Huge Commercial Heating System Retrofit!

The Hub is on the road in Missoula, Montana for five days to pipe up 1.2M Btu’s of hot water heating for a 45+n unit condo property.

The Hub’s Eric Aune joins the Mickelson Plumbing crew for an intense but fun project in this episode of our ‘Hub On The Road’ series.

In this video we showcase the reliable MegaPress IPS fitting system. We rely on the RIDGID propress tools and press booster for assembly of the piping connected to the Viessmann Vitocrossal 200 commercial hot water boilers.

Thanks to our partners for making this project possible. It’s with their support we were able to produce this educational video showcasing some world-class plumbing & hvac products and tools.

Please checkout our partners here:

Viega LLC  Ridge Tool Company (RIDGID Tools)  Viessmann Manufacturing

In today’s ever-changing business landscape, strengthening the contractor/wholesaler channel is critical to survival. A recent general session at PHCC CONNECT drilled deep into the conversation.

 “How does my supplier make me look like a rock star?” asked Dan Callies, President, Oak Creek Plumbing, Inc., Oak Creek, Wis., during the “Collaborative Connections: Strengthening Supplier-Contractor Relationships for Success” general session at the PHCC Connect show last month in Cleveland. Joining Dan on stage was an all-star cast featuring emcee Robert Grim, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, InSinkErator, Mount Pleasant, Wis.; Scott Robertson, President, Robertson Heating Supply Co., Alliance, Ohio; KathrynPoehling-Seymour, President and CEO, First Supply LLC, Madison, Wis.; and Jason Pritchard, Co-Founder, PriCor Technologies, Seattle.

That’s the million-dollar question, right? How does the supplier/contractor relationship make each other better at his/her jobs, and contribute to the overall company mission? Throw in the manufacturer here too, for that matter. Some of the fundamental tenets for strengthening that relationship—that were discussed at the general session—included collaboration, value distribution services, availability, technology and training, and expectations.

Can’t We Just Get Along?

InSinkErator’s Grim asked about the value of working together, and Poehling-Seymour stressed that collaboration is critical in this relationship. “We must understand the pain points and what is working and what isn’t.”

And with that comes better communication. “We are in a relationship industry where communication is imperative,” said Pritchard. If that means paying a bit more for that stronger relationship, then so be it, intimated Pritchard.

Callies echoed this but stressed right communication over more communication. The common thought is “wide equals pricing and deep equals relationships,” said Callies.

So, let’s go deep as an industry. When asked what the landscape is going to look like in five-to-10 years for the contractor/wholesaler/manufacturer, people, processes and services matter. Through trust and preferences, “Relationships are going to matter more,” said Pritchard.

What about expectations? “We want to be around for another 10-20 years,” said Robertson. “We want to see contractor loyalty in the channel,” continued Robertson. “And that means a loyalty to the wholesaler in your particular market.”

Stock Market

Let’s not avoid the 800-lb. gorilla in the room. With contractor loyalty, comes availability and pricing. For Robertson, inventory presence is critical so much so that Robertson Supply holds inventory for approximately 100-125 days. “Listen, we don’t make or install anything so we better be damn good at inventory management,” said Robertson.

Value distribution services ties right in here, “It’s about right product, right time, right price,” said Poehling-Seymour. “Be that added value family.”

Tech Relevant

It’s imperative for these brick-and-mortar supply houses to stay on top of the latest trends and technology. “The key to survival is to stay progressive and current,” said Robertson. Upon further self-reflection, “how do we make it easier to find product?” asked Robertson. “This includes being totally integrated with our contractor partners and researching and developing a technology that contractors will use.”

Poehling-Seymour added that First Supply LLC institutes “customer councils” to continuously get a pulse of the customer. “We try to make sense of the noise,” said Poehling- Seymour. “Where is critical mass in that noise so we can make the right decisions?”

Unless you’ve been riding under a technology rock, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has dominated the talk in most every corner of the tech universe, and it has crept into the PHVAC industry as well. While artificial intelligence, in and of itself, can sound scary and intimidating, according to Poehling-Seymour, “AI has real application in the industry purchasing and predictability.”

For suppliers, it’s imperative to keep all “moving-forward” options available, as Robertson suggests. This includes, and nothing new and earth shattering in our industry, maximizing e-commerce when necessary. “E-commerce presents the right tools at your fingertips,” said Poehling-Seymour. Robertson adds that for his company, online ordering represents 20% volume. Other tech advancements, which included the use of QR codes to streamline processes and online training, were mentioned.

Training Room

InSinkErator’s Grim offered that in today’s business landscape, there is more need for training.

In fact, says Grim, PHCC members ask for training and education now more than ever. “With evolution and advancement comes training and education,” said Callies. Doubling down on this, Poehling-Seymour stated that First Supply opened a training center and offers a variety of training through streaming content.

Callies suggests that people still are the cogs in the wheel that makes this industry run, “Digital when you can, verbal when you must.” Pritchard and Poehler-Seymour agree, saying that people and the process are key through direct communication, and that includes all members of the channel—contractors, manufacturers, all the way down to the inside and outside sales, drivers, dispatchers, etc. within each organization.

So, let’s go back to the original question: How do we all make each other look like rock stars? Consuming all of the above, and, quite simply, “look for successes and build on them,” said Callies.

This article originally ran in PHCC’s Solutions magazine. You can learn more about the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Contractors (PHCC) Association at www.phccweb.org.

When he is not performing wildcats on his snowboard or running ollies on his skateboard, Nick Parlet @plumbingsk8r keeps busy with his residential service plumbing company, Tidy Pipes Plumbing, Webster, N.Y.

 As a third-generation union plumber, Parlet’s dad and his grandfather encouraged him to join and learn the trade, so at the age of 22, Nick joined the local plumbing union. Nick began doing two years of pre-apprentice work and then started his five-year apprenticeship. After five years of schooling, Nick became a journeyman and worked commercial new build construction. Parlet eventually ended up working in the commercial plumbing service, and after doing that for many years—as well as doing side jobs for family and friends—he decided to open his own residential plumbing company, Tidy Pipes Plumbing.

“To be honest, I didn’t know if there was ever a time that I was certain about going on my own; however, with growing on social media with Plumbingsk8r and meeting a ton of great people in the industry, it was clear that there was more money to be made owning your own. My wife and I—spur of the moment—bought a truck on a random Tuesday, and the rest was history,” says Parlet.

Being on his own with the new company came a new wave of excitement knowing that each call Parlet received would grow his business further. “Interacting with my own customers was really exciting; I felt a greater sense of accomplishment and purpose for each job that I went to,” says Parlet.

Joining the union proved beneficial for Parlet. “There are many benefits as a union member, especially for those going into the trades young. They offer coverage for health and dental insurance, as well as retirement options and pension plans. There is also the perk of having your education and schooling provided for you if you go through the full apprenticeship program. It’s just nice knowing there is a group of people keeping your best interest in mind when you are first coming into the trade,” says Parlet.

For those interested in getting started in the trades, “Go for it!” says Parlet. “Consider the benefits for your future and remember that the trades pay. It is knowledge that will never go out of style. Tradesmen will always be import in the future and AI can’t take your job.”

So how does this translate to how we as an industry getting more people interested in the trades? “If there was more focus on the money to be made, I think there would be a lot more interest. There are always jokes about plumbers, and they have this stigma surrounding them that they are low paying job, but in reality you can make the same amount and in many cases more than someone who is 3-5 years out of college,” says Parlet.

The Balance

Believing in the notion that stress is a killer, Parlet is trying to stay level headed about keeping the right work life balance. First and foremost, Nick loves spending time with his wife and kids, and he knows full well that he does not want to shave a few years off his short time on earth just to make a few extra bucks. “Starting my company has been very challenging for balancing everything because I want to please all of my customers, and that sometimes means working late and working weekends, but I am confident that this is just part of the start-up process,” says Parlet.

Social Connections

As time went on, the confidence grew. And, once Nick started growing on social media and was asked to be part of the Oatey ambassador program, he says he met so many great people, good friends to this day that all became mentors.

“My buddy Thomas Young, aka TYCustoms, Nick from Cheddars Plumbing Co, Jake from MotherFlushers, and Roger Wakefield all instilled a lot of confidence in me and really made me realize that I was capable of owning my own company as well. I hope to be a role model in showing the younger generation that there are other options besides college and that the trades are always growing and need workers,” says Parlet.

“Huge shout out to everyone at Oatey, by the way! Amanda, Alyssa, Katherine, and Tyler, you guys are awesome! They have really helped to push me further into the spotlight of the plumbing social media community and for that I am very thankful. Because of Oatey I was able to meet some of my best friends today.”

Speaking on the importance of social media, “About a year and a half ago, my good friend Brian was constantly sending me TikTok plumbing videos through text messages,” recalls Parlet. “After a few times of clicking the links, I was locked out of watching the TikTok videos unless I downloaded the app. So, I downloaded the app and without putting any thought into the name so I created @plumbingsk8r.

“At that time, I was really only posting on my personal Instagram page. One day I was bored, I posted what I did at work to my Instagram story. I was shocked at the response I got from my friends that were not in the trades. My friends were actually interested in what I did for a living and would often ask me for help with their own plumbing issues. I started putting a little more though into filming my plumbing videos and edits. One night, Brian told me I should post one of my videos to the TikTok and I was a little hesitant at first but I eventually did. The next morning, I woke up at my video had 75,000 views. I was shocked. I posted another one and it didn’t do so good. I posted one more and that one took off as well.

“Every day, I would post what I did at work and I started to gain a little following. I reached out to other plumbing content creators and ended up building some good friendships. We would talk a lot about content creating but also about being a business owner. A lot of them sparked the idea of opening my own company at that time. I enjoy everything about plumbing, including meeting other people who are more knowledgeable about the trade than me. Social media has become a tool I’ve been able to use to learn more than I ever thought I could about the plumbing and the business side of things.

“There have been so many times I’m on a job and think to myself. ‘I bet TY would know the answer to why this is doing that.’ So, I call up my buddy that lives on the other side of the country and sure enough he knows exactly what I’m talking about.

“As for the time I put into my videos today, I try to post at least once a day. I try to film jobs that at different such as pouring a lead joint because you do see that very often. The filming process does not take much extra time but the editing and cross posting process can take anywhere from 30 mins to five hours per video. If I don’t feel creatively motivated, I will not edit or post that day. In a sense, social media has become a 2nd job for me but it’s a job that I can do when I feel like it so there is no pressure. I’m just having fun with it and meeting as many people as I can,” says Parlet.

In conclusion, when Nick started his plumbing career in commercial new construction, he felt as if he was not challenged enough. “I learned a lot about installation but not as much about what I was actually installing. In order to be a good service plumber, you need to know how everything works in order to properly diagnose and fix the problem. “Every service call that I go on has its own challenges and when I find the solution to the problem, fix the issue and put a smile on my customers face, that is the rewarding part.”

Oh, and that name @plumbngsk8r? “I have been skateboarding since I was 10 years old and I still really enjoy skating and filming with my friends,” says Parlet.

You’ll see Nick if you attend the 2024 WWETT Show, KBIS in Vegas, “and I was recently picked to attend the RIDGID Experience, which I am extremely excited about, and I’m hoping to get to the ‘holy grail’ of power tools event, the Milwaukee Pipeline.

Heating oil doesn’t have the market share of some of the other fuels, but it’s used in about 4.5 million homes in U.S. Most of these homes are concentrated in the Northeast, but heating oil is in use to some degree in almost every state in the country. And the heating oil’s market share has been shrinking over time in the face of climate change and a growing global awareness of environmental issues. The home heating oil industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation.

A quiet renaissance is taking place in the industry as communities, companies and individuals turn to a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to keep their homes warm during the cold winter months, while reducing their carbon output. That alternative is renewable liquid fuels. Electrification is often touted as the only decarbonization solution when there are many viable options, including renewable liquid fuels. Utilizing all options is the prudent approach to a worldwide problem of such immense scope.

The Need for Change: From Fossil Fuels to Renewable Liquid Fuels

For decades, homeowners have relied on traditional heating oil derived from fossil fuels to combat the chill of winter and provide abundant domestic hot water. However, with the environmental impact of these fuels becoming increasingly apparent, and with government mandates for carbon reduction, the need for a greener alternative has never been more pressing. Enter both biodiesel and renewable diesel—renewable energy sources that offer a solution to reduce carbon emissions and create a more sustainable future rapidly and economically.

The Rise of Renewable Liquid Fuels

Biodiesel, made from organic materials such as plant oils, animal fats or recycled cooking oil, is emerging as a game-changer in the heating industry. Unlike traditional heating oil, biodiesel produces up to 90% less greenhouse gas emissions, making it a cleaner and more environmentally friendly option. The shift toward biodiesel aligns with the global push for renewable energy sources and a reduction in dependence on fossil fuels.

Renewable diesel is derived from the same biomass feedstocks as biodiesel but undergoes a different production process. Renewable diesel is gaining popularity as a low-carbon alternative to traditional heating fuels. Unlike conventional fuel, which is derived from crude oil, renewable diesel significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and promotes a more sustainable energy future. Renewable diesel is in wide use in Europe for space and domestic water heating, particularly in the UK where renewable diesel incentives and mandates are upcoming.

During the transitional phase, renewal liquid fuels are commonly blended with each other and conventional petroleum. These blends are referred to as BXX, the XX representing the portion of renewable fuel. For example, B20 would be 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum. Blends of biodiesel and petroleum are often referred to as Bioheat®.

Initiatives Leading the Way

Manufacturers, as well as national and state associations, are taking the lead in this transition. Forward-thinking fuel dealers and individuals are driving change from the ground up. These initiatives focus on producing new burners, appliances and accessories that are rated for renewable liquid fuels, education, outreach, and the development of infrastructure to support the adoption of renewable liquid fuels for home heating.

In many cases, these initiatives are not only reducing the carbon footprint of communities but also contributing to local economic development. Renewable liquid fuel production often involves repurposing waste materials, creating new jobs, and supporting local businesses engaged in the sustainable energy sector. Utilizing waste products from agricultural production helps both the American farmer and the economy.

How to Transition?

Most fuel dealers and homeowners don’t jump immediately from heating oil to 100% biodiesel, they slowly transition the blend level upwards over time. This slow transition makes it a non-event; the homeowner and technician observe no noticeable differences and no changes in equipment are needed. As filters, gaskets and other components are replaced over time, they should be upgraded to versions rated for use with biofuels.

The same holds true for appliances—when they reach the end of their lifespan or are upgraded for efficiency purposes, renewable fuel rated boilers and furnaces should be installed. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) recognizes the advantages of renewable fuels and authorizes a $600 tax credit for a new liquid fuel furnace or boiler rated for at least B20.

Success Stories: Homes Heated by Biodiesel

There are more than 300,000 companies and consumers that have already made the switch to B20 or higher blends, and are experiencing firsthand the positive impact on both the environment and their wallets. Jacqueline Hart, Executive VP of Hart Home Energy in Oakdale N.Y., remarked, “Our family began injection blending biofuel more than 20 years ago because we felt it was the right thing to do to decrease our dependency on foreign oil sources and to make the environment cleaner for future generations.

Since that time, we have increased our blends, participated in every local field study conducted in our area, and have used B100 in our own homes and business. We have seen a large reduction in service calls. The Hart Family remains committed to providing the cleanest and most sustainable carbonless fuel of choice for our customers and neighbors.”

These benefits require little to no upfront capital investment unlike many other decarbonization options and provide immediate carbon reduction, not at some future time as other solutions promise.

Challenges and Future Prospects

While the transition to renewable liquid fuels presents numerous benefits, it is not without some minor challenges. Infrastructure updates, technician education and public awareness are hurdles that the industry must overcome. However, as technology advances and support grow, these challenges are becoming increasingly manageable. Technician education will play a vital role in this transition. Just as some were resistant to PEX and PVC replacing copper and cast-iron pipe or press technology replacing sweat, there will be those opposed to this future fuel.

Looking ahead, the future of the home heating oil industry seems destined for a renewable rebirth. Governments, businesses and individuals are recognizing the urgency of addressing climate change, and the home heating sector is a crucial battleground in this environmental struggle. In the pursuit of a greener warmth, the transition to renewable liquid fuels is not just an industry shift, it’s a collective effort to preserve the planet for generations to come.

As communities unite in this endeavor, the home heating oil industry, soon to be renewable liquid fuel industry, is proving that sustainable choices can keep us warm and comfortable while protecting the world we call home.

Robert O’Brien is Director of Education, National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA).