Plumbing & Mechanical Top Stories

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Software adoption has moved from being a competitive advantage to a core requirement — especially in the face of labor shortages, cost pressures and rising customer expectations.

Measuring the flow rate through a circuit has always been more of a challenge compared to measuring temperatures. Very few circuits are equipped with permanently installed flow meters.

Single-stage non-modulating heat sources in zoned distribution systems often face short cycling, particularly with low thermal mass. When few zones are active, they struggle to dissipate generated heat quickly, causing temperature build-up and potential shutdown of the heat pump based on internal limits, with varied restart behavior depending on controls.

In today’s technology-heavy plumbing and mechanical industry, “must-see” products aren’t just shiny new equipment, they’re solutions that help solve today’s labor constraints, reduce callbacks, and keep buildings running with fewer surprises.

 Instead of focusing solely on closing out a dispatch, companies should be intentional about building relationships: communicating proactively, documenting their work, and checking back in even after the invoice is paid.

Manufacturers exhibiting at AHR Expo 2026 are bringing forward solutions that prioritize intelligence, flexibility and practicality, addressing real-world challenges faced by contractors, engineers, distributors and building owners.

All year, leadership is a fast-moving, day-by-day experience. But December's slower pace lets you take a step back, and that's when strategic thinking happens. An intentional leadership reset is a chance to reflect on what truly matters, refocus on the strategies that drive results, and reignite the performance, purpose, and passion that will carry you into 2026 with clarity and momentum.

In 2025, we brought you stories on everything from heat pump water heaters to the top 20 under 40 in the plumbing industry. 

I'm grateful my family showed my brother the value of trades. After my great-grandfather's plumbing business closed, my dad became a welder and shared his skills with my brother during many afternoons in the work shed, like an apprentice learning from a master.

Today, we still get calls about older systems. The potential customers often think their house or building is the oldest we have ever seen. I suppose people think every other building on their block has removed the old steam or hot water system and replaced it with something more modern.