which puts some heavy pressure on the equipment, and it also met the challenge,” he said.
Christian said this was a great testament to the K9-306 as this was not why they originally purchased the FlexShaft. However, it opened the door for their specialized technicians who do the lining process to be able to not only perform their daily jobs with clients, but also perform pre-qualifications on perhaps the same visits. A great gain for the company and the client.
Hoffmann Brothers is now utilizing the FlexShaft for residential, light commercial, descaling, milling and reinstatement jobs.
RIDGID® is giving plumbers even more cleaning power and diagnostic capabilities in large-scale commercial or residential jobs with the addition of the K9-306 to its line of FlexShaft® Drain Cleaning Machines. Designed to clean 3 to 6” diameter drain lines up to 125 feet, the K9-306 clears blockages with astonishing speed, while the ability to inspect with Read more
RIDGID® is giving plumbers even more cleaning power and diagnostic capabilities in large-scale commercial or residential jobs with the addition of the K9-306 to its line of FlexShaft® Drain Cleaning Machines. Designed to clean 3 to 6” diameter drain lines up to 125 feet, the K9-306 clears blockages with astonishing speed, while the ability to inspect with a camera simultaneously maximizes efficiency and lets you complete two jobs at once.
Purpose-built for the professional, the K9-306 quickly clears grease buildup, roots, and heavy scale in larger pipes. It features a professional 1.5 HP internal universal motor for maximum power and longevity; a fully enclosed drum to minimize setup and cleanup; and a retractable handle with multiple wheels and grab points to make loading and unloading easy.
“The positive response to our first two RIDGID® FlexShaft® Machines last year was overwhelming, with contractors wanting a similar product to clear wider and longer lines. The RIDGID® K9-306 FlexShaft® Machine is the answer to that request,” said Tim Dunphy, marketing director, Global Underground Technologies, RIDGID®. “With the K9-306’s ability to clean wider pipes and reach up to 125 feet, it lets contractors clean larger lines all the way out to the main.”
The K9-306 has the highest capacity of the RIDGID® FlexShaft® Machines; each utilizes various chain knockers that are spun at high speeds and expand to quickly clear the entire circumference of a pipe for a more thorough and longer lasting wall-to-wall clean. The flexible, fully enclosed nylon-sheathed cable can be easily wiped clean as it is pulled from the line. It also eliminates splatter, cutting down on jobsite cross-contamination.
“When designing the K9-306, we also continued to innovate and expand our chain knocker lineup, adding a new option featuring a carbide tipped penetrating head. These new chain knockers will be available for all FlexShaft models and will help the pro more efficiently engage and clear tough full line blockages.”
FlexShaft® machines are backed by the RIDGID® Full Lifetime Warranty.
To purchase or learn more about FlexShaft® machines contact your local distributor for an in-person demo, visit RIDGID.com, or call toll-free: 1-800-4RIDGID.
How It Be with DannyG—I was curious. Could this third-person reference have anything to do with his burgeoning rap career? Or was it something else. I needed to find out. Referring to himself—tongue in cheek—as an old rapping plumber, turns out, “How it Be With DannyG” actually originated from a series of “how-to” videos—created for Read more
How It Be with DannyG—I was curious. Could this third-person reference have anything to do with his burgeoning rap career? Or was it something else. I needed to find out. Referring to himself—tongue in cheek—as an old rapping plumber, turns out, “How it Be With DannyG” actually originated from a series of “how-to” videos—created for a social media group and hosted on Youtube—aimed at helping other plumbers. Okay, got that solved, but why the rapping? At first glance, the rapping image is fun and refreshing, but as I dug a little deeper, Danny G the rapper is no joke, and something Danny Gronendyke takes very seriously. “I do take great pride in my rapping. It started in my freshman year of high school in the mid-80s. Someone at school started playing Run-DMC and I was hooked, and I have been listening and rapping ever since. I think it’s the rhyming that hooked me, and doing it to a beat was fascinating to me, and still is,” says Danny Gronendyke, owner, Gronendyke Plumbing Inc., Merrillville, Ind.
But don’t look for Danny to take his rapping tour to a town near you anytime soon. “I don’t do well with performing live; I get distracted by the audience and forget lyrics. I am more of a recording artist. Less pressure to get it right when you are in a recording booth than when you are live,” says Gronendyke.
However, you may notice Danny’s rapping skills now more than ever. This past year, Danny has honed his rhymes for a number of different companies. In fact, a very proud moment indeed, he just finished shooting for NIBCO. “2020 has been a wacky year for so many reasons. One of which is that after 37 years of rapping for fun and hobby, my rather unexpected rap career has taken off. Who would have saw that coming? At 51 years old, I sure would have not predicted that,” says Gronendyke.
Plumbing Roots
I guess you could say that Danny G has always had that entrepreneurial, creative spirit. After high school, Gronendyke spent five years in the U.S. Air Force as a firefighter. When he left the service, Gronendyke worked 12 years in a steel mill where his father worked. “The last four of those years, I was bit by the entrepreneurial bug. While working full time at the mill, I also came up with a concept for a video game super store called “Games By The Day,” which focused on renting video games for one day at a time instead of others in the industry who only had five day game rentals at a higher rate. We also bought sold and traded new and used games. I was open every day for four years!” says Gronendyke enthusiastically.
Yet, after opening a second location, that store didn’t do as well, and Gronendyke decided to get out of the video game business and give plumbing a try. Gronendyke had a lifelong friend who was in a good position to help him get into the plumbing apprenticeship program and also hired him at the company for which he worked. “When a great friend said he was hiring plumbers, and he could help get me into the school, I gave it great consideration. I thought of other trades, but in my opinion, the plumbing trade would be the one trade that I felt would ALWAYS have people in need and therefore became my choice of trades to learn,” says Gronendyke.
“I worked for three companies during my first six years. Then, I was laid off most of 2011 when construction plummeted. So, in the spring of 2012, I decided to open Gronendyke Plumbing, Inc., and work for myself. I have not had a day off that I didn’t want in the last 8 1/2 years. So, by that measure, I call myself successful in what I set out to do.”
Specializing in residential service work, Gronendyke also peppers in some remodeling jobs with two trusted contractors. “I enjoy residential service because it’s something new every day—new problems to solve, new people to help, a new universe to save! Well, that may have gone too far, but I do love to save the day for people when they are in such need.”
What Gronendyke loves most about the plumbing trades is that he loves the changing landscape all the time. “Different places, new faces, new problems, never the same thing. It keeps my mind turning to solve problems and come up with solutions and install systems that work long after I am done with them. Overall, it gives me that feel good feeling. And the money is good, too.”
But after COVID hit, you could say it left Gronendyke in a brief state of high anxiety. “The first two days after restaurants were shut down for dining in, my phone did not ring. I was a little nervous about that.” Then day three hit, says Gronendyke, and everything went back to normal. “Plumbing problems are pandemic-proof. I have been doing the same amount of plumbing, and adding rapping to the mix has kept me much busier this year,” says a grateful Gronendyke.
Gronendyke throws props to a particular mentor, Bob Coleman, a now-retired plumber who took Danny under his wing and taught him how to do things right. Showing great patience with Gronendyke early on, “He was old school and always emphasized quality over quantity. He is the one who really instilled in me the set of values that would have me taking great pride in my craft and in my workmanship. And yes, he wore bib overalls,” says Gronendyke.
As an industry veteran, Gronendyke does see needed improvements within the plumbing trade. “I wish that someday the industry will come together and agree on a plumbing code that would work everywhere. I know there would be climate considerations that would still be in place, but it seems that the industry could come together a bit more when it comes to standards and practices and code requirements.”
Another area of concern for Danny G, and one that has plagued the industry for years and will continue to do so, is the recruitment and training of the next generation of plumbers. “If the industry doesn’t act on this, our future is going to be rough with a shortage of plumbers in our country.”
What are some words of wisdom that Gronendyke would share with those contemplating or entering the trades? “Learn everything you can about your trade, and give your absolute best in all you do. Always keep your head on a swivel and keep your ears alert to pick up stuff that others may or may not be willing to share. Ask lots of questions and absorb the answers. Never give up. It can be a tall mountain to climb, but you do it one step at a time,” says Gronendyke.
Personal Touch
Working in the trades can be difficult when trying to balance work and family time. Being self-employed, Gronendyke likes that he can schedule my time as he sees fit. Admittedly, Gronendyke works a lot, and he doesn’t turn down much work. However, there are times that he will purposely not schedule work so that he can spend time with his family. “I am happily married to a wonderful woman and I enjoy her company, traveling and experiencing new things in life with her. She is a school teacher and is as passionate about her career, as I am mine. I also have four children—two sons and two daughters. They are all grown and out on their own, but I enjoy the changing role that I play in their lives. Finally, I get to be less of a teacher to them, and more of a friend. It’s refreshing.”
In addition, as mentioned earlier, Gronendyke loves to write and record rap songs, and he enjoys watching movies. “I don’t always manage my balance well, though. About five years ago I was accomplishing goals in fitness, including running three full marathons in a five-week period. I then moved on to triathlons. I worked myself up to competing in a 70.3 half Ironman Triathlon. After that, I got so busy with work that I let it go and have been contemplating getting back into it and train for a full Ironman Triathlon. That is big on my bucket list.”
Working on his aspiring rap career, social media had played a big part. “Social media is responsible for my rap career kicking off. It’s been a great outlet to get my music out there, and it’s how my clients have heard of me and contacted me to do rapping work for them,” says Gronendyke.
Moreover, social media had benefited Gronendyke (@howitbewithdannyg on Instagram) in other ways, mainly in his professional life. “Meeting so many other plumbing professionals and talking shop with them, and learning so many different tips/tricks and new methods of performing various tasks has really upped my game. Social media has been there for me too, when I need information or help, I can reach out and get good answers and assistance. I like to be there for others as well as a way to give back.”
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t tackle one last thing. What’s the deal with all of the Milwaukee tools? Evidently, it goes way back. As an apprentice, Gronendyke decided to tool up for side jobs. He really liked the look and feel of Milwaukee tools, he bought a 5-piece kit, and before long he was married to a battery platform and it made sense to stay Team Red.
You might call this an obsession. But for Gronendyke, there really are no perfect tool platforms, but he finds that Milwaukee has done a great job with developing a large variety of general tools and plumbing-specific tools, which captivated him early, having used almost all of the Milwaukee tools that he has amassed. “It’s possible that I have the largest Milwaukee Tool collection of any one-man shop. Some say that I have a problem, an addiction. They may be correct,” says Gronendyke.
The RP 350 features a brushless motor, no service interval downtime and 360-degree swiveling head. RIDGID®, part of Emerson’s Professional Tool group, is adding even more versatility to its line of trusted press tools with the introduction of the RP 350 – an advanced, long- running press tool that’s built for the most demanding jobsites Read more
The RP 350 features a brushless motor, no service interval downtime and 360-degree swiveling head.
RIDGID®, part of Emerson’s Professional Tool group, is adding even more versatility to its line of trusted press tools with the introduction of the RP 350 – an advanced, long- running press tool that’s built for the most demanding jobsites. Engineered to be five percent lighter and almost three inches shorter than its predecessor, the RP 350 eliminates scheduled service intervals for less downtime and features a brushless motor, 360-degree swivel head and most advanced LED interface and lighting.
“RIDGID has been the leader in press technology for decades, and we’re excited to give tradespeople even more options for connecting pipe quickly, safely and with less fatigue,” said Michael Provenzano, global product manager, press connections, RIDGID. “We’ve already heard from contractors who previewed the RP 350 at the AHR Expo that the tool exceeds their expectations and they are excited to upgrade their pressing capabilities on the jobsite.”
Weighing only eight pounds with the battery, the RP 350 features an advanced brushless motor, known for maximizing tool longevity, efficiency and durability. The tool’s 360-degree swivel is an industry-first and comes paired with brightest-in-class LED lights to let users not only access tight spaces – but see them more clearly in low-light applications.
“The RP 350 is designed for contractor ease of use, not only from the standpoint of creating a quality press, but also to minimize contractor fatigue when using the tool,” said Don Embree, manager, industrial design – professional tools, Emerson. “Every feature we built into the tool helps put less impact on the body – for a more productive day and to reduce muscle fatigue.”
Ideal for making connections on residential, commercial and industrial jobs, the RP 350 is compatible with the full line of RIDGID jaws and rings, including: 1⁄2 – 4-inch ProPress® for copper and stainless steel, 1⁄2 – 2-inch PureFlow® for PEX, and 1⁄2 – 2-inch MegaPress® for carbon steel. It also offers maximum versatility, pairing with the RIDGID Press Booster for 2 1⁄2 -inch, 3-inch, and 4-inch carbon steel, StrutSlayrTM Strut Shear Head and the Press SnapTM Soil Pipe Cutter. The tool’s 18V battery platform includes a car charger for on-the-go battery charging; the unit also pairs with the RIDGID Link app to track tool usage, service needs, battery life and last known location. All RIDGID press tools, including the RP 350, come with the RIDGID Full Lifetime Warranty.
To purchase or learn more about the RP 350 and its accessories or other press tool products, visit RIDGID.com, or call toll-free: 1-800-4RIDGID.