Plumbing and Mechanical

The May 2025 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical features our cover story on smart plumbing and the need for better cybersecurity. Also read features on the large volume hot water needs of a California-based nutraceutical manufacturer, Legionella prevention, featured columns, and much more!

John Siegenthaler, Hot Rod Rohr and Dave Yates reunite at the Lochinvar booth at AHR 2025.

Contractor's Corner | Dave Yates

Eye candy from The AHR Expo 2025

Go with the flow

Dave Yates

May 12, 2025

Eye candy would best describe many of the products on display at the great AHR Exposition recently held in Orlando Florida’s Convention Center.

Young son helping father on the kitchen floor, fix the kitchen sink.

From the Editor | Kristen Bayles

New Editor joins Plumbing & Mechanical Group at BNP Media

Roots in renovation

Kristen R. Bayles

May 5, 2025

Walking into the bathroom of my childhood home, I recall spilling my mom’s dark red nail polish on the white tile floor. Sitting on the edge of the bathtub, I held the flashlight for my dad while he fixed a leaky pipe under the sink.

Underfloor heating installation with drain sewer hole in bathroom close up on water floor heating.

Hydronics Workshop | John Siegenthaler

Using hydronics to leverage time-of-use electrical rates

Buying low

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

May 2, 2025

As electrification reshapes the HVAC market, hydronic-based heating and cooling systems stand ready to offer many design and performance benefits. One of them is the potential for thermal storage. After all, water is one of the best materials on earth for storing sensible heat.

Shopping trolley cart stacked on top of a pile of increasing coin columns for online sale business growth concept.

Heating Perceptions | Scott Secor

The many reasons for price increases

Commodity pricing and tariffs impact plumbing jobs every day.

Scott Secor

May 1, 2025

I suspect manufacturers have had annual price increases since they began producing the items we need. So far this week we have been informed by one of our suppliers that the condensing boiler we use most often is going up by six percent.

Behind the Wall: Where smart plumbing gets smarter

Adoption of connected plumbing systems calls for greater cybersecurity awareness and consumer education.

Kristen R. Bayles

May 2, 2025

From smarter water heaters and valves to AI-powered diagnostics and real-time energy optimization, the future of plumbing is here —and it’s connected.

Figure 1 is a sketch of the flow problems of the current plumbing system.

The Glitch & The Fix: May 2025

Hydronic heating glitch solved: Why adding a circulator won't fix primary loop flow issue

Cut & cap

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

May 8, 2025

When the system was operated, the owner complained of flow problems. The heat emitters in any given zone were only marginally warmed when their associated zone circulator was operating. The owner questioned if another circulator should be installed.

Six tankless water heaters that feed the nutraceutical manufacturer’s operations.

Case Study

How to deliver large volumes of hot water quickly and intermittently

California-based nutraceutical manufacturer meets large, spiking hot-water needs with a combination tankless-and-tank system.

John O’Reilly

May 13, 2025

Proper water heater sizing in any application hinges primarily on user consumption within a given period. That much is probably obvious, even to someone who has never sized a water heater. What complicates matters, especially in a large commercial application, is the cadence of that usage.

Leaking water drops that falls to the tile floor because of a broken pipe.

Taking a proactive approach to leak detection in the commercial space

Complex commercial buildings call for smart leak detection to mitigate risk.

Yaron Dycian

May 8, 2025

Commercial buildings, like homes, face risks from fire, flooding, and severe weather. Property owners and managers should recognize these threats but not be overwhelmed—proactive measures can significantly reduce risks and ensure peace of mind for everyone.

Overhead view of the exterior of a NextGen Plumbing, Heating and Cooling designed and installed a radiant heating system for a 15,000 square foot mansion in New Jersey.

Case Study

New Jersey contractor installs radiant system in 15K square foot mansion

Thomas Renner

May 7, 2025

As a young and relatively new business owner, Dylan D’Amato had been looking for a signature residential project to establish his company and himself as an industry leader in the competitive New Jersey market. The design, installation and service of a radiant heating system for a 15,000-square-foot mansion will help D’Amato achieve that goal.

Microscopic magnification of Legionella pneumophila, a Gram-negative bacillus that causes pneumonia.

Legionella cases are leveling off, but experts say we must ramp up prevention

Climate change and aging infrastructure impact water sources and treatment.

Natalie Forster

May 6, 2025

In a recent whitepaper written by Dr. Janet Stout and Abraham Cullom of the Special Pathogens lab – both legionella experts – it’s reported that legionaires disseas is on the rise, particularly in the healthcare setting. Cliamte change, aging infrastrcuturem increasing population are all identified factors that increase legionella cases.