Plumbing & Mechanical Top Stories

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This year’s group of NextGen All-Stars is full of young talent in the trades who are making a difference in the world every day. These innovators and leaders are forging the path for the next generation. Congratulations to this group of industry leaders in our Top 20 Under 40 list of plumbing professionals!

This article provides plumbing engineers and system designers with strategies for right-sizing residential plumbing systems based on modern water use data and highlights how traditional sizing methods, like the Hunter’s Curve, often lead to oversized systems that increase costs and wastewater.

Building codes are becoming stricter, carbon targets are becoming law, and there’s more funding available for compliance. For those in plumbing and mechanical trades, system design now involves meeting emissions goals, leveraging incentives, and navigating changing regulations.

Some hydronic heating systems use slab-on-grade floor heating combined with an air handler or fan-coils in other areas of a building. This approach is also used for heated basement floors combined with a “hydro-air” delivery system for the main living areas.

The facility is poised to strengthen both the local community, and the broader industry. It is a centralized hub for production, and for Viega customers to learn and train. 

CONNECT brings together professionals and emerging leaders, contractors, vendors and educators in a collaborative environment. Attendees will leave not only with fresh insights and tools for success but also with the kind of personal connections that support long-term growth and innovation.

If you’re leading a plumbing team today, you’re probably dealing with a whole mix of generations, attitudes, and learning styles. The top-down, “Because I said so,” approach may have worked in the past (barely), but it’s not cutting it now. The truth is, people don’t want to be managed—they want to be developed.

The third edition of the Radiant & Hydronics All Stars eBook highlights the latest technologies and design trends in radiant heating. It features insights from our All-Star Roundtable on innovations and challenges, along with design trends for residential and commercial applications.

Throughout this period, global governments have been notably active on issues related to chemicals, household equipment, HVAC equipment, mechanical systems, plumbing products, protective equipment, and water heating appliances. I have curated the policy changes to save you time and keep you informed and ahead of the curve.

Baby Boomers own the most homes in the U.S., but Millennials and Gen Z are gaining. In 2024, Millennials made up 29% of homebuyers, while 33% of older Gen Z members (around 27) are homeowners, compared to about 40% of the same-age Baby Boomers.