Plumbing & Mechanical Top Stories

Radiant Comfort Report

Dave Yates: Dominoes

Failure of one part of a hydronic radiant system can cause the entire row to fall.

November 11, 2019

As a designer/installer of any hydronic radiant system (especially one that incorporates hydro-air, old preexisting standing cast iron radiators and an indirect water heater), you have dozens of steps involved that are not unlike setting up a winding row of dominoes.

Preventing scale damage in tankless water heaters

How to proactively prevent reduced water flow and efficiency.

Dennis DeBlock

November 11, 2019

A lot of the water we use comes into contact with underground limestone, which is rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium.

Safety, efficiency, top 2020 trends for fleet vehicles

Manufacturers unveil 2020 model year vehicles and accessories.

Nicole Krawcke

November 11, 2019

The days of folded paper maps and crank car windows are long gone. The cars of today practically drive themselves with features like park assist, lane detection and rearview cameras.

Dan Holohan: Thankful

Reflecting and reminiscing this holiday season.

Dan Holohan

November 8, 2019

When our daughters were small, we would wake them before dawn on Thanksgiving morning and drive into Manhattan to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from a spot on Central Park West, just across the street from The Dakota (the apartment building where John Lennon lived and died).

John Siegenthaler: Low temperature leverage

A novel hardware combination offers several benefits.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

November 8, 2019

Because they generate heat intermittently, renewable energy heat sources such as solar thermal collectors and pellet boilers require thermal storage tanks. So do storage-based systems using off-peak electricity, or micro combined heat and power (MCHP) generation.

Radiant Comfort Report

Les Nelson: RPA addressing labo shortage in radiant and hydronic industries

Les Nelson

November 6, 2019

Welcome to the winter edition of the Radiant Comfort Report! This second edition of the RCR has a great piece by Dave Yates — take some time to check it out on page 8. By the time you read this, the RPA will have participated in its second year of co-sponsoring the PHCC CONNECT event in Indianapolis in October.

Dave Yates: Honesty

The essential foundation for your business.

Dave Yates

November 6, 2019

Honesty is such a lonely word (from the song, “Honesty” by Billy Joel). It never ceases to amaze me when folks we deal with are not honest.

Al Levi: Money from the scrap heap

Contractors have several options when it comes to handling scrap metal.

Al Levi

November 6, 2019

A client called me awhile back because he wanted to know what my family did with the scrap metal from jobsites, and he wanted to know what the other companies I work with do on this matter too.

Milwaukee Tool releases new line of cordless light equipment

MX FUEL System tackles jobsite health concerns by reducing emissions, noise and vibration.

Nicole Krawcke

October 31, 2019

PM sat down with Andrew Plowman, vice president of product management for Milwaukee Tool to get some more insight on the six new products being introduced.

Tool Tips: Organization and cleanliness

Tool Tips — October 2019

October 23, 2019

On our trucks, we keep all our soldering material, such as solder, paste, pipe cutters, emery cloth, inspection mirror and other miscellaneous items, in small tackle boxes.