After working for a plumbing company who wouldn’t give him a day off, Levi Torres and his wife, Cassi Torres, decided to start their own plumbing business in 2012. The couple wanted a company that supported its employees and served every customer with professionalism and respect, and High 5 Plumbing was born.

In this new weekly feature, Plumbing Group Chief Editors Nicole Krawcke highlights the industry’s latest news stories.

Established as a foundry of brass fixtures in 1851, Oventrop has since evolved into a global manufacturer of balancing valves and thermostatic radiator valves for the building industries. The family-owned company is now expanding into the American market, and Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke had the chance to chat with Nicola Schannath, CEO of Oventrop-US, about the company’s plans in the United States and current PHCP-PVF market trends.

Think you know pump systems? Think again. From misidentifying the major culprits of ownership costs to taking the wrong approach in implementing variable speed drives, misconceptions around pumps create missed opportunities for greater efficiency and cost savings.

There’s no question that the pandemic has left a permanent mark on commercial restrooms. Seemingly overnight, the pandemic produced a new set of standards from which we, as end-users, now evaluate restrooms.

One of the many issues surrounding climate change is the efficiency of HVAC systems. In fact, the EPA suggests that space heating and cooling accounts for about 48 percent of energy use in U.S. residences and about 44 percent of energy use in commercial buildings.  

Two facets of building infrastructure have gained close attention in the wake of widespread disease: Indoor air quality and water quality within commercial structures. Adding to the problem of providing clean water, globally, are challenges posed by an aging municipal and commercial infrastructure.

I first encountered formic acid erosion/corrosion when our installed air conditioning and heat pump evaporator (indoor) coils began suddenly leaking refrigerant in 2008. These were not old coils either, and some had only been installed for a year when the issues arose.

There’s nothing worse than coming home to find a burst pipe or malfunctioning water heater has flooded your basement. It’s perhaps why leak detection and prevention products continue to become more popular each year.

Demand for radiant heating and cooling is on the rise.
A 2021 report from Research and Markets predicted the global hydronic system market would grow by $1.3 billion from 2021 to 2025, progressing at a compound annual growth rate of 7%.