2024 May

Female Trainee Plumber Working On Central Heating Boiler

Editorial Opinion | Nicole Krawcke

Gen Z ditching college for trade school

Could the next generation bridge the labor gap?

May 13, 2024

There is a growing trend in the skilled trades, with more people turning away from the traditional four-year college path.

AI chatbot - Artificial Intelligence digital concept

Guest Editorial | Katie Donovan

Unlocking the power of AI in digital marketing

A guide for home service businesses.

Katie Donovan

May 10, 2024

AI is the cornerstone of innovation in home services, but its true essence is diverse and multifaceted. Bloomberg predicts AI will affect 40% of global job roles. AI's ripple effects will be consequential for paid and organic search.

A tradesman stood at the side of his van with his arms folded smiling to camera on a housing estate

Guest Editorial | Kellene Safis

Shattering stereotypes to shape the future of plumbing

Revolutionizing the flow

Kellene Safis

May 9, 2024

US faces a shortage of 500k skilled plumbers, costing $33bn annually. Plumbing requires rigorous training, creative problem-solving, and meticulous execution. Valuing the critical role plumbers play can address the shortage and pave the way for a thriving water infrastructure.

Diverse group of male and female business professionals talking together in corporate office lobby during social gathering.

Service Plumbing Pros | Matt Michel

Networking for commercial plumbers

Nine ways to build key relationships.

Matt Michel

May 7, 2024

Larry Taylor, a renowned contractor, believed that networking is the key to commercial sales. Business is built on relationships, and networking helps build them. Here are nine ways to network effectively.

Scott Secor column feature image of pipefitter installing underfloor heating system system.

Heating Perceptions | Scott Secor

Not-so-common radiant retrofits

Be careful what you bid on.

Scott Secor

May 6, 2024

Not many homes in our area have radiant heat. We mostly retrofit older homes and commercial buildings. Majority of new constructions in our area are apartment houses that use warm air for heating.

Low angle close-up of two hands passing a relay baton, with focus on the hand holding the baton, against a clear blue sky.

The Blue Collar Coach | Kenny Chapman

Nurturing the next generation of leaders in the home services trades

Best practices for succession planning.

Kenny Chapman

May 3, 2024

Succession is a crucial phase for leaders. Proper planning and strategy can make it the best decision for the company.

Dave Yates column feature image of basement floor

Contractor's Corner | Dave Yates

Repairing a 30-year-old hydronic system after construction damage

Be prepared.

Dave Yates

May 2, 2024

How do you deal with damaged embedded-in-concrete PEX tubing? Read on to find out the challenge I met and resolved.

Hydronics Workshop | John Siegenthaler

Combining “low-tech” heating with state-of-the-art heat pump technology

Plan B

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

May 1, 2024

In rural upstate New York, residents harvest trees for firewood using chainsaws and hydraulic splitters. I burn about two face cords annually in my wood stove, enjoying its warmth during winter and relying on it during power outages caused by outdated utility lines.

11,000 square-foot modern chalet-style home

Contractor finds success in simple, scalable hydronic designs

The upside of down economies: forging an ironclad business.

Dan Vastyan

May 8, 2024

Jim Harper Sr. instilled a strong work ethic in his son, Jim Jr. who studied at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School. Jim Jr. moved to Colorado in the 1990s to work with Caribou Plumbing, gaining experience in hydronics. He founded Plumbing Systems Inc. (PSI), which was put on hold after 9/11.

The Glitch and The Fix Figure 1 image of outdoor wood-fired furnace

The Glitch & The Fix: Boiler choke point

May 6, 2024

Due to its low efficiency and high emissions, an installer is asked to replace the outdoor wood-fired furnace with a new cordwood gasification boiler.

California K-12 school campus conveys high-tech, futuristic appeal — even in restrooms

Aesthetically pleasing restroom fixtures meet design goals.

Cassie Keeler

May 22, 2024

The Agnews Campus in the Santa Clara Unified School District worked with LPA Design Studios, a California-based integrated architectural and engineering design firm, to design the schools with a high-tech aesthetic.

The plumber’s guide to backwater valves

Defending against sewage backup.

Sean Comerford

May 20, 2024

As plumbers, you understand the crucial role backwater valves play in maintaining plumbing system integrity, preventing sewage backups that can cause costly repairs and health risks. A backwater valve is a specialized device allowing wastewater to flow in one direction while blocking reverse flow, acting as a strong defense to ensure wastewater moves only in the intended direction.

SentryPlus Alert is a connected and IoT-enabled RPZ backflow preventer and flood protection shutdown automatic control valve

Smart + Connected Backflow + Leak Detection solutions hit their stride

New technology enables problem-solving solutions.

John Vastyan

May 7, 2024

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

The biannual Radiant Comfort Report highlights the latest technology, products and training for radiant heating/cooling professionals.

Resideo hydraulic separator radiant heating system

Radiant Comfort Report Spring 2024 Edition

Protecting what matters most in your radiant system — the water

Water quality is a critical component to radiant and hydronic systems.

Jason Abajian

May 23, 2024

Boiler systems are essential for residential heating and hot water. Their efficiency and longevity depend on good water quality. Poor water quality causes corrosion, scale buildup, and higher costs. Maintaining high water quality ensures smooth operation and durability.

Ecowarm RadiantBoard EPS over un-insulated subfloor

Radiant Comfort Report Spring 2024 Edition

Martha's Vineyard mechanical contractor incorporates radiant heating into his own Net Zero strategy

Radiant heating board helps system operate more effectively at lower supply water temperatures.

May 21, 2024

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.

A trench filled with plastic tubing used for the installation of a geothermal residential heating and cooling system.

Radiant Comfort Report Spring 2024 Edition

Thermal Energy Networks for HVAC&W

Targeting the performance zone.

Rick Bostian

May 16, 2024

Circulating ground-temperature water in a Thermal Energy Network (TEN) provides efficient heating and cooling, reducing costs and mitigating climate change through decarbonization. The water must be kept within a specific temperature range, known as the performance zone.

PEX that are embedded in the concrete slab

Radiant Comfort Report Spring 2024 Edition

How radiant heating and cooling can help achieve decarbonization goals

For maximum efficiency, water in a hydronic radiant heating and cooling system is the best option.

Hailey Mick

May 14, 2024

In a radiant heating and cooling system, water circulates through PEX pipes in the concrete slab to control the slab's temperature for heating or cooling.

Radiant Comfort Report | New Products

Ecowarm announces insulated radiant floor panels

May 3, 2024

Ecowarm RadiantBoard EPS Premium Ply Panels are integrated with EPS foam and available in standard R-2.7 or R-5.6 models for use over concrete and over under-insulated subfloors.

Radiant Comfort Report | New Products

Uponor announces multizone wireless control system for radiant heating and cooling

May 2, 2024

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

Radiant Comfort Report | New Products

MrPEX announces radiant foam panels

May 1, 2024

Save time and money with easy-to-install panels that seamlessly integrate into any radiant flooring system.

Executive's Column | Hugo Aguilar

Advancing the radiant and hydronics industry

An update on RPA activities in 2024 and beyond.

Hugo Aguilar, P.E.

May 1, 2024

In 2024, the RPA held educational sessions at the ASHRAE/AHR Expo in Chicago, welcoming new members and setting goals to advance the radiant and hydronics industry.