Month: February 2019

Energy efficiency has two big benefits for consumers.

One is to live in a more eco-friendly way. Eco-friendly construction is about building in a more sustainable way by using green building materials, sustainable energy and energy efficient methods. This is a trend that is growing and is worth investing in for your business.

The second is one we can all relate to: saving a buck (or many). Energy efficient plumbing means using less power and less water, which translates to lower bills. Customers are willing to invest more in infrastructure that will save them over time, so being able to provide those solutions is a great way to up your profits.

With those benefits, a contractor can cash in by adapting his or her business to provide green options, so here are a few ways to offer more energy efficient plumbing.

Protect the pipes

This one is pretty basic, but it’s also relatively simple with a great profit margin. Most pipe insulation is foam that comes in cut lengths that simply need to be fitted to the pipes. For tricky areas, there is also foam tape that can be manually wrapped around the pipes.

Low-Flow

Low-flow toilets perform just as well as traditional toilets, but are 20% more energy efficient. A new standard toilet uses about 1.6 gallons per flush, not to mention older toilets that can use as much as 8 gallons per flush. A low-flow uses as little as 1.3 gallons.

Though the financial savings aren’t as much of an aspect here, with toilet usage accounting for about a third of a household’s water usage, many consumers prefer this option, especially in water-scarce areas.

Dual Flush Toilet Conversion

A dual flush toilet allows you to press one button for a low power flush that is sufficient for liquid waste and another button the provides a full flush to rid the bowl of solid waste. Since most flushes (3 ½ out of 5 average daily flushes) are for liquid waste, this can be a big difference.

Again, the financial impact of the switch is not huge. But with the demand for eco-friendly plumbing and water conservation on the rise, this is a quick and easy way for a consumer to upgrade their plumbing system. Dual flush toilet conversion kits cost as little as $22, so the profits are ripe for the picking.

High efficiency/condensing boiler

A high efficiency (or condensing) boiler achieves higher efficiency (typically greater than 90% on the higher heating value) by condensing water vapor in the exhaust gases and so recovering the latent heat of vaporization, which would otherwise have been wasted. This condensed vapour leaves the system in liquid form, via a drain.

Right… anyway so they save energy by being better at heating up water. Plus, there is a federal tax credit for their installation and additional rebates from power companies in some states. It’s well worth promoting to your customers.

Tankless Water Heater

There are a lot of benefits to a tankless water heater. There are two eco-friendly aspects. First, the units are longer lasting (20-25 years compared to as little as 5-7 from traditional tanks) and smaller so they fill up landfills less. Secondly, tankless units use less natural gas. This also allows for some savings by consumers, though not a huge amount.

The more relevant direct benefits to consumers are the unlimited hot water, which can be a real luxury for people from a cold climate who are used to a traditional tank. In addition, that smaller size means they take up way less space and can even be installed outside in warm clients.

Solar Water Heater

Also called solar domestic hot water systems, these heaters use solar panels to provide the energy to heat water, in place of the traditional natural gas. Solar energy has been developing for a while now, but in the past five years usage has quintupled in the United States. The cells are cheaper and more efficient, so you need fewer of them to power the same thing.

Unlike some of the other eco-friendly options discussed here, this one actually can be a very cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be used in any climate, though they are naturally more popular in hot, sunny areas, and the energy source they use – the sun – is free. On top of that, 2017’s tax bill preserved tax credits for solar power, so consumers can save additional money by using them.

Low Flow Shower Heads

Shower heads are measured by flow (i.e. the number of gallons they deliver per minute [gpm]). Water pressure affects flow, measured in pounds per square inch (psi). The greater the pressure pushing water through pipes and shower heads, the greater the volume of water forced out.

The trick will low flow shower heads is to use less water but maintain water pressure. If you can do this, consumers will use less water in the same length shower and maintain the water pressure needed to say, actually wash shampoo (and dirt) out of your hair.

There are two ways to do this. Aerating shower heads mix air into the water in order to maintain a constant pressure while using less water. Non-aerating shower heads use pulses to keep the stream strong while maintaining a constant temperature. Either of these reduce water consumption, making the shower more green friendly and the bill more wallet friendly.

Stress isn’t just bothersome; it can also affect productivity and safety. It leads to poor decision-making, reduced creativity, mental exhaustion and physical burnout. To protect yourself, your crew and your work, you should take steps to avoid and reduce job site stress.

Lavender

Ok, hear me out. I know it sounds silly but it works. Science says so.

Whether you provide lavender tea, use air freshener spray or hang fresh bunches around the site, it’s scientifically proven to help with stress relief and relaxation. Again, I know it might feel weird or silly or unmanly, but if it can help with stress on site, then you shouldn’t let that stop you.

Manage expectations

Having reasonable expectations for both yourself and your crew is critical to managing stress. Stress stems from demanding or uncomfortable circumstances. Such circumstances are easily preventable by managing expectations. Both time and quality expectations can be set at a reasonable standard to motivate workers without causing anxiety.

Don’t give your newest guy a complicated task and expect everything to go perfectly. Provide support, mentoring and guidance to rookies and veterans alike, so that everyone understands what’s expected of them and know where to turn if something goes awry.

Positivity and Motivation

Stress is only negative if you let it be. If you decide, instead of letting stress drag you down, you can use it as a motivator. Stress can make you more alert. Stress can motivate you to find solutions in order to relieve the stress.

Use stress on site to your benefit. If someone is feeling stressed, motivate them to finish the task by pointing out how close they are or that they get to go home or on break as soon as they are done. Encourage them, instead of adding to their worries.

Variety is the spice of life

Monotony leads to boredom, stress and eventually, mistakes, either due to distraction or lack of interest. In order to avoid monotony, rotate your workers among tasks or even jobsites to keep them fresh, sharp and interested.

Breaks

No matter how behind you are, breaks are vital and can actually save you time. Rushing through tasks in a great way to mess up and cause delays and this is even more the case as stress increases. If you notice that you or your workers are getting frustrated, stressed or dragged down, it may be time to take a break. (Now might be a good time for that lavender tea!)

Organization

Things being orderly and organized will always help to reduce stress and mess ups. Keep the site clean and free from clutter so you can work efficiently. Spending a bit of time once or twice a day to keep the site orderly can reduce stress than come from the need to search for misplaced items or falling behind because of it. A clean and neat work area is better for safety and stress management.

You’ve done it. You’ve started your own business. Now you just have to find clients, juggle those clients, manage a crew, handle all the bureaucracy and a dozen other tasks that fall to you now that you’re the boss.

Building your business and breaking through to the next level of success means following the basic truths of the business. Take note of these tough realities that you’ll need to keep in mind in order to build the business that you want.

Eat, sleep and breath your business

Be passionate, crazy passionate. Without that, you (that is, your business) probably won’t make it. There will be challenging times and the only thing that can help is the love of your work and the drive to make it work.

Without an almost psychotic obsession with your work in order to succeed. You need that obsession to take your business to the next level. Building a business takes sacrifice and devotion. You are going to spend all of your time for a long time on your business, so you have to enjoy it or at least be devoted to it completely in order to survive that.

Pick the right people

Surround yourself with people as good as or better than you at whatever you are hiring them to do. Whether it be employees, subs or suppliers, only deal with the best. Not only will these people provide higher quality results, they can drive you to be better and, most importantly, make your life easier.

If you can trust your people to do work as it should be done, then less time is wasted worrying or redoing things.

Shift from contracting to business

Now that you’ve hired the right people, trust them to do their jobs. Be ready to be off site more; you should be spending more time with clients or investing your time in marketing and other business-side activities.

You have the good people. Let them do the work while you go build your business.

MARKET, MARKET, MARKET

Speaking of building a business, this is how you do it. There is more to building a business than just doing good work. You need to have the opportunity to do that work in order to show it off. Marketing is the way to go.

There are tons of different ways to market your business and not every one is right for every business. You may opt for paid advertising, door-to-door, flyering or any of numerous other viable options, or a combination of them.

Regardless what marketing strategy you use to get your first clients, it doesn’t end there. You need to build a brand. Network with your clients and use word-of-mouth. Business growth can be an exponential curve, but you have to get yourself off the ground.

Be Selective

While you build you business, remember that not all business is good business. Be smart about what business you take and what you pass on. Even if it’s a client’s fault that a project goes awry, they are most likely not going to see it that way and that could really affect your reputation, especially in smaller communities.

A customer that is focused on price over quality is almost inevitably going to cause you a headache and cost you more than the job is even worth. The client isn’t always right and when they’re wrong it can be a real disaster for you, particularly if you’re just starting out.

Keep Pushing

Slacking off could cost you all your hard work. A lot of business owners get tricked into thinking that once they have built up their business to where they want it, they can coast and let the momentum carry them. Not the case.

What you can do, however, is find someone else to carry your mantle. Pass the torch to someone. Pay them well to take care of your business, leaving you free to enjoy your life. Once you can do that, you’ve officially made it.

Good luck!

When you’re working in finished spaces, it isn’t just your work that reflects on your business in the eyes of your client, but also how you treat their space. Respecting and protecting your client’s space is an important part of your impression on the client. Not to mention that failing to protect a client’s home and causing damage will only cause you a loss in the end, as you have to spend time and potentially money fixing your mistake.

There are tons of products on the market designed to control and limit the impact of construction on the surrounding spaces. Obviously, there’s no such thing as the best product for any given task due to the multitude of variables involved. But we’ve gone through the options and found great general operations for a few different types of protection.

Dust Control

Though they can be a bit pricey, nothing else compares to the ZipWall. It’s sturdy, reusable and easy to set up. They are completely customizable and can fit any space. The barrier is 100% dust-proof without blocking light or access to the space.

Barriers are 12’ high and in variable widths from 2.5’ to 10’, but a roll of 10’x50’ sheeting is also available. The supplies you need depend on the size and shape of the space or opening that you want to seal off, but you’ll need one reusable barrier and two poles, at the most basic. Poles include a header that holds the sheet and a no-slip disc for the foot of the pole. There are additional accessories for allowing you to create doors, perfect seals and other customization.

If you have a high-end customer that you’re eager to impress them, ZipWalls are the only way to go.

Air Scrubber

There are a few reputable air scrubbers on the market and what works best definitely depends on the job. But the BlueDri A550 is a great all around scrubber. It has multiple filters to clean the air down to 0.3 microns. It has a timer so you can run it after the work day for a few hours

Plus it has a directional vent, which means you can direct air flow or place it at the entry point for air circulation. Multiple units can be connected in a daisy chain for more cleaning power. The units are stackable, come with a filter cover for protection and you can attach a hose to further direct the air.

General Floor Protection

There are lots of options for floor protection. What you’re looking for depends on the job, but obviously it should prevent damage from dragging, impact, moisture and the increased wear and tear of heavy traffic.

Ramboard does it all. It’s strong, durable and waterproof. There are a few variations so you can choose the type best for your projects. Once rolled out, the board lays flat and doesn’t curl up. (As you get toward the inside of the roll, you might need to fold it back as you lay it, but then it stays flat.) They also sell a special tape to avoid damaging finished floors.

While Ramboards are not meant to be reusable, it’s certainly possible for shorter jobs to save all or portions of the board, especially as a scrap to throw down in the shop or at the entry point for your next job.

Heavy Floor Protection

While it sounds a bit simplistic at the end of such technical gear, the best thing to protect a floor from heavy traffic and equipment is OSB or plywood. It’s cheap, it’s versatile and it’s almost infinitely reusable.

If you’re working indoors, drop a blanket, drop a board and you’re ready to roll. Outside, it can be used to protect grass, though you should probably lift it at the end of each day to avoid killing the grass over the course of the project.

Sometimes simple is the best solution and it doesn’t get any more simple than a sheet of plywood.