50 Years of Hydronic and Engineered Plumbing Solutions

It’s the beginning of a brand-new year. While 2020 was a year that we’ll all remember, we’re looking forward to what 2021 could bring. This is the year we celebrate 50 years of bringing hydronic and engineered plumbing equipment to schools, universities, hospitals, commercial buildings, and more in North Carolina and South Carolina.

We’ve learned a lot after 50 years in business, and we are looking forward to learning more in the next 50. For now, let’s cover the top 10 things we’ve learned since 1971.

1. Do the right thing. This is one of the premiere tenants of our business. It’s one of the core values that we hold dear, and we include it as one of the main reasons we’ve been in business for so long. If a pump fails after only a short time in operation, we work with the facilities team to figure out why. And then we work with the manufacturer to understand all options. If a critical piece of equipment fails on a holiday, our customer service team works hard to get a part delivered to get the equipment up and running again. Doing the right thing is always the right call. We emphasize it, and we work by it.
   
   
2. Be positive. For most of us, we’re at work more than we’re at home. Our work colleagues and customers often become like family. It’s imperative that we work through problems together and maintain a positive attitude about finding solutions.
   
   
3. Keep learning. In the HVAC and plumbing world, just as in other technology-driven industries, things are always changing. What was true in 1971 is not necessarily true now. We offer pump schools for technicians, owner training when we install new equipment, and regular PDH opportunities for engineers. The more we learn, the better able we are to find ways to increase building efficiencies, reduce lifecycle equipment costs, and increase equipment longevity.
   
   
4. Equipment maintenance matters. Did you ever have a car you didn’t put oil in? Did you ever have a home you didn’t have to clean (your mom’s house doesn’t count)? We can’t stress enough how many system problems can be avoided by following preventative maintenance guidelines outlined by the manufacturers. If your system isn’t on an equipment maintenance schedule, you should stop reading and establish one today. Keep records.
   
   
5. Align your pumps. While we’re on maintenance, it can’t hurt to touch on pump alignment. Master technician Matt Rogers (who has been with Heat Transfer Sales for almost 30 years), will tell you that if a pump isn’t installed and aligned correctly, the pump will fail before it should. If you don’t want to align pumps, choose a vertical inline pump. If you need help aligning pumps, let us know and we’ll point you in the right direction.
   
   
6. Many systems are oversized. It’s true. New HTS president Joe Britt wrote a blog post a couple years ago about the trend of oversizing commercial boilers. While oversizing isn’t necessarily bad, it could present operational problems and cause inefficient operation if not properly controlled. The best way to prevent oversizing? Work with a manufacturer’s rep and the manufacturer to choose the appropriate boiler plant for your application.
   
   
7. Pre-fab can save time and money. While pre-fabricated packages aren’t suitable or necessary for every application, these packages can help reduce time, labor, and application constraints. Save the best field techs and fitters for other on-site construction demands and look into a high-quality mechanical or plumbing skid.
   
   
8. Customer service matters. We are focused on delivering extraordinary service in every interaction. Sometimes, things don’t work out the way we planned, but we continue to work the problem to ensure that our customers get what they need when they need it. Customer service is not something we overlook nor is it something we take for granted. We are in business because of our customers…period.
   
   
9. Change is inevitable. In 2019, we became a part of the Hoffman family of companies and our employees are now a part of a 100% employee-owned entity. Change is often difficult but, in the end, it can be a wonderfully positive thing. Everyone at Heat Transfer Sales is fully invested in the success of our company and our customers. At the end of the day, what we’re doing hasn’t changed. We have been serving customers to the best of our ability all along! What has changed is some of the motivation behind what we do. We’re employee-owners…and we all own a small piece of the business we’re creating. That’s an exciting change.
   
   
10. It’s all for you. We wouldn’t exist without design engineers who need help with system sizing and selection. We wouldn’t be around without contractors who need pumps, boilers, valves, dehumidification equipment, air-dirt separators, and any other piece of hydronic or engineered plumbing equipment you can think of. We wouldn’t survive without building owners who want to ensure that they install sustainable systems in their property. We’ve been here since 1971 to serve all of you. We’re looking forward to working with you and for you for the next 50 years.

2071 will mark another 50 years. We’ve got this in the bag. Here’s to another 50 years of hydronic and engineered plumbing equipment and another 50 years of changes to make us all a little better.

Happy New Year!