Piping | Plumbing | PVF

Heat Pump Water Heater Brings Efficiency and Cost Savings to California Apartment Complex

Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:29 -0400

Unlike traditional high efficiency models, the Voltex 120V HPWH is designed to plug into a standard electrical outlet–eliminating the need for adaptors or restructuring.

Spotless Sewer Lines Play a Key Role in Lining Success

Mon, 11 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Pipe cleaning is not just a preliminary step; it directly affects the integrity of the finished liner. Fortunately, the right combination of nozzles and cutters allows crews to remove even the most stubborn buildup, allowing the liner to work properly once it is installed.

New York lead pipe replacement funding program requires open material evaluation

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:50:45 -0400

According to the PPI, while New York State’s fund of $250 million for water infrastructure improvements should be applauded, not allowing an open procurement process would diminish results and not provide the most cost-effective solution.

Impact of affordability challenges and demographic shifts on housing trends in 2026

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Housing affordability has declined significantly in recent years. The deterioration in price-to-income ratio has been a key factor, as home prices have risen 53% since 2019, while median household income has risen only 24%. This has notably decreased the share of first-time home buyers in the market, which dropped to 21% in 2025 from 44% in 1981. Over that same time frame, the median age for first-time buyers reached a record high of 40 in 2025 from 29 in 1981.

Commercial pipe support best practices: applications, materials and code compliance explained

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Pipe support plays a foundational role in the performance, safety, and longevity of commercial plumbing and mechanical systems.

Designing out water stagnation in recreation plumbing systems

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Stagnant water is a threat to public health in recreation facilities that are intermittently used.

Data centers: Why prefab fits

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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

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

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

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

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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

Reducing Legionella risk through comprehensive water management

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

While the risk of Legionella exists across many types of buildings, healthcare and long-term care facilities are particularly vulnerable. These buildings often have large, complex plumbing systems with extensive pipe networks, variable water usage, and numerous fixtures, all of which can create conditions conducive to bacterial growth if not properly managed. As a result, even well-designed and well-maintained systems require ongoing attention to minimize risk.

The enduring power of plumbing apprenticeships

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Did you know that plumbing apprenticeships can be dated all the way back to the European medieval period? Back in the 1300s-1500s, Masters of trades would take on young, unskilled workers and teach them their craft in exchange for their indentured servitude, wherein they would work for years without pay while they honed their craft.

The future of jobsite piping: pre-fab and push-fit

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Across markets, contractors report that moving labor from unpredictable jobsite conditions into controlled fabrication environments is yielding measurable gains: fewer errors, improved safety metrics, and installation timelines compressed from weeks to days.

Case study: Solving for shower safety and layout flexibility

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

On complex healthcare projects, where schedules are tight and teams are balancing multiple design and compliance requirements, drainage will often receive less early attention. However, in patient environments, it’s a critical component that directly affects safety, accessibility, and maintenance.

Design for compliance: navigating the next generation of plumbing and mechanical standards

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Staying up to date on consensus standards is essential for system designers, manufacturers, and facilities managers to ensure compliance and minimize liability. Recently, I’ve compiled activities relevant to the plumbing and mechanical industries.

How Do Volunteers Save Lives Through Ship Plumbing Training?

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

At sea, there’s no backup system for clean water. Every drop must be filtered, pumped and protected — and that’s where plumbers come in. On Mercy Ships’ floating hospitals, skilled volunteers work to maintain these life-sustaining systems, ensuring that the ability to deliver safe, reliable care doesn’t leave when the ship sails away.

How to sell trenchless relining in 2026

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The technology itself isn’t new — cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) methods have been around for decades — but the conversation around it is changing fast. With infrastructure spending increasing and municipalities under pressure to minimize disruption, contractors who can confidently sell and explain trenchless rehabilitation are in a position to win more business than ever before.

Rethinking tankless: fact over fiction

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Many people still hesitate when they hear the phrase “tankless water heater.” The myths run deep: they won’t work in cold climates, they’re too expensive, they can’t keep up with demand. These misconceptions are fueled by early limitations in the technology and years of hearsay passed along between homeowners – and even some tradespeople.

Smarter solutions for overcoming wastewater management challenges

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The most efficient grinder pump requires no maintenance, manages solids without clogging, and supports various wastewater systems by preventing settling and handling modern “flushable” products.

Boiler efficiency starts with water chemistry

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Water chemistry significantly affects boilers, with scale buildup as small as one-sixteenth of an inch causing a 20 percent loss in heating efficiency and leading to corrosion, leaks, and potential boiler failure. Analyzing water chemistry beforehand is crucial for identifying necessary solutions and ensuring long-term performance.

From air compressors to plumbing fixtures: Navigating Canada's sweeping new efficiency standards

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In 2016, Natural Resources Canada ("NRCan") released Amendment 18 to the Energy Efficiency Regulations, enhancing energy efficiency and water conservation. It introduces new product categories, updates existing requirements, and allows automatic adoption of future U.S. Department of Energy updates.

Breaking barriers: UA Local 9’s Committee leads the way in recruitment, mentorship and support

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Women make up only 2-3% of the plumbing workforce and 8% of plumbing apprentices. In construction trades, they hold 3.9% of roles like plumber or pipefitter, a 32% increase since 2016, totaling over 314,000 tradeswomen, according to the Institute of Women’s Policy Research.

Engineering for a connected future

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Designing and managing buildings today means thinking beyond individual systems: it’s about creating integrated environments that are equally efficient, adaptable, and sustainable. Connected buildings are reshaping system integration, but what does that mean for engineers, and how can smart design choices today future-proof buildings for tomorrow?

Continuing education: Designing right-sized plumbing systems for housing affordability, water efficiency and public health

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 01:00:00 -0400

This article provides plumbing engineers and system designers with strategies for right-sizing residential plumbing systems based on modern water use data and highlights how traditional sizing methods, like the Hunter’s Curve, often lead to oversized systems that increase costs and wastewater.

Balancing high- and low- mass heat emitters to prevent temperature "droop"

hydronicpros@gmail.com (John Siegenthaler, P.E.) — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Some hydronic heating systems use slab-on-grade floor heating combined with an air handler or fan-coils in other areas of a building. This approach is also used for heated basement floors combined with a “hydro-air” delivery system for the main living areas.

Why PHCC CONNECT 2025 is a must-attend event for plumbing and HVACR professionals

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

CONNECT brings together professionals and emerging leaders, contractors, vendors and educators in a collaborative environment. Attendees will leave not only with fresh insights and tools for success but also with the kind of personal connections that support long-term growth and innovation.

Mid-year regulatory trends in plumbing & mechanical systems

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Throughout this period, global governments have been notably active on issues related to chemicals, household equipment, HVAC equipment, mechanical systems, plumbing products, protective equipment, and water heating appliances. I have curated the policy changes to save you time and keep you informed and ahead of the curve.

Check valves explained: Understanding different types and applications in backflow prevention

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Check valves are found in and around a pump system, a sump pit, or cracked open a main line. They’re everywhere. And there’s a reason they’re there: to prevent backflow. Backflow isn’t just unpleasant—it’s a serious hazard. It occurs when water or other liquids flow in the opposite direction, contaminating clean systems.

No slips, no shutdowns: ensuring access with snow melt systems

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Slip-and-fall accidents are among the most common liability claims in winter, according to AAA. Winter storms have cost billions of dollars in insured losses, just in the past few years. For businesses, that’s a major issue. In healthcare facilities where patient safety and uninterrupted access are non-negotiable, the stakes are even higher. Radiant snow melt systems can eliminate surface ice before it becomes a hazard, dramatically reducing legal exposure.

Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York infects more than 80

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Three people have died from the disease outbreak, and more than 20 have been hospitalized, according to the latest data from CNN.

ASA Voice of Engineer Survey now live

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

As a thank you for completing the survey, if you provide your name and contact information at the end of the survey, you will be entered into a drawing to win 1 of 10 $50 Amazon Gift Cards.