2026 January

Plumbing and Mechanical

PM January 2025 eMagazine cover 450x600px

The January 2026 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical features our cover story on the AHR Expo returning to Las Vegas in 2026. Also inside: see the top 20 products of 2025, what apps contractors use most, our featured columns, new products, and much more!

Air Conditioning Condenser Unit Mounted on a Concrete Slab outside of a Suburban Brick Home in Tennessee.

Hydronics Workshop | John Siegenthaler

What’s it capable of? (part 1)

Why accurate performance measurements are essential when evaluating an existing hydronic system for a heat pump.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

January 9, 2026

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.

AHR Expo 2026 returns to Las Vegas

Demand for AI, electrification and mission-critical cooling prompts exhibitors to highlight connected technologies that simplify installation and improve long-term performance.

Natalie Forster

January 6, 2026

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.

The Glitch & The Fix: Geo-normous problems

Pairing a non-modulating geothermal heat pump with a multi-zone, low-mass radiant system introduces several avoidable issues.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

January 7, 2026

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.

Person in business suit holding a stylus, tapping one of the virtual mobile app windows floating above the laptop.

What software is powering today's contractors

From paper to platform: a deep dive on the software that keeps today’s contractors on track.

Kristen R. Bayles

January 12, 2026

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.

PVC Pipe connections, PVC Pipe fitting, PVC Coupling. Stainless steel Fittings for pipes. Details pipes different types collection of water tube industry gas valve

2025 Products of the Year

Most-viewed products from pmmag.com reveal that hybrid systems and jobsite efficiency are top of mind.

Natalie Forster

January 7, 2026

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.