In 2024, the North American air-to-water heat pump market saw significant expansion, with nine new offerings introduced at the January AHR show by companies new to this category. By year's end, at least 18 companies either have or plan to offer these pumps in the U.S. Read the list of these companies as of mid-2024.

Today, BNP Media’s Plumbing & Mechanical Media Group introduces the new Plumbing & Mechanical brand, dedicated to providing the latest industry news, technologies, and products for plumbing contractors and MEP engineers.

The two photos below were from the same project. Flow is upward through the vertical pipe in Figure 1. Without any more details being described, can you spot at least two problems in each photo?

When property owners need restroom or kitchen facilities in areas without existing plumbing, they often face the challenge of expensive and disruptive work to create below-floor drainage that usually requires breaking through concrete, which is messy, noisy, and costly. This high cost may lead clients to reconsider their projects altogether. For trade professionals, navigating concrete obstacles is just another day at the office. Yet, for others, it might be less welcome.

Water scarcity and quality are widespread issues in the US. Embracing sustainability is crucial to the evolution of plumbing, with tried-and-true fixtures and new advances making a healthier, more water-efficient reality possible.

Tankless water heating technology has proven to be a great success for Wedgworth's, a custom blender of dry and liquid fertilizers for agriculture, sod, nursery, and golf-course applications in Florida.

Air-to-water heat pumps are becoming popular in the hydronic heating industry due to their energy efficiency and sustainability. Chris Decato of U.S. Boiler Co. notes a rising demand driven by their cost-effectiveness and reduced carbon footprint.

Last month marked the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the most significant U.S. federal action on climate change. With over $369 billion allocated to energy and climate programs, the IRA has driven unprecedented growth in renewable energy, boosting solar, wind, and battery storage, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions and lowering energy costs.

The IAPMO Water Demand Calculator has faced challenges due to exclusions from its documentation and calculations, causing difficulties for engineers in luxury apartment buildings.

After hard work, your contracting company is turning a profit. You need to decide when to invest some of that money back into the business, balancing saving and making improvements to stay competitive.