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Plumbing & Mechanical Top 20 Products of 2022

Each year, Plumbing & Mechanical editors receive thousands of product releases from industry manufacturers. The 20 products highlighted here have earned the distinction of being PM’s Top Products of 2022 based on the number of page views on www.pmmag.com. Congratulations to those products on this year’s list.

WarmlyYours electric snow-melt grid — The Snow-Melt Embeddable Attachment Grid can be embedded on top of existing concrete surfaces or under pavers, bluestone or tile. The grid has a 1” x 1” square pattern so snow melting cables can be secured to it with cable ties. Made of multi-filament polyester yarns, it is durable and can be easily cut to shape on the jobsite. The Snow Melt Embeddable Attachment Grid is available in 3’ x 50’ rolls and is compatible with WarmlyYours’s snow melting cables.
**WarmlyYours |** **www.warmlyyours.com**

Uponor PP-RCT is a polypropylene pipe that is a lightweight, durable product that resists corrosion, rust and scale buildup, making it ideal for mechanical HVAC piping applications, such as hydronic heating, hot water and chilled water, the company points out. It provides elevated temperature and pressure ratings compared to PP-R piping products, allowing for use in a wider range of hydronic distribution applications, Uponor adds.
**Uponor |** **www.uponor.com**

A. O. Smith hybrid electric heat pump water heater — The Voltex AL (anti-leak) hybrid electric heat pump water heater brings to market a water heating solution with integrated leak detection, smart connectivity and updated water connections for professionals and homeowners seeking a highly efficient, intuitive and user-friendly product. It features the highest overall Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) of 4.02 with the 66-gallon unit and the highest 50-gallon UEF at 3.8, the company says. It is also available in an 80-gallon model. The unit can save homeowners up to $521 per year on utility bills when compared to a standard electric water heater. ENERGY STAR certified, the product also allows homeowners to take advantage of rebates and tax credits for additional savings.
**A. O. Smith |** **www.hotwater.com**

Adey hydronic heating filters — Adey’s MagnaClean CMX range of filters not only protects system equipment — heat pumps, boilers, pipework and sensor/controls, but also reduces maintenance costs and hours, improves heat transfer, heat output and efficiency, saves energy, lowers clients’ utility bills, and reduces carbon emissions, the company notes. MagnaClean offers a new and unique way to capture both magnetic and nonmagnetic debris by combining powerful neodymium magnets with a range of high-quality 5-50-micron spun-bonded filter cartridges and needle-felt bag filters.
**Adey |** **www.adey.com**

Navien’s NPE-2 condensing tankless water heaters include a turndown ratio up to 15:1, advanced EZNav multi-line control panel with setup wizard, and 2" PVC venting up to 75'. The NPE-2 continues to offer dual stainless-steel heat exchangers, 1/2" gas pipe capability up to 24' and a patented ComfortFlow recirculation system with built-in pump and buffer tank (NPE-A2).
**Navien |** **www.navieninc.com**

Viega radiant auto-balancing system — Viega’s Radiant Auto-Balancing System (RABS) gives users the ability to independently control each zone in the system, the company says. Balancing valves are not required and installers can commission as many as eight thermostats and 12 circuits per control unit. RABS achieves the desired temperature in each zone by analyzing the supply water temperature, each circuit’s return temperature and zone air temperatures where a wireless thermostat is used.
**Viega |** **www.viega.us**

Napoleon Heat pump/air handler series — Napoleon’s NS18 heat pump and air handler series is an all-in-one heating and cooling system for year-round comfort—100% heat in the winter and 100% cool in the summer, the company states. The heat pump features a variable inverter compressor and vapor injection technology. It also operates on electricity, helping reduce the carbon footprint without sacrificing comfort and reducing energy costs, the company adds.
**Napoleon |** **www.napoleon.com**

Caleffi Hydronic Solutions dirt separator with dual magnets — DIRTMAG PRO is a powerful dirt separator for residential and light commercial hydronic systems. The DIRTMAG PRO efficiently removes ferrous and non-ferrous impurities such as magnetite, copper shavings, soil, silica, tape and scale fragments to protect expensive heat exchangers, circulators, valves, and other system components from failure. The debris blow-down valve makes serviceability simple, keeping your hands clean.
**Caleffi |** **www.caleffi.com**

Uponor North America radiant mat — Fast Trak is the simple solution for new, remodel and retrofit radiant installations, the company says. Fast Trak 0.5 for 5/16" pipe is only 1/2" thick, and Fast Trak 1.3i holds 3/8" or 1/2" pipe with insulation in the mat to eliminate the added time and cost of installing insulation under the pipe.
**Uponor |** **www.uponor.com**

Thermal Solutions condensing water-tube boilers — AMP condensing, water-tube boilers by Thermal Solutions are AHRI-certified at 97% efficiency and offer 10:1 turndown. The boilers are compact and uniquely serviceable, providing complete access to the burner and combustion chamber, the company notes. AMP’s large diameter are ideal for variable -and full-flow system designs, the company says. Available in 400 to 4,000 MBH.
**Thermal Solutions |** **www.thermalsolutions.com**

tekmar Smart Boiler Control 294 provides domestic hot water heating by operating up to four boilers. Can be expanded in groups of four boilers up to a maximum of 16. The 294 operates condensing and non-condensing boilers that are either modulating, single, two, three or four-stage to pro-vide a flexible boiler plant solution. The Watts OnSite web and mobile applications provide real-time remote monitoring, setting adjustments and notifications.
**Tekmar |** **www.watts.com**

Kohler ceiling-mount kitchen faucet — The Purist Suspend kitchen faucet mounts from the ceiling and is out of the way until the homeowner want to use it. With its 7' braided hose, you have the freedom to move the sprayhead around your kitchen to fill a kettle on your stove or water a potted plant on your floor, eliminating the taxing chore of lifting heavy items in and out of your sink to fill or clean, Kohler explains. Simple on/off operation and three spray functions are controlled by a remote puck that can be moved throughout the kitchen.
**Kohler |** **www.kohler.com**

Apollo Valves stainless steel press fittings and valves — Apollo SmartPress is an innovative press system designed for joining 1/2"-2" ASTM A-312 schedule 5/10s stainless steel pipe (304/304L and 316/316L). Apollo SmartPress fittings and valves offer end-users a complete solution with maximum coverage of applications requiring HNBR, EPDM or FKM sealing elements for operating pressures up to 500 psi. Booth: C1530
**Apollo Valves |** **www.apollovalves.com**

Rheem Commercial heat pump split system — With increased electrification and greater energy efficiency, this unit from Rheem is built for large-scale commercial applications where a large amount of potable water is needed at usable temperatures. Up to a 75% reduction in energy use and carbon footprint is achievable as this ENERGY STAR certified model meets decarbonization qualifications, Rheem notes.
**Rheem |** **www.rheem.com**

PB Heat/Peerless Boilers condensing commercial gas boiler — PUREFIRE gas-fired condensing boilers are now available in seven commercial sizes ranging from 399 to 1,500,000 Btu. Boilers are ENERGY STAR-certified. The PureFire is environmentally-friendly with LoNOx operation and has thermal efficiencies up to 98%. The direct-vent, sealed combustion boiler is cascade capable and features a one-year parts and labor warranty and a 10-year limited warranty on the heat exchanger.
**Peerless Boilers |** **www.peerlessboilers.com**

Rinnai America infrared heater — Rinnai’s new line of infrared heaters, including SE and SE+ Infrared Patio Heaters, HE Series Compact and HE+ Series Infrared Radiant Tube Heaters, are great go-to options to heat any indoor or outdoor space. The high- and low-intensity infrared heaters deliver efficient, quiet comfort with innovative gas infrared technology.
**Rinnai |** **www.rinnai.us**

HTP Electric water heaters — The 55-gal. Everlast Elevate electric storage water heater was developed as an innovative solution to federal regulations imposed on light-duty electric tank-type water heaters with storage capacities larger than 55 gallons. Elevate water heaters offer the highest heat output and greatest recovery rates among all water heaters in the 55-gal. size, industry-wide, the company states.
**HTP |** **www.htproducts.com**

Watts balancing valve — Watts iDROSET calibrated flow measuring and balancing valves offer integrated flow measurement technology, a large dial for direct reading of flow, hand wheel for setting flow rate without the need for tools, and positive shut-off ball valve. iDROSET valves are 100% factory tested and calibrated, and have a balancing turndown ratio of up to 25:1. Models available in 1/2" to 2" sizes.
**Watts |** **www.watts.com**

Triangle Tube floor-standing condensing boiler — The Instinct Floor Boiler comes loaded with features such as: a low loss header with dirt & air separator, Tsnyc Wi-Fi connectivity (for easy trouble shooting), an all stainless steel fire tube heat exchanger, industry leading 5+ GPM DHW and peace-of-mind 10 year warranty. Combi sizes are available in 155 and 199 MBH.
**Triangle Tube |** **www.triangletube.com**

Midea heat pump system — The new Midea EVOX central inverter heat pump system is one of the most compatible inverter products available and is competitively priced despite some of the highest energy ratings, the company states. EVOX provides advanced product solutions for an upgraded customer experience and helps meet evolving SEER standards, Midea notes.
**Midea |** **www.midea.com**

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Nicole Krawcke is Chief Editor of Plumbing & Mechanical and PM Engineer magazines. She has covered the HVAC and plumbing industries since joining BNP Media in 2014. She has more than 15 years of writing and editing experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Michigan State University.