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COMMUNITY EVENT NORTH CAROLINA
Grab your friends and tee off at the 9th Annual Comfort Zone Camp Charity Golf Classic. All funds raised enable the Comfort Zone Community to provide services at no charge, removing the barrier of cost for families who need our support.
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from Bath & Kitchen Pro https://www.supplyht.com/articles/101387-ferguson-avoids-costly-plumbing-gut-with-grinder-pump
Dale Nichols, owner of Pipetechs
When Ferguson encountered extensive plumbing-system backups at one of its branches, it decided to turn to one of the product lines it offers customers — Saniflo grinder pumps — as a practical and cost-effective solution.
Ferguson’s Raleigh, North Carolina branch had been experiencing a gradual worsening of the backup problem. As a result, Branch Manager Nathan Smith called certified plumber Dale Nichols of Pipetechs Plumbing Technologies, which offers rapid-response plumbing service to Raleigh and the surrounding areas.
“There was insufficient grade in the piping system, likely due to a design flaw,” Nichols explains. “It may very well have worked fine for years after the original construction, but during that time the system was acting as a grease trap that finally backed up and began causing problems.”
After assessing the situation, Nichols, a 30-year plumbing industry veteran, presented two solutions to Smith. The first was financially unrealistic in that it would have involved tearing up the building’s entire foundation to install a proper piping slope across 200 ft. The costs would have been astronomical.
The second option was to install a duplex grinder plumbing system at a far lower cost that would grind and pump waste to the drain line. When presented with both options, Smith quickly chose the latter. “Installing a duplex grinder pump would save us roughly 90% on installation costs,” Smith remarks. “Plus, we already had a reliable line of pumps that we had been carrying for more than 12 years.”
Smith was referring to Saniflo’s plumbing systems, which can macerate, grind and/or pump both wastewater and solids from multiple fixtures to a drain line.
Nichols also was very familiar with Saniflo, having installed the company’s products for 20 years in various applications. “I like the ability to put a bathroom anywhere, especially in large commercial applications,” he says. “In Ferguson’s case, that ability was crucial. No one was going to want to make the sacrifices in time, money and effort necessary to rip up the foundation.”
Nichols ended up recommending the Sanicubic 2 duplex grinder system. Designed for heavy-duty commercial applications, the unit is equipped with two grinder pumps for handling multiple waste fixtures. This, as well as its ability to effectively grind tightly woven sanitary articles, such as feminine products, baby wipes and dental floss, were the deciding factors to go with the product.
“I use this product in my own shop because its heavy-duty capabilities offer peace of mind that it won’t clog,” Nichols explains. “The simple controls, connections and accessibility make it a desirable product for me to install and my customers to use.”
The two grinder pumps also are designed to operate alternately so neither is more heavily used over time than the other. However, if either ceases to operate, the other will run full-time until servicing can eliminate the problem, Nichols adds.
The pumps also are “smart” in that both do not operate simultaneously unless the rate of incoming water is high enough, in which case one signals the other to turn on. When both pumps are in operation, the discharge rate increases roughly 80%.
Nichols installed the pump to handle wastewater from two bathrooms and a kitchen sink at the showroom. The pump was placed inside a specially made 3-ft. pit in the floor near the bathroom applications, which Nichols covered with an aluminum hatch for easy access. From there, it pumps wastewater up and across a horizontal distance of roughly 40 ft. to the drain line. (The unit can pump a maximum of 36 ft. vertically and/or 328 ft. horizontally.) Although the grinder was installed below the floor in this application, it also can be installed above the floor to avoid drilling altogether.
The installation progressed without major complications, with Nichols taking extra care to make the project look professional.
“Like on all my jobs, I wanted the installation to look like it ‘belonged’ there so I did my due diligence in the planning and execution stages,” he says. “From creating the pit, to running the lines, to connecting the pump, everything was completed with great care and neatness.”
Even with this attention to detail, the entire installation took only two days. This was another important advantage for Smith and the Ferguson branch. “Having to gut the foundation would have taken up to two weeks and impacted our business,” he notes. “Choosing a duplex grinding system therefore saved Ferguson not only money, but also time.”
The duplex grinding system has given Smith no reason to complain. “It has worked phenomenally and done exactly what it’s supposed to do,” he says. Last year, Smith was able to easily perform some routine maintenance thanks to the product’s accessibility and simple assembly.
“This type of plumbing is by far the most effective option when a customer desires a bathroom in an unconventional location — from an attic, to a bathroom, to an outdoor area,” Smith states. “As a distributor, I have found the market has recognized this technology as a viable solution in recent years and it continues to grow more popular with time.”
With the duplex grinder, Ferguson was able to bypass what would have otherwise become a foundational “gutting” of the entire facility. “Without this solution, fixing this serious problem was, for all intents and purposes, impossible,” he says.
June 25, 2018
If you live in North Carolina you have likely visited the Greensboro Coliseum. Built in 1959 this monumental building has hosted iconic events like presidential debates, sports games, concerts, and live audience television shows. Renovations and upgrades throughout the years have taken place in order to improve building amenities, save on operational costs, and create an overall better experience for everyone involved with the center. The latest of these developments has come from the innovators at Pipetechs Plumbing Technologies, a residential and commercial contracting company that was founded in 1993 and based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. With the installation of a state-of-the-art S.U.N. Equinox water heating system Pipetechs is hoping to save Greensboro Coliseum up to 60% in their natural gas consumption.
GREENSBORO COLISEUM
If you live in North Carolina you have likely visited the Greensboro Coliseum. Built in 1959 this monumental building has hosted iconic events like presidential debates, sports games, concerts, and live audience television shows. Renovations and upgrades throughout the years have taken place in order to improve building amenities, save on operational costs, and create an overall better experience for everyone involved with the center. The latest of these developments has come from the innovators at Pipetechs Plumbing Technologies, a residential and commercial contracting company that was founded in 1993 and based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. With the installation of a state-of-the-art S.U.N. Equinox water heating system Pipetechs is hoping to save Greensboro Coliseum up to 60% in their natural gas consumption.
This relatively new technology is a stand-alone, highly efficient gas-powered water heating system with solar-power capabilities. Although the Greensboro Coliseum has not chosen to install solar panels as of yet, they will benefit from even more energy savings if they decide to do so in the future.
S.U.N. Equinox systems offer an environmentally friendly form of heat for kitchen and bathroom needs, pools, and even climate control for both buildings and residential properties. Other plumbing contractors have taken on large commercial jobs of this sort and used equipment that was extremely costly and practically destined to fail. S.U.N. Equinox systems provide years of safe and reliable use without the complications that come from lower quality units. Pipetechs is proud to have been able to pass on this fantastic product to the Greensboro Coliseum and is looking to do so in restaurants, hotels, complexes, and homes throughout North Carolina.
Solar thermal installations are truly the wave of the future. They use a renewable energy source that is perpetually shinning down on us in order to generate a cleaner and more efficient form of heat. In fact S.U.N Equinox water heating systems come equipped with a special setting that protects home and commercial property owners against the growth of harmful bacteria that could result in the contraction of a powerful form of pneumonia called Legionnaires’ disease. This virus is known to thrive in standing water, such as inside the tank of your unit, that is below 140° Fahrenheit, which is why so many systems come with a scald proof option.
““The install crew you guys sent did a great job and should be commended for their diligent efforts.”
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New units
With the installation of a state-of-the-art S.U.N. Equinox water heating system Pipetechs is hoping to save Greensboro Coliseum up to 60% in their natural gas consumption.
Aside from the health and operational benefits that come from these expertly designed units, S.U.N. Equinox water heating systems will also help to drastically lower your monthly utility costs. Businesses and residences throughout North Carolina that do not utilize this type of technology need to take into consideration just how advantageous it can be. The knowledgeable plumbing professionals at Pipetechs are standing by to go over your options with you, answer any questions you may have, and tailor an installation to your specific needs. Don’t wait any longer, upgrade to a S.U.N. Equinox water heating system today.
For innovative plumbing solutions, call Pipetechs at 919-293-1221.
Our specialist can help you with all your needs.
