2026 January

Camera on a tripod taking a shot on construction site.

Heating Perceptions | Scott Secor

Taking photos at jobsites

Lessons learned from decades behind the lens, and why good photos matter as much as good workmanship.

Scott Secor

January 21, 2026

For contractors, taking high-quality photos at jobsites can be highly beneficial.

Guest Editorial | Tom Roberts

New pipe sizing standard brings critical changes and innovation to building services

ICC 815 modernizes water and sanitary system design to reflect changing buildings, lifestyles, and usage patterns.

Tom Roberts

January 21, 2026

This new standard will mark a turning point for water supply and sanitary drainage pipe sizing, which together haven’t received a meaningful update since the 1940s.

Handyman installing a washing machine at a house.

Contractor's Corner | Dave Yates

What’s That Smell? A Troubleshooting Lesson When the Problem Isn’t the Plumbing

A persistent sewer-like odor, three unsuccessful service calls, and one seasoned technician’s methodical approach reveal how easily symptoms can mislead.

Dave Yates

January 19, 2026

Sometimes, the usual-suspects aren't to blame when it comes to sewer-like odors.

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.

An exterior shot of a Connecticut home designed by architect Leigh Overland. Partial view of front landscape, cloudy blue sky in the background.

Project Profile

ThermaCEILING radiant system provides net‐zero comfort in Connecticut ICF home

Robert Barmore

January 16, 2026

A case study of a ThermaCEILing radiant system in a Connecticut home.

Legionella

How Hidden Threats in Closed-Loop Water Systems Can Lead to Legionella Contamination

Biofilm and pipe-material challenges for Legionella risk.

Natalie Forster

January 15, 2026

How material selection, flow dynamics, temperature control and commissioning practices influence microbial and Legionella risk.

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.