Interline Brands Announces Acquisition – GS Capital Partners and P2 Capital Partners For $1.1 Billion

Interline Brands, Inc. (NYSE:IBI), a leading distributor and direct marketer of broad-line maintenance, repair and operations (“MRO”) products, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by affiliates of GS Capital Partners LP (“GS Capital Partners”) and P2 Capital Partners, LLC (“P2 Capital Partners”) for $25.50 per share in cash. GS Capital Partners is one of the world’s leading private equity investors. P2 Capital Partners, a shareholder of Interline, is a leading investment firm that applies a private equity approach to investing in the public market. The transaction, which was unanimously approved by Interline’s board of directors, is valued at approximately $1.1 billion, including the assumption of debt. The price of $25.50 per share represents a premium of approximately 42% relative to the Company’s closing stock price on May 25, 2012, the last trading day before the announcement of the transaction, and a 31% premium relative to the Company’s trailing 30-day average closing stock price. “This agreement provides excellent value to shareholders. This is also an exciting new chapter for Interline, one that we believe will bring broad benefits to all of our stakeholders,” said Michael J. Grebe, Interline’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We remain laser-focused on our goals and capabilities, and look forward to working with partners that have proven track records of investments in the distribution sector, as well as financial and operational expertise in global markets. Moreover, Interline has operated successfully in both public and private settings in the past. As we now look forward, GS Capital Partners and P2 Capital Partners have a shared vision of our value creation opportunities and the actions needed to realize them.” Interline intends to maintain its corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as its distribution and sales footprint. In addition to equity from funds managed by GS Capital Partners and P2 Capital Partners, it is anticipated that certain members of Company management will invest a portion of their proceeds from the transaction. GS Capital Partners and P2 Capital Partners have also secured committed debt financing from Goldman Sachs and Bank of America. Barclays is serving as financial advisor to Interline and has provided a fairness opinion in connection with the transaction. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal advisor to the Company in connection with the transaction.  Goldman Sachs is acting as financial advisor to GS Capital Partners, and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP is acting as legal advisor. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is acting as legal advisor to P2 Capital Partners. The transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including the approval of Interline’s shareholders and regulatory approvals, but is not subject to any condition with regard to the financing of the transaction. The agreement permits Interline to solicit alternative proposals from third parties through June 28, 2012. The Interline board of directors, with the assistance of its advisors, will actively solicit acquisition proposals during this period. If there is not a superior offer, the transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2012. Interline will be submitting a current report on Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission containing a summary of terms and conditions of the proposed acquisition. About Interline – Interline Brands, Inc. is a leading distributor and direct marketer with headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida. Interline provides broad-line MRO products to a diversified customer base of facilities maintenance professionals, professional contractors, and specialty distributors primarily throughout North America, Central America and the Caribbean. About GS Capital Partners LP – Since 1986, the Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division and its predecessor business areas have raised 16 private equity and principal debt investment funds aggregating over $82 billion of capital (including leverage). GS Capital Partners VI is the current private equity vehicle through which Goldman Sachs conducts its large, privately negotiated, corporate equity investment activities. A global leader in private corporate equity investing, GS Capital Partners is a family of funds with a focus on large, high quality companies with strong management and funding acquisition or expansion across a range of industries and geographies. Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high-net-worth individuals. About P2 Capital Partners, LLC – P2 Capital Partners, LLC is a New York-based investment firm that applies a private equity approach to investing in the public market. P2 manages a concentrated portfolio of significant ownership stakes in high quality public companies in which it is an active shareholder focused on creating long-term value in partnership with management. The firm will also lead private equity transactions within its public portfolio. P2’s limited partners include leading public pension funds, corporate pension funds, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, and high net worth investors.

Surfer dude plumbers bring running water to Haiti school

 

Surfer dude plumbers bring running water to Haiti school. After running a long-time plumbing company in Nashville, Tab Hunter was tired of the corporate white glove atmosphere. So when he purchased Pritchard Plumbing in Bradenton in October 2010, he wanted to do something a little different. His first call of action was to paint the company’s fleet like the Mystery Machine in the Scooby Doo cartoons and throw a couple of surf boards on top. Next were the technician uniforms, which now feature mandatory Vans shoes and Hawaiian leis. The rebranding to the Surfin’ Plumbers www.thesurfinplumbers.com injected new energy into the company, which has helped it grow all of the way down to the North Port market. But Hunter also was ready to give back, something he says he never really did a good enough job of in Tennessee. About 600 children at a poor Haitian village now have running water because of it. Hunter and the business’ original owner, Tim Pritchard, who still works for the company, installed a free plumbing system for a school during a mission in March to Vignier, Haiti — an area ravished by the 2010 earthquake. “I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was amazing,” Hunter said. “As soon we turned the taps on, all of the children came hovering around to wash their hands and flush the toilets. They had never really been around running water before.” Pritchard had been taking missions to the school for a decade after meeting the preacher and owner at a Christian event. But the need was never greater than after the earthquake, which rocked the school into a pile of rubble. A contractor from Texas donated his time a new steel frame. Pritchard went last year to lay the underground plumbing. He took Hunter and Hunter’s 17-year-old daughter, Carly, back in March to finish the job. Because the village has no electricity, the crew installed a plumbing system that relies on gravity to power the water. The school uses a generator to bring water up the pipes to a 600-gallon tank that’s sitting on a platform about 70 feet above the ground. Once the tank is full, the generator turns off, and gravity pulls the water down to feed the sinks and toilets at the school. It’s a system only the village’s “wealthiest” residents typically can afford. “It was eye opening,” Hunter said. “The [school] is trying to teach proper hygiene because those who haven’t learned will just go on the side of the road or wherever when they have to. … There was one small river where a lady was washing a cooking pan, then several feet down a man was taking bath and then several more feet down a cow was drinking.” The schools serves about 600 children up to the age of 17, also providing one meal a day at least three times a week. It is regarded as one of the better schools in Haiti, where education is a privilege, not a segment of the government. Hunter said the experience was especially rewarding for his daughter, who was awakened by how children in less fortunate countries live — without the luxury of a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts down the street. Pritchard also said he plans on continuing the missions, which have become almost an annual occurrence for him. “One thing is for sure, you never run out of work in Haiti,” Pritchard said. “There’s plenty that needs to be done.”

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing Newswire www.a1ly.com/news/

TOTO Presents Industry’s First Ultra High-Efficiency One-Gallon Per Flush Toilet with State-of-the-Art Double Cyclone Flushing System

 

TOTO introduces 1G – the Industry’s first one gallon per flush (gpf) ultra high-efficiency toilet that offers the company’s state-of-the art Double Cyclone flushing system. The new gravity-fed, two-piece 1G Double Cyclone marries flawless performance and exceptional bowl cleansing action to ultra high-efficiency water-savings, creating a clean, green flushing system that saves money, water, and time. Aimes Freestanding Bathtub Like a cyclone in nature, the Double Cyclone flushing system harnesses the power of water and gravity to create a powerful 1.0 gpf flush engine that maximizes cleaning action as it spins away waste. Double Cyclone features: Two nozzles (instead of rim holes) that use water more efficiently for better rim and bowl cleansing, resulting in less trapped matter and bacteria, which results in less time needed to clean the toilet. A proprietary dual-nozzle water propulsion system that enables more water to be directed to the siphon for a powerful flush that clears the bowl first time, every time. 1G’s bowl and concave rim are coated with SanaGloss, TOTO’s nano-technology glaze that seals its porcelain with an ionized barrier, creating a super-slippery, non-porous surface that repels the matter and bacteria. In short, when protected by SanaGloss, the water that cleanses the 1G’s bowl and rim as the toilet flushes is all that is needed to remove stains, residue, scaling, and lime buildup. Invisible organisms, including bacteria and molds, also are eliminated. Consumers will need fewer harsh detergents, which are expensive and harmful to the environment. The Universal Height 1G Double Cyclone is 17” from base to seat, TOTO’s ergonomic, comfortable height design that facilitates rising from a sitting to standing position and makes this aesthetically-pleasing two-piece toilet ADA-compliant. About TOTO – TOTO is the largest plumbing manufacturer in the world with $5.1 billion dollars in annual sales. To date, TOTO has produced more than 60 million plumbing fixtures. TOTO USA is headquarters for the Americas Division of the TOTO Global Group, which was established in 1917 with the founding of TOTO, Ltd., in Kitakyushu, Japan. Today, this international company maintains 23,500 employees in 69 offices around the world and owns manufacturing facilities in Japan, Mexico, the USA, China and Europe with an affiliated network of more than 80 production facilities worldwide. With over 1,500 engineers on staff and three centers devoted solely to research and development, TOTO is the undisputed global leader in product innovation, precision engineering, high design, and sustainability in products that are designed to meet people’s real world needs. Exemplified in the company’s philosophy – People First Innovation — TOTO offers consumers elegant luxury products that save money and water without sacrificing an ounce of performance and the peace of mind that comes from knowing they purchased a brand that sets the standard for world-class performance, enduring quality, and reliability. Winner of numerous domestic and international awards and recognitions, TOTO is the only plumbing manufacturer honored as Water Efficiency Leader by the Environmental Protection Agency. TOTO continues to raise industry standards and consumer expectations as to what is possible in the bath space, as it connects people with water in ways that enrich the flow of their daily lives.

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing Newswire www.a1ly.com/news/

 

KOHLER Introduces VibrAcoustic Sound Therapy Bath Tub

 

Adding to the wave of its recent technology innovations, Kohler Co., a global leader in kitchen and bath design, introduces VibrAcoustic® technology on all nine models of the Underscore bath tub line. Vibroacoustic is a technology-based sound therapy defined as hearing and feeling sound vibrations through the body. Focused on complete body relaxation, the new Underscore VibrAcoustic baths are engineered to ease tension and stress. Additionally, the quality of the sound system is so good that it can be used as a stand-alone audio solution for the entire bathroom. The bather can stream music and podcasts through the bath from a mobile device via hardwire connection or wirelessly with a Bluetooth®* receiver. The VibrAcoustic technology is controlled by an intuitive full-color touch screen user interface. “KOHLER VibrAcoustic technology truly is a multi-dimensional experience. It’s like going to a rock concert – you can hear and feel the music and vibrations throughout your body,” says Ann Roever, business director for Kohler bathing products. “With four original compositions to choose from and the ability to play your own music, it’s an experience that can fit any mood –relax and unwind or rev up for a busy day or fun night out.” The four experiences are original compositions that integrate music, vibration and lighting in order to encourage the bather’s breathing rate to align with the beats or chord structures. The bather cannot help but drift into deep relaxation. The VibrAcoustic Experience – Four VibrAcoustic experiences envelop the bather in a multi-sensory environment. These original compositions were created in collaboration with a renowned sound therapist and are choreographed uniquely for this bath to optimize the vibroacoustic effect, in which the body is led into a state of complete relaxation. In addition, two massaging beat experiences add even more physical vibration that can be adjusted to the desired level of intensity to personalize the bathing experience. Six transducers producing music/vibrations are strategically placed surrounding the bath allowing the bather to not only hear but also feel the music streaming in from one of the four preset VibrAcoustic experiences. The transducers are located both below the water for the vibration experience and above the water for the audio. A newly designed touch screen user interface allows bathers full control of their experience and the option of listening to a favorite play list from their mobile device, internet radio or home computer by simply plugging your device into the amplifier or streaming wirelessly with your Bluetooth®* receiver. Chromatherapy lighting is synchronized with the four preset VibrAcoustic experiences and will also align itself with the rhythm of outside music. The four lights in the bath cycle through eight different colors and myriad color combinations and patterns. A color dial even allows bathers to choose a particular hue of each color. Underscore Bath Design. The acrylic Underscore bath is available in nine sizes ranging from 60-by-30 inches to 72-by-42 inches, including a 48-by-48-inch cube-shaped model, and is available in five colors with both drop-in and undermount installation to ensure a natural fit with other design elements in the bathroom. The Underscore baths’ simple, crisp design lines perfectly complement granite, stone or tile. Underscore baths feature a slotted overflow that creates a deeper-than-normal soaking experience. In comparison to overflow drains found on traditional baths that are round and positioned lower, limiting the water depth, the large, slotted overflow drain positioned near the Underscore bath rim maximizes the level of water in the bath for a true soaking experience.  About Kohler Co. – Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wis., Kohler Co. is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies. Kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products, engines and power generation systems, tile and home interiors, and an international host to award-winning hospitality and world-class golf destinations.

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing Newswire www.a1ly.com/news/

Boonshoft Museum New Permanent Exhibit Teaches Children about Water Conservation and Stewardship

Boonshoft Museum Partners with American Standard and WinWholesale to Bring Water Conservation Exhibit to Life. A new exhibit designed to teach children about the importance of water conservation has opened at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton, Ohio, thanks in large part to a partnership with American Standard and WinWholesale, Inc. Through the interactive “Splash!” exhibit, museum goers of all ages learn about the earth’s water cycle, the impacts that humans have on water access and quality, and about careers — like plumbing, geology and environmental conservation — related to water stewardship. The museum contacted WinWholesale, headquartered in Dayton, about participating in the exhibit. Upon agreeing to take part, WinWholesale contacted American Standard to also partner with the museum. “We were pleased the Boonshoft Museum asked WinWholesale to become involved in the water conservation exhibit in our home town,” said Rick Schwartz, WinWholesale CEO and chairman. “We knew we could count on American Standard Brands, one of our most important product suppliers, to help with the display.” “The goals of this new exhibit perfectly complement our own efforts to promote the importance of water efficiency in homes and in the workplace,” said Jay Gould, president and CEO of American Standard Brands. The eye-catching displays employ familiar plumbing fixtures to help visitors understand how individual actions impact water resources – including aquifers, rivers, and lakes. The product donation from American Standard to the museum included bathroom faucets from the Town Square®, Berwick®, Studio®, Copeland™, and Portsmouth® collections, as well as a Pekoe® semi-professional kitchen faucet. “Increasing awareness about how our individual choices affect and improve water quality is an important mission for American Standard,” Gould emphasized. He pointed to the company’s broad selection of water-saving, high performing WaterSense®-certified faucets and toilets, in addition to the company’s partnership with the Green Education Foundation (GEF) to develop a K-12 curriculum focused on water conservation. Said Diane Farrell, vice president of external relations at the Boonshoft Museum, “We are confident that educating the public about the relationships between healthy water, healthy lives, and healthy economies through this permanent exhibit is an effective way to encourage water conservation. We are pleased to partner with American Standard and WinWholesale to advance this worthy cause.” ABOUT AMERICAN STANDARD BRANDS – American Standard Brands is a leading North American manufacturer of a wide range of high-quality building products, including faucets, fixtures, furniture, vitreous china fixtures, cast iron sinks, whirlpool tubs and other wellness products for the bath and kitchen as well as decorative panels. The company currently offers total project solutions for residential and commercial customers; employs more than 5,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico; and markets products under well known and respected brands, such as American Standard®, Jado®, Porcher®, Safety Tubs®, Crane Plumbing®, Eljer®, Fiat® and Decorative Panels International®. American Standard Brands is an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners. WaterSense® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ABOUT WINWHOLESALE INC. – WinWholesale Inc. is a leading supplier of domestic and industrial supplies and materials headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. The privately-held company consists of more than 450 wholesaling corporations in which WinWholesale is an equity partner, and also Noland Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary. Noland is a wholesaler with nearly 70 locations mainly in the Southeast. Collectively, WinWholesale is referred to as “The Win Group of Companies.” In the group are companies conducting business-to-business wholesale distribution of plumbing and heating supplies; industrial pipes, valves and fittings; heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment; electrical equipment; industrial and commercial fastening hardware; waterworks and utility supplies; and domestic, commercial and industrial pumps. ABOUT THE BOONSHOFT MUSEUM – The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery serves approximately 250,000 people per year and is the Miami Valley region’s premier family learning destination.  The 94,000 square foot venue houses the region’s only Planetarium, and the nation’s only public solar observatory.  The Museum is recognized by the prestigious Association of Science Technology Centers; they are accredited by the American Association of Museums and they are an accredited live animal zoo through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  In addition, they are recognized by the Association of Children’s Museums, a national network of institutions dedicated to providing interactive learning experiences for youth.

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing Newswire www.a1ly.com/news/

Largest Private U.S. Water Utilities Exchange Subsidiaries

Aqua America, Inc. has announced  that it has completed the purchase of all of American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE: AWK) regulated operations in Ohio and simultaneously sold its regulated operations in New York to American Water. Aqua America is the largest investor-owned water utility in Ohio.  The purchase, for $101 million in cash plus assumed debt of $11 million, yielded Aqua America eight additional water systems and one wastewater system in Ohio, which serve approximately 50,730 water and approximately 6,550 wastewater connections. The systems serve parts of nine counties primarily in central and northeast Ohio. The acquisition increases Aqua Ohio’s customer base by approximately 66 percent and adds approximately $95 million in additional rate base. The transaction is expected to improve operating efficiency at Aqua Ohio as it spreads fixed costs over 57,280 more customers in that state, which should have a positive impact on future rates for customers. In a separate agreement, Aqua America sold its seven New York water systems, which serve approximately 50,520 customers to American Water’s New York subsidiary for approximately $39 million in cash plus assumed debt of $23 million. The New York systems had approximately $46 million of rate base. The sale of Aqua America’s New York operations will conclude its operations in that state. The purchase prices for both the Ohio and New York transactions are subject to certain post-closing adjustments. This is the latest of five successful transactions Aqua America has completed in a one-year period to grow and consolidate its customer base in fewer states, improving its operating efficiency, while pruning assets in areas that do not present those opportunities. Since May 2011, Aqua America has sold its Missouri operations to American Water; purchased American Water’s Texas operations; and sold its Maine operations to Connecticut Water.  “This transaction is the latest and the largest of several acquisitions and purchases we have completed to transform the company by maximizing efficiencies and concentrating our efforts in states where we have critical mass,” said Aqua America Chairman and CEO Nicholas DeBenedictis. “Additionally, Ohio and Texas are energy-rich states with growth opportunities for the water-energy nexus that could have a positive impact on the future of our company.”  DeBenedictis said the company is prepared to take a responsible and active role in what is becoming the next energy boom in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and some other states—natural gas drilling. “Shale drilling for natural gas is a very water-intensive business that can provide an economic boost well into the future if it’s done right environmentally.”  The acquisition of American Water’s Ohio operations and the sale of its New York operations are consistent with Aqua America’s strategy to concentrate its customer portfolio in states that demonstrate a positive regulatory environment, while leveraging greater economies of scale and customer growth opportunities. Priority is given to states that provide a regulatory opportunity for capital investment surcharges and consolidated rates, which help the company to maintain water quality and reliable service for its customers.  Aqua America is one of the largest U.S.-based, publicly-traded water utilities and serves almost 3 million residents in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. Aqua America is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WTR.  This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that address, among other things, the size of the transactions, the effect of the acquisition of the Ohio operations and other transactions on the Company and the anticipated benefits of these transactions, the Company’s strategy to focus its growth efforts in certain states, and the potential efficiencies from focusing on those states and potential business opportunities in those states. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including: the risk that the acquired company’s business will not be successfully integrated; the costs related to the transaction; the risk that anticipated benefits will not be obtained or will not be obtained within the time anticipated; and other key factors that we have indicated could adversely affect our business and financial performance discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither Aqua America nor American Water is under any obligation (and each expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing Newswire www.a1ly.com/news/

American Standard Honors W.T. Leonard & Associates for Top Sales and Performance

American Standard Brands recently honored W.T. Leonard & Associates for outstanding sales achievement and performance in 2011, in the company’s third annual sales recognition program. This top sales award for 2011 was presented by Mark Owens, central regional business manager for American Standard, to Tom Leonard, president of W.T. Leonard & Associates, recognizing the firm’s continuous growth in sales and successful execution during the past year. “We congratulate Tom Leonard and his team on a fantastic effort in 2011,” Owens said. “The Midwest territory – consisting of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Central/Southern Illinois – showed consistently strong growth throughout the year. The groundwork laid by W.T. Leonard in each of these states positions this company to hit new levels of growth well into the future.” ABOUT AMERICAN STANDARD BRANDS – American Standard Brands is a leading North American manufacturer of a wide range of high-quality building products, including faucets, fixtures, furniture, vitreous china fixtures, cast iron sinks, whirlpool tubs and other wellness products for the bath and kitchen as well as decorative panels. The company currently offers total project solutions for residential and commercial customers; employs more than 5,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico; and markets products under well known and respected brands, such as American Standard®, Jado®, Porcher®, Safety Tubs®, Crane Plumbing®, Eljer®, Fiat® and Decorative Panels International®. American Standard Brands is an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners.

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing Newswire http://www.a1ly.com/news/

Earth Day 2012 Water Conservation Tips Save Money

 

Earth Day 22 April is the perfect moment to take several simple steps which consumers can take to help conserve the water supply and lower monthly water and sewer bills while helping the environment, respecting and protecting our drinking water supply. “Earth Day 2012 reminds us of the essential role we each play in respecting and protecting our drinking water supply,” according to Environmental Plumbing Consultant  Ricky Jones of Plumbing Parts Depot® www.plumbingpartsdepot.info a leading plumbing supply warehouse distributor in New York City. Water your lawn early in the morning or at night to avoid excess evaporation. Do not over water your lawn. Fully load the dishwasher and clothes washer before running. Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave instead of running hot water over the food. When washing dishes by hand, do not let the water run. Use a broom, rather than a hose, to clean sidewalks and driveways. If you have a swimming pool, use a cover. You will cut the loss of water by evaporation by 90 percent. Repair dripping faucets and leaky toilets. Dripping faucets can waste up to two thousand gallons of water each year in the average home. Leaky toilets can waste as much as two hundred gallons per day. Do not leave the sink running while you brush your teeth.  Check faucets for drips or leaks. Make repairs to save water. Check toilets for hidden leaks. Add six drops of food coloring to the toilet tank.  If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes. Inspect tank and bowl for cracks or leaks. Make sure toilets flush properly.  If the handle must be held down for a thorough flush or jiggled to stop the water from running, you may need to replace worn tank parts. They’re inexpensive and you’ll notice a lower water bill from eliminating the running water. Consider a dual-flush converter for older toilets, which saves water with four out of five flushes since a full flush isn’t needed most of the time. An easy and chemical-free way to clean mineral deposits from the showerhead, vinegar.  Unscrew it and soak in vinegar or fill a plastic baggie with vinegar; place it over the showerhead and hold in place with a rubber band.  Soak overnight then remove and gently scrub with an old toothbrush to remove deposits. Showerheads also have retrofit options for maximum water pressure and high-efficiency options. Check the temperature setting on the water heater.  It should be set no higher than 120° F to prevent scalding and reduce energy use. Carefully drain several gallons from the water heater tank to flush out corrosion causing sediment, which reduces heating efficiency and shortens the life of the heater. Consider replacing a water heater more than 15 years old with a newer, more energy efficient model. Life expectancy for water heaters is only 11 years so if yours is older, you’re on borrowed time. Check dishwasher, washing machine and icemaker supply hoses for bulges or leaks, yet another source of waste and inefficiency. Replace hoses showing signs of weakness or older than ten years. Stay away from environmentally unfriendly, quick-fix drain solutions and instead make drain maintenance a monthly habit by utilizing a nontoxic bio-based pipe shield product. Clean out washing machine lint trap, if equipped. You can reutilize an old pair of pantyhose to replace a wire trap over the end of the hose that drains the washer. Check exposed pipes under sinks and in the basement for signs of leaks. If your home has a sump pump, make sure it operates properly by pouring a few buckets of water into the sump pit. The pump should quickly turn on, discharge the water then shut off without any problems. In the case that you need to replace, energy-efficient models are available. Install a backflow valve in the floor drain if you live in an area where sewers sometimes back up into homes. This device will prevent future backups which wreak havoc on your home environment, are hazardous to health and require harsh cleaning agents to remedy. Inspect for slow leaks in your home by taking a reading on your water meter before bedtime. The next morning, without using any water overnight, take another reading.  If the reading has changed you have a leak that should be repaired. Install flood alarms. Like a smoke alarm, a flood alarm is an inexpensive battery-operated device that sounds an alarm when it comes in contact with water. It alerts you to potential flooding or leaks. Make sure yard drains, gutters and downspouts are cleaned out, open, and free of debris. Check for bird nests in plumbing vent pipes. Check faucets and hose bibs to make sure water flows freely.  If an outdoor faucet drips or if there is leakage inside your home the first time the hose is turned on for the season, you may have had a frozen pipe that cracked and needs to be replaced. Install inexpensive aerators on all of your faucets for water and water bill savings. “We are all stewards of the water we drink and use for other purposes,” Jones  said. “By taking these simple steps, we can feel confident that we are doing our part. Do not wait a week to fix that leak Plumbing Parts Depot has the devices to stop leaks and make you environment friendly.”

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing Newswire www.a1ly.com/news/

Plumbing Supplies Depot And New York City Celebrate Earth Day

Sunday will be the 42nd annual Earth Day celebration which is observed each year on April 22; Come celebrate Earth Day New York at Grand Central Station EARTHFAIR Indoors Grand Central Terminal www.earthdayny.org this Thursday Friday Saturday – EARTHFAIR Outdoors Grand Central Terminal and EARTH DAY in Times Square Friday, April 22nd 11:00am to 5:00pm. show your appreciation for the environment.  Plumbing Supplies Depot, www.PlumbingSuppliesDepot.com, a global leader in plumbing, environmental plumbing and plumbing news, announced that on 22 April, Plumbing Supplies Depot joins people around the world to celebrate Earth Day 2012. The Plumbing Supplies Depot goal is to promote a healthy environment and a peaceful, sustainable world by spreading environmental awareness. We must continue our work to ensure that each new dawn, the sun shines through clear skies and upon clean waters and all our families enjoy the blessings of good health. According to Hector Hernandez, Environmental Conservation Consultant of Plumbing Supplies Depot, “Water is the biggest environmental issue we face in this century in terms of both quality and quantity. Since its passage, the ‘Clean Water Act’ has dramatically increased the number of waterways that are once again safe for fishing and swimming; despite this great progress in conserving water resources, we must still restore and protect our nation’s waters for present and future generations.” Efficient water use can have major environmental, public health, and economic benefits by helping improve water quality, maintain aquatic ecosystems, and protect drinking water resources. Efficient use of water through behavioral, operational or equipment changes, if practiced broadly can help mitigate the effects of drought. Efficiency measures can also save the homeowner money of water and sewage bills. Plumbing Supplies Depot maintains that homes with high-efficiency plumbing fixtures save about 30% of indoor water use and yield substantial savings on water, sewer, and energy bills. Consider repairing all leaks. Dripping faucets and leaky toilets can waste 200 gallons of water per day. Plumbing Supplies Depot offers an entire line of products and information to conserve water. Earth Day 2012, belongs to the public. Americans are gearing up to plant trees, clean up their communities, launch waste reduction programs, stage displays, parades and workshops. Keep America Beautiful. Be Environment Friendly. Celebrate Earth Day and every day the coming year.

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing Newswire www.a1ly.com/news/

 

American Standard Brands Awarded Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grant For Hygienic and Sustainable Toilet

 

One of the world’s best known toilet brands has taken up the challenge to improve safety and sanitation in developing world countries. American Standard Brands has partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop and test a low-cost, prefabricated toilet system. Lack of adequate sanitation facilities affects around 40 percent of the world’s population, and around 1.2 billion people worldwide practice open defecation. An estimated 1.6 million people, mostly children under the age of five, die each year from water and sanitation related diseases. “A majority of these deaths are preventable through access to proper sanitation, safe drinking water and improved hygiene,” said Jay Gould, American Standard Brands president and chief executive officer. In collaboration with the Gates Foundation’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Strategy, and the International Development Enterprises (iDE), American Standard engineers will work to develop a prefabricated toilet system that is more hygienic, easier to install, easier to maintain and clean, and can be economically mass-produced.  “Our goal is to develop a safe, affordable, latrine for the developing world that does not require a water and sewer based infrastructure,” explained project director, Jim McHale, Ph.D., American Standard Brands vice president, engineering. McHale notes that improved sanitation will help achieve the United Nations’ 2015 Millennium Development Goal of reducing by half the proportion of people who lack safe drinking water and basic sanitation by the year 2015.  ABOUT AMERICAN STANDARD BRANDS – American Standard Brands is a leading North American manufacturer of a wide range of high-quality building products, including faucets, fixtures, furniture, vitreous china fixtures, cast iron sinks, whirlpool tubs and other wellness products for the bath and kitchen as well as decorative panels. The company currently offers total project solutions for residential and commercial customers; employs more than 5,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico; and markets products under well known and respected brands, such as American Standard®, Jado®, Porcher®, Safety Tubs®, Crane Plumbing®, Eljer®, Fiat® and Decorative Panels International®. American Standard Brands is an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners.

News Courtesy A-1 Plumbing Newswire www.a1ly.com/news/