SAMPLE COVER LETTER
FOR MEDIA KIT
March 3, 2006
Dear Editor,
As you develop your editorial content for the year, please consider the [State or Local Chapter
Name] Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) as a source for any articles
you may be developing on construction issues or home maintenance/repair tips for consumers.
Our chapter represents more than __________ plumbing, heating and cooling contractors in the
state. We would be happy to provide a local expert’s opinion for any articles you are preparing
involving plumbing, furnace and air conditioner installation, repair and maintenance. In
addition, I am enclosing some consumer articles for your use when space allows.
To give you an idea of our activities, I also am enclosing:



A press release about one of our recent community projects;
A 2008 schedule of events; and
A recent copy of our [newsletter or magazine]
More information also is available at our Web site: http://www.phccweb.org. Please contact me
if you have any questions at [Phone / email address ]
Sincerely,
Name
Title
Enclosures
SAMPLE
Background About PHCC-National Association

PHCC was formed in New York City in 1883 when 125 master plumbers organized to
provide the public with a complete, safe and sanitary plumbing system.

Since then, PHCC’s many achievements have included:
-Established the framework for the industry’s first apprenticeship system.
-Championed the cause of safe, adequate sanitation to state legislatures.
-Encouraged the invention of better plumbing appliances and fixtures.
-Spearheaded educational programs that kept pace with technological change.

Today, PHCC represents nearly 4,100 contracting firms and 85,000 technicians. PHCC
members are from open and union shops, and work in the residential, commercial, new
construction, industrial and service and repair segments of the p-h-c industry.

Visit www.phccweb.org for the latest news and information on PHCC’s programs and
products.
The mission statement is the guiding principle of the association:
“The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association is dedicated to the
promotion, advancement, education and training of the industry for the protection of our
environment and the health, safety and comfort of society.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 3, 2006
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tom Theroux, PHCC Massachusetts
(781)843-3800; ttheroux@phccma.org
AVOIDING FROZEN PIPES DURING EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER
Statistics: Homeowners are five times more likely to file an insurance claim for water damage
than they are for fire damage during the life of their homeowners’ insurance policy.
Avoidance of frozen pipes should begin well before freezing conditions occur. At the first
onset of cold weather in the Fall, make sure that all garden hoses are removed from the outdoor
spigots, the spigots and hoses drained and properly stored, and any outdoor water consuming
devices made ready for the Winter. If you have an occasion to use a garden hose during the
winter months, remember to disconnect the hose and drain the water from the hose and the spigot
to avoid freezing damage.
Homeowners should do regular inspections on the inside and the outside of their home to
make sure that any plumbing lines that might get exposed are properly and adequately protected
from becoming frozen once the weather does turn cold. If you have water lines in a crawl space,
get into the crawl space with the door closed and the lights off and see if you can see daylight
coming into the space. If you do, locate those spots and make necessary corrections to avoid cold
air getting in during freezing weather and causing frozen pipes and possible water damage.
If the light is coming through a ventilation opening, make mental note of the opening,
and remember to close the opening when cold weather does come. Also, remember to remove
the closure once warm weather returns. Proper ventilation of basements and crawl spaces
is important. If the opening is supplying air needed for combustion to a heating appliance, you
--MORE—
can have your heating and cooling professional install flexible duct work to convey this
air directly to the appliance requiring combustion air, but it should never be completely blocked.
Inspect all the pipes inside your home to identify those that are located in exterior walls.
If possible, insulate the areas such that the pipes are isolated toward the heat of the house, in
other words, so that the insulation is placed between the cold side of the wall and the pipes
you’re trying to keep from freezing.
If insulation is not practical, consider installing small air vents in the wall so that the
pipes will receive some heat from inside the home during freezing conditions. If none of the
above is practical, and the pipes are located in a cabinet underneath a sink, keep the cabinet
doors open when it gets extremely cold outside so that the area below the cabinets stays warm.
As a last resort, during extremely cold weather, you can allow a small trickle of hot and
cold water to flow through the water lines in order to keep them from freezing. Make certain that
the plumbing drains serving this fixture are in good working order so that you don’t cause water
damage from the drain backing up.
When it gets real cold outside, disable the night time set back capability of your
thermostat, or keep the home’s temperature at a constant 65 degrees F. Don’t forget to re-enable
the set back program when warmer weather returns.
If you will be away from home for an extended length of time during cold weather, turn
the main domestic water supply off where it enters the home, turn the thermostats down to not
less than 55 degrees F and open all cabinet doors where there is plumbing located inside. Have a
--MORE--
friend or relative come by daily during extremely cold weather to make sure that everything is
okay. Leave the name of your plumbing and heating contractor with the temporary caretakers in
case an emergency arises while you are away. If you have a fire protection line, make certain it is
not affected by turning off the domestic water supply line. Also, be sure that you don’t have a
hydronic heating system that requires a constant supply of water.
If you have an older home or live in a geographic area prone to extreme cold weather,
you may want to consider contacting your professional plumbing contractor for an inspection of
your plumbing system and more information on ways to reduce your risk of frozen pipes.
Actions to take if your water lines do freeze
Turn off the domestic water supply where it comes into the house. All responsible
household members should be aware of where this emergency shut off valve is located prior to
needing it to shut off the water. Know the difference between the domestic water supply and the
fire protection supply. The fire protection supply should only be shut off if water is coming from
a freeze break and there is no fire, or by a fire protection specialist.
1. Turn up the heat. Raise the thermostat to 75 or 80 degrees. You need to drive heat into
every nook and cranny of the home to avoid any damage occurring, and eliminate the
chances of another water line becoming frozen.
2. Open all faucets in the house. When water freezes, it expands by 1/5th its original volume.
By relieving the expanding water, you may avoid doing additional pipe damage and needed
repairs.
--MORE—
3. Open all cabinet doors with plumbing below them. This is to allow the heated air to
circulate around the pipes in an effort to thaw them out and keep them from freezing.
4. Call your professional plumbing expert to come assess your situation as soon as possible.
Try turning the water on for short periods to see if the frozen line has thawed. If it has,
close all taps and listen to see if you can hear water running in inaccessible crawl spaces. If you
do hear water running, turn off the water, open all faucets and wait for help to arrive.
###
<Information on your chapter goes here. >
The PHCC National Association, formed in 1883, provides legislative advocacy,
education and training to 4,100 plumbing, heating and cooling contractors and 85,000
technicians.. Members of PHCC have access to a wide variety of services designed to increase
their professionalism, grow their business and improve profitability. Go to www.phccweb.org
for more information.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 3, 2006
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tom Theroux, PHCC Massachusetts
(781)843-3800; ttheroux@phccma.org
Home Tips - How to Pick a Heating, Plumbing Pro
When you have work done in your home, you literally have to live with the result. When
that work deals with your home’s plumbing, heating or cooling system, it takes on even more
meaning since your family’s health, safety and comfort are involved.
So when the time comes to call a plumbing, heating or cooling contractor, make sure you
choose a professional and not just a “handyman” that does this type of work on the side.
The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of Massachusetts (PHCC) offers these tips to
help you make the right choice:

Ask for references. Ask the contractor for names of previous customers in the area. Contact
those people and ask their opinion of the work.

Check reputation. Call your Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed
against the contractor.

Check local licenses. Many localities require that plumbing, heating and cooling contractors
be licensed to ensure that all health, safety and building codes are followed. If that’s the case
where you live, ask the contractor for his or her license number.

Confirm insurance credentials. Ask to see the contractor’s proof of liability and workmen’s
compensation insurance. This is to make sure you’re not liable for any accidents on your
property.

Look for the PHCC logo. Its members are professionals who are dedicated to using the
latest technology, promoting energy and water conservation, and following all health and
safety regulations.
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HOME TIPS
Page 2

Check into building permits. Most localities require a building permit for large home
improvement projects. Contact your local licensing or permit department to see if you need
one for your project.

Request an estimate. To get an idea of the overall cost, ask for an estimate. Choosing a
contractor should be based on more than just the lowest estimate. Quality of work counts too.

Ask about professional-grade products. Many contractors offer competitively priced,
professional-grade products that carry a longer warranty and/or more features than standardgrade products sold at home centers.

Look into service agreements. Many contractors offer service agreements that provide
periodic check-ups of your plumbing, heating or cooling system.
Call (781)843-3800 for more information, or visit the PHCC Massachusetts Web site at
http://www.phccma.org/.
###
SAMPLE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 24, 2004
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tom Theroux, PHCC Massachusetts
(781)843-3800; ttheroux@phccma.org
Brigadier General Recognizes PHCC Massachusetts
For Providing Emergency Services to Families of Military
HYANNIS, Mass.— Massachusetts Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC)
members who provided emergency plumbing and heating services to families of military
stationed overseas were recognized May 22 by Brigadier General Donald J. Quenneville,
Adjutant General of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.
During the PHCC of Massachusetts annual convention in Hyannis, General Quenneville
presented the PHCC members with a plaque in appreciation of their volunteer work to help
Massachusetts National Guard families.
Over the past several months, the PHCC members provided emergency services to seven
families for such projects as repairing ruptured hoses and broken pipes. All projects were
coordinated through the National Guard, which processes requests for emergency response
assistance, and tries to find reputable companies or organizations to complete the work. The
PHCC Massachusetts state office served as the “placement” office for the projects by providing
contractors to complete work when the project and location were feasible.
(More)
Massachusetts National Guard
Page 2
“These have been very fulfilling projects for our members,” said PHCC of Massachusetts
President George Trethewey. “It is a way for them to go in and help someone who is in a
difficult situation, such as water in the basement or a heating system that doesn’t work. Our
members just wanted to do what they could to support out troops.”
Massachusetts contractors participating in the program were E.F. Corcoran Plumbing &
Heating, Springfield; Denommee Plumbing & Heating, Tyngsboro; Nazzaro Plumbing &
Heating, Chelmsford; Trethewey Brothers, Roslindale; and Wilson Plumbing & Heating, East
Hampton. Two New Hampshire PHCC members, Bow Plumbing and Heating, Bow; and Swain
Plumbing and Heating, Candia, also pitched in and helped on a project in Derry, N.H.
Thomas Theroux, Executive Director, PHCC of MA explained that once the contractor
members indicated that they wanted to help in some way with families of military stationed
overseas, his research found that the National Guard seemed to be the best fit. Theroux said the
relationship has worked out quite well, and the chapter will continue volunteering with the
National Guard on a case-by-case basis.
PHCC of Massachusetts represents more than 200 plumbing, heating and cooling
contractors in Massachusetts. It is a chapter of the PHCC-National Association, which provides
legislative advocacy, education and training to 4,100 plumbing, heating and cooling contractors.
###