Most suppliers don’t have the opportunity to build loyalty with those who use their products. Customers may buy one HVAC every ten years, for example. Customer loyalty can’t really be built on that timeline. Often, the contractor is the one who needs to understand and advocate for the manufacture’s product. Therefore, your suppliers greatly value Read more
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Most suppliers don’t have the opportunity to build loyalty with those who use their products. Customers may buy one HVAC every ten years, for example. Customer loyalty can’t really be built on that timeline. Often, the contractor is the one who needs to understand and advocate for the manufacture’s product. Therefore, your suppliers greatly value contractor loyalty. But do they act like it?
Knowing your loyalty’s worth helps you leverage and improve relationships with your manufacturers or suppliers. It helps your business thrive, which helps your supplier thrive. Let’s examine four things you can and should expect from a good supplier:
- Valuable Marketing Resources I don’t just mean “they market to you.” Your supplier needs to market through you, so they should be properly equipping you to promote products and services on their behalf.Some examples of marketing resources you should expect from suppliers:
- Marketing Automation Platform You may be one of the many SMBs who have limited to no marketing resources. If that’s the case, your vendor should extend their marketing capacities and technology to you. This is easy for them to offer with today’s channel marketing and partner program technology options. Access to a marketing automation technology is so easy that many dealers or contractors invest in a low-cost, off-the-shelf marketing platform and actually charge vendors a fee to join it! This should give you plenty of leverage with a supplier who doesn’t understand the importance of offering you their marketing automation resources.
- Topic-Diverse Content You supplier should provide not just product-based content, but a mix of thought leadership, industry news, helpful insights, product and service updates, even co-branded content.Research and studies are particularly effective forms of co-branded content. It benefits you because you may not have access to the product and market research firms that suppliers work with, and it benefits the supplier to have their research dispensed to your customer list. I like how Hinge Marketing puts it:“For B2B marketers… co-branding with research is based on data and does not come across as a sales pitch. In fact, it often influences or validates how buyers are thinking and helps to speed up the sales cycle.”
- Multimedia, Multichannel Content As it gets harder to cut through the marketing noise audiences are pummeled with every day, multimedia content becomes increasingly necessary. Lead Forensics reported that 95% of B2B marketers understand the importance of a multichannel approach, but only 14% have successfully implemented one.Suppliers should offer you content delivered through a variety of mediums and channels to suit your customers’ varying communication needs and preferences. This includes but isn’t limited to videos, webinars, infographics, articles, social media content, pdfs, etc.
- Personalized Promotions & Content Time is one of the biggest challenges today’s contractors face. Installations, maintenance, traveling, tracking down the right parts, marketing, customer service—it all takes time. You shouldn’t have to devote extra time navigating dozens of different supplier partner portals to find the messages that are relevant to you.Suppliers can segment their channel partner audiences and offer specific promotions, updates, and resources based on your business objectives. Marketing technology is far past the days of the indiscriminate email “blast” to everyone. With 69% of B2B buyers saying they value suppliers who provide personalized offers, it’s absolutely a standard your suppliers should uphold.
You don’t have time to market for all your suppliers. That’s what their (often extensive) marketing experts and resources are for. They should be able to not only explain why their products are valuable, but understand the best and most effective ways to communicate that value. Speaking of which…
- Value & Performance Price is one thing; you certainly don’t want to pay more for a supplier’s product than you can justify. But consider other ways to evaluate a brand and determine its overall value:
- Technical Support With any luck, you won’t spend much time with a brand’s tech support. But when the going does get tough, does support step up? Do they address your issue knowledgably and sufficiently, without hours of hold music? Bad tech support usually points to a broader problem with how much the brand prioritizes product quality and customer satisfaction. Even if you don’t service your customers yourself, you should spend some time finding out how a brand’s tech support measures up.
- Supplier Performance You may work with a particular brand because of their low-cost offerings, but make sure you’re not paying for those savings with follow-up repairs, slow delivery or restocking times, poor responsiveness, low acknowledgement rate, or other high costs of your time. A unit may be irresistibly cheaper, but are you going to get an average of three calls per install from unhappy customers experiencing issues? Tracking supplier performance will help you compare supplier to see if one brand seemed cost-effective at first glance, but is actually low-margin in the long run.
- The Little Things Not every little thing a supplier does to maintain the contractor relationship is truly impactful, but often a lot of little things add up to something pretty substantial. Some of the extra benefits you might enjoy from a supplier include:
- Making parts kits available—these can often save you from a jam
- Fast, convenient communication methods such as live chat
- Accountability and transparency when they make mistakes
- Easy-to-use ecommerce platform
- Corporate values that match yours
- Customer service – someone who answers the phone when you need them
A product’s price-tag is often only a small portion of the product’s overall value, especially when it comes to complex equipment vital to your customers’ home or office building. When you’re evaluating a supplier, look at the bigger picture to see if they’re truly earning your loyalty.
- A Worthwhile Loyalty Program Your supplier’s loyalty program should be more than just a way to earn rewards. If it feels like it’s just a shiny, hollow toy to distract you from competitors… then that’s probably exactly what it is. A worthwhile contractor loyalty program is easy to use, engaging, and mutually beneficial. Expect benefits and features such as:
- Relevant Promotions Above, I mentioned that you should expect personalized communications and promotions. This should extend to reward-earning promotions, too. A supplier could use the program to help you with pre-seasonal sales, for example. A credit or exclusive rebate on an item just before its high-demand season kicks in? That’s a true reward for your loyalty, not just a marketing gimmick.
- Effortless Data Submission Your suppliers want your customer data. They really want your customer data. In fact, when a Dun & Bradstreet and Adweek study asked B2B marketers what their biggest hurdles were, almost every single answer had to do with customer data. Two of the most common answers were “Lack of insight into the customer journey” (26%) and “Lack of available data sources” (21%).Your suppliers are almost certainly willing to reward you for providing customer data. Not only should they reward you, they should make data submission fast and easy. A document upload tool with claims verification, for example, allows you to submit a warranty registration, invoice, or other sales claim documentation right from the field and receive your reward instantly.The supplier could also share their sales insights with you when they analyze this data. This way, you don’t just earn a reward in exchange for valuable data, but the process costs you far less time and yields insights that can help you improve your own sales strategies and customer retention rate.
- Mobile Accessibility & Real-Time Alerts Everyone hates missing out on a deal. If you open your inbox to find a two-month-old email from your supplier loyalty program, buried in the spam folder, telling you all about the great deal you missed out on…then your loyalty program isn’t cutting it.The program should be mobile-accessible, so you can use the program wherever you are, whether on a job or at home or in the office, rather than having to wait till you’re at a computer. You should receive promotion alerts where you’ll actually see them, when they’re convenient for you, i.e. before you buy a qualifying product.
- Desirable Rewards This is key: the loyalty program’s rewards should actually be valuable to you, and proportional to the actions you’re rewarded for. Would you or your contractors rather have gift cards than debit cards? Are you more interested product discounts than points you can spend in a merchandise catalog? Today’s loyalty program technology isn’t limited to a single reward type. You should expect rewards that have high, personal value to you and make it worth it to go the extra mile.
The words “loyalty program” shouldn’t make you want to roll your eyes. A supplier’s loyalty program should be reflective of their priorities, indicating how much they value your time, input, skill, and experience. It shouldn’t merely be a way to squeeze more business out of you, but a tool designed to forge a stronger, more fruitful relationship.
- Training and Enablement It should be one of your supplier’s top priorities to properly train contractors on their products. Who wants to sell a product they don’t fully understand or have complete confidence in? Training is not only essential, it’s an ongoing process. It’s not as simple as downloading a product spec sheet. Here are some expectations you should have for your supplier’s training and sales enablement resources and processes:
- Easy to Complete & Repeat Studies show that repeating and recontextualizing information helps with learning because it leads us to “reconceptualize information and create multifaceted memories that are more easily accessed.” Whether you access training and enablement resources on a partner portal, a training incentives platform, or an online resource community, you should be able to test and reinforce knowledge with everything from intensive courses to short quizzes and even daily trivia questions.
- Multimedia Resources We all have different learning styles. While spoken information might go in one ear and out the other in some people, they may instantly pick the idea up if they have a visual of it being applied. Your suppliers should offer multimedia options for learning about their products. Do they have installation demo videos? Full courses on how and why their new product is effective? Case studies and detailed product specs? Images of parts and processes?Contractors often have to install equipment or solve problems that require highly specialized knowledge. That knowledge should come from detailed, thorough resources that use all available mediums to fully explain a product’s features and applications.
- Up-to-Date Information To be the best possible contractor to your customers, you need access to accurate, up-to-date information about the products you deliver or install. Is your supplier’s only available training a course in installing a model that’s five years old? There’s no excuse for this. Technology makes it easy to deliver information that enables you to do your job to the best of your ability. Expect no less from suppliers!
Your supplier’s goal is for you to sell more of your brand’s products than their competitors’, but your goal is to a happy customer base and growing margins. Your suppliers need to meet their goals through meeting yours. One of the best ways they can do that is by giving you ample training and enablement resources. Being well-trained on a high-performing brand saves your time and resources while increasing your sales success.
When we talk about performance in industrial and mechanical realms, often we’re talking about how well a unit performs or how skillfully the contractor installed it. But manufacturers and suppliers should be judged on their performance levels, too. They rely on you to represent their brand, but you rely on them to adequately equip you with marketing and training resources, an experience that doesn’t cost you time and money, and incentives that fuel a mutually beneficial partnership. Suppliers value your loyalty and, because the nature of regulations and standardizations mean one brand is often very similar to another, they must earn contractor loyalty by being easy and enjoyable to work with. Don’t be afraid to ask for or expect more from suppliers so that you’ll both be more successful.
Nichole Gunn is CMO at Incentive Solutions, where she has been exploring ways to help companies grow channel revenue for over ten years. Incentive Solutions manages 220+ channel incentive programs, many of which are in industrial manufacturing and distribution. Nichole can be reached at ngunn@incentivesolutions.com.
No matter what kind of job sites you run, having a power source for the work you do should be a top priority. However, each workplace and job site is different. And whether you should rent or buy your generator might be a very specific choice that you need to make for your business. Wherever Read more
No matter what kind of job sites you run, having a power source for the work you do should be a top priority. However, each workplace and job site is different. And whether you should rent or buy your generator might be a very specific choice that you need to make for your business.
Wherever you are in your journey with your business and equipment, there are pros and cons both to renting and buying, and each serves businesses in its own way. Here’s your guide to the pros and cons of renting or buying a generator for your job sites.
Pros of Renting
If you’re considering renting a generator, there are a few reasons why that might be the right choice for you.
For starters, renting a generator is a much cheaper initial investment than buying, so it’s great for businesses that are just starting out or are working with a limited budget. You also don’t have to worry about maintenance and upkeep, which can be great for those who don’t use generators often.
Cons of Renting
However, renting a generator isn’t the perfect option for everybody, specifically because if you use it frequently, it might become more expensive than simply buying one. Additionally, if you rent a generator every time you need one, you may not be able to adjust to the different types and how they work.
If you want a standby generator, for example, which offers near-constant power on a consistent basis, buying might be the best option for you so you don’t need to go through any hassle to get the power you need.
Pros of Buying
If you’re leaning towards buying, there are a few advantages that it might be pertinent to know about. Specifically, you can make a larger investment that pays off more from consistent use than renting and save money in the long run.
But beyond the financial benefits, there are other pros to owning rather than renting a generator. For instance, you have more control and consistency with the model you choose, you have the option to have your own staff handle maintenance, and you have more control over power availability.
Cons of Buying
Of course, there are both pros and cons to everything, even owning a generator for your job site. The initial investment might not be seen as a con overall to some, but for businesses that don’t have the capital to invest yet, it might be a bit much to stomach.
Additionally, purchasing the equipment puts you on the hook for maintenance and commits you and your staff to one model and brand, which might not be great for those who are just starting out or if you find yourself taking a variety of job types or wishing for a wider range of tools.
Which One Is Right for You?
When deciding whether you should buy or rent a generator for your job sites, there are quite a few factors you can consider to make your decision. From the initial investment to the maintenance and upkeep, each business and site will be different and demand different things. Ultimately, the decision is all yours!
April Miller is a managing editor at ReHack.com who specializes in engineering and construction technology. You can find her work published on sites like Open Data Science and The Society of Women Engineers.
Employee satisfaction and motivation is a topic that has been discussed since the creation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Employees are the backbone of any organization and an essential part of a company’s ability to be successful and grow. Maintaining a level of satisfaction is key if you want to have any measure of success Read more
Employee satisfaction and motivation is a topic that has been discussed since the creation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Employees are the backbone of any organization and an essential part of a company’s ability to be successful and grow. Maintaining a level of satisfaction is key if you want to have any measure of success as a business owner.
Keeping employees feeling satisfied and motivated remains a pain point for many in the mechanical world. Technicians are currently in high demand across the home service industry, creating little downtime in an environment that is suffering from a labor shortage. The COVID-19 pandemic created a perfect storm that resulted in more HVAC unit breakdowns and longer days for technicians.
During the apex of the pandemic, many employees across multiple industries had to work from home. Units that would normally get a break while the house was empty were now working an additional eight hours a day. That is the equivalent of driving a car 75,000 miles a year. With the added wear-and-tear on units, service calls increased dramatically.
The combination of more service calls and a limited supply of professionals attributed to workers in the mechanical world feeling stressed and unsatisfied. More service calls also meant long drive times while combating both the physical and mental elements that come with the job – working in the hot sun or communicating with an angry customer.
When it comes to our profession, employees rarely get stressed over the actual repair process. Oftentimes, the stress comes from all the outside factors that would put a mental strain on the worker. But there are ways to help motivate and encourage employees to perform their tasks while remaining engaged.
The Employee Experience
In our line of work, we tend to put our primary focus on the customer experience and making the customer happy. While these actions help drive revenue, we don’t need to forget the importance of employee satisfaction. Our team members are the greatest assets we have. I discovered a long time ago that if you take care of the employees, they will in turn take care of the customers.
Taking care of the employee means more than just offering them a decent paycheck. It encompasses a wide range of areas. It means providing the necessary equipment to ensure safety as well as giving the job a purpose. For example, a heating and air company I worked for purchased an ice machine so team members wouldn’t have to purchase ice to fill up their coolers every morning. We also made healthy snacks and drinks available throughout the day. That was just one small gesture we made to keep our employees satisfied.
All of these items help create loyalty. A team member will not want to leave if they feel like they are being taken care of regularly. The moment they feel differently, they will become disengaged and leave you for someone offering a dollar more per hour.
A Path to Success
One of the best ways to motivate an employee is to give them a purpose. That includes providing an individual career path. Many individuals working in the mechanical world don’t have a real career path. Their life revolves around a continuous cycle that includes doing similar tasks daily. So, if business owners can discover what success looks like to the employees, they can help them achieve their goals through a detailed career plan. On the flip side, this allows owners to hold the employee accountable to key performance indicators.
In addition to a career path, business owners should help inform employees financially. While compensation is a great motivator, it isn’t the only sticking point for most people. Providing tools that allow team members to be educated about financial matters shows that you care about their future outside of work. Teach employees how to set money aside, save and invest in their future.
The Power of Positive Reinforcement
Another mitigating factor in motivation is determining what motivates the entire team. It is important to communicate with team members about what they want and what can encourage them to perform at their best. More times than not, the team members will be honest in their responses. One example I have pertains to the use of contests and prizes. One company I was working with in Florida had a big special going on to see how many service agreements they could sell. For each agreement that was sold, the employee got to put their name in a raffle for some great prizes. The reward for selling an increased amount of service agreements greatly outweighs the cost of the prizes, and it got team members motivated to go out and sell, sell, sell.
Creating a Positive Culture
I believe business is a function of its people. You’ve got to take care of your people. We need to stop focusing on what we are not getting right and start focusing on the 99% of the things we excel in. We can still talk about the things that need improvement or can be done differently, but we’ll have that conversation in a private one-on-one setting. As a team, we need to celebrate the wins. It’s about enforcing the behavior that you want to see in your company. I’m always trying to create a positive culture, and all my actions reflect that. For business owners, the majority of their focus should be geared toward creating the desired behaviors they want because that’s where they will get the results.
Stephen Dale is director of training for Power Selling Pros. Stephen brings over 20 years of experience as an operations manager in the home services industry working for two large MEP companies in the Dallas area. He has been a coach and trainer with Power Selling Pros for six years, working with hundreds of companies and vendors during his tenure. His passion for the industry illuminates through his ability to discover client’s pain points and offer solutions for success.”
Creating a perfect solvent weld is an important skill that will come in handy while working on PVC, ABS or CPVC plumbing systems. What is a solvent weld? When you join PVC, ABS or CPVC pipes and fittings, you aren’t gluing them together. (You’ll often hear solvent cements referred to with terms such as PVC Read more
Creating a perfect solvent weld is an important skill that will come in handy while working on PVC, ABS or CPVC plumbing systems.
What is a solvent weld? When you join PVC, ABS or CPVC pipes and fittings, you aren’t gluing them together. (You’ll often hear solvent cements referred to with terms such as PVC glue, pipe glue, cement glue, plumbers glue, etc., but these terms are actually incorrect.) Instead, the pipe and the fitting are softened and chemically fused together creating one piece. Once they are joined, they cannot be taken apart.
Watch the video below for a simple tutorial on solvent welding. In addition, be sure to avoid the common mistakes listed below in order to get the best results.
Not choosing the right cement for the job
Make sure you’re using the right cement for the job based on pipe material, pipe size and job conditions. If your project uses CPVC pipe, be sure to use CPVC cement. For PVC pipe fittings, use PVC cement. For ABS pipe fittings, use ABS cement. If you use the wrong cement, you won’t create the weld you need.
Solvent cements should also be selected based on the pipe size. The larger the pipe, the thicker viscosity you need. For example, if your pipe is 6” in diameter, you can use medium body cement, but if your pipe is 8”, you should be using a heavy body cement. You can find the maximum recommended pipe size listed on the cement can. Finally, make sure that your cement is rated for the conditions of the job site. If you know you’ll be working in temperatures below 40°F, select a cement that is formulated to fully cure in those temperatures.
Similarly, if you’ll be working in wet or damp conditions, it’s important to choose a cement that is formulated to cure in damp conditions. You should also consider whether you’re working on a potable water system or a non-pressure DWV system and select the correct cement for that application.
Not preparing the pipe properly
Preparing the pipe properly before making a solvent weld helps reduce the opportunities for failure to occur. To properly prepare the pipe, you must:
- Cut the pipe square – This ensures maximum surface area to create fusion and joint strength, ensuring the strongest bond.
- Deburr the pipe – If you don’t deburr the pipe, pieces of plastic can break free and move through the system, which can lead to blockages in items like aerators. Burrs can also catch certain types of debris which could eventually lead to a blockage in the DWV system.
- Chamfer the pipe – If you don’t chamfer the pipe or bevel the outside edge, the sharp edges can scrape the cement off the walls of the fitting as the pipe is being inserted. This could potentially cause a blockage or leak paths.
- Clean the pipe – Make sure there’s no dirt or grease that may interfere with the cement’s adherence to the pipe and reduce its ability to create proper fusion and joint strength or scrape the interior of the fitting creating leak paths.
- Test the interference fit – Before primer or cement are applied to the pipe or fitting, ensure there’s resistance at 1/3 to 2/3 into the fitting hub, to ensure a good interference fit. The fittings are slightly tapered and designed to fit together very tightly. If the pipe and the fitting are not a good match, it can lead to a weak joint, pipe separation or a poor bond.
Skipping primer* or applying improperly
Primer must be used to create a solvent weld on PVC and CPVC pipes. The solvents in primer soften the pipe and fitting, making it more porous and allowing the cement to form a stronger bond. When applying primer, ensure that you’re applying it aggressively to the fitting, the pipe, and the fitting once more, being sure to re-dip between each application. Once you have primed the pipe and the fitting, you have 5 minutes to apply cement and finish the connection. Waiting too long will affect the creation of a good solvent weld.
*ABS pipe is the exception; never use primer on ABS pipe.
Not waiting the appropriate set and cure time
After the joint is assembled, it should be left undisturbed for the recommended set time period. Set time is the amount of time needed for the joint to achieve the strength required so that the bond is not compromised if small movements occur.
Cure times are based on pipe material, pipe size, ambient temperature and humidity. In humid areas, allow 50% additional time for the solvent weld to fully cure.
View our overview document for more information on all our cement offerings and their cure/set times.
Not having adequate airflow
For the same reason you need to wait the appropriate cure time for your project, there needs to be airflow in the plumbing system where you’re completing your solvent weld. Without adequate airflow, the solvent will not be able to evaporate. This could lead to pipe or joint failure as the solvents continue to soften the pipe and fitting surfaces.
With our tips for creating the perfect solvent weld and knowledge of how to avoid common mistakes, you’re all set to create long-lasting, leak-free connections.
Guest Author: Erin Bullock is Applications Manager, Oatey Company. He can be reached at technical@oatey.com
An Air Admittance Valve (AAV) is a one-way mechanical valve that is installed locally at the site of a plumbing fixture, allowing proper venting to occur without a connection to a larger venting system and stack vent. There are several different AAVs on the market today that all slightly vary in design; however, they each Read more
An Air Admittance Valve (AAV) is a one-way mechanical valve that is installed locally at the site of a plumbing fixture, allowing proper venting to occur without a connection to a larger venting system and stack vent. There are several different AAVs on the market today that all slightly vary in design; however, they each perform the same function.
AAVs present various benefits for contractors and homeowners, particularly when you can’t connect to an existing venting system or are looking to reduce roof penetrations for aesthetic purposes. When installed correctly, they’re a great way to save time, money and frustration.
Before you can effectively select and install an AVV, it’s important to understand how drain-waste-vent systems, known as DWV, work. If you’re a seasoned plumber you might not need this explanation but if you are a new pro entering the industry you might find value in understanding how DWV systems work in relation to venting.
Understanding drain-waste-vent systems
DWV systems consist of drain pipes that provide a network for the removal of waste, as well as vent pipes that prevent unwanted gas from escaping inside the building. Vent pipes also maintain the necessary balance of pressure to allow water to flow.
The DWV system uses gravity and air displacement throughout the piping network to properly function and breathe. In a simplified example, think about the tiny holes on a to-go coffee cup lid that allow air into the container. Without proper air flow, there wouldn’t be enough pressure in the cup for the liquid to flow out evenly, making it very difficult to sip. In order for a liquid to come out, air must come in.
All DWV plumbing systems require at least one vent penetration through the roof line, which allows air to enter the system, while also permitting sewer gas to escape. Connecting all plumbing fixtures in a building to existing venting systems can be complex and limiting. So, you might be asking yourself if there’s a way to bypass this process (and the need for numerous unsightly and expensive roof vent stacks)…cue Air Admittance Valves.
How does an air admittance valve work?
AAVs allow air to enter a plumbing drainage system when negative pressure develops in the piping system (because of the flow of water). When pressure in the system is equalized (indicating that no water is flowing), gravity closes the vent terminal, preventing sewer gases from escaping into a building.
Remember, all buildings must still have at least one stack vent that’s directly penetrating the roof – an AAV doesn’t take the place of that requirement for the building as a whole.
When do you need an air admittance valve?
When you can’t connect to an existing venting system: AAVs are a great alternative if you can’t connect to an existing venting system due to complex pipe routing issues or obstructions – an ideal venting solution for island sinks, remote bathroom groups, home remodels and additions that would otherwise have to be tied into a stack vent utilizing specialized venting techniques. In other words, AAVs allow installers and homeowners more flexibility in the layout of plumbing fixtures.
To reduce roof penetrations: AAVs open and close in conjunction with normal DWV system operation, which eliminates the need to create another roof penetration. Many homeowners prefer not to vent through the roof line for design and aesthetic purposes, too. Additionally, having less roof penetrations can reduce the risk of leaks over time.
To save money: For these reasons, using an AAV requires less labor and supplies, making it a more affordable option than running vent pipe in new construction applications.
Key Considerations when selection and installing an AAV
Local Code and Manufacturer Requirements: Before heading to your local supply house, be sure to check with local municipality codes and manufacturer requirements to determine if an AAV is approved for your particular application. If the use of an AAV is not permitted, the fixture or drainage system will have to be vented traditionally through the home’s existing venting system.
Sizing: You can determine which size AAV you’ll need based on the Drainage Fixture Unit (DFU) load of the fixture(s), such as an island sink or bathroom group, it will vent. An AAV’s ability to breathe is measured in DFUs. The higher the DFU rating on the valve, the greater the amount of air that can enter the Drain-Waste-Vent (DWV) system.
DFU loads are assigned to plumbing fixtures dependent on the volume rate of discharge, the duration of operation and the time between operations. Common fixture load ratings are shown in the table below.
To ensure proper breathing capability, determine all fixtures to be vented and calculate the total DFU load, then select the appropriate AAV for the application. Proper AAV sizing is critical because under-sizing will not allow the plumbing system to operate properly.
AAVs are typically available with 1 ½”, 2”, 3” and 4” adapter connections. The adapter size is based on the diameter of the vent pipe it is being installed on. Generally, a vent should be sized to be half the pipe diameter of the drain it is serving (refer to local codes for specific vent size recommendations).
Pipe material: Additionally, you should verify what type of pipe material you will be connecting the AAV adapter to ensure compatibility. In other words, AAVs with PVC adapters should only be paired with PVC pipe, and AAVs with ABS adapters with ABS pipe.
AAV location: An AAV should be located within the maximum developed length permitted for the vent. It must be located a minimum of 4” above the horizontal branch drain, 6” above any insulation material and within 15 degrees of vertical. AAVs cannot be permanently covered and should be installed in an area that allows air to enter the valve. They must also be accessible, should the need for replacement occur in the future.
Be sure to check with your local municipality before installing an AAV in your plumbing system to confirm the installation will be approved for your particular application.
Guest Author: Jeremy Gattozzi is a Product Manager at Oatey Co., with expertise across a range of rough plumbing products and applications. He is responsible for product research and the delivery of innovative solutions to serve customers’ evolving needs.