Customer:

Approx. 150 regular customers.

Scope:

IP&S serves all of Vermont and parts of New York, New Hampshire and Maine.

Challenge:

IP&S Vermont is the only branch of seven branches to require Lead Free* products thus far. Attaining the products that they needed was troublesome with several companies - but not from Watts Water.

Solution:

Work with manufacturers who understood their needs related to the Lead Free* transition including the brands of Watts Water Technologies.

Result:

Now 100% Lead Free* compliant.

When the state of Vermont made the mandated switch to Lead Free* plumbing products, IP&S Vermont – the only branch of seven - had to follow suit.

Being the only branch required to carry Lead Free* products, some complications arose. A major issue for IP&S was figuring out which products were in scope that needed to be changed, and not being able to get all Lead Free* products at once. Jamie White, manager at IP&S felt that most manufacturers tried to stay with traditional products as long as they were legally capable of doing so. Of course, this trickle-down effect complicated things for IP&S Vermont since they were required, on January 1 of 2010, to be completely Lead Free*.

"One company rose to the challenge immediately," said White. "Watts Water was extremely helpful throughout the entire transition."

Watts Water Technologies was prepared to provide Lead Free* products from the beginning, which helped IP&S greatly throughout the transition period. IP&S is now 100% Lead Free*. "Installing Lead Free* products is now second nature," said White.

Customer:

Approx. 100 regular customers.

Scope:

VHV serves customers throughout the New England area and New York.

Challenge:

Some manufacturers didn't take the switch to Lead Free* seriously, so the trickle-down affect hit VHV hard.

Solution:

Watts Water provided the leadership and the technology — across all product lines — providing immediate access to Lead Free* products.

Result:

Now 100% Lead Free* compliant.

As a mechanical contractor, Vermont Heating & Ventilating was stuck at the bottom of the food chain when the Lead Free* law came into effect in 2010. VHV couldn't install any Lead Free* products until their wholesalers had the Lead Free* products — and the wholesalers had to wait on the manufacturers.

That's why Scott Redfield, head of the product purchasing department at Vermont Heating & Ventilating, gives this piece of advice: "Don't wait until the law goes into effect. Plan for it 6 months to a year ahead of time." VHV experienced unprepared vendors and long waits for Lead Free* products.

Of all of the companies that they dealt with, the only one with a sense of stability was Watts Water Technologies. "Watts Water was very helpful in our transition. They were proactive in getting us the products we needed; other companies waited to get Lead Free* products in stock, and only when they figured they absolutely had to," said Redfield.

Since the switch, VHV has fully adjusted to Lead Free* and their experts are now familiar with all Lead Free* products. "At first there was a learning curve, but now it's a way of life," added Redfield.