ARS/Rescue Rooter Continues Expansion
As part of its continued focus on expansion throughout the United States, ARS/Rescue Rooter said Jul. 14 it had purchased Tempe, Ariz.-based Goettl Air Conditioning through its parent company, American Residential Services L.L.C. Founded in Phoenix in 1939, Goettl has been voted as one of the top HVAC contractors in Arizona. Dan Burke, former Goettl president, will lead the company, while Jason Fairfield and John Burke will continue in leadership roles, retaining their current staff and working from their existing headquarters in Tempe.  Goettl will maintain its brand name, operating as part of the national ARS/Rescue Rooter Network.

Building Performance Focus
Opportunities for improving the performance of existing buildings were highlighted at the ASHRAE 2008 Annual Meeting held in Salt Lake City. Some 1,670 members came together to launch ASHRAE’s first sustainable footprint project--designed to leave behind a lasting sustainable footprint in the cities where the society’s meetings are held. Funds and equipment donated by members and others resulted in a solar water heating system installation at the YWCA of Salt Lake City’s Teen Home.

Raypak Beefs Up Portfolio
Raypak, Inc. Jun. 26 announced the acquisition of certain manufacturing assets of Pool Fact Industries, LLC, a swimming pool heat pump manufacturer that was a long-time Raypak supplier. Raypak will manufacture heat pump pool heaters at the former Pool Fact facility in Arcadia, Fla., which will transition to a Raypak facility and operate as Raypak Arcadia.

Iowa PHCC Aids Flood Victims
As severe flooding continued in the state of Iowa, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association of Iowa encouraged homeowners to use caution in the flooding situations. “Many Iowa residents who are faced with flooded homes and basements are not sure of proper procedures during and after an influx of water and possibly sewage,” said Kevin Kruse, executive director of the Iowa PHCC. “We are advising them to become educated on recommended safe measures, and to also be wary of any possible clean-up scams.”  

RPA Ready to Roll into Illinois
The Radiant Panel Association is holding its annual conference and Radiant Expo in Schaumburg, Ill. Aug. 13-15. And, while traditional radiant technology will be on display, there also will be more than twenty new products in the “New Product Exhibit” at show center. Organizers said there are a larger number of new exhibitors than ever before, touting “green” technology like solar, geothermal, biomass and photovoltaic.  Cooling will also be on display, both radiant and supplemental. For more information and schedules for REX 2008 call (800) 660-7187 or visit www.RPAconference.com.

Water Inc. Faucet Wins ADEX
Water, Inc., a distributor of luxury water products, decorative plumbing and high-end appliances, received a 2008 Awards for Design Excellence award for the Modern Mixer, its first full-scale kitchen sink faucet. The Modern Mixer earned a Platinum award, the top honor of the ADEX program, for its contemporary design.

Conbraco Joins Green Mechanical Council
Conbraco Industries of Matthews, N.C., producer of Apollo ball valves and other flow-control products, said it has joined the Green Mechanical Council, a Wisconsin-based not-for-profit organization. The council promotes sustainable and eco-friendly plumbing, HVACR and electrical systems in new and existing structures.

SJE-Rhombus Adds Alaska Agency
SJE-Rhombus said Roth/Sirianni LLC, of Anchorage, is its new representative agency for the state of Alaska. Roth/Sirianni is lead by Terry Roth and Dennis Sirianni who have nearly 50 years of combined industry experience. Roth/Sirianni, LLC can be contacted at (907) 344-9962.

Hydromatic Announces Sweepstakes
Licensed plumbing contractors now have a chance to score themselves a Sony flat-panel LCD HDTV in Hydromatic’s “Basin Boss Sweepstakes.” Simply completing an information form and returning it to the company qualifies contractors to win that grand prize. A pair of additional winners will be chosen to receive a second prize (a $500 Gift Card for Best Buy) and a third prize (a $100 Best Buy Gift Card). Entries must be received by Sept. 1. Visit www.hydromatic.com for more information.

Contractor Donates Bonds to Education
Miller & Anderson, the Hagerstown, Md. mechanical contractors, recently donated the savings bonds earned from its participation in Chicago Faucets’ Contractors for Education Program to students of Maugansville Elementary School in Maugansville, Md. Contractors for Education is a program that rewards contractors with a $500 U.S. Savings Bond when they order and install $5,000 of Chicago Faucets in a school project The contractor can designate a person of their choice to receive the bond or, in the case of Miller & Anderson, donate it.

ThermaSol Launches ‘Lifestyle’ Web Site
Luxury steam shower manufacturer ThermaSol recently unveiled its new, user-friendly Web site at www.thermasol.com. The site features a “Build Your Own SteamShower” function that offers a paperless way for customers to find the best steam shower generator for their project.

Peerless Pumps up Benefit Donations
The Peerless Pump Company announced in late June it had raised a record $60,000 at its 9th annual Camp Riley Benefit Golf Outing. Opened in 1955, Camp Riley, a residential camping program for youth with disabilities, is near Indianapolis.

Sloan’s Allen Awarded
Jim Allen, water efficiency division manager for the Sloan Valve Co., has received a Natural Leaders Award from the Chicago chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. The awards celebrate contributors to the Midwest region’s sustainability that support USGBC’s mission to lead the regional transformation of the built environment to become ecologically sustainable, profitable and healthy through education, advocacy and collaboration. USGBC-Chicago specifically recognized Allen for his efforts in embedding sustainability into the practice of creating the built environment.

New Rep for Utility
Utility Enterprises, a Westbury, N.Y.-based manufacturer of chemicals for the plumbing, HVAC and janitorial/sanitation industries, June 27 announced the appointment of the John Walker Sales agency as its sales representatives for the Virginia, District of Columbia, Delaware and Maryland markets.  n

We Blew It!
Because of an editing error, the July “Code Shack” column [Keep Current: Keep Track of Technology Changes, Pg. 13] received Bob Shepherd’s byline. That column was in fact written by Stu Asay, P.E., Ph. D. Reeves Journal regrets any confusion this may have caused.