2026 February

Plumbing and Mechanical

In the February 2026 issue of Plumbing & Mechanical, learn why modular construction is outperforming traditional field-built approaches. Also inside: A guide to rebate stacking, commercial pipe support best practices, our featured columns, new products, and much more!

An air-source heat pump is being installed on a home in North East England for sustainability. A female construction worker in a hard hat and reflective jacket points to the heat pump while speaking to a man holding papers and gesturing.

Heating Perceptions | Scott Secor

Why some boiler replacement jobs may not be the right fit

Multi-bid residential boiler replacements are changing the economics of estimating, and sometimes, it’s smarter to walk away.

Scott Secor

February 5, 2026

Every job isn't right for every contractor.

Air conditioner condenser unit sitting next to brick home with fence.

Hydronics Workshop | John Siegenthaler

What’s it capable of? (part 2)

Measuring net heat output and head loss in existing hydronic circuits.

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

February 4, 2026

In hydronic systems, the circuit usually passes through the boiler, which adds heat. When using a block heater and the boiler is off, it dissipates heat from the circuit. This heat loss must be considered when measuring the circuit's true "net" heating output.

Air Conditioner technician using a brazing torch to repair equipment.

Contractor's Corner | Dave Yates

Brazing safety in the A2L era

Explore how refrigerant chemistry, heavier-than-air gases, and real-world brazing hazards highlight critical safety practices for HVAC and mechanical contractor.

Dave Yates

February 2, 2026

We become comfortable with what we perceive to be best practices and believe they are also safe for all involved. Cupric oxide will always be a concern when brazing copper refrigerant line sets, so purging with nitrogen is the best way to keep your refrigerant lines clean and pristine during brazing.

Grundfos KPVS pump in a large data center.

Data centers: Why prefab fits

Speed, repeatability, and redundancy are redefining how plumbing and mechanical systems are delivered in high-uptime digital infrastructure.

Kristen R. Bayles

February 3, 2026

Data centers are moving faster than ever, and prefabrication is helping them keep up.

Details of central heating system in a boiler room.

The Glitch & The Fix: February 2026

Bewitched Btus: Understanding the hydraulic consequences of improper primary loop design

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

February 4, 2026

Figure 1 shows the piping layout for an actual installation. It uses two boilers, fired in stages, to supply three areas of a building. One of those areas is sub-divided into three zones. The other two areas are handled by individual zone circulators. The "primary circulator" operates whenever any load circuit is on. All circulators are fixed speed. There's a partially closed ball valve at the end of the "primary loop."