designing a wastewater system requires careful consideration of a range of factors to ensure efficient and compliant operation.

IEC, a subsidiary of Climate Control Group, celebrated its 75th anniversary in October.

The plumbing industry is evolving with a focus on sustainability. Heat pump water heaters (HPWH) present an opportunity for contractors to stand out and meet changing client needs, contributing to environmental conservation and demonstrating leadership in a dynamic market.

Nestled within a 20-year-old home deep in the heart of Klein, Texas, the Stansifer family encountered a common homeowner problem: a painfully long three-to-five-minute wait for hot water whenever they turned on a faucet.

When property owners need restroom or kitchen facilities in areas without existing plumbing, they often face the challenge of expensive and disruptive work to create below-floor drainage that usually requires breaking through concrete, which is messy, noisy, and costly. This high cost may lead clients to reconsider their projects altogether. For trade professionals, navigating concrete obstacles is just another day at the office. Yet, for others, it might be less welcome.

BuyFin Payment Processing, which is offered in conjunction with third-party partners, helps business owners get paid faster from customers with competitive processing rates and a best-in-class technology platform, the company states.

After hard work, your contracting company is turning a profit. You need to decide when to invest some of that money back into the business, balancing saving and making improvements to stay competitive.

Junkyards are one of those forgotten places we in the heating business must visit on occasion.

For decades, changing out a thermostat for a retrofit hydronic heating system was a simple task for a service technician. From Bangor, Maine, to Breckenridge, Colorado, the mere two, 18-gauge thermostat wires running through a home was not a concern (short of the random nail or mouse taking one of the two out).

On a military base in east-central Alaska — where the average winter temperature is 16° F with lows that fall well below minus 50° at times — dependable, low-maintenance winter heating systems are critical for the active-duty military families and Department of Defense civilians who live on the military post.

Businesses are facing major changes in the way they operate and the way they interact with clients, partners and suppliers. These changes, which are rooted in uncertainty, often challenge our business confidence as leaders at the highest level.

Regardless of how long you’ve been in the trades, I’m sure you know how important learning is to your journey. Let’s take a deeper look.

Here are a few insights I'd like to share on how to lead our businesses with confidence, regardless of what's happening in the broader world.

“Water quality has grown 300% across the U.S. since the pandemic began,” says Glen Blavet, founder and CEO of HALO Water Systems. “People are at home, and they’re looking to improve their quality of life and their health, so they’re looking at the water they’re drinking out of the tap.”

The simplicity of the patented Centra-lok design is also intended to offer a cost-effective vinyl-by-vinyl containment system for commercial, industrial, and municipal water and wastewater applications.

Education enhanced my earning potential. I became a more skilled technician, gained knowledge about new and emerging technologies, and became a much more valuable asset to my employers. Throughout my journey, I met numerous mentors in various aspects of the PHVAC trades and established insider contacts that proved to be invaluable.

Recognizing that pipe joints are the most common source of premature leaks and system failures, IPEX has designed Centra-lok to minimize maintenance, repair and installation costs.

Darrell Jones found himself in quite a pickle back in 1986. At the time, Jones was working for close friend and mentor Louie Garner at Garner’s contracting business.

Integrated Dynamic Control (IDC) is a PC-based intelligent control system delivering optimized comfort and maximized efficiency by coordinating HVAC, IAQ and hydronic systems in one control.

REHAU’s EVERLOC+ R-20 manifold connectors for hydronic applications support leak-free reliability in a one-piece assembly including an EVERLOC+ insert with a pre-installed O-ring and swivel nut.

MrPEX’s Integrated Dynamic Control (IDC) is a PC-based intelligent control system which delivers optimized comfort and maximized efficiency.

Viega’s Hydronic Mixing Block is a mixing device and boiler control with a built-in circulator and microcontroller.

When Jason Gaspard, owner and project manager at Select Mechanical Services, was looking to finish the basement of his Maple Grove, Minnesota-based home, he knew he wanted radiant heating in the space.

Smatrix Pulse is the industry’s first multizone wireless control system for both radiant heating as well as forced-air heating and cooling.

Matt Millard, owner of Performance Mechanical in Edgartown, Massachusetts, loves to experiment with new technologies. Recently, Millard wanted to step up to hydronic radiant heating for his own home addition using an air-to-water heat pump.

The event’s more than 100 technical sessions will showcase on eight conference tracks will offer emerging approaches to building design, construction and operation.

Attendees gathered to learn and engage with the industry at PHCC CONNECT 2024.

Giglio is a dedicated member of PHCC of Louisiana’s leadership, currently serving as president-elect after more than a decade of work on the chapter’s Board of Directors

Correctly set controls ensure proper boiler operation.

The owner asked for a bid to replace her 35-year-old cast iron boiler which was still operating. She had two requirements: Redundancy in the event of a boiler malfunction and lower fuel costs for the building.

On the older hydronic systems, replacing the existing boiler with a new one was pretty straightforward. The installer connected the new boiler to the existing flue, piping and electric. The newer high-efficiency boilers are much different and require some additional planning.

Integrated Dynamic Control (IDC) is a PC-based intelligent control system which delivers optimized comfort and maximized efficiency by coordinating HVAC, indoor air quality and hydronic systems in one control. 

REHAU’s proprietary compression-sleeve fitting technology expands with EVERLOC+ R-20 manifold connectors for hydronic applications. R-20 connectors support leak-free reliability in a one-piece assembly.

Niagara’s Shadow 0.8 GPF with Stealth Technology is an award-winning toilet that is WaterSense certified and has a MaP Premium Score of 1000g.

The Laars NeoTherm XTR condensing natural gas boiler or volume water heater is available in several MBH sizes all with Laars Linc.

The Vitocrossal 200 CI2 is the most advanced, compact floor-standing gas condensing boiler designed for large residential and commercial applications.

Find out about piping options for retrofitting an air-to-water heat pump into an existing hydronic system.

In 2024, the North American air-to-water heat pump market saw significant expansion, with nine new offerings introduced at the January AHR show by companies new to this category. By year's end, at least 18 companies either have or plan to offer these pumps in the U.S. Read the list of these companies as of mid-2024.

A little water conservation can go a long way.

And as the second-most visited space in commercial buildings — just behind the lobby — the restroom and its water-saving fixtures can help lead the way when it comes to cutting back consumption.

A thriving plumbing business relies on a collaborative team spanning various functions. Facing challenges like labor shortages and limited resources, many contractors struggle to expand into new markets. Adding a franchise can accelerate growth, minimize risk, and unlock fresh opportunities by leveraging established systems and resources.

Joseph Cariola, a licensed plumber and operations manager at Feddon Mechanical, converted his garage into an in-law suite with a bedroom and bathroom to accommodate up to three people.

The awarded pizza box uses considerably less material than traditional solutions without compromising rigidity, function or print quality.

PACT has developed a specially designed, corrugated crate that some customers have been able to use over one hundred times.

Morrisons wanted to reduce supply chain and material costs and to improve the customer experience, aiding navigation for shoppers in-store and improving on-shelf availability in order to increase sales. 

The upgrade comprises an extensive rebuild of paper machines PM2 and PM5, a new anaerobic treatment plant including an integrated cooling system, and upgrades to the pulp mill, the recycled fiber line and the energy recovery system.

No matter who you are, project management can be a challenge. 

Water heater manufacturer Rinnai America Corp. has been working for the last three years with a state department of corrections to upgrade the water heating systems in five prison facilities.

Every industry in the United States is currently feeling the constraints of the labor shortage. Employers continue to struggle to bring in new workers and keep existing ones. Job openings far outnumber individuals looking for work — in March, there were 11.5 million jobs to fill, and not enough workers to fill them, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary. 

Fall is conference and tradeshow season in the plumbing and HVAC world.

Generosity is the new marketing. In this era of social media, charitable companies can earn an enhanced brand reputation as being a “good” company and will make people want to do business with them.