Mechanical Business September/October 2026 by Mechanical Business

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026 $9.95

Hazel Mae:

Sports media trailblazer

Installation mistakes that kill boilers Verified software critical for accuracy Reinforce your role in offering expertise Heating product showcase Identify skills gaps for effective training Rethinking hydronic system design

PM #41536047

PREMIERING THIS ISSUE:

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M e c h a n i c a l

T A B L E

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CONTENTS O F

30 COVER STORY

Hazel Mae’s career start with Sportsnet lead to positions with New England Sports Network, a return to Sportsnet and then MLB Network where she honed her on-camera skills. Kerry Turner

WHY YOUR NEW BOILER IS ALREADY FAILING

82 BOILERS

Installation mistakes that kill modern boilers Ray Wohlfarth

Hazel Mae

Sports media trailblazer

41 THE FLOW SUPPLEMENT

Check out the premier issue of the annual THE FLOW PLUMBING & APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY. Experts explore pumps, maintenance plans, plumbing system threats, water treatment, trends, piping and tubing, and the latest technology.

YVR completes high-efficiency boiler plant upgrade

90 PROJECT PROFILE

Mechanical system upgrades demonstrate how critical infrastructure can be modernized to meet both operational demands and evolving climate goals. Tim Wang

For pros on-the-go! Read the September/October issue of Mechanical Business, anywhere, anytime. Brought to you in partnership with:

On the cover: As Hazel Mae recounted in a recent acceptance speech, it was enthusiasm over experience that won her a place in sports broadcasting more than 25 years ago. Cover photo: Brandon Allen, courtesy HarperCollins Canada

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T A B L E F E A T U R E S

M B

CONTENTS O F

S P E C I A L I S T S

06WORTH A LOOK

26 HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

Study shows occupational licensing may not improve safety The Provincial Occupational Licensing Index, 2026 introduces the first comprehensive index of occupational licensing across Canada’s provinces

Electrification and its environmental benefits: How to have the conversation with customers Tom Grochmal Be an active participant in electrification discussions to reinforce your role in offering expertise, and to help the customer make a well-informed decision.

79JOBSITE JARGON

60 PLUMBING

Test your knowledge of plumbing terminology for a chance to win a $150 Visa gift card

Home sweet home: Developing a mechanical/plumbing maintenance plan Fred Bretzke What are the questions you need to ask customers when pitching a maintenance plan?

86 HYDRONICS

Let’s get creative: Rethinking system design

Matthew Reid

Designing and basing system design solely around efficiency

may not be the way to move forward.

96 MARKETING

94HEATING

Verified F280-12 software is important A designer using verified software can be sure the results they are producing are accurate Dara Bowser

What if your business disappeared from Google tomorrow?

Paul Bies

Google can be an excellent source of leads; the concern

begins when it becomes the only dependable way new

customers find you.

D E P A R T M E N T S

P R O D U C T S

8-12News 16-25Movers & Shakers, People 100 TRAINING

98,99The Info Page

Ongoing training is no longer an option Contractors should take the time to identify where skills gaps exist Dennis Cinello

99Events 99In the Next Issue 102By the Numbers

M e c h a n i c a l

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32-38Heating Product Showcase 62-67Plumbing Product Showcase 68,69Commercial Faucets

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MAX

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1. Inverter Technology for Real-World Commercial Operation NEXIO Max continuously adjusts compressor and fan speeds to match building demand, unlike traditional fixed-speed rooftops. This provides temperature stability, humidity control, and energy efficiency during part-load operation — compared to traditional fixedspeed rooftops — providing comfort across a wide range of applications including schools, offices, retail stores, restaurants, and healthcare facilities. 2. Flexible Controls and BAS Integration NEXIO Max is designed for today’s connected buildings with factory-integrated controls that help simplify commissioning and building automation system (BAS) integration. Factory-installed BACnet® MS/TP streamlines BAS connectivity, eliminating the need for complex field-installed control packages. The platform also enables rooftop functionality, including multi-zone VAV operation delivering heating and cooling across building areas, modulating indoor fan control for energy efficiency by matching airflow to real-time demand, and remote diagnostics and monitoring using the HERO Cloud platform. This flexibility empowers contractors, controls integrators, and facility managers to optimize comfort, airflow, and energy performance across a variety of commercial applications. Daikin

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2026-08-19 1:40 PM

WORTH

Content Media Group Inc. 2 Campbell Dr., Suite 807 Uxbridge, ON L9P 0A3 Tel: 905.465.2919 mechanicalbusiness.com September/October 2026 Issue Published 6 times per year. For All Subscription Inquiries Circulation Director: Shila Naik, C 905-272-4175 shila.naik@mechanicalbusiness.com Editor: Kerry Turner, C 416-435-1193 kerry.turner@mechanicalbusiness.com National Sales Manager: Kyle Badder, C 416-735-1375 kyle.badder@mechanicalbusiness.com Operations Manager: Caroline Bexfield, C 647-217-2076 caroline.bexfield@mechanicalbusiness.com Contributing Editor: Carolyn Cooper editorial@mechanicalbusiness.com Art Direction: Fourteen Orange Graphic Design Inc. davem@fourteenorange.com Controller: Liz Mills liz.mills@mechanicalbusiness.com Publisher: Bruce Meacock, C 416-457-9563 bruce.meacock@mechanicalbusiness.com PM:41536047 ISSN 1916-0674 MB (Print) ISSN 1906-0682 MB (Online) Proudly created and printed in Canada. We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada.

Submissions: Copyright in material submitted to the magazine and accepted for publication remains with the author, but Mechanical Business and its licensees may freely reproduce it in print, electronic or other forms. Mechanical Business also reserves the right to edit said submitted materials to suit the editorial needs and mandate of the publication. Notice: Mechanical Business is published for owners, managers and decision makers with mechanical contracting firms and the sector’s supply chain partners in Canada. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, Mechanical Business, Content Media Group Inc., its staff, directors, officers and shareholders (‘The Publisher’) assume no liability, obligation or responsibility for advertised claims, for errors and/or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. Manufacturers’ instructions take precedence over published editorial. The publisher reserves the right to publish a printed correction in a subsequent issue for editorial errors, omissions and oversights. Subscriptions are available for $90 plus taxes in Canada and the U.S. Single copies are $15.00. Outside Canada and the U.S., the rates are $150.00 (annual) and $25.00 (single copy). © Copyright 2026. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publisher. Proud members of:

M e c h a n i c a l

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LOOK

Study shows occupational licensing may not improve safety

new study by the Fraser Institute reveals that occupational licensing may reduce employment and increase income inequality, without increasing quality or safety. In each province aspiring workers must train, pass exams, pay fees and meet other entry requirements to obtain a government credential enabling them to work in certain regulated professions. Licensing and the number of regulated professions differ among the provinces. Alberta has the highest provincial occupational licensing burden in Canada, according to the study. The Provincial Occupational Licensing Index, 2026 introduces the first comprehensive index of occupational licensing across Canada’s provinces, finding that Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario license the most professions, whereas Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador license the fewest professions. Alberta licenses 73 different job titles. “Approximately 11 per cent of Canadian workers and an estimated roughly 13 per cent of Alberta workers are licensed, and requirements vary significantly by province,” said Matthew Mitchell, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute. When a province requires a license to practice a profession, it’s illegal for a worker to offer those services without first obtaining the license. To obtain the license, aspiring workers must pay fees, take tests, and complete hundreds or even thousands of hours of training. Licencing requirements impose several costs on Canadians. First, workers face reduced employment opportunities since licensing makes it more difficult to enter certain professions. These barriers to work tend to be concentrated in lower-income fields and they tend to limit opportunities for particular populations such as the less educated, those whose first language isn’t English or French, and military spouses who tend to move frequently and must obtain new licenses every time they move. Second, it raises prices for consumers by artificially constraining the supply of workers. And while the stated aim of licensing is to protect consumers by improving safety, the evidence that it does so is quite weak. There’s also little evidence that licensing improves service quality. In some contexts, it may undermine quality and safety by reducing competition. “Given the limited evidence that licensing increases either the quality or safety of services, requiring stringent licensing for barbers, mechanics, and gardeners just limits opportunities for those eager to learn and meaningfully contribute to the workforce,” said Mitchell. fraserinstitute.org

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News mechanicalbusiness.com

Alberta SHARP Grant now available The annual Alberta Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair Program (SHARP) is again available for seniors seeking lowinterest home equity loans for house repairs and renovations. The grant runs from July 1 to June 30 annually, and offers income eligible seniors up to $5,000 per household in a benefit year and $15,000 in a lifetime for repairs and replacement work on furnaces, hot water tanks, plumbing, sump pumps, toilets, and more.

Canadian port of entry at the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a newly opened, six-lane cable-stayed bridge that connects Windsor, ON, and Detroit, MI, across the Detroit River.

alberta.ca

Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program expands

Canada issues list of U.S. products subject to counter tariffs The federal government has released a list of products imported from the U.S. that are subject to tariffs, including those affecting the mechanical industry, as of 12:01 a.m. on September 8, 2026. The tariffs are countermeasures to the U.S.’s decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on $27.6 billion of Canadian goods as of August 22, 2026. Existing counter-tariffs will continue to apply. The government has also announced support for Canadian workers and employers impacted by tariffs. That includes funding through loans, grants and tax relief programs, and resources to prevent layoffs, hire and retain employees, and add training. canada.ca

The federal government has launched the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP) in BC, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and PEI. The program is already available in Manitoba. The $500 million program ($300 of which is federal) will help more than 35,000 low- and median-income households, including renters, undertake no-cost retrofits, including installing heat pumps, adding better insulation, improving air sealing and other upgrades. It will be delivered in coordination with the provinces, and with Hydro-Québec, BC Hydro, Fortis BC and EfficiencyOne. The federal government has also transitioned the administration of energy efficiency and home retrofit programs, such as the CGHAP, from Natural Resources Canada to Environment and Climate Change Canada. natural-resources.canada.ca

New BC Hydro heat pump rebates BC Hydro is offering up to $4,000 in rebates through its Home Renovation Rebate Program for replacing electric heating systems with a heat pump. Installation must be completed by a Home Performance Contractor Network retrofit professional. Customers who complete more than one upgrade to their home may qualify for a bonus rebate of up to $2,000. Other eligible upgrades include heat pump water heaters, insulation, and windows and doors. In addition, BC Hydro is offering $1,000 in bonus rebates when customers purchase an eligible air source heat pump upgrade by October 31, 2026, while funds last. To receive the bonus customers must submit a rebate application by November 31, 2026.

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The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has announced an amendment to Ontario’s 2024 Building Code. The changes, which came into effect on July 22, 2026, support the development of four-storey townhouses and expand the use of cellular core polyvinyl chloride (PVC) drain waste vent (DWV) pipe. Design constraints under Part 3 of the Ontario Building Code for four-storey non-stacked townhouses have been removed. The ministry has also changed Division B, Article 7.2.5.16 of the code to permit the use of cellular core PVC DWV pipe in combustible buildings up to six storeys. The changes are included in an updated Ontario Amendment Document, which can be obtained by emailing Ontario.amendment.document@ontario.ca. ontario.ca

bchydro.com

Ontario announces Building Code amendment

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2026-09-26 10:04 AM

DVM S2+

Intelligence that

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Samsung

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10.26

News mechanicalbusiness.com

Buy & sell activity heats up

Northwestern Polytechnic held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Skilled Trades Training Centre in August.

Northwestern opens new skilled trades centre Northwestern Polytechnic is celebrating the opening of its Skilled Trades Training Centre. The 40,000-sq. ft. facility in Grand Prairie, AB represents an expansion and centralization of the school’s apprenticeship training capabilities. The $29-million centre will support training for more than 4,500 apprentices over the next three years, compared to Northwestern’s current capacity of 1,100. Northwestern is further expanding its skills training capabilities with the Northern Edge Technology Centre, a 59,000-sq. ft. standalone facility expected to open in 2028. nwpolytech.ca

PPI issues advisory on industry standards for PEX tubing The Plastics Pipe Institute’s (PPI) Building & Construction Division has issued an advisory regarding some crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing products sold in Canada and the U.S. that may not comply with industry standards. According to PPI, the PEX tubing in question may not be third-party certified to mandatory industry standards, despite implied claims. PEX tubing for plumbing and mechanical applications must be marked with industry standards such as ASTM F876 and CSA B137.5 and must be third-party certified. The non-compliance products do include the industry standards, but are not listed and labelled by third-party certification agencies to verify compliance.

Richmond, BC-based Ashton Mechanical Group has acquired the customer assets of Pro Ace Heating & Air Conditioning, including its customer list, phone numbers and digital assets. Headquartered in Burnaby, BC, Pro Ace offered plumbing and heating services in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland area. The company will be integrated into Ashton Mechanical. Ashton has also purchased Paris Service Group, the service division of North Vancouver, BC-based Paris Mechanical Ltd. ashtonmechanical.ca acecare.ca parismechanical.com Go Lime Inc. has acquired Comfort Zone Heating & Air Conditioning. The Cobourg, ON-based home comfort company serves Cobourg and Northumberland County. Go Lime has also acquired Services Plus and A Plus Heating & Air Conditioning, home comfort companies serving Ontario's Simcoe County. Under the agreement, the companiese will continue business as usual, with no changes to day-to-day operations. golime.com Pitt Meadows Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Ltd. has acquired Vancouver, BC-based Connelly Mechanical Services Ltd. Connelly offers fullservice mechanical contracting, including plumbing, HVAC, fire sprinklers, digital controls, gas work, design assist and design build mechanical services. Headquartered in Maple Ridge, BC, Pitt Meadows Plumbing is a familyowned mechanical contractor providing plumbing and heating services. cmsl.ca pittmeadows.net

Pitt Meadows’ senior vice president Matthew Robinson (L) and Steve Robinson (R), president and founder, welcome Chris Gray, founder and president of Connelly Mechanical, to the team. According to Pitt Meadows, Gray will continue to be involved through the transition and beyond.

plasticpipe.org

Adam Hedden and Matthew Reid host the new MechBiz Podcast sharing real conversations about HVAC and plumbing trends, system design, regulations, and the evolving mechanical industry.

Jayden’s Mechanical has acquired Fern Gully Heating & Cooling. Based in Hay, ON, Jayden’s is a plumbing, HVAC and electrical contractor working in residential, commercial and agricultural markets. Fern Gully Heating & Cooling is based in Bothwell, ON, and specializes in HVAC and geothermal systems. Fern Gully owner John DeBok has also joined the Jayden’s team. jaydensmechanical.com

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Alberta RACM program now includes Gasfitter Class B

Toronto HVAC permits now available through online portal

Alberta’s Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic (RACM) Apprenticeship Education Program (AEP) has been updated as of August 4, 2026 to create a combined AEP with Gasfitter – Class B. As a result, RACM apprentices will receive a second Gasfitter – Class B journeyperson certificate when they complete their apprenticeship. There is no change to the periods of training and classroom instruction for current apprentices. A bridging course will be available for any missed Gasfitter content. When the RACM apprenticeship program is finished current apprentices will be eligible to take the Red Seal exam for either or both trades.

The City of Toronto has moved its standalone mechanical/ HVAC building permit applications online. Applicants will need to use the Toronto Building Online Services Application Submission Tool for permits, as email submissions will no longer be accepted. More information on the process, including required documents and fees, can be found at toronto.ca/services-payments/buildingconstruction/building-permit. toronto.ca

Mechanical Business has the latest in heating! 2026 Heating Product Showcase Featured on pages 32-38

tradesecrets.alberta.ca

Oxford Energy

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News mechanicalbusiness.com

Hydro-Québec pauses registration for free pump program, announces financing for buildings Hydro-Québec has temporarily paused registrations for its free heat pump program for modest-income households due to the high demand it generated. The program began in July 2026, but has already closed registration for the 2026-2027 season after reaching its 20,000-home capacity. The initiative allows eligible home owners and tenants to receive a high efficiency wall-mounted cold climate heat pump installed free of charge. Applications for the program that have already been received are currently being processed. At the same time, Hydro Québec is offering bonus financing to owners of multi-unit dwellings to improve the energy performance of their buildings. Owners of multi-unit dwellings in areas designated “energy insecure” under the Government of Quebec’s 2030 Plan for a Green Economy may qualify for bonus financing to pay for and install ENERGY STAR-certified cold climate wall-mounted heat pumps in their units. Owners may be eligible for a bonus of up to 83 per cent more financing. Buildings may be eligible if they: were built in 1995 or earlier; include at least two residential units; have one electricity meter per home; have a property value per unit below the median for the administrative region; and are in an area designated by Hydro-Québec. Building owners can submit their applications for a grant for the Heat Pump Measure through Hydro Québec’s LogisVert portal, and if eligible, the bonus will be applied automatically. hydroquebec.com

Funding for home retrofits in Yukon The federal government and the Government of Yukon and Kwanlin Dün First Nation have announced up to $26.5 million to renovate and upgrade homes in the First Nation community. The initiative includes energy retrofits to up to 100 single-family homes such as adding heat pumps, heat recovery ventilators, air sealing, new windows, insulation, draft-proofing measures, and improvements to electrical systems. Approximately 50 homes will be upgraded in 2026, with 50 more completed in 2027. canada.ca yukon.ca

Virtual, in-person or hybrid? Check out mechanicalbusiness.com for the latest information on industry events.

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Lance MacNevin receives the 2026 Joseph K. Seidner Award The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) has recognized Lance MacNevin with the Joseph K. Seidner Award. The award commemorates MacNevin’s lifetime of leadership and dedication to strengthening plumbing codes and standards. MacNevin is director of engineering, building and construction division, at the Plastics Pipe Institute, and has been an affiliate advisor of CIPH’s Plumbing and Mechanical Advisory Council since 2012. ciph.com

(R-L) Norm Bajwa, CIPH chair, presents Lance MacNevin with the Joseph K. Seidner Award during the Canadian Advisory Council on Plumbing’s annual meeting.

Alberta issues new Building Code notice The Government of Alberta has announced that the second printings of the National Building Code – 2023 Alberta Edition and the National Fire Code – 2023 Alberta Edition are now online. Both editions and errata packages may be downloaded free from the National Research Council at nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/home. alberta.ca

Ontario announces $9.8 million in funding for worker training The Government of Ontario is investing more than $9.8 million in six worker training initiatives in the sixth round of its Skills Development Fund Training Stream. The government is partnering with six organization to deliver training to new job seekers, as well as to upskill existing workers. The round six projects will be tracked for employment outcomes at three, six and 12 months to measure success and improve program monitoring. ontario.ca

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Differentiate your next install with nanoe™ X built-in air purification and Inside Cleaning on demand.

Why Choose Panasonic? • nanoe™ X air and surface purification • Base pan heater included (pre-installed)

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Designing Beyond the Setpoint How Performance Envelopes and Digital Platforms enable adaptive, efficient hydronic systems By: Pratik Sharma, Global Director, Building Services & Performance Management, Armstrong Fluid Technology

Rather than relying on a single design point, the Performance Envelope establishes a practical operating space that reflects real world conditions.

Armstrong

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Movers & Shakers mechanicalbusiness.com

Pentair to acquire Taco Group Holdings

Master finalizes Distributor Corporation acquisition

Pentair plc has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Taco Group Holdings (Taco). The acquisition of Taco will expand Pentair’s portfolio of smart, sustainable water solutions to support increased exposure to high-growth end-markets primarily in North America. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. Upon completion of the transaction, Taco will become a part of Pentair’s Water Solutions reportable segment and is expected to continue to go-to-market under the Taco brand. Taco will maintain a significant presence in Cranston, RI.

The Master Group has completed its acquisition of Distributor Corporation of New England (DCNE), supporting Master’s continued expansion in the U.S. Malden, MA-based DCNE is a Carrier distributor serving the eastern New England region with eight locations in the area. Headquartered in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC, The Master Group has approximately 100 branches, and nine distribution facilities in Canada and the U.S.

pentair.com tacocomfort.com

dcne.com master.ca

Air Distribution finalizes sale of PennBarry Air Distribution Technologies, Inc. has completed its sale of Lebanon, IN-based PennBarry to Hessaire Products, Inc. Since its purchase by private equity firm Truelink Capital in August 2024 Plano, TX-based Air Distribution has taken steps to simplify its portfolio to focus on its core air distribution and air systems controls business. Based in Holly Pond, AL, Hessaire Products manufactures evaporative coolers, mini split heat pumps and cooling accessories. airdistribution.com hessaire.com pennbarry.com

The Daikin Applied Solutions & Technical Institute is expected to open in 2027.

Enertrak joins Beijer Ref

Daikin Applied announces new training institute Daikin Applied has broken ground on a $30-million Solutions & Technical Institute in Plymouth, MN. The 64,000-sq. ft. facility will feature more than 50 Daikin commercial HVAC units, a state-of-the-art digital studio, and nine classrooms and six breakout spaces, with the ability to expand the facility by an additional 40,000 sq. ft. The facility will complement the company’s $163-million research and development test lab in Plymouth, which will serve as a testing ground for advanced cooling solutions. Both the R&D test lab and the training facility are expected to open in 2027. daikinapplied.com

Starts on page 41!

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Beijer Ref AB has acquired Enertrak Inc., a Montreal, QC-based specialized HVAC distributor for commercial, industrial and residential applications. The acquisition marks Beijer Ref’s entry into the Canadian market, expanding its North American footprint. Enertrak has six branches in Quebec and Atlantic Canada and will continue to operate under its own brand and executive management team. beijerref.com enertrak.com

Carrier acquires BAS developer Carrier Global Corporation has acquired Bloomington, MN-based 75F, a developer of cloud-native, wireless, AI-enabled building automation systems. According to Carrier, 75F’s unified data foundation and wireless-first architecture help simplify installation and commissioning. 75F’s generative and agentic AI and auto-commissioning capabilities will also be integrated into Carrier’s large commercial platforms. Under the agreement 75F will become part of Carrier’s Software & Controls Solutions business. 75f.io carrier.com

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Improves Burner Performance. Easily. Today’s Need: Diagnosing burner failure can sometimes be a mystery. Especially when you know that fuel is being delivered from the tank to the burner and the system seems to be functioning properly. Though, often it’s the unseen issues that can and will arise, leading to inconsistent heat and system downtime.

Beckett Solution: We manufacture metric deaerators and filters engineered specifically for the Canadian market. As part of our Tank-To-Flame™ array of products, Tigerloop eliminates many of the common oil heating problems that you encounter which prevent the burner from operating at peak performance. It removes air and dirt from the system, delivering foam-free and preheated oil to the nozzle which ultimately provides a cleaner, maximized combustion.

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Movers & Shakers mechanicalbusiness.com

Bartle & Gibson partners with Schwank in Western Canada Bartle & Gibson Co. Ltd. has announced a new regional partnership with Schwank Ltd. to distribute Schwank’s infrared heating, air curtains, and air movement products across Western Canada. The agreement brings Schwank’s products closer to customers in BC, Northwest Territories, Alberta and Saskatchewan. bartlegibson.com schwankgroup.com

Zurn Elkay to purchase Intellihot Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation has signed an agreement to purchase Galesburg, IL-based Intellihot, Inc. Intellihot manufactures gas and electric tankless water heater solutions for the healthcare, education, hospitality and commercial markets. zurnelkay.com intellihot.com

Nupi’s Niron PP-RCT product line is a complete pipe and fitting system for water applications in commercial construction.

Nupi Americas expands network of Canadian reps Early Branch, SC-based Nupi Americas Inc. has expanded its Canadian manufacturer representative network. New reps include Icon Agency Ltd. covering BC, Alberta, Yukon and Northwest Territories; WD Industrial Group covering Saskatchewan, Nunavut and Manitoba; Air Solutions Inc. in Ontario; Vallieres Inc. in Quebec; and Shoreline Mechanical Sales Ltd. in Atlantic Canada. nupiamericas.com

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Ferguson expands industrial solutions Ferguson Enterprises Inc. has entered into an agreement to purchase FWI Holding, Inc. (FloWorks) from Wynnchurch Capital LP. Houston, TX-based FloWorks is an industrial distributor and provider of technical valves and flow control solutions to a variety of markets including data centres. FloWorks has more than 60 locations in the U.S. and Canada combined. corporate.ferguson.com gofloworks.com

Neuco to distribute Koldwave Westfield, MA-based Koldwave has announced a master distribution partnership with Neuco. Through the partnership Neuco will supply Koldwave replacement parts exclusively to wholesale distributors. Koldwave manufactures portable air conditioning systems for temporary, spot, and emergency HVAC cooling applications. Bolingbrook, IL-based Neuco is a master distributor of HVAC/R controls and building solutions throughout Canada and the U.S.

IR Pros enters Canada through Prairie HVAC/R partnership Industrial Refrigeration (IR Pros) has partnered with Grande Pointe, MB-based Prairie HVAC/R. Prairie HVAC/R manufactures, installs and services artificial ice plants, industrial refrigeration systems, commercial HVAC, controls and automation, alternative energy systems, and electrical infrastructure. Based in Dallas, TX, IR Pros is a partnership of industrial refrigeration companies supported by Sawmill Capital. The companies plan to triple manufacturing capacity in the next few years, as well as collaborate on cross-border projects. irpros.com

koldwave.com neuco.com

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NAVAC partners with AccuTools for North American growth Lyndhurst, NJ-based NAVAC is now the exclusive strategic partner for AccuTools, and will distribute AccuTools products throughout NAVAC will distribute AccuTools Canada, the U.S. products throughout Canada, the and Mexico. U.S. and Mexico. NAVAC will also oversee centralized logistics, fulfillment, sales and promotional initiatives across North American channels. Based in Coral Springs, FL, AccuTools manufactures HVAC/R diagnostic and specialty tools. navacglobal.com accutools.com

Thermogenics expands through two purchases Thermogenics Inc. has acquired Louisville, KY-based Halmar Boiler Parts. Halmar is an OEM and aftermarket boiler parts manufacturer serving boiler service companies in Canada and the U.S. The company will continue operating under its own name. Thermogenics has also purchased Prime Boiler Services, a Red Deer, AB-based provider of boiler lifecycle solutions, establishing Thermogenics’ presence in Alberta, BC and Saskatchewan. Thermogenics provides boiler lifecycle solutions for the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors. thermogenicsboilers.com primeboiler.com halmarboilerparts.com

Haws Corp celebrates 120 years Haws Corporation is commemorating its 120th anniversary in 2026. Luther Haws, a master plumber and sheet metal contractor, invented the sanitary drinking fountain in 1906, and established the Haws Sanitary Drinking Following the patent of the Faucet Company in 1909 drinking fountain the Haws in Berkeley, CA. Today Sanitary Drinking Faucet Company formed in 1909. Sparks, NV-based Haws Corporation manufactures drinking fountains, hydration equipment and emergency safety solutions. hawsco.com

Xylem expands pump assets Through a transaction that is expected to close during Q4 2026, Xylem Inc. will acquire Cornell Pump Company and Roper Pump Company from industrial investment firm Indicor. Clackamas, OR-based Cornell Pump Company and Commerce, GA-based Roper Pump Company offer engineered pumping technologies designed to move difficult to handle fluids. Both businesses will come under Xylem’s Water Infrastructure segment. xylem.com cornellpump.com roperpumps.com

ProKontrol buys Albert’s Controls Albert’s Controls Ltd. has been acquired by Laval, QC-based ProKontrol. Albert’s is a supplier of electric and pneumatic controls with offices in Calgary, AB and Winnipeg, MB. ProKontrol is a wholesaler of HVAC/R controls with branches in Markham and Ottawa, ON; Laval, Longueuil, and Quebec City, QC; and Dartmouth, NS. albertscontrols.ca prokontrol.com

NIBCO completes UniTorq purchase

Heat Controller sold to Lennox

NIBCO INC. has finalized its acquisition of UniTorq Actuators and Controls. The acquisition expands NIBCO’s presence in commercial and industrial markets, and adds to its portfolio of valve actuation solutions. UniTorq will become part of NIBCO. Lawrenceville, GA-based UniTorq offers a wide portfolio of pneumatic and electric actuators, accessories and controls. NIBCO is headquartered in Elkhart, IN.

Lennox has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Jackson, MI-based HVAC equipment manufacturer Heat Controller and its Comfort-Aire and Century brands. shop.heatcontroller.com lennox.com

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Madison Air adds integrated airflow technology

Diamond Ice Systems and RSL merge Saskatoon branches

Madison Air Solutions Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Mulfingen, Germanybased ebm-papst. Ebm-papst supplies high-performance airflow technology and integrated electronically commutated fan and motor systems.

Diamond Ice Systems Ltd. has merged its Saskatoon, SK branch with parent company Refrigerative Supply Ltd. The Diamond Ice branch was relocated to 2250 Northridge Drive. Burnaby, BC-based Diamond Ice Systems is a wholesale supplier of ice machines and HVAC/R equipment in Western Canada. It is a division of RSL.

ebmpapst.com madisonair.com

diamondicesystems.com rsl.ca

Morris Lee partners with Charlotte Pipe

TCL HVAC partners with two Canadian distributors

Morris Lee, Ltd. has been appointed the sales agency representing Charlotte Pipe and Foundry throughout Ontario and Quebec. Vaughan, ON-based Morris Lee, Ltd. is a manufacturer’s representative for plumbing products.

TCL HVAC Canada has partnered with manufacturer’s representatives Bruce Sutherland Associates Ltd. in Atlantic Canada, and Canadian Aqualine Sales Inc. in Western Canada. Bruce Sutherland is based in Dartmouth, NS, while Canadian Aqualine Sales has offices in Delta, BC and Calgary, AB. Oakville, ON-based TCL HVAC Canada is the exclusive master distributor of TCL air conditioning and climate control systems for residential and light commercial applications in Canada.

morrisleecan.com charlottepipe.com

Resideo completes spin off of ADI Global Distribution

bsal.ca can-aqua.com tclhvac.ca

Resideo Technologies, Inc. has finalized its spin-off of ADI Global Distribution Inc. (ADI), resulting in two separate companies. The spin-off establishes Resideo as a pureplay building technologies company. Scottsdale, AZ-based Resideo manufactures critical control and sensing solutions for residential markets under brands such as BRK, First Alert, and Honeywell Home. ADI is a specialty distributor of low-voltage products for residential and commercial markets.

Systemair acquisition boosts ventilation portfolio for schools

resideo.com en.adiglobaldistribution.ca

systemair.com temspec.com

SPX acquires Neptronic

Weil-McLain Canada partners with Bergeron Sales

SPX Technologies, Inc. has completed its acquisition of Neptronic Inc. Montreal, QC-based Neptronic manufactures HVAC solutions such as intelligent controls, electric duct heaters, humidifiers, actuators and valves for data centres, healthcare and educational applications. Neptronic will become part of SPX Technologies’ HVAC segment. neptronic.com spx.com

Systemair AB has acquired Mississauga, ON-based Temspec Incorporated. Temspec manufactures decentralized HVAC equipment, including for schools and multi-storey buildings, and focuses on energy efficiency and noise reduction. Temspec will be integrated into Systemair’s North American operations. Systemair AB is headquartered in Skinnskatteberg, Sweden and is part of the Systemair Group.

Weil-McLain Canada has appointed Russell, ON-based Bergeron Sales Associates as its new sales representative for Eastern Canada. The move comes following Ned Barnabe’s retirement. Barnabe represented the Eastern Ontario region for Weil-McLain for more than 40 years. bergeronsales.com weil-mclain.ca

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Dominic Poulin has joined Daikin Comfort Technologies North America as technical service manager in Eastern Canada.

Anton Novikov has joined Oakville, ON-based +osb as director of marketing.

The Master Group has hired Tom Breen as product management director, distribution, and promoted Chiranjiv Datta (R) to director, residential products and private brands (North America). Chris Dewar has been appointed director, institutional – national accounts at Mississauga, ON-based Carrier Enterprise Canada.

Richmond Hill, ON-based Kepler Canada has hired Steven Dunn (L) as director, and Derek Roy as branch director – Kitchener, ON.

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Winnipeg, MB-based E.H. Price Solutions has hired Cliff McNeill (1) as mechanical division manager – Southern Alberta, Luis Quiroga (2) as mechanical division manager – Vancouver, BC, and Myron Soares (3) as inside sales engineer. Rinnai Canada has named Kevin Lott commercial sales manager based in Calgary, AB.

1 Oakville, ON-based TCL HVAC Canada has hired Chris Walsh as technical training manager.

Morris Lee, Ltd. has hired JP Meloche (1) as sales manager for the Quebec market, Josh Bernard (2) as part of the inside sales and quotations team, and Dylan Lee (3) as part of the inside sales, quotations and customer service team. Clifford Bassey has joined Langley, BC-based The ECCO Group as regional sales manager for BC.

Serge Cormier has been appointed strategic sales manager for North America at Bouctouche, NB-based Systemair NA.

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Guelph, ON-based Building Knowledge Canada (BKC) 1 has announced several leadership role changes. Gord Cooke (1) now holds the title of founder. He was previously president of BKC. Andy Oding (2) has been appointed CEO and president. Mark Rosen (3) has been named vice president and director of building science. In addition, David Hope (4) has joined the company as senior energy advisor on its operations team. Oliver Bleich (1) has been appointed president 1 of Duravit Americas; Dean Camastro (2) has been named vice president of sales, North America; and Kurt Raabe (3) has been named vice president, product strategy and key accounts, North America.

Calgary, AB-based HeatLink Group Inc. has appointed Kim Laurette vice president of sales and marketing.

Ali Chreim has joined GE Appliances, Air & Water Solutions as territory sales manager – Quebec.

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The industry update you can walk through.

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10.26

People in the news mechanicalbusiness.com Richmond, BC-based J&S Sales BC Inc. has named Spencer Graffos sales manager.

FGI Industries Ltd. has named Glen Byle sales director – strategic growth.

Madeline Dolby has joined Uponor as a marketing communications specialist.

Reliance Home Comfort has appointed Luke Fletcher as plumbing manager.

RenewAire, LLC has hired Fatma Aouani as regional sales director (Canada).

Natasha Newell has been named profit centre manager for Westlund/ EMCO Water Solutions.

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Watts Water Technologies has hired Joey Baranyay as national sales manager for the Vernon, BC-based tekmar brand.

Jared Reinbold has been named branch manager at Edmonton, AB-based Sinclair Supply’s Saskatoon, SK location.

Melissa Darveau has joined Front Line Sales Inc. as account manager.

Wolseley Canada Inc. has named Sébastien Gravel (1) regional director for Eastern Quebec and the Abitibi region, and hired Samantha Lessick (2) as a strategic accounts representative, and Howie Thompson (3) as outside sales representative, overseeing the Waterworks division out of the Peterborough, ON region.

Moncton, NB-based JF Taylor Enterprises Ltd. has hired Lori Greer as inside sales manager, leading the company’s quotations team.

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions has hired Joe Howdle as national business development manager – drains and siteworks – for Canada.

Johnson Controls has hired Sneha Jattani (1) as controls technical development 1 2 specialist, and Trevor Kaiser (2) as HVAC service manager.

The Ontario Building Officials Association (OBOA) has appointed Andrew Quattrociocchi director of Region C. Airtècnics has promoted Kieran Penrose to national sales manager for North America. Penrose has been with Airtècnics since 2023 as product sales manager for air curtains. B u s i n e s s

Concord, ON-based Noble Corporation has hired several new employees: Katherine Charles (1) is profit centre manager at the company’s 4 Hamilton, ON plumbing location; Chris Donnelly (2) is account manager in Kitchener, ON; Moe Ismaiel (3) is industrial account manager in the Greater Toronto Area; and Rickhi Seecharan (4) is profit centre manager at the company’s Rexdale, ON HVAC location. Franke Home Solutions has hired Kristy Ryan as national sales manager – wholesale.

Global Filter welcomes Corey Yourkin as regional sales manager – Eastern Canada.

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Concord, ON-based AirMax Technologies Inc. has promoted Steve Myers (1) to vice president of sales, and hired Joanne Picozzi (2) and Paul Anderson (3) as territory sales managers.

Sustainable Buildings Canada (SBC) has appointed Roya Khaleeli Keon executive director.

The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of 2 Canada (HRAI) 1 has hired Bianca Kennedy (1) as director of events, and promoted Scott Papp (2) to head of revenue growth.

Laval, QC-based ProKontrol has hired three new employees for Western Canada: Andre Boire (1) 1 as branch director, Calgary, AB, Kim Pears (2) as team leader, internal sales, and Ed Hoellwarth as internal sales representative.

Renzo Campodonico has been named supply chain manager at Taco (Canada) Ltd. Campodonico has been with Taco for more than nine years. Camilo Patino has joined London, ON-based Palser Enterprises Ltd. in an inside sales and customer service role.

Sandeep Nair (L) has been named CEO of Dorval, QC-based Smardt Chiller Group. He succeeds Albert Yam, who is now executive director of Smardt’s board. Matthew Underwood has joined Copeland as an inside sales representative. Edmonton, AB-based Bartle & Gibson has hired Michael McEachnie as branch manager for its Nanaimo, BC location.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC

Electrification and its environmental benefits: How to have the conversation with customers

limate action is the key driving factor behind electrification in the HVAC industry. I am going to prep readers on how to have the conversation about electrification and the environment with customers. In my experience at Trim Tab, I find customers who are interested in this conversation fall into one of a few categories:

Climate action is driving the A2L Transition Over the coming years, North America will see a transition away from HFCs in new cooling equipment. They will be replaced with equipment containing A2L refrigerants. A2L refrigerants, such as R-32 and R-454A have lower global warming potential than the refrigerants they replace, to comply with U.S. regulations that ultimately stem from the Kigali Amendment of 2016, which mandates a global phasedown of HFCs. Source: HRAI

1) They work for

an organization with environmental goals, such as achieving net zero emissions.

2) They are seeking to alleviate a personal sense of guilt for their environmental impact. 3) They are motivated by the social

value associated with doing their part for their community and loved ones, such as their grandchildren. As the technical expert, it’s hard to influence those factors. However, buying decisions often need to be rationalized, so it’s helpful for you to have some facts. Here are three things to aid you in having the conversation so you can be a credible advisor.

First, help customers understand how we got here. The world is getting warmer, on average. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions raise global temperatures by altering the balance between incoming solar energy and outgoing heat energy the Earth emits back into space. The result is more trapped heat. GHGs include CO2, methane, nitrous oxide and some fluorinated gases, such as those used in the HVAC industry. Rising global surface temperatures are a serious problem. They lead to rising sea levels, more severe heatwaves and precipitation events, disruption to our ecosystems and food security impacts, such as fisheries affected by ocean acidification. Canada passed the Net Zero Emissions Accountability Act in 2021, which legally binds Canada to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. “Net Zero Emissions” means the total amount of GHG gases being added to the atmosphere is balanced by an equivalent amount being removed from the atmosphere, so the net contribution is zero. In practice, this includes reducing emissions as much as possible first, and then only offsetting what is left over. Electrification serves as a primary pillar of Canada’s carbon reductions strategy. Canada’s plan is to decarbonize its power grid while dramatically scaling up its capacity to transition transportation, buildings and industry away from fossil fuels. This plan

Tom Grochmal Tom Grochmal, PhD, P.Eng. is founder and CEO of Trim Tab Energy

Retrofits (trimtabretrofits.com), an energy contractor with a mission to renew housing and inspire better living.

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Second, help customers understand the local context.

Third, help customers understand where the future is leading us. Our customers are making decisions with long-term consequences when they replace HVAC equipment, because equipment can last anywhere from 15 to 40 years. Therefore, the buying decision doesn’t just depend on the environmental realities of today. We need to consider the future. The Canadian government released its national electricity strategy earlier this year. It is a signature policy document for the Carney government that signals the expanded importance of electrification because it is now clearly tied to increasing Canada’s economic independence and energy security in a rapidly changing world. Here’s what you need to know:

Electrification yields GHG reductions if, and only if, the electricity is derived from low emissions sources. Therefore, it’s useful to understand where your electricity comes from.

For carbon footprints, the 1) The core goal is to double Canada’s standard metric is tonnes of total electricity supply and grid capacity by carbon dioxide equivalent 2050 to meet increasing electrical demand. (C02e). This metric converts This will result in many large infrastructure different gases into the projects in the coming years. amount of CO2 that would cause the same amount of 2) The government will expand support warming. As the baseline for energy-saving retrofits and the greenhouse gas, one tonne transition to heat pumps for up to 1 million of carbon dioxide produces households. Many provincial energy efficiency program 1 tC02e. One tonne of providers, such as Efficiency Nova Scotia, Don’t discourage your customers from methane, by contrast, offer financial support for commercial considering the electrification route if they produces 28-36 tC02e are thinking long term. Grid emissions building recommissioning. These are often according to international factors will change over time as each low-cost, low-risk measures that are a great climate science standards province evolves its supply mix. Some way to try out utility programs if you haven’t (source: International Energy provinces have seen their grid emissions used them before. Agency1). Refrigerants have go down as they replace coal with natural dramatically higher global gas. Ontario is refurbishing its nuclear fleet to maintain low warming potential: one tonne of CFCs or HFCs, such emission factors over the long run. The East Coast is expanding as R-410A, produces thousands of tC02e. Hence the hydroelectric and renewable generation resources, as seen by HVAC industry’s current transition to A2L refrigerants. the announcement last month between Hydro-Québec and Emission factors capture the GHG impact for Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. every unit of energy and vary depending upon the energy mix of your region. Ontario, as one example, Heat pumps are the key produces most of its electricity from low-emitting technology enabling sources such as nuclear and hydroelectric dams. electrification of the Ontario’s grid has an average emissions factor of 59 HVAC sector. They gC02e/kWh. Saskatchewan’s emissions factor is over 10 times higher (at 631 gC02e/kWh) because most of are now capable of its electricity is produced from coal and natural gas. operating in cold weather, Replacing a gas furnace with a heat pump will reduce right down to design GHG emissions by 90 per cent in Ontario, but that temperatures across most same heating system conversion in Saskatchewan will of Canada. actually raise GHG emissions by nine per cent.

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is extremely ambitious because so much of the energy supplied for these sectors is derived from fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil and its derivatives. GHG reductions are the focus.

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HIGH-PERFORMANCE HVAC Cont’d from pg. 27 To understand your region’s energy mix and carbon intensity, find a live, interactive map at Electricity Maps2.

More electrical infrastructure is coming, like this high voltage transmission line that connects Newfoundland and Labrador to Quebec. Photo: Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

Reinforce your role As we consider the past, present and future, it’s clear that electrification is key to Canada achieving greater economic growth, energy security and carbon reduction. As service providers, you will increasingly deal with customers who are concerned about the environmental impact of

One Easy Choice

their retrofit decisions. Be an active participant in those discussions to reinforce your role in offering

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expertise, and to help the customer make a well-informed decision. RESOURCES 1iea.org/reports/methane-tracker-2021/ methane-and-climate-change 2app.electricitymaps.com/map/live/ fifteen_minutes

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COVER STORY By Kerry Turner

Hazel Mae:

Sports media trailblazer

s Hazel Mae would recount in her acceptance speech after receiving the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s 2025 Jack Graney Award in June 2026, it was enthusiasm over experience that won her a place in sports broadcasting more than 25 years ago. Together with an encyclopedic knowledge of all things sports, Mae’s professional career start with Sportsnet would be a springboard to positions with New England Sports Network (NESN), and back to Sportsnet, and later MLB Network where she honed her on-camera skills. Since her return to Sportsnet in 2011 Mae has championed baseball and the Blue Jays both on and off the field and is currently their field-level reporter. Her tireless work, expertise and reporting style were acknowledged by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television when she was presented with the Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism on May 31, 2026. Despite the kudos Mae sees herself as a work in progress.

Photos courtesy Hazel Mae, HarperCollins Canada

“I could probably list dozens of people

in my industry who are just as deserving. Personally, I think the kind of recognition in the run the Blue Jays went on last season has had a lot to do with the spotlight on my work. But believe me, I still have a lot to learn. I still can improve in so many different areas,” says Mae. For Mae, the awards were less about one season or one highlight than about endurance, consistency, and a work ethic shaped by family. “It feels like it’s taken a long time to get to where I am now. When I got notified about the Gordon Sinclair award the immediate feeling was, are you sure? And then the second thought that went through my head was all the times I got up early to do work or stayed late, times when my feet hurt, things like that. And just the kind of work ethic that was handed down to me by my late father and my mother, who’s going to be 85, and how that has really benefited me throughout my career. “I’m at the point of my career where I am comfortable with who I am as a broadcaster, who I am as a person, who I am as a teammate, who I am as a colleague and an interviewer. And with that comfort, it’s almost a freeing feeling to do your work authentically and genuinely and be more like yourself instead of chasing what I am supposed to look like as a broadcaster or act like as a broadcaster because you’re imitating someone else,” adds Mae. She has watched the industry change, with more women appearing on sidelines, in broadcast booths, in clubhouses,

With her family in attendance, Hazel became only the second woman to win the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Jack Graney Award for lifetime achievement in broadcasting.

Before I Let You Go: My Life in Broadcasting, 30

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and in front-office positions across Major League Baseball. The progress matters to her. Early in her career, Mae felt the pressure to fit into a male-dominated environment. That pressure influenced everything from tone to wardrobe. “I took a lot of unbelievable advice from generous teammates and colleagues in the past, but it’s a fine balance. You take that advice and then spin it so it’s more authentic to how you would go about doing your work. The advice I would give is not to stray from who you are as a woman, and not to stray from what your personality is and not try to be like someone else. That takes a long time because you look at colleagues who are so successful and you think I just want to be like them. I ultimately realised that I wanted to be successful like them, but still be me,” says Mae. That sense of self is visible on air. Mae’s style has become part of her signature: solid colours, clean lines, minimal jewelry, and camera-ready pieces that support rather than distract from the work. “Television is a visual medium, and every detail contributes to presentation. The overall presentation − that’s 50 per cent what you’re saying and the other 50 per cent is your presentation to the audience.” That practical relationship with clothing eventually led her to create a dress line, inspired by the difficulty of finding professional pieces that met the demands of broadcast work. The project was exciting, but it also brought hard lessons. “Thinking back at putting this business together I had no business background, I had no fashion background. I just knew I needed this particular dress to fill the void and I wasted a lot of money and wasted a lot of time,” shares Mae. The lesson for her though was not to avoid ambition; it was to respect expertise, and the experience continues to shape Mae’s thinking about the future. “Everybody obviously associates me with sports and I love sports and I am so fortunate to have longevity in this business. But I love real estate, I love HGTV. I love renovating, I tried it in my last property. I would love to have that be the next chapter in my career. I actually started a real estate course during COVID because I thought we’re at home I might as well make use of the time. I’ve always thought, man, I’d love to earn my real estate licence. I stopped when we started travelling again for work.”

PEELING BACK THE CURTAINS Mae had been approached many times about writing a book and had always declined in part because she wondered, “who would spend their hard-earned money to read about her life.” It was a “maybe down the road scenario” and the Blue Jays 2025 run became the catalyst. The fan base had ballooned and Hazel Mae was appearing in more and more homes across Canada. HarperCollins Canada convinced Mae that if she was ever going to write a book, this was the time to do it. “I didn’t want to write a baseball book, a nuts and bolts. I just wanted it to be about my life and I think it might resonate not just for someone who is a Blue Jays fan, but people who are new Canadians and facing the challenges of moving from one country to another country. I am grateful for the opportunities because coming from a country like the Philippines, I may not be who I am had I not come to this country.”

In terms of what comes next or launching a different career, Mae is pragmatic. “I’ve been in this business for over 25 years, which is crazy because the industry and the landscape changes so much. I give myself a little pat on the back for sticking around and evolving and putting in the work and it’s very rewarding. I would like to one day say, hey, I’d like to do something else. That would be my preference − to ride off into the sunset on my own terms. With MLSC I’m not sure what’s going to happen with so many professional sports teams merging under one umbrella. Does that mean they’ll downsize as far as on-air talent? I have no idea, which is why I think it’s really smart to think about other things down the road.” Some of that future has already begun. Her work with Peace Collective, an officially licensed merchandise partner and streetwear collaborator for the Toronto Blue Jays, reflects her hands-on approach. She does not simply attach her name to a project − she wants to understand how it works.

The on-air broadcast team for the Toronto Blue Jays, Buck Martinez (L), Hazel Mae and Dan Shulman (R). Martinez graced the cover of Mechanical Business in June 2018. He retired in February 2026 as the iconic colour commentator and analyst.

Baseball, and Beyond is scheduled for release November 10, 2026.

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Modular system Available from Ascend Group, Midea’s EVOX G3 heat pump and EVOX G3 air handling unit offers heating and cooling all in one unit, with 100 per cent heating output at -25°C, COP up to 1.9, and SEER2 up to 19.0. Computational Constant Airflow 2.0 provides consistent airflow up to 1 in. W.C. It is filtration model compatible with 1- to 4-in. filters, and is compatible with R454B refrigerant. The unit’s latching modular design reduces installation time. An optional three-stage auxiliary heat kit is also available. mideacomfortna.ca ascend-group.ca

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Condensing boiler The Vitodens 200-W B2HE gas condensing boiler features a stainless steel Inox-Radial heat exchanger, intelligent Lambda Pro Plus combustion management, and up to 95 per cent AFUE efficiency. With built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, integrated smart controls and up to a 4:1 turndown ratio, the boiler adapts to the home’s heating demands while helping reduce energy costs. carrier.com viessmann.ca

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2026-10-07 11:25 PM

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2026 Heating Product Showcase Multifamily heating and cooling Bosch introduces the Evcon and Guardian series, including heat pumps, air conditioners, condensing and non-condensing furnaces, air handlers, coils and thermostats. Designed to meet the requirements of long piping runs, higher vertical lifts and limited equipment space, the heat pumps feature horizontal discharge configurations to maximize space. Line sets are up to 250 ft. long, with increased lifts up to 150 ft. Heat pumps range from 1 to 5 tons in a 24 by 24-in. cabinet. bosch-homecomfort.com

Commercial boiler The Brute FT floor-standing boiler for commercial applications from Bradford White features high-performance heating with a durable stainless steel fire tube heat exchanger, 10:1 turndown (model 399); 7.5:1 turndown (model 301), 95 per cent+ thermal efficiency, and low NOx emissions. It is cascadable up to four boilers, and features BMS compatibility, high and low temperature zone control and DHW Smart Priority. It includes flexible venting and versatile installation options. bradfordwhite.com

Central ducted heat pump The Mr. Cool hyper heat split heat pump is engineered for extremes and designed for installers. The unit offers 100 per cent heating capacity at -20.5°C, and operates down to -30°C, with an up to 18.3 SEER2 and 10.2 HSPF2-4 via variable-speed DC inverter. The heat pump has a multi-position air handler of 2 to 5-tons. It is compatible with optional pre-charged No-Vac Quick Connect line sets. It uses low-GWP R-454B refrigerant and includes a smart thermostat. mrcool.com

Split system Engineered for high-ambient regions, Amana Brand S-series AZV9S split-system heat pumps satisfy heating and cooling demands from -28.9°CDB to 46.1°CDB. Inverter technology and variable-speed compressors deliver up to 10 HSPF2 and 21 SEER2. Features include Intelligent Defrost mode, hot start technology, anti-corrosion coil coating, watershedding drain pan and hot gas pan (eliminating extra drain pan heater down to -15°C). The units can use existing line sets, and connect up to 100 ft. of pipe in typical installations. With up to three different sound levels, they operate down to 47dBA. amana-hac.com

Residential boilers Wall-hung gas boiler

Eco-King Supreme residential boilers and combi boilers have a fully enclosing cover for quick access to all areas of the boiler. Units offer hydronic heating as well as hot water with a storage tank (H model) or on-demand tankless hot water (C combi model), with a 95 per cent AFUE. Additions in 2026 include a new flow switch for further safety protection and 2-in. venting with test ports off the top of the boiler. ecokingheating.com

M e c h a n i c a l

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The Conforto Commercial CH-399 condensing wall-hung gas boiler delivers 95.5 per cent thermal efficiency in a compact design. Its dual stainless steel water-tube heat exchanger ensures performance and corrosion resistance, while an intuitive programmable control offers full text and graphical interface with error logging. With 5.5:1 modulation and built-in cascade control for up to 16 units, the CH-399 easily scales for larger commercial applications. Natural gas models convert to propane, and removable side panels simplify servicing. confortohvac.com

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2026 Heating Product Showcase Tankless water heater The Elios H2O tankless wall-mounted water heater, available through Master, features a patented dual stainless steel heat exchanger, a 10:1 turndown ratio (20,000 to 199,999 BTU/hr), and a UEF of up to 0.95. The unit delivers precise temperature control, lowemission combustion, and continuous domestic hot water up to 5.9 GPM at a 19.4°C temperature rise. master.ca

Flush ceiling mount The Quick-Sling QSWI3000 Quick Swivel is a flush ceiling mount with a H style bracket for unit heaters. Swivel brackets provide fast installation of ceiling mounted unit heaters, concealed ducted air handlers, and branch controllers. The swivel design allows for 360° rotation to set the perfect air flow direction before hard piping. Multiple ceiling mounting options adapt to various installation applications. alltemp.ca

Universal heat pump The Endeavor Line Classic Plus Series top-discharge universal heat pump from Rheem has a split system cabinet design. It delivers heating efficiencies up to 9.5 HSPF2, and cooling up to 17 SEER2, 11.7 EER2. The unit pairs with most R-454B HVAC systems, making it suitable for residential retrofits or new construction. The units are available in 2 to 5 tons, with cooling and heating capacities from 22.2 to 57 kBTU. rheem.ca

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2026-09-15 2:19 PM

2026 Heating Product Showcase NPF Hydro-furnace Navien’s NPF Hydro-furnace is available in upflow, downflow, and horizontal configurations, and comes in 60,000 BTU/hr and 100,000 BTU/hr sizes. The NPF uses a stainless steel heat exchanger to heat water in an isolated compartment out of the airstream for sound-reduction. Heated water is circulated through a hydronic coil which transfers the heat into the airstream. Its variable capacity allows the NPF to modulate down to 15 per cent. navieninc.com

Commercial heating Samsung DVM S2+ Max Heat provides 100 per cent heating capacity at -25°C and reliable performance down to -30°C. Built-in A2L safety technology, including refrigerant detection sensors and shut-off valves, monitors for leaks and isolates affected circuits. The R-32 VRF system features an integrated AI Core that analyzes operating conditions to optimize performance, energy use, and system management. Other features include flexible installation options and low-ambient heating performance. samsunglennox.com

VRF technology General HVAC Solutions America’s Airstage VU-7 line of heat pump and heat recovery systems has the latest generation of three-phase VRF technology. The VU-7 outdoor units allow the VRF system to operate as a heat pump or heat recovery system, with capacities from 6 to 32 tons. It supports up to 16 indoor units on 6-ton systems, and up to 64 units on 24-ton systems and larger, and is available with a range of indoor unit models. fujitsugeneral.com

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2026-09-29 9:56 AM

OCTOBER 2026

Road Warrior:

BRENT MOONEY

Building a lasting legacy

• LEGIONELLA: OUR PROBLEM, OUR SOLUTION • PLUMBING PRODUCT SHOWCASE • THE SECRET TO SERVICING OLD CPVC • COMMERCIAL FAUCET TRENDS • DIAGNOSING WELL PUMP SHORT CYCLING • COLLECTING AND TESTING WATER SAMPLES

TF 2026 THE FLOW FINAL LOOK.indd 1

A special impact supplement provided by

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2026-09-30 10:53 PM

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Award-Winning Design Created to celebrate 60 years of Bélanger design in Canada, ORA reimagines the traditional widespread faucet through a distinctly contemporary lens. Its sculptural silhouette pairs with an innovative control system: a dedicated push-button starts and stops the water flow, while a separate handle provides precise temperature adjustment. Crafted from solid brass and fitted with a NEOPERL® laminar aerator, ORA delivers a refined stream with WaterSense®-certified efficiency.

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2026-09-29 9:45 AM

C O N T E N T S TF supplement

Content Media Group Inc. 2 Campbell Dr., Suite 807 Uxbridge, ON L9P 0A3 Tel: 905.465.2919 mechanicalbusiness.com

10.26

September/October 2026 Issue Published annually.

OTHER FEATURES

52PUMPS Top 5 signs a sump pump system needs an upgrade John Doner

60MANAGEMENT Home sweet home: Developing a maintenance plan Fred Bretzke

68COMMERCIAL FAUCET TRENDS Performance plus New technology, connectivity and design elements are making commercial faucets more than an afterthought Carolyn Cooper 70QUATTRO’S CORNER Take a look at those pipes Andrew Quattrociocchi 74PUMPS Diagnosing well pump short cycling Jesse Runciman

80RESOURCE

LEGIONELLA OUR PROBLEM, OUR SOLUTION Matthew Reid

WATER QUALITY WHAT IS YOUR WATER TELLING YOU? Todd Wiggins

ROAD WARRIOR BRENT MOONEY: Building a lasting legacy Carolyn Cooper

TUBING THE SECRET TO SERVICING OLD CPVC Marty Silverman

New PEX plumbing systems guide The Plastics Pipe Institute

HIGHLIGHTS

62-67PRODUCTS

Watch Episode 6 of MechBiz Studio as industry experts discuss Legionella and perform a live test with results no one expected! Youtube.com/@ MechBizStudio

THE FLOW Supplement - On Demand! Everything you need, anywhere you are – scan to open the digital edition of the THE FLOW Supplement.

A showcase of plumbing technology

79JOBSITE JARGON Test your plumbing know-how for a chance to win

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Brought to you in partnership with:

Cover Photo: Peter Holst Photography

2026-10-01 11:33 AM

TF LEGIONELLA

PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY Marty Silverman, Vice President, Marketing, General Pipe Cleaners

Our problem, our solution I

remember where I was the first time I heard “Just” by Radiohead years after the song actually came out. I was at a friend’s house and we were sitting around watching music videos. There is a line in the song that haunted me then and it haunts me now: “You do it to yourself, and that’s what really hurts.” Legionella, although naturally occurring in nature, is a bacterium we didn’t really give much thought to prior to the first “recorded” outbreak in 1976. That said, we did know what it was. Research on it goes back to 1943, kind of. We obtained specimens from that timeline but we didn’t really know what we were looking at until many years later when those specimens were tested. Similarly, the first real outbreak was in 1957 in Minnesota at a meat packing plant although we didn’t know it was Legionella until testing was done decades later. An understanding of what we were dealing with came about in 1976 during the Philadelphia Legionella outbreak at the American Legion convention, although at first it was thought to be a terrorist attack. So, the question then begs to be asked: If this bacterium is naturally occurring why did it take until the 20th century to start outbreaks in the first place? The answer to that question is us. We are the ones causing the outbreaks.

It was years before specimens were tested.

THE BREEDING GROUND

MILES TO GO

Legionella is a lot like us. It needs food, shelter and warmth to not just survive but thrive. It needs food such as amoeba where it takes over the cell and reproduces, a lot and quickly. It needs shelter. Although it is waterborne it doesn’t like to be turbulently flung around in water and instead prefers to hang out in biofilms or any areas with little to no water movement.

Cooling towers usually force air over water creating a fine mist that evaporates and takes heat with it as it is rejected. The water used to cool can come from a basin within the cooling tower that has been sitting idle providing the optimum growing conditions for Legionella. This contaminated water then travels through the air as a mist for miles. Then one small droplet makes its way in the air stream to about five feet off of the ground.

Finally, it needs warmth. The ideal temperature for growth is between 70°F and 120°F. Those two numbers should sound familiar to you. The first being room temperature and the other is the standard temperature we tend to supply at in domestic hot water (DHW) applications. For the most part our DHW systems and cooling tower systems are the perfect home for Legionella to grow. But don’t worry, it gets worse. Let’s say you had a big glass of water and in that water was millions of Legionella bacteria. You could drink that glass of water and you would be fine. However, if you were to aspirate at all during the drinking of that water you’d be in trouble. Legionella doesn’t infect through consumption. It infects through inhalation. It has to get into the lungs for things to really go bad. That happens a few ways, such as aspiration, but also through tiny water droplets you have no choice but to breath in, in the shower or in the hot tub. Or there is also the coup de grâce of transmission − cooling towers.

T H E

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F L O W

You just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and are breathing Legionella from a building located miles away from where you are. That’s the hard part − trying to determine where the bacteria came from. Cooling towers are a likely culprit but not the only cause. Which leads us to the point of all of this, if we did it to ourselves, can we stop it ourselves? Absolutely we can. Here’s a few helpful things to be done by building managers or anyone who wants to take on the initiative. Keep cooling towers inspected and cleaned.

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Matthew Reid Matthew Reid is technical director − heating division at E.H. Price Solutions’ Richmond Hill, ON office and co-host of the MechBiz Studio podcast and video series. He can be reached at mreid@ehpricesolutions.ca.

The building owner is liable for their building equipment and keeping it in good order for both the building and the surrounding area. If a gas boiler blew up and blew up the neighbour’s building, the original building owner would be liable for both. Legionella is more or less the same. Cooling towers should be inspected regularly, let’s say at least a few times a season but it should also be known that Legionella reproduces extremely quickly. We can go from one bacterium to 1,000,000 bacteria in two to four days. Keep an eye on things or if you’re specifying equipment, there are other types of cooling towers, such as adiabatic systems, which create a much smaller risk. If this isn’t an option keep the water in the cooling towers clean using chemicals, pump and dump often, fire, whatever. Just keep it clean.

Adiabatic systems provide a smaller risk of Legionella.

OTHER THREATS In the plumbing systems inside of buildings it is statistically more difficult to get Legionella but not impossible. As I mentioned, it can come from showers or even decorative fountains. In plumbing, temperature and flow are king to kill Legionella. It’s the reason we store hot water at 140°F, which kills Legionella rapidly. In the cold water loop the temperature is usually around 40°F to 50°F but if that cold water line sits stagnant, such as in a dead leg or an unused part of the building, that temperature will eventually rise to 70°F indoor temp and we’re back in prime reproduction temperature again.

The bacteria can come from showers or even decorative fountains.

Your best case for cold water lines is to use them. If you can’t use the line at least flush the line. Turn it on and let it run for five minutes. This will bring the temperature down and also kill the stagnation which leads to biofilm that Legionella love to live in.

In short, you can do a few things.

Keep the hot water hot and keep the cold water cold.

Keep it moving. Legionella doesn’t want to move around. It’s lazy. Don’t give it a chance to get comfortable.

Keep it clean. Chlorine added to most city water is a good way to stop things before they start but it’s not foolproof, especially in cooling towers, so chemically treating may be your best solution.

We did it and we can fix it but you must stay vigilant.

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F L O W

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2026-10-01 11:39 AM

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One Supplier. One Source. With a simple phone call, you are connected to an integrated enterprise, from ordering to distribution of a comprehensive assortment of products including pipes, valves, fittings and suspensions. From our warehouse to your network, Flocor is your complete one-stop distribution network.

Located right where you need us. With seventeen strategically located stocking centres across Canada, including five regional distribution centres, Flocor provides you with quick access to one of the broadest product lines in the industry. Our sophisticated ordering system puts this inventory at your doorstep.

Products right when you need them. Always in stock, Flocor has thousands of combinations and styles of valves, pipes, fittings and brackets, as well as a superior range of sprinklers and related equipment, including piping, valves and fittings for water supply systems. With this comprehensive product lineup, Flocor can continuously meet the needs of the industrial, commercial, fire protection and municipal markets. This extensive inventory is readily available to you… right now.

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2025-03-24 9:45 AM

TF WATER QUALITY

PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

What is your water telling you?

By Todd Wiggins Todd Wiggins is with Watts Water Technologies in the role of regional sales manager, Canada. He works closely with Watts’ partners across Canada, supporting and growing key product lines.

he condition of the water moving through a commercial plumbing system can directly affect equipment performance, efficiency, reliability, and service life. Whether the concern is scale, corrosion, an ongoing service issue or a potential warranty claim, getting useful answers starts with collecting a representative sample.

WHY DOES WATER QUALITY MATTER? When we think about water quality, we often think about whether water is safe to drink. In a commercial plumbing system, however, water can meet drinking water requirements and still create challenges for the equipment. Water contains dissolved minerals, chemicals, gases and small particles. Depending on their concentration and how they interact, these can contribute to scale, corrosion and premature equipment failure. As water is heated, some of these concerns can become more noticeable. Minerals may fall out of solution and collect on heat-transfer surfaces, while certain chemical conditions can increase the risk of corrosion. Over time, this can reduce efficiency, increase maintenance costs and shorten the life of water heaters, storage tanks, piping and other components. Water testing gives us a better picture of what the equipment is being exposed to. Before collecting a sample, we first need to understand why the water is being tested. Are we investigating scale inside a water heater, signs of corrosion or discoloured water, or a component that failed earlier than expected? We may also establish a baseline for a new system. It is important to document the building type, water source, equipment, operating temperatures and any existing water treatment. This includes whether the water is softened, filtered or chemically treated. Providing this background helps the laboratory interpret the results and better connect the water conditions to the issue being investigated.

T H E

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F L O W

A comparison showing the effects of leaving water untreated.

WHERE SHOULD THE SAMPLE BE TAKEN? There is no single sampling location that works for every situation. The correct location depends on what we are trying to learn. Figure 1 on pg. 50 shows a multi-unit commercial domestic hot-water system with storage and recirculation. Samples could be collected from the incoming cold-water service, before and after any water-treatment equipment, near the water-heater inlet, from the hot-water supply or from the building’s recirculation return. Comparing samples from multiple locations can help identify where a condition may be developing. If the incoming water is acceptable but another sample is not, the piping, treatment equipment or system operating conditions may need a closer look.

What a commercial water-filtration system could look like in a building.

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2026-09-30 11:03 PM

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2026-09-24 8:46 AM

TF WATER QUALITY PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Cont’d from page 48

HOW DO WE COLLECT USEFUL SAMPLES?

Courtesy PVI

In many cases, the equipment manufacturer will provide specific instructions for collecting water samples. They may send a sample bottle, explain where the sample should be taken, identify the information that needs to be recorded and provide shipping or storage instructions. It is important to follow these requirements Figure 1 A multi-unit commercial domestic hot-water system. carefully, as the results may be used to help diagnose an ongoing equipment issue or determine whether water quality may be a factor in a WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TESTING? warranty situation. The more accurate the Water testing is not sample and supporting information are, a treatment plan the easier it will be to understand what on its own. The may be happening within the system. results may point There are several useful water-quality toward softening, parameters to test, including pH, filtration, corrosion hardness, alkalinity, total dissolved solids, control, changes to chlorides, free chlorine and turbidity. chemical treatment Iron and copper can also provide helpful or another solution, information, especially when corrosion is but the treatment suspected. needs to match the Testing should not always be viewed as a Each parameter tells us something one-time exercise. actual condition. different. Hardness helps indicate scaling It is also worth remembering that water quality can change. Municipal potential, while pH and alkalinity help treatment, seasonal conditions, building renovations and adjustments describe the water’s chemical balance. to on-site treatment can all affect the water entering and circulating Chlorides can increase the risk of pitting through a system. For that reason, testing may not be a one-time and corrosion in certain materials. exercise. Turbidity indicates suspended material, Collecting and testing water gives us information we cannot get by while elevated iron or copper may point looking at the equipment alone. It helps us better understand the to source-water conditions or corrosion conditions the system is operating under and identify factors that may within the system. be contributing to scale, corrosion, reduced efficiency or premature It is important not to look at one result by component failure. itself. Water temperature, system materials Testing can also help determine whether existing water-treatment and operating conditions all play a role. equipment is working as intended or if adjustments may be required. Results should be compared with the By reviewing the complete water profile, we can move beyond equipment manufacturer’s requirements simply treating the visible problem and start identifying what may be and reviewed with a qualified watercausing it. treatment professional.

T H E

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F L O W

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2026-08-31 1:08 PM

TF PUMPS

By John Doner

PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

John Doner is director of sales & business development with Metropolitan Pump Co. Limited in Cambridge, ON.

Top 5

signs a sump pump system needs an upgrade Key considerations when replacing a pump Duty point alignment:

01 Frequent overload trips

Overload trips are a telltale sign of a pump nearing the end of its life. If the system keeps shutting down due to overloads, and you’ve ruled out blockages in the discharge pipes, it could mean the pump is struggling to keep up. Common causes include: Excessive starts and overheating: Pumps that cycle too often can overheat, leading to higher power draw. Locked rotor or jamming: A jammed impeller causes a spike in amperage, triggering an overload trip. Free spinning impeller: While rare, this could occur in older systems if the impeller is missing or disconnected.

• • •

PRO TIP

Regularly monitor the system’s amperage draw.

02 Repeated pump failures

If the pump has failed and needs replacing, don’t just swap it out blindly − investigate the underlying cause. Pumps that fail prematurely may not have been properly sized for their duty point. Oversized or undersized pumps can result in inefficiencies and shorter lifespans.

Ensure the pump matches the actual operational requirements, including flow rates, distance, and chamber depth.

Oversizing issues: Overly conservative designs often lead to oversized equipment that runs inefficiently and fails faster.

Warranty checks: If the pump is still under warranty, determine if improper sizing or installation caused the failure.

PRO TIP Always verify the sizing and design before replacing a failed pump.

03 Float failures

Floats play a critical role in pump system operation, signaling when to start and stop pumping. Over time, floats can fail due to prolonged inactivity or heavy use. Signs of float failure:

• Infrequent operation: High-level floats that remain in one position for extended periods are more likely to fail. • Stop/start wear: While regular operation causes wear, it generally prolongs the lifespan compared to idle floats. PRO TIP 52

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Inspect all floats annually to ensure they’re functioning properly and replace any worn or damaged components promptly.

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TF PUMPS PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Cont'd from page 52

04 Control panel issues

Control panel failures can disrupt the entire pump system. While installation errors or debris inside the panel often cause immediate issues, wear and tear over time are more common culprits. What to look for: Magnetic motor starter wear: These are typically the first components to fail in a control panel. Loose connections: Inspect for solid contact on all connections to prevent electrical issues. Short circuits: Check for blown fuses or faulty relays that may require testing or replacement.

• • •

PRO TIP

Regular maintenance and inspections can prevent costly control panel failures and extend the life of the system.

05 Groundwater intrusion

A compromised basin or improperly sealed system can allow groundwater to seep into the pump chamber. This can lead to increased wear on the pump, inefficiencies, and potential system failure. Preventing groundwater issues: Install risers or new lids: Properly graded lids and risers can keep water from entering the system. Patch compromised tanks: Address any visible holes or cracks immediately. Improve drainage: Ensure surrounding areas are properly graded to direct water away from the basin.

• • •

PRO TIP

Investing in maintenance/repairs now can prevent significant expenses later.

When to upgrade If the system is experiencing any of these issues, it’s time to evaluate whether an upgrade or replacement is the best course of action. Modern pump systems offer improved efficiency, reliability, and features designed to minimize wear and tear.

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TF ROAD WARRIOR

PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Carolyn Cooper

Brent Mooney:

Name: Brent Mooney Company: Hashtag Plumbing Job Title: Owner Born in: Surrey, BC Lives in: Coquitlam, BC Age: 44 Spouse: Chloe Children: Carter (20), Blake (17), Jubilee (9) Pets: Timber, a Basenji/ Staffordshire mix, and Willow, a Dachshund/Chihuahua mix

Building a lasting legacy “W

e built the company to make better plumbers,” says Brent Mooney, owner of Coquitlam, BC-based Hashtag Plumbing. “Our main goal in the company is that all of our plumbers are very well rounded, that everybody’s very knowledgeable. So, one thing we focus on heavily is making sure if you’re employed by us, you are signed up for school,” he says, adding the company will pay for apprentices to finish their schooling, with higher payments if they receive higher grades. “People need to take on more apprentices. And you never know who’s going to be great. In the next 12 months, we actually have four different employees getting their Red Seal. Multiple guys who have got their ticket through me now run their own companies.”

Photographer: Peter Holst

Mooney explains that his apprenticeship “was really convoluted,” and he moved between companies while completing his training. “I had a hell of a time in my apprenticeship having companies be okay with me taking time off to go to school. It was not an easy thing.” At the same time, he says, the different companies allowed him to experience a wide range of plumbing work, one reason he believes the company he began in 2015 has remained so successful.

With 17 employees – including Mooney’s son, who is a second year plumbing apprentice, and his wife Chloe, who runs the office – Hashtag Plumbing focuses on residential and commercial projects rather than servicing. That includes everything from building retrofits and high-end homes, to bars, restaurants and commercial kitchens, as well as remote homes on the Discovery Islands off Vancouver Island. “I’m usually on the [jobs] that are very confusing. I love problem solving,” says Mooney. “If it was just T H E

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me by myself, I would probably only do really highend homes. I like seeing houses I never see normally, like ones with multiple pools and kitchens bigger than my entire house. We do a lot of pool systems that are hooked up to houses, and we’ll run them off the main boiler of the house instead of putting an exterior boiler out. “The homes on the waterfront are also always really cool. We did one where the basement is actually below water level. The owner wanted a threestorey house with 10- and 12-ft.

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(17),

w, ix

ceilings, but they were only allowed to build it so tall. They had to find a way to go extra far into the ground. I think they did 18 in. of concrete, and then we had to do all our plumbing above the concrete, or the hydraulic pressure of the ocean would lift the house.

Last book you read: Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy If you were granted one wish: Enough money to be comfortable

“Everything we finish, I want to be top quality,” he adds. “I have a very high standard. I’ll tell my guys, a pipe in the wall is not straight enough. Cut it out and fix it. I want the company that comes in 10 or 20 years from now to look in the wall and say that was done really well.”

Favourite band/performer: I really enjoyed N.E.R.D. when they were around

In the mechanical industry since: 2003 Schools and programs: BCIT, graduated 2014 Favourite class: Math Biggest pet peeves: Having to explain myself more than twice One place in the world you would like to visit: Antarctica

Best concert you ever attended: The first Pemberton Fest Most used App on your phone: Discord Favourite magazine: Mechanical Business Favourite book: The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure by Grant Cardone Favourite TV show: King of the Hill

Any mentors who have been important to you: All the father figures in my life growing up, from biological to chosen

Favourite movie: Radio Flyer

Advice for young people considering entering the trades: Jump into every situation with both feet – you will never learn to be great from the sidelines

Favourite athlete of all time: Mike Tyson

The current work ride: Ram 2500 truck Service area: Lower Mainland BC Any area you like to get dispatched to, and why: More affluent neighbourhoods as you never know who you might meet Favourite part of the job: Jobs that are said to be impossible – with plumbing and heating everything is possible

Favourite sport: Football

Favourite car: 1996 Dodge Viper Favourite video game and preferred gaming system: Final Fantasy Tactics, PlayStation Favourite season: Spring Favourite food: Lobster Favourite outdoor activity: Sitting in the pool Favourite place to be: Home with the family

The most useful tool in your toolbox: Picquic multi-bit screwdriver

Hobbies: Warhammer

Your favourite tool in your toolbox: The M12 Brushless 2-in. Milwaukee Copper Tubing Cutter

3 albums you would take with you to a desert island: 1. 2 Fast 2 Furious soundtrack 2. Why Am I So Happy – Spose 3. Montevallo – Sam Hunt

Tool that you wish you had: The Milwaukee M18 Compact 1-ton Chain Hoist

Favourite website: ChatGPT

“Everything we finish, I want to be top quality,” he adds. “I have a very high standard.” T H E

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EXPANSION

PUSH-TO-CONNECT

CLAMP

PEX PRESS

Scan to Learn More

CRIMP

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MANAGEMENT PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Fred Bretzke Fred Bretzke is a full-time pipe trades instructor with Calgary’s SAIT Polytechnic and the recipient of the 2024 Cadmus Teaching Chair. Fred also received the 2020-2021 Innovation of The Year Award: SAIT for digitizing the project-based learning approach apprenticeship training is known for. Fred’s code book appendix, entitled It’s In The Code, is available from sait.bkstr.com. He can be reached at fred.bretzke@sait.ca.

Home sweet home: Developing a maintenance plan

KEY MECHANICAL PLAN ISSUES OR POINTS

recently bought a new car and this time I bought the six-year extended warranty covering windshield replacement and oil changes, amongst other things. I have never really been treated properly by any warranty; it seems similar to insurance in that the thing you want covered is usually not. I’m hoping this time I’m wrong and I will be satisfied as long as I keep up the maintenance.

• Trust is a key factor between the contractor and home owner

• Contractor transparency − the customer needs to hear the 3 Ws, (why, when, what)

• Will a maintenance plan extend the life of the device?

• How much will it cost? Some solutions require replacement rather than maintenance before extensive damage occurs.

That is the key − do you offer a maintenance plan for your customers’ mechanical and plumbing devices? Which plumbing or heating devices require ongoing maintenance? Will this make them last longer than their warranties? Is it cheaper to maintain or replace items? These are questions you and your customers need to discuss when pitching a maintenance plan.

SPECIFIC PLUMBING CONCERNS 1

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Poly B piping has no oxygen barrier built into it. If your customer’s home has it there’s no real maintenance that can be done, it should be replaced. If your customer prefers the healthiest plumbing, filtered water for drinking and bathing is something to consider. Options include faucet activated carbon filter, reverse osmosis (RO) system, shower water filter. RO filters, automatic shut off and RO diaphragm tank should be checked periodically to limit water wastage. Leaking faucets can eventually add up wasting a huge amount of water.

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Sometimes it’s cheaper to replace a normal tap as opposed to repairing them. All washer type faucets should be checked (seats and washers).

In Alberta, we install toilets with wax seals to prevent sewer odour. They should last at least five years; it’s a simple remove toilet and replace seal and re-install toilet.

If toilets don’t flush properly, it is sometimes the result of calcified rim holes in the bowl. They should be poked open with a wire and vinegar applied.

Shower water savers may be installed in the shower head to save water, or conversely removed to improve the shower experience.

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Hot water tank (HWT) maintenance. If the customer’s HWT is drained from the hose bib drain every year from day one, it should increase its life span. This means you are removing the calcium sand before it solidifies.

Water softener maintenance is usually checked by water softener company specialists. However a plumber can still run it through a cycle to see if it is regenerating every three days.

The PH (potential hydrogen) of the household’s water can be tested. It’s a quick test, to see if water is at a good PH level, usually 6.5 to 8.5.

These are required now if the homeowner wants their insurance to cover basement damage due to a sanitary backup. Some jurisdictions offer rebates.

Lawn underwater sprinklers can be blown out every winter to ensure they don’t freeze.

Interior hose bibs can be turned off during winter months. Interior frost free hose bibs can be checked to make sure outside hose is disconnected.

Mechanical room floor drains water levels can be checked or refilled.

Underground water leaks require a special water leak locator. Fixing these leaks can be very expensive. If its under the basement floor, it is usually covered by insurance. If it’s outside of the house it is not usually covered by insurance.

Dishwasher drain hose can be checked to see if the hose is clipped up under the counter.

Bathtub or shower tiles can be checked for cracks in grout for possible hidden leaks.

Interior and exterior underground broken sanitary or building sewer lines can usually be located by video inspection equipment. A repair can be costly.

Old homes sometimes don’t have a normally open backwater valve on the main building drain.

All of the above items could be at least quickly checked in a few hours (depending on the amount of items checked). After this check, a proper maintenance plan could be estimated and explained to the customer.

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TF PRODUCTS

The latest innovations and must haves

TF All-in-one toilet The Crista toilet from Contrac is made from durable white vitreous china. It features Flush Guard overflow protection, a 17-in. Plus Height ADA elongated bowl, and siphon jet flushing. A 3-in. flush valve and 2-in. fully glazed trapway deliver clog-resistant performance. Designed for a standard 12-in. rough-in, no special plumbing is required for the overflow feature. An extra-large footprint helps conceal existing floor marks.

www. contracplumbing.com

TF Tankless water heaters Bradford White introduces the Infiniti GS and GR 150,000 BTU/hr models, both of which include stainless steel heat exchangers, and can be installed indoors or outdoors for use with natural gas or propane. The units are suitable for residential and commercial applications. Features include built-in recirculation pump, dedicated recirculation connection to eliminate hot water wait times, multiple venting material and diameter options, and accessible air filter and inlet water filter for servicing.w

TF Bath waste system The 2-in-1 Total 1 Bath Waste system with offset and direct waste configurations from +osb is available in one bag, with no wasted parts, to cover key configurations. The system allows plumbers to save installation time. Products are available in ABS and PVC models, in multiple kit types and closure mechanisms.

www. osb.ca

www. bradfordwhite.com

TF Heat pump water heater The Navien NWP500 features a corrosion-resistant stainless-steel tank and aluminum refrigerant coils. Available in 50-, 65-, and 80-gallon capacities, the NWP500 offers top and side connection options, and an intuitive LED control panel with built-in setup wizard for easier installation. It is demand response ready with EcoPort (CTA2045), and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity via NaviLink. The water heater operates with an ambient range of 5°C to 45°C and supports five operation modes.

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ACO Environment

TF Oil-water separator Oleopator P Series

The ACO Oleopator P is a ULC-listed oil-water separator designed to remove petroleum contaminants from stormwater and industrial wastewater. Built from corrosionresistant polyethylene, it combines advanced coalescence technology with an integrated sludge trap. Its compact, modular design simplifies installation, while removable internal components provide easy access. Applications include parking garages, vehicle service centres, fuel stations and industrial sites.

Polyethylene Body Coalescing Oil-Water Separator

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TF PRODUCTS

The latest innovations and must haves

TF Condensing water heater AERCO’s Innovation 1600-2000 gas-fired condensing water heater is available in 1600 and 2000 MBH. It combines a compact footprint with up to 99 per cent thermal efficiency, advanced Edge Controller, integrated multi-unit sequencing, and AERtrim oxygen control technology. A duplex stainless steel fire-tube heat exchanger and dedicated recirculation connection help maximize efficiency, system longevity, and hot water reliability.

www. aerco.com

PERFORMAX Torch For use with MAP-Pro

A high intensity trigger start torch with a 360-degree swivel burn tube, and adjustable flame control. This torch comes with a continuous flame lock, allowing finger free use and is pressure regulated for consistent performance when inverted. The Max-Power flame from The Ambro Pro-Max Torch, available delivers fast heat transfer, making this torch ideal Ontor, is a high-intensity trigger start torch for use with MAP-ProTM in multiple lower demand with a 360 degree swivel tube, adjustable applications including brazing up to 1”burn diameter, soldering heating.and continuous flame lock for flame and control,

TF Trigger-start torch

TF Tube Cutter

The TubeSpin360 BPTS360 is a batterypowered tube spinning cutter designed Product No. 1811185for tradespeople that allows users to make consistent cuts on tubing from 1/4-to 1 1/8-in. 17” OD for specified materials and unit models, and up to 5-in. OD with optional 4-in. chuck. Powered by a cordless drill/driver (not included), the tool offers up to 500 RPM on low speed, and up to 110 ft./lb of torque, and is compatible with Milwaukee, DeWalt, Ryobi and other makes of cordless drills. Users can control speed with a foot pedal for hands-free operation. Included ER40 collet set makes the tool ready to cut out of the box.

www. tubespin360.ca

finger-free use. The unit is pressure regulated MAX POWER FLAME for consistent performance when inverted, 360 DEGREE SWIVEL BURN TUBE and features instant on-off ignition, and an INSTANT ON-OFF aluminum alloyIGNITION body. The torch is suitable for use withFLAME MAP-Pro CONTINUOUS LOCKin multiple lower demand applications such as brazing up to ADJUSTABLE FLAME 1-in. diameter, soldering and heating. It is also PRESSURE REGULATED FOR CONSISTENT suitable for use with propane.w PERFORMANCE WHEN INVERTED

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TF Supply outlet box

AMBROCONTROLS.COM

BrassCraft’s Supply Outlet Boxes are available in a variety of configurations for both washing machine and ice maker installations. The outlet box, mounting brackets and faceplate create a clean, compact finish without exposed piping. Predrilled brackets allow for location adjustment of the outlet box on the stud. The 1/4-turn brass ball valves offer quick water supply control.w

www. brasscraft.com

TF Electric water heater The OSO Saga Xpress electric water heater is built from premium 444 special alloy stainless steel. Its compact footprint simplifies installation. By storing water at elevated temperatures and using an integrated mixing valve, the unit delivers 40 per cent more usable hot water than standard tanks of equal volume. Dual alternating heating elements recover hot water faster.

www. osohotwater.com 64

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TF Recirculation pump The Grundfos ALPHA 26 range is designed to simplify residential and light commercial heating system replacements. It replaces over 65 legacy applications through retrofit kits and adapters. Built-in AUTOADAPT technology optimizes performance while lowering energy consumption. Features include serviceable components, including field-replaceable control boxes and pump heads; Bluetooth connectivity; real-time diagnostics; guided commissioning; and digital reporting through the Grundfos GO app. grundfos.com

TF Digital water

mixing valve

Lync’s DigiTemp 2 provides hot water temperature control in commercial and institutional applications. It is also available as the DigiTemp 2S, a factoryassembled and pre-piped package solution. DigiTemp 2 maintains outlet temperatures within ±2°F in accordance with ASSE 1017 and includes hightemperature sanitization capabilities to support water safety programs. A fullcolour touchscreen, BACnet and Modbus integration, and Nexa connectivity provide enhanced visibility, monitoring, and control of DHW systems.

www. lyncbywatts.com

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Moen

TF Compact water heater PVI’s Durawatt Mini is a compact electric water heater designed for commercial DHW systems. Available from 12 kW to 54 kW, it can serve as a primary water heater, booster heater, backup heater, or dedicated recirculation heater. AquaPLEX duplex stainless steel construction provides resistance to corrosion while eliminating tank linings and anode rods. Features include solid-state modulation, durable Incoloy-sheathed heating elements, Modbus connectivity, and a wall-mountable design.

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TF PRODUCTS

The latest innovations and must haves

TF Commercial water heater The A. O. Smith Cyclone Flex is available in inputs from 100,000 to 500,000 BTU/hr and delivers up to 97 per cent thermal efficiency. It features AIQ adaptive gas technology, allowing fuel selection through the onboard touchscreen without a conversion kit. A 7-in. colour display, built-in iCOMM connectivity, integrated leak detection, and powered anodes simplify installation, monitoring and maintenance.www.

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TF Elastomer gaskets Elastomer gaskets available exclusively through Master Plumber are offered in bowl to floor, tank to bowl, and urinal. The sticky elastomer material ensures a tight seal and compresses for a custom fit. The gaskets are stackable, flexible and repositionable to help with adjustments during the installation process. The gaskets are available in a variety of thicknesses and as an installation kit.

www. masterplumber.ca

TF Drain cleaner General Pipe’s Flexi-Rooter flexible-shaft drain cleaner now offers a longer 75-ft. shaft to allow greater reach when tackling clogs in commercial and residential drain lines. The stiffer flexible shaft with integral variable-speed motor allows operators to clean 2- to 4-in. drain lines and cut through roots in larger lines. The motor delivers 1,500 to 2,400 rpm speeds, and is operated with an air-actuated foot pedal.

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TubeSpin360

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TF Booster pump

TF Dual-finish collection

The TridentBoost booster pump system from Taco is designed for ease of use in commercial and industrial water pressure boosting applications. The unit features a 10-in. HMI colour touchscreen with intuitive user interface and startup wizard. The rotatable control panel includes a fan-forced cooling system that meets ASHRAE 90.1 energy efficiency standards. The newly designed skid supports end suction pumps and vertical multistage pumps.

www.

Bélanger’s new Symbio bathroom tacocomfort.com collection includes an 8-in. widespread lavatory faucet, a TF monohole lavatory faucet, a threepiece roman bathtub faucet, a floorAQUA ALERT WiFi connected app from Novo mounted tub filler, and shower delivers real-time performance data, salt-level kits and matching accessories. monitoring, leak alerts, service reminders Each faucet is available in three and system diagnostics to the homeowner’s dual-finish combinations: polished smartphone. The app can identify potential chrome with brushed chrome issues, including when more salt needs accents; brushed nickel with to be added, or a lost Wi-Fi connection. polished nickel accents; and matte Homeowners can even initiate a manual black with gloss black accents. The regeneration remotely, making it easy to collection also includes universal manage their softener from anywhere. pop-down drains in matching www. finishes.wbelangerfaucets.com novowater.com 22_0470_Tape_Quad_HalfHoriz_US_MXsp Mod: January 12, 2026 4:33 PM Print: 09/09/26 page 1 v2.5

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TF COMMERCIAL FAUCET TRENDS PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

ommercial faucets have always been built for reliable performance and long-lasting durability. Now, however, faucet manufacturers are increasingly looking at residential trends to meet consumer expectations for hygiene and convenience, while continuing to meet the needs of facility operators for easy installation and maintenance. As a result, commercial faucets now feature thoughtful design elements, touchless and connected technology, and features that save operators money and time.

Carolyn Cooper

Performance plus

New technology, connectivity and design elements are making commercial faucets more than an after thought

Bradley’s Elvari Collection won a 2026 Red Dot Design Award for its integration of aesthetics with high-performance functionality.

INSPIRED DESIGN

balancing aesthetics, ease of maintenance, and long-term “Commercial faucet design is becoming much more durability.” coordinated with the overall restroom aesthetic. Rather than selecting faucets as standalone components, specifiers are “We’re also seeing aesthetics play a larger role in commercial design looking for fixtures and finishes that complement and align with decisions,” agrees Anny Ang, director of wholesale marketing for soap dispensers, accessories, and mirrors to create a cohesive Moen Canada, “which is why we at Moen have introduced more environment,” says Kris Alderson, senior marketing manager style choices into our commercial faucet offerings.” for Bradley Company, a division of Watts Water Technologies. “We’re seeing continued interest in modern finishes beyond traditional chrome, including matte black, brushed stainless, TOUCHLESS TECHNOLOGY bronze, brass, and nickel – particularly “Sensor and/or touch activated faucets are now well established, in environments where design especially in kitchens and commercial environments, driven by helps shape brand perception hygiene and convenience,” says Benoit Morneau, senior director of and user experience. At the products at BARIL. “BARIL introduced touchless infrared sensors in same time, durability and 2023, designed for both wall and counter installation. Activated by low maintenance remain a simple hand movement, these sensors deliver seamless control critical, so finishes that resist of water flow, enhancing accessibility – an essential component of fingerprints, corrosion, and modern, inclusive design.” water spots are in demand. Over the next year, we expect continued convergence The M-DURA chrome two-handle kitchen faucet from Moen offers solid between design sophistication cast brass construction, quarter turn ceramic disc cartridge with brass and product shell, and internal stops to prevent misalignment and ensure complete performance, shut-off. It includes a vandal-resistant torque screw to discourage with fixture tampering. Aerator is limited to 1.5 gpm max (5.7 L/min). selections moen.com/commercial

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Touchless faucets aren’t just being added to high-end facilities. “Healthcare, education, airports, retail, hospitality, offices, and public venues are increasingly specifying these solutions because they support hygiene, improve operational efficiency, and align with evolving user expectations. Looking ahead, smarter maintenance features, such as service alerts, refill indicators, enhanced sensor reliability, and broader integration with connected facility management technologies, will continue gaining traction,” says Alderson.

The BARIL PRO line includes the two-piece bathroom faucet with hand shower, part of the O15 Collection. The tub spout includes a built-in diverter, one-spray hand shower, 1/2-in. MNPT connections with flexible stainless steel braided connectors, and two check valves. Available in chrome finish, the faucet features adjustable installation 4 to 14 in. barilpro.com

Zurn’s AquaSense Z6920 series was created with the healthcare industry in mind. The Z6920-XL has a 0.5 gpm aerator and 30-second timeout feature. Other flow control options include non-aerated and laminar flow with flow rates as low as 0.35 gpm. Its gooseneck spout extends to a height of 7 7/8 in. from the deck mount and stretches outward 5 3/8 in. zurn.ca

Smart connected backflow prevention technology is designed to protect potable water systems in commercial and institutional facilities by providing continuous monitoring and real-time insights into water pressure, flow, and discharge.

MULTIUSE FEATURES Commercial restrooms often now offer multiuse faucets combining water and soap dispensers, or drying systems connected to faucets. Bottle fillers are also becoming more popular, as are stand-alone hydration stations in public spaces such as hospitals, schools and shopping centres. “Commercial washrooms are being designed more holistically, with growing emphasis on amenities that improve hygiene, convenience, accessibility, and overall user perception,” says Alderson, adding that the faucet and sink should be viewed as a system in commercial settings rather than independent choices. “Poor pairing can create maintenance headaches, and user frustration – not to mention a clumsy or cluttered appearance. That’s why integrated lavatory systems continue to gain interest. All-in-one faucet and sink combinations can improve performance, simplify installation, and deliver better long-term maintenance outcomes. Specifiers are looking beyond core plumbing fixtures to create environments that support both operational performance and a better user experience.”

SMART CONNECTIVITY

Bradley’s WashBar is an all-in-one touchless handwashing fixture that combines soap dispensing, water delivery, and hand drying in a single deckmounted unit. The fixture helps reduce touchpoints, minimize countertop clutter, and keep water contained within the basin to improve maintenance and user experience. bradleycorp.com

Connected technology in commercial restrooms is being used to lower operating costs, minimize downtime, and reduce maintenance. “Smart connected backflow prevention gives facility teams clarity and control they simply didn’t have before,” says Emily Simpson, director of general sales and marketing for Zurn Elkay Canada. “By combining real time monitoring with predictive insights, organizations can protect their water systems, reduce operating risk and make smarter decisions before a small issue becomes a costly disruption.” The technology also provides operators with insights into the complete water system, with data on long-term water consumption trends that support sustainability efforts.

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TF QUATTRO’S CORNER

PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY Marty Silverman, Vice President, Marketing, General Pipe Cleaners

Take a look at those pipes Black, light grey, dark grey, white, red, blue ... the list of pipe colours goes on and on. Before we get too deep into the world of plumbing materials, let’s start with the basics from the most important part of Ontario Building Code, Part 7.

PIPE VS. TUBING Sentence 7.2.1.4.(1), Division B states: “Where the term pipe or piping and fittings is used, it shall also apply to tube or tubing and fittings unless otherwise stated.” While the Code may treat pipe and tubing the same for many purposes, it is important for Code users to understand they are not sized the same way. One of the most common misconceptions in the plumbing industry is that pipe and tubing are identical products. Although both are used to convey water, waste or air, they are Figure 1 Just because an installation looks manufactured, good doesn’t mean it is compliant. measured and identified differently. Pipe is sized using Nominal Pipe Size (NPS), which is a standardized designation rather than an actual measurement. For example, a NPS 1/2 PVC pipe has an outside diameter of approximately 0.840 inches. The stated size is simply a trade name used throughout the industry. Tubing is sized by its actual outside diameter (OD). A 1/2-in. copper tube has an actual outside diameter of 5/8 in. PEX, PE-RT, and copper water tube are common examples of tubing. This distinction becomes important when selecting fittings, reviewing plans, or conducting inspections. A fitting designed for 1/2-in. copper tubing will not fit a 1/2-in. PVC or steel pipe, even though they share the same nominal size designation. From an inspection perspective, understanding whether a product is pipe or tubing helps verify that: the correct fittings are being used; the material is approved for the intended application; the proper standard is referenced on the product; pressure and temperature ratings meet Code requirements; and the installation complies with the Ontario Building Code.

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READ WHAT’S WRITTEN ON THE PIPE Now that we have a better understanding of the difference between pipe and tubing, let’s focus on what to look for during an inspection. The installation shown in Figure 1 involved a sanitary building drain connecting to a septic tank. The workmanship was excellent. The slope was correct, the pipe was well supported, and the installation looked neat and tidy. But something seemed off. The pipe was clearly marked PVC 4” (100 mm) ASTM D2729. That marking immediately raised a red flag. Article 7.2.5.9. of Division B specifies the standards applicable to plastic pipe used underground outside a building or under a building in a drainage system. One of the acceptable standards referenced is CSA B182.2 - PSM Type Polyvinylchloride (PVC) Sewer Pipe and Fittings. The Ontario Building Code further requires that plastic pipe installed underground in these applications have a minimum pipe stiffness of 320 kPa, unless specifically exempted elsewhere. Why does that matter? Pipe stiffness helps resist: soil loads; vehicle loads; frost movement; settlement; and long-term deformation after burial. The manufacturer’s information for ASTM D2729 pipe showed the published pipe stiffness values were approximately: 3 in. pipe = 131 kPa; 4 in. pipe = 76 kPa; and 6 in. pipe = 55 kPa.

Let’s do the math: 320 kPa - 76 kPa = 244 kPa

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By Andrew Quattrociocchi Andrew Quattrociocchi is the Chief Building Official for the Township of King, and a licensed plumber with more than 25 years of experience in building regulation, inspections, plumbing systems and code enforcement. A Certified Building Code Official (CBCO) who is actively involved in industry education and professional development, he serves as director of Region C for the OBOA, an OBOA instructor, conference speaker, author, and columnist in Mechanical Business magazine and OBOA Journal.

The 4-in. ASTM D2729 pipe shown in Figure 1 falls approximately 244 kPa short of the minimum stiffness requirement. Another way to look at it is that the ASTM D2729 pipe has only about 24 per cent of the stiffness required by the Code. In my world, that’s a failed inspection and a remove-and-replace situation.

COMBUSTIBLE PIPING IN NON-COMBUSTIBLE BUILDINGS Let’s move on to another area that often creates confusion. Part 3 Buildings. Article 3.1.5.1. requires buildings or portions of buildings that must be of non-combustible construction to be constructed with non-combustible materials, subject to specific exceptions. One of those exceptions is found in Article 3.1.5.19., Combustible Piping Materials. Some immediately assume because a building is noncombustible construction, any plastic piping must meet both Flame Spread Rating (FSR) ≤ 25 and Smoke Developed Classification (SDC) ≤ 50 but take another look at Sentence 3.1.5.19.(1)(b). The requirement for both the flame spread and smoke developed limitations only applies where combustible piping is used in buildings described in Subsection 3.2.6. (High Buildings). That’s a very important distinction. Several products are specifically designed to meet these requirements for high-rise applications. There is another situation where combustible piping must meet both the FSR and SDC requirements. Plenum spaces.

Article 3.6.4.3.(1)(a) requires materials located within certain concealed spaces used as plenums to have: • Flame Spread Rating not more than 25 • Smoke Developed Classification not more than 50

ASK YOURSELF THESE THREE QUESTIONS The next time you’re inspecting combustible piping in a non-combustible building, ask yourself:

Is the pipe material combustible?

2 Am I in a high building? 3

Is the pipe located in a plenum space?

If your answer is No to the second and third questions, the combustible piping only needs to satisfy the flame spread requirements applicable under the Ontario Building Code. Unfortunately, many inspectors automatically assume every non-combustible building requires 25/50-rated piping. That misconception can lead to unnecessary costs for owners, contractors and municipalities alike.

Not every Part 3 building requires the more expensive 25/50 piping products.

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TF QUATTRO’S CORNER PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Cont’d from page 71

Just like DWV piping, PEX tubing is heavily marked with information that tells a story.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT PEX

UNDERSTANDING PIPE COLOURS

The same principle applies when inspecting PEX water distribution systems. Most major manufacturers produce PEX products that satisfy both flame spread and smokedeveloped requirements. However, those determinations should always be verified during both plan review and field inspection. (For more on PEX plumbing systems see pg. 80.)

One of the most common misconceptions in plumbing and drainage systems is that the colour of a pipe automatically determines its intended use. While colours can provide a helpful visual indication, they are not a substitute for reading the markings printed directly on the pipe. For example, two pipes may look nearly identical but have significantly different strength, pressure, or stiffness ratings. A pipe that is the correct colour but manufactured to the wrong standard may not be acceptable for the intended installation. The printed standard determines whether it is code-compliant. Before installing, approving, or purchasing any piping product, always take the time to read the markings printed on the pipe and verify it meets the jurisdictional Code requirements and the applicable referenced standard. Those markings tell you whether the product is approved, what standard it conforms to, where it can be used, and how it is intended to perform.

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TF PUMPS

PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

By Jesse Runciman Marty Jesse Silverman, Runciman Vice is thePresident, owner operator Marketing, of Superior GeneralWater Pipe Cleaners & Wells, a company providing well pump repair and water system services in Ontario’s Thunder Bay District. He is a licensed well technician and certified water treatment installer. Runciman can be reached at jesse@superiorwaterwells.ca.

Diagnosing well pump short cycling

well pump should run long enough to refill the pressure tank and then remain off while the stored water is used throughout the home. When a pump starts and stops repeatedly within a short period, the system may be short cycling. Short cycling is more than an annoyance. Every pump start places additional stress on the motor, pressure switch and electrical components. In a properly operating system, water stored inside the pressure tank supplies the home between pump cycles. As the water is used, system pressure falls gradually until it reaches the pressure switch’s cut-in setting. The pump then starts and runs until the pressure reaches the cut-out setting. A typical system may operate at: 30 PSI cut-in and 50 PSI cut-out, or 40 PSI cut-in and 60 PSI cut-out. When the pressure tank cannot store the proper amount of water − or when the system is losing pressure − the pump may start after only a small amount of water is used. In severe cases, the pump may click on and off every few seconds each time a small amount of water is used. Some other signs include: water pressure surges at faucets or showers; the pump cycles continuously while a toilet is filling; the lights dim each time the pump starts; and the pressure tank feels unusually heavy. Short cycling should be investigated before replacing the pump. In many cases, the pump itself is not the original cause of the problem.

INCORRECT PRESSURE-TANK AIR CHARGE One of the first things to check is the pressure tank’s air pre-charge. For most bladder-style pressure tanks, the air pre-charge should be set approximately 2 PSI below the pressure switch’s cut-in setting. Common pre-charge settings are 30/50 pressure switch: approximately 28 PSI, and 40/60 pressure switch: approximately 38 PSI. The pump must be turned off and all water pressure must be drained from the system before checking the tank’s air pressure. When the air charge is too high, the tank may contain very little usable water before the pressure falls to the pump’s starting point. Possible symptoms include: a sudden drop in pressure; a brief interruption in water flow; very little drawdown from the tank; frequent pump starts; and rapid pressure changes. If the air pressure is equal to or higher than the switch’s cut-in

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Deep water well set up complete with water pressure gauge and storage tank. pressure, the tank can empty before the pump starts. A low air charge can also reduce the tank’s proper operating capacity. Possible symptoms include: frequent cycling; poor pressure performance; excessive movement of the bladder; reduced tank drawdown; and premature tank wear. The air precharge must match the pressure switch setting − not simply the number printed on the side of the tank.

FAILED OR WATERLOGGED PRESSURE TANK A failed pressure tank is one of the most common causes of short cycling. If the bladder or diaphragm inside the tank ruptures, the water and air are no longer properly separated. The tank may gradually fill with water and lose the compressed-air cushion required to store usable water. A waterlogged tank provides very little drawdown. As soon as a fixture is opened, the pressure drops quickly and the pump starts. The pump then reaches cut-out pressure rapidly

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TF PUMPS PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY because there is very little air space to compress. This creates a repeated cycle of: pressure drops quickly, pump starts, pressure rises quickly, and pump stops. If you see water coming from the tank’s air valve the internal bladder has likely failed and the tank normally requires replacement.

PRESSURE TANK IS TOO SMALL

A pressure tank may be working properly but still be too small for the pump and household demand. The size printed on the tank is not the amount of usable water it stores. A pressure tank contains both compressed air and water. The actual usable water between pump cycles is called drawdown. A tank with insufficient drawdown may cause the pump to start frequently during heavy or prolonged water use. The tank should be sized according to the pump’s flow rate, minimum recommended run time and the pressure-switch settings. A larger pressure tank does not increase the pump’s pressure, but it can allow the pump to run longer and start less often.

A CLOGGED PRESSURE-SWITCH NIPPLE

The pressure switch must sense the water pressure inside the system. It normally does this through a small threaded nipple or passage connected to the tank tee or pump piping. Iron, sediment, rust and mineral deposits can partially block this small opening. When the pressure switch cannot sense system pressure properly, it will impact pump performance. The small pressure connection should be clean and unrestricted. Replacing a pressure switch without checking the nipple beneath it may leave the original problem unresolved.

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Cont’d from page 74

A FAULTY OR IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED PRESSURE SWITCH

The pressure switch controls when the pump starts and stops. Inside the switch are electrical contacts, springs and mechanical components that respond to water pressure. Over time, the contacts may become compromised due to corrosion, wear, contamination or damage resulting from rapid cycling. A switch can also operate incorrectly when its settings have been adjusted without properly testing the complete system. The pressure switch should be matched to the pump’s pressure capability; the pressure-tank pre-charge; the plumbing system; the intended cut-in and cut-out range; and the pump’s voltage and motor load.

Installing a 40/60 pressure switch on a pump that can barely reach 60 PSI may cause the pump to run continuously rather than short cycle.

A LEAKING CHECK VALVE OR FOOT VALVE

A check valve or foot valve is intended to prevent water from flowing backward when the pump shuts off. If the valve leaks, system pressure may fall even when nobody is using water. Once the pressure reaches the pressure switch’s cut-in setting, the pump starts again and rebuilds the pressure. If the check valve or foot valve is leaking the pump may cycle when no fixtures are operating.

A pump designed to run for longer cycles may be started dozens or hundreds of extra times when the system is short cycling. Correcting the cause early is usually far less expensive than replacing a damaged well pump.

Other signs include: the pressure gauge slowly drops after the pump shuts off; a jet pump repeatedly loses prime; air appears in the plumbing; the pump starts unexpectedly overnight; and the pressure falls with the main house valve closed. However, a falling pressure gauge does not automatically prove the check valve is the problem. The pressure loss could also be caused by a leaking waterline, plumbing fixture (such as a running toilet) or well component. The system should be isolated and tested before replacing parts.

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WATER FLOWING BACK INTO THE SUMP OR STORAGE SYSTEM

In systems involving cisterns, storage tanks or transfer pumps, a leaking check valve may allow water to return after the pump shuts off. This can cause the float switch or pressure switch to reactivate the pump repeatedly. The correct diagnosis depends on whether the pump is controlled by a pressure switch; a float switch; a pump-control panel; an electronic water-level sensor; or a combination of pressure and level controls. Understanding which control is actually starting the pump is essential before troubleshooting the system.

PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

PUMPS

PUMP OVERSIZED FOR THE PRESSURE TANK

A pump that produces a high flow rate can refill a small pressure tank very quickly. The pump may reach cutout pressure after running for only a few seconds. Although the system may still supply water, frequent short operating cycles can increase wear on the motor and electrical components. A properly designed system should provide enough tank drawdown to allow the pump to run for an appropriate length of time. The solution may involve: installing a larger pressure tank; adding additional tank capacity; correcting the existing tank pre-charge; reviewing the pressure settings; installing an appropriate pump-control system; and confirming the pump is properly sized for the application.

Ensure the pump is properly sized for the application.

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TF TUBING

By Marty Silverman

PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Marty Silverman is vice president of marketing for General Pipe Cleaners.

The secret to servicing old CPVC

ave you ever crushed or shattered old CPVC tubing while doing service work? Well, you’re not alone, and there is a fix for that. It’s a fact that CPVC gets brittle as it ages and because of that most people assume that it’s no longer effective. However, it turns out that isn’t the case. According to research by FlowGuard Gold, CPVC’s pressure bearing capacity actually increases as it ages and you can avoid repair problems simply by using the correct tool for the job. A recent survey of more than 1,500 tradespeople about the proper way to service and repair CPVC tubing showed that many plumbers and contractors are operating on outdated information or failing to fully account for important differences in material characteristics, both of which could lead to unwanted problems on the job. One of the first things you learn when entering any trade is to always use the right tool for a particular job. According to the survey, that isn’t always happening. When it comes to cutting tubing, it’s not only a matter of matching the right tool to the right material but also, in the case of CPVC, you must also take into account the age of the material you’re working with. Over 60 per cent of the survey respondents didn’t know the correct tool for cutting into an existing CPVC system. New CPVC is relatively flexible. But as it ages, it becomes more rigid. The pressure bearing capability of the material increases with age, contradicting the perception among some plumbers that CPVC that appears brittle is weak or compromised. It is not, but it does require special handling and a different tool for cutting. If you use ratchet or scissor-style plastic tubing cutters on older CPVC, you may end up cracking or damaging the pipe. When servicing older existing CPVC choose a plastic tubing cutter that allows you to close the gate around the pipe and apply even pressure as you rotate the cutter. The cutting blade should quickly slice through the plastic tubing in as little as one rotation without crushing or damaging it. When you are done, you should have a clean square cut with no burs. This is true regardless of whether the tubing is brand new, fresh and pliable, or old and rigid. So, don’t give up on existing or older CPVC; its pressure bearing capability actually increases with age. Using the appropriate tool will save you time and money, and help you to exceed your customer’s expectations.

CPVC Applications

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What is CPVC? CPVC is a high-temperature plastic pressure piping system introduced for potable plumbing in 1959. It has also been used extensively in fire sprinkler systems since 1985. This material is also used for many industrial and process piping applications. CPVC pipe is approved in all model plumbing and mechanical codes across Canada. In addition, CPVC pipe and fittings from select manufacturers are listed for light hazard fire sprinkler systems, as defined in NFPA 13, 13R and 13D standards. CPVC tubing comes in nominal sizes ranging from 1/2 to 2 in. copper tube size (CTS), and pipe sizes ranging from 1/2 to 24 in. (Sch 40/80) iron pipe size (IPS). CPVC tubing is SDR11 (1/2 to 2 in.) with standard hydrostatic pressure ratings of 400 psi at 73°F (2,750 kPa at 23°C) and 100 psi at 180°F (690 kPa at 82°C). CPVC tubing and pipe are sold in straight lengths. Courtesy Plastics Pipe Institute

• Hot and cold water plumbing distribution, residential and commercial • Fire protection: One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes (NFPA 13D), Low-Rise Residential Occupancies (NFPA 13R) and Light Hazard Occupancies (NFPA 13) • Reclaimed water piping (purple pipe) • Chilled water piping • Hydronic piping and distribution • Suitable for many industrial and process piping applications

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JOBSITE

JARGON CHALLENGE YOURSELF. STAY SHARP. WIN.

TEST YOUR PLUMBING KNOWLEDGE! Match the terminology you hear in the field to the correct definition and enter for your chance to win.

WIN A $150 VISA GIFT CARD

JOBSITE JARGON EXAMPLE:

7) Polyethylene E) A flexible plastic pipe used for applications such as water mains and service lines  Answer 7, E

MATCH THE TERM

MATCH THE DEFINITION

Turbidity

Often added to water systems to prevent corrosion. However, these chemicals can also contribute to scale formation

Drawdown

Moveable part of a toilet flush valve that releases the water from the tank into the bowl when the toilet is flushed and seals the valve shut when the toilet is not being flushed

Alkalinity

Actual usable water between pump cycles

Cross-linked polyethylene

Commonly used to fasten PE pipe, made to standard ASTM-D2239, also used to secure a range of hoses to hose fittings

Leach

A flexible plastic pipe used for applications such as water mains and service lines

Total hardness

PEX pipe often used in applications where both hot and cold water is needed, hydronic heating, and residential fire sprinklers

Polyethylene

Indicates the concentration of calcium and magnesium salts

Orthophosphates

Refers to the process of dissolving a soluble component out of a constituent material at a wetted surface

Flapper

Measures the concentration of carbonate, bicarbonate, and dissolved CO2 in water, contributing to TDS and the potential for scale formation

Gear clamp

Measures the amount of suspended debris or dirt in the water

Submit your answers by November 18, 2026.

Email: kerry.turner@mechanicalbusiness.com Online: mechanicalbusiness.com T H E

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TF RESOURCE

PLUMBING APPLICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY Marty Silverman, Vice President, Marketing, General Pipe Cleaners

New PEX plumbing systems guide published

he Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) has published its new PEX Plumbing Distribution Systems Design and Installation Guide, the third edition of an industry handbook first published 20 years ago. It provides information and resources necessary to design and install crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) hot- and cold-water plumbing distribution systems in residential, multi-family and commercial buildings. A joint industry publication from PPI, the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association (PPFA) plus Home Innovation Research Labs (HIRL) with support and input from IAPMO and ICC, it is available on PPI’s Building and Construction Division website. This 156-page third edition includes updates to reflect the advancements in PEX materials such as tubing, manifolds and fittings; updates to code acceptance for PEX plumbing systems; new design recommendations; and revisions to installation techniques. The Guide also includes a new chapter about water service line applications, with specific installation instructions. “Since the second edition of this guide was published more than 10 years ago, many aspects of PEX plumbing systems have evolved,” said Lance MacNevin, P. Eng., senior director of engineering for PPI’s Building & Construction Division. “In addition to being the most common hot- and coldwater distribution material in residential plumbing, PEX tubing is now widely used in commercial plumbing applications due to its flexibility, resilience, proven performance and potential time savings during installation. With so much new information to share, as well as the knowledge learned from over 30 years of North American plumbing applications, PPI members felt it was time to do a total re-write of this guide, while also including many more pictures and graphics to make it easier to follow.”

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Photo courtesy GF Uponor

PEX tubing used as hot- and cold-water distribution.

According to PPI, crosslinking technology for polyethylene was pioneered in Europe in the late 1960s, with the first PEX radiant heating systems installed in 1972. Since then, PEX has had a 50-year history of successful use around the world for a variety of demanding applications. It was first adopted in the National Plumbing Code (NPC) of Canada in 1995. The PEX Plumbing Distribution Systems Design and Installation Guide is available on the PPI website as a free download. Printed copies will be available for sale.

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BOILERS

B y Ray Wohlfart h

WHY YOUR NEW BOILER IS ALREADY FAILING INSTALLATION MISTAKES THAT KILL MODERN HYDRONIC BOILERS

magine walking into a boiler room or basement and seeing a newer hydronic boiler, perhaps six months to a year old. But something’s off. The boiler switches on and off every few minutes, short cycling. A bucket sits on the floor under the relief valve discharge pipe, a small stream of water trickling into it. You can hear a gurgling sound in the pipes from entrained air. An old horizontal steel expansion tank is hanging in the rafters. The circulator is an old red three-piece B&G series 100 on the return piping. “Has it always done this?” you ask. The jobsite person nods and says, “The installer said it’s normal and even gave us a bucket. I empty it about once a week. I can’t believe its normal. Our old boiler was much quieter. Don’t like this new one.” I’ve been in that room more times than I can count. And almost every single time, the problem isn’t the boiler. It’s the installation. Modern hydronic boilers can be efficient and reliable, but they are far less forgiving of installation mistakes than the boilers they replace. An older cast-iron boiler might have tolerated poor water quality, irregular flow, or questionable piping arrangements for decades. A modern highefficiency boiler will not. I’m breaking down the most common mistakes contractors make when replacing hydronic boilers. The first question I always ask is why the old boiler was replaced. Was it leaking, short cycling, or something else? If the underlying system issues were never corrected, the new boiler will suffer the same fate, usually much faster than the old one.

M e c h a n i c a l

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Three-piece B&G Series 100 circulator.

MISTAKE 1: INCORRECT BOILER SIZING

MISTAKE 2: CONNECTING A NEW BOILER TO DIRTY SYSTEM WATER

One of the easiest ways to size a replacement boiler is to read the nameplate on the old one and order something similar. It is also one of the easiest ways to repeat a mistake made decades ago. Most boilers are oversized by 50 to 200 per cent. The only reliable way to know the actual heating requirement is to perform a heat loss calculation. Oversized boilers create several problems. The most obvious is short cycling which increases wear on ignition components, controls, relays and other parts. It also reduces seasonal efficiency. Do not assume the old boiler’s input rating is the correct size for the new one.

When replacing a hydronic boiler, you have two choices: save and reuse the system water, or drain the system and refill with fresh, treated water. The first choice saves time and money because you avoid hours of venting air. By choosing that option, you expose the new boiler to years of accumulated rust, sludge, magnetite and deteriorated glycol. The old boiler may have tolerated the muddy grit. A modern boiler with a compact heat exchanger often will not. Restricted flow through the boiler causes poor heat transfer, overheating, nuisance lockouts and premature failure. You may also be voiding the boiler manufacturer’s warranty. Thoroughly flush and clean the entire system before connecting the new boiler. On heavily contaminated systems, a chemical clean followed by flushing is often required. Treat the water with the correct inhibitors. Install a water meter on the makeup line – it remains one of the best leak detectors available.

B u s i n e s s

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BOILERS Cont’d from pg. 82

B y Ray W ohlfart h

MISTAKE 3: ASSUMING THE EXISTING CIRCULATOR IS CORRECT Should you reuse the existing system pump? Reusing an old circulator on a new boiler is risky. You have no reliable way of knowing whether the existing pump is properly sized or how long it will last. According to ASHRAE, base-mounted pumps have an expected life of around 20 years, while pipe-mounted circulators last roughly half that long. If there is any doubt, replace the circulator. Select the circulator based on the system flow and head Plugged circulator. requirements. Reusing an older pump may save money on the day of installation, but the contractor and the client should evaluate whether that decision makes sense for long-term performance. Another common error is using the pump that comes with the boiler as the system pump. The pump was sized to overcome the resistance of the boiler not the entire piping system. This is also the time to examine the pump’s location relative to the expansion tank connection. Pumping away from the point of no pressure change (the expansion tank) remains one of the most valuable concepts in hydronic heating. It improves air elimination and overall system performance. When ignored, you may find yourself repeatedly bleeding the same upstairs radiator, usually the one located behind a 300-lb. entertainment centre.

MISTAKE 4: IMPROPER PIPING PRACTICES Should you pipe the new boiler like the existing boiler? Probably not. Depending on the boiler and system design, the new boiler may require primary-secondary piping, hydraulic separation, or another manufacturer-approved arrangement. Verify the existing piping is sized correctly for the recommended water velocities of two to five feet per second. Too slow and you get air pockets and poor heat delivery; too fast and you risk pipe erosion and noise. Many modulating-condensing boilers benefit from adding a buffer tank. It prevents short cycling. However, a buffer tank should not be added automatically to every condensing boiler system. First compare the boiler’s minimum firing rate with the smallest system load and evaluate the available water volume.

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Expansion tank.

MISTAKE 5: FORGETTING ABOUT THE EXPANSION TANK The expansion tank is one of the least appreciated components in a hydronic system until the relief valve starts dripping. Then everyone notices it. When water is heated, it expands. The expansion tank provides a place for that increased volume to go. If the tank is waterlogged, improperly charged, or undersized, system pressure can rise rapidly as the water temperature increases leading to pressure swings, relief-valve discharge, and recurring air problems. When replacing a boiler, inspect and assess the existing expansion tank. Determine whether the tank is properly sized for the system. If it is a diaphragm-type tank, check the air charge with the water side at zero pressure.

THE MOST DANGEROUS MISTAKE: SKIPPING COMBUSTION TESTING AND COMMISSIONING Simply installing the boiler and walking away without proper setup is reckless. Without combustion analysis, you risk high carbon monoxide (CO) levels, poor efficiency, sooting, and potentially hazardous conditions. Every boiler installation must include full combustion testing and tuning with a combustion analyzer. Measure and adjust O₂, CO, CO₂, gas pressure, stack temperature and other key parameters. This step is non-negotiable for safety, performance and compliance. A modern hydronic boiler is only as good as the system it is connected to and the care taken during installation and commissioning.

Ray Wohlfarth is founder of Fire & Ice Heating & Cooling and an international author, columnist, and consultant specializing in commercial boilers. He has 40 years’ experience in air conditioning, boilers, burners, controls, steam and hydronics. Wohlfarth can be reached at ray@fireiceheat.com.

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By Matthew Reid

HYDRONICS Matthew Reid is technical director − heating division at E.H. Price Solutions’ Richmond Hill, ON office and co-host of the MechBiz Studio podcast and video series. He can be reached at mreid@ehpricesolutions.ca.

Let’s get creative: Rethinking system design

here’s a word we use a lot in this industry: efficiency. It seems it is one of the absolute main things we talk about when we talk about system design. What’s the efficiency rate? This unit says 96 per cent and this one says 96.7 per cent and so on. We talk about COPs in heat pumps. Both of these efficiency ratings are technically floating efficiency rates as real world conditions affect both numbers. This is something we all know as well. Why is it so important if we know the actual efficiency numbers are skewed for lab conditions? I’d argue it’s not. I hope I don’t get thrown to the wolves for this but I am no longer convinced designing and basing Designing and basing system design solely around efficiency may not be the best solution. system design solely around efficiency is an ideal way to move forward. Regulations are pushing For combustion in a boiler we are taking a hydrocarbon fuel, combustion efficiencies into the high 90 mixing it with O2 (oxygen/combustion air) and adding a spark per cent on all heating and domestic and utilizing the heat from that flame. A key variable in that hot water appliances. High 90s combustion process is the temperature of the O2. means we don’t have much further Assume combustion air is 70°F before combustion and we can go with the equipment to then we light it up all the way to ~ 2,500°F. What happens maximize how effective a system is next to maximize efficiency is to bring now very hot flue at converting energy into heat. What gas as far down as possible to get each and every one of does seem important and a good those 2,430 degrees we can into the water. When that hot direction for us to head into is complete flue gas comes into contact with much cooler return water system energy design and what we do with temperature from the heating system, we get immediate heat that heat. transfer from the flue gas into the steel of the heat exchanger and It is important to A complete system approach is the then into the water. gain efficiencies by best chance we can have in pushing all capturing heat from Standard practice now is to design with and install around low of these already fantastically efficient flue gas. condensing return temperatures. We either do that through high pieces of equipment to their max temperatures (190°F to 160°F) with large delta Ts upwards of potential and beyond.

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HYDRONICS Cont’d from pg. 86 cold days. Hydronics is 100°F or low temperature adaptable and capable. system design. Both tend to We can do so much with have the same return water this medium and we can temperature of between do it very effectively too. 120°F to 100°F. At these I do know high temperatures you are in the temperature heating 97 per cent range. What if scares a lot of people and we go to 90°F return? That’s is counter intuitive to a about 98 per cent. What lot of the thinking over about 70°F? Also, about 98 the last several decades. per cent. The point has been What happens here is the made, make condensing unfortunate laws of entropy boilers condense, but and unavoidable system can we all at least agree losses are now in play there are many different and you have reached the ways to do that? maximum you can possibly I’d much rather select a extract from the fuel energy. boiler to fit the system We eventually hit the point rather than make the where we have extracted system conform to the virtually all of the total Snow and ice melt should be promoted needs of the boiler. If a chemical energy stored in the to customers. high temperature zone is fuel. We will never hit 100 per required, I’d rather keep cent because of small amounts it hot and increase the delta T rather than increase the emitter of heat radiating from the boiler itself into the room. We’re size and lower the temperature. You can also design multi-temp now talking about fractions of percentages no matter how systems through the use of mixing valves which means you cool we get return water and how much condensate we can would already have a source of condensing water temperatures pull from the flue. in the low temp zones. The equipment that can be versatile We’ve hit a point where we’re all about to get stuck. How and responsive to systems such as this is what is going to start then, do we improve from here? If efficiencies are no longer making a difference. We can’t go up on the efficiency charts any the most relevant part of the conversation, then what is? higher so we must become more adaptable. In the hydronic industry we will always have something to Hybrid boilers are next on the list. Electric boilers don’t care fall back on when the question becomes why us? Why heat about temp. They are always at that 98 per cent efficiency. with water? Why use water as a heat transfer medium at all? So, we could use electric for high temperature and gas for low The answer is comfort and versatility. temperature. This all has a cost associated with it but if we need The systems hydronics are built around have changed. high temp and we’re just using gas we don’t reap the benefits of We have moved away from a lot of high temperature the price tags associated with gas boilers anyway so there is some applications and into low but we don’t need to. What we ROI there. do need is for the heart of the system, the boiler, to be built In the world of hydronics sometimes we need hot water for for and around a wide range of variables. We need to rely domestic or even hotter processes. I’m tired of being penalized on the incredible warm feeling a fan coil can provide when for that in terms of efficiency losses. I believe a lot of readers’ being supplied at 180°F, as well as keep our feet warm on customers are frustrated by the size and costs of the ultra-high the bathroom tile with 110°F supply. efficient pieces of equipment installed in systems where we can’t We need to utilize and promote snow and ice melt much achieve what they are paying for. more than we do right now. If not the driveway, can we at Let’s get creative and start to think about what the customer is least consider the porch or walkway? Boilers and hydronics asking for and what we can deliver. We’re good at what we do. can be the best of friends with a water source heat pump as Let’s show them. either a heat injection plant or subsidiary heating on very 88

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PROJECT PROFILE | Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

By Tim Wang

YVR COMPLETES HIGH-EFFICIENCY BOILER PLANT UPGRADE

t Vancouver International Airport (YVR), maintaining reliable building performance is essential to supporting a 24/7 operating environment. As Canada’s second-busiest airport, and the largest building in British Columbia, the airport’s heating and mechanical systems must continuously support terminal operations, tenants, and the movement of thousands of passengers each day. In spring 2026, YVR completed a major upgrade to the boiler plant servicing its International Terminal building, improving heating efficiency while reducing energy consumption and operational greenhouse gas emissions across the terminal.

The project replaced two aging hot water boilers from the original construction of YVR’s International Terminal in 1996. These were upgraded with a high-efficiency system, including four new condensing boilers, designed to improve heat recovery, reduce energy loss, and modernize a critical piece of the airport’s central heating The upgraded boiler plant is expected to reduce infrastructure. Annual annual natural gas consumption by more than operating cost 15,000 gigajoules and lower emissions by over savings are estimated 700 tonnes of CO₂e annually. at approximately $175,000. For a facility operating at the scale of YVR − welcoming an average of approximately 73,000 passengers daily − HVAC systems must perform continuously and reliably in all operating conditions. Boiler systems remain a critical component of terminal heating infrastructure, particularly during peak winter operating periods.

PROJECT PARTNERS: THE TEAM BEHIND THE YVR BOILER PLANT UPGRADE Mechanical contractor: Tino Mechanical Ltd.

Mechanical engineer: Introba

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Equipment and venting system supplier: Raven Hydronic Supply Ltd.

Energy-efficient support: FortisBC

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PROJECT PROFILE Cont’d from pg. 90 The previous system had to operate at high water temperatures and was unable to capitalize on heat lost through the exhaust system. Instead of sending hot water through the terminal building at high temperatures around 85 to 93°C, the condensing boilers are designed to provide a 60°C supply water temperature. The corresponding cooler return water temperature allows the boilers to condensate the water vapour in the exhaust and recover the latent heat which would otherwise be lost through the stack. The projected annual The condensing boilers are designed to provide a 60°C supply water temperature. energy savings from the project are equivalent to the heating demand of more than 430 homes in British Columbia.

Supporting YVR’s journey to Net Zero

The boiler system upgrade forms part of YVR’s broader infrastructure modernization strategy and commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2030 for emissions under the Coordinated delivery in an active airport’s direct control. airport environment Across the airport, YVR continues to invest in projects focused Delivering a major mechanical system upgrade within an on improving building performance, reducing operational active airport terminal required close collaboration across emissions, and modernizing critical infrastructure systems. contractors, consultants, suppliers, utility partners, and airport Recent initiatives include replacing one of the airport’s gasoperations teams to complete the installation during cooling fired domestic hot water systems with a fully electric system, season with minimal operational interruptions to active advancing HVAC optimization projects, and modernizing terminal facilities. building controls to improve overall energy performance and The project team also had to navigate a operational efficiency. highly complex work environment that For large commercial and was originally built in 1996 as an open institutional facilities, projects green field project − operating within involving boiler replacement, an active mechanical room adjacent controls modernization, and to a baggage hall, coordinating airside HVAC optimization continue to deliveries and security crossings, and represent a significant opportunity performing work across the roof and to improve system reliability while surrounding roadway − underscoring reducing operational emissions the significant level of planning and and long-term energy costs. coordination required. Extensive Mechanical system upgrades like collaboration was required among these demonstrate how critical the design consultants, operations infrastructure can be modernized and maintenance teams, and control to meet both operational demands specialists to evaluate system capacity and evolving climate goals. The upgrades will support both the domestic and control sequence during system and international terminals while using commissioning. yvr.ca/netzero significantly less gas. Tim Wang is junior project engineer, terminal projects, at Vancouver International Airport.

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2026-09-28 4:02 PM

HEATING | By Dara Bowser

Dara Bowser is president of Bowser Technical Inc. and is on the board of the HVAC Designers of Canada. He has more than 40 years experience in the energy, comfort, environmental and air quality aspects of buildings.

Verified F280-12 software is important As readers may be aware, CSA F28012, the official Canadian standard used to calculate a home's heat loss and heat gain, requires any software claiming to provide results according to the standard be verified according to the procedure set out in the standard. The verification system was adopted to protect homeowners from known issues after testing showed several software systems in Canada did not produce results consistent with the standard.

•

For heat loss, whole house errors of up to 30 per cent were observed, with individual rooms showing up to 50 per cent differences.

•

For cooling, differences between software and expected results could lead to the selection of incorrectly sized equipment. All Canadian building codes require the use of CSA F280-12 to select heating and cooling equipment. CSA adopted the requirement for software to be verified.

Aside from efficiency and performance, improperly sized equipment can significantly impact homeowner comfort.

CSA F280-12 sentence 8.1.2.(a) states: Software systems that claim to conform to the CSA F280 calculation procedure shall be verified according to the procedure set out in Clause 8. (Clause 8 is the verification section of the Standard).

When the verification requirement was brought into effect, the core methodologies of the standard were not changed. A designer using verified software can be sure the results they are producing are accurate and therefore can confidently specify appropriately sized heating and cooling equipment. Using unverified software may lead to incorrectly sized equipment which does not adequately address the heating and cooling needs of a building. This could result in functional issues with equipment, homeowner comfort, and more importantly, homeowner health and safety. 94

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Designers and other users should be aware that software which claims to be “F280-12 compliant” but is not verified may result in significant errors and does not comply with the intent of the Canadian building codes. HVAC Designers of Canada (HVAC-DC) has published the list of eight officially verified software at: HVACDC.ca/Software. Verified software can also be recognized by the standardized three-page results form. The cover page will cite the verification status of the software and may include the “Verified” logo. HVAC-DC is a national association representing heating, ventilation and air conditioning designers across Canada. It works closely with various other building sector groups to stay up to date with the latest industry changes and technological advancements.

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MARKETING

What if your business disappeared from Google tomorrow?

Another Google Change Is Coming Google is moving Local Services Ads into Google Ads as specialized Performance Max campaigns that continue using a pay-per-lead model. The transition began with selected U.S. service businesses in August 2026. Canadian and other non-U.S. accounts are expected to follow in 2027. Google has said historical Local Services Ads reports won’t automatically transfer to Google Ads. If you use the platform, download those reports before your account migrates. The transition itself doesn’t mean your Business Profile will be suspended. It does give you a timely reason to check access, business details, service categories and documentation before the changes reach Canada.

contractor once contacted me after all his Google reviews disappeared. He wasn’t a client and we never ended up working together, but I remember how concerned he was. Someone had been helping him collect reviews and now they were gone. He wanted to know what had happened, whether they could be recovered and who might be able to help. It’s easy to understand the panic. Those reviews represented years of completed jobs and satisfied customers. To him, they were evidence that he ran a reputable company. Then, without warning, that evidence was no longer visible. Losing the reviews was bad enough. Losing the entire Google Business Profile would have been far worse. If your profile disappeared, your company might no longer appear on Google Maps. Your rating and reviews would be out of sight and customers searching for a contractor nearby might have trouble confirming that your business was legitimate or still operating. How long would it take before you noticed a difference in the number of calls coming in?

Paul Bies

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Would you know who has control? Google can suspend a Business Profile when information appears inaccurate, misleading or contrary to its policies. A change to your business name, address, phone number or category can sometimes trigger additional verification. Problems may also arise when information differs across websites and directories or when an address doesn’t meet Google’s requirements. In some cases, the cause is easy to identify. In others, the owner is left trying to determine what triggered the suspension while calls and leads are being lost. Before that happens, confirm that you or someone within your company has primary ownership of the profile. Your employees or marketing agency can still have the access they need. However, the account shouldn’t depend entirely on an outside supplier’s email address. If that relationship ends or the person managing the account becomes unavailable, you need to retain control.

Paul Bies, co-founder and president of Mystique Brand Communications (mystique.ca) in Toronto, ON, brings a wealth of marketing expertise to his role as Mechanical Business marketing columnist. His mission is to empower businesses and to share insights that provide valuable perspectives for their success. As the son of an HVAC entrepreneur, he understands the business landscape and is committed to helping MB readers thrive. B u s i n e s s

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Check who has access to your Business Profile, Google Ads and Local Services Ads accounts. Remove former employees and suppliers who no longer need it. Even if an agency handles the day-to-day work, your company should retain ownership, billing access and historical performance records.

Put the paperwork in one place If your profile is suspended, Google may ask you to prove the business is legitimate and the information shown on the profile is accurate. Create a folder and keep current copies of:

• Business registration documents • Trade and contractor licences • Utility bills associated with the business location banking or insurance documents showing • Tax, the legal business name • Photos of exterior signage and branded vehicles account ownership and Business Profile • Google identification details. Make sure your company name, address and phone number are consistent across these documents and everywhere the business appears online. Google allows supporting documents to be included with an appeal, but once you open its evidence form, you have 60 minutes to complete the submission. That isn’t much time to start searching for old utility bills, licence information or photos of your signage.

Ask how your reviews are being collected There is nothing wrong with asking real customers to leave honest reviews. Most satisfied customers won’t think to do it unless someone asks and makes the process easy. The concern is not knowing what happens when another person or company manages that process for you.

You should be confident that every review comes from a real customer describing a genuine experience.

If Google went down, what would keep working? Google can be an excellent source of leads. The concern begins when it becomes the only dependable way new customers find you. Your website, customer database, referral relationships, community involvement, email marketing, social media and other advertising channels all give people another route to your business. They also make you less vulnerable when one source slows down or becomes temporarily unavailable. Spend an hour checking who owns your profile, who can access it and whether your supporting documents are current. While you’re at it, consider how much business would continue to come in if your profile disappeared for a month. If the honest answer is “not much,” the larger problem isn’t only your Google account. It’s how dependent your business has become on it.

If you use a review service, ask how it works. Buying reviews, offering incentives, using people who were never customers or trying to manipulate a rating can put your profile at risk. You should be confident that every review comes from a real customer describing a genuine experience. It’s also worth taking occasional screenshots of your profile, including its rating and number of reviews. A screenshot won’t guarantee that Google will restore anything, but it gives you a record of what was there. M e c h a n i c a l

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EVENTS

NEXT ISSUE S P R I N G

I S S U E

HEAT PUMP J O U R N A L

JUNE 2026

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Join us for the November/December issue:

• Heat Pump Journal 2026: Second edition

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Inquiries welcome: Sales: Kyle.Badder@mechanicalbusiness.com | 416.735.1375 Editorial: Kerry.Turner@mechanicalbusiness.com | 416.435.1193 M e c h a n i c a l

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TRAINING

B y D en nis Cinello

Ongoing technical training is no longer optional

Dennis Cinello is president of the skilled trades division of Herzing College. He has over 20 years of experience and a professional background in the private career college sector, as well as 13 years in marketing, admissions and business development.

or years, many HVAC contractors could rely on a simple formula for building a successful workforce: hire good people, invest in apprenticeship training and let experience do the rest. Ask any contractor who’s been in the industry for 15 or 20 years and they’ll tell you the job looks very different today than it did when they started. While experience remains one of the industry’s greatest assets, today’s HVAC landscape is changing faster than ever. Technology is changing how systems are designed, installed and serviced. At the same time, customer expectations continue to rise, placing greater pressure on contractors to deliver accurate, efficient and reliable service. The challenge isn’t that technicians aren’t capable. It’s that the industry itself is changing. As a result, ongoing technical training has become less of a professional development opportunity and more of a business necessity. HVAC contractors need to prioritize continuous learning to deliver quality work, reduce costly mistakes, retain skilled employees and adapt to future industry changes.

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Skills that were sufficient five or 10 years ago may not fully prepare technicians for the equipment and systems they encounter today.

CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES The biggest reason training has become so important is simple: the technology keeps changing. Heat pumps, inverter-driven systems, advanced controls, and connected home technologies are becoming very common across residential and commercial projects. These systems offer significant benefits, but they also require technicians to develop new skills and diagnostic approaches.

Every return visit means additional labour Even experienced technicians costs, scheduling disruptions, fuel expenses can find themselves working with and a frustrated customer. equipment that didn’t exist when they completed their apprenticeship training. These new products, features and system configurations are creating a constant need to learn and adapt. That’s why continuous learning matters. It helps technicians stay confident in the field and deliver the level of service customers expect from today’s HVAC professionals.

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THE BUSINESS COST OF SKILLS GAPS Training has a direct impact on profitability. Few things eat into margins faster than callbacks. In many cases, a job that should have been profitable becomes a break-even exercise or worse. While mistakes can happen in any business, ongoing training helps reduce the likelihood of errors caused by unfamiliar equipment or outdated practices. Better-trained technicians are often able to diagnose problems more quickly, complete repairs more efficiently, and deliver a higher level of service overall. That translates into stronger customer satisfaction and improved operational performance. Training also supports jobsite safety. As equipment and regulations evolve, technicians need current knowledge of installation requirements, refrigerant handling procedures, electrical systems and safety protocols. Staying up to date helps protect both employees and customers while reducing potential liability for the business. So, investing in training is often far less expensive than dealing with the consequences of inadequate training.

A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE The benefits of training extend beyond technical performance. Across Canada, HVAC contractors continue to face challenges recruiting and retaining skilled workers. Competition for talent remains strong and many technicians have choices when deciding where they want to work. While compensation will always be important, today’s workforce is actively looking for employers that invest in long-term career development, especially among apprentices and early-career technicians. Many are looking for opportunities to advance within the industry. They want more than a job. They want a clear path forward. Contractors that support ongoing learning often have an advantage in attracting talent because training signals that the company is invested in employee growth. It can also improve retention. When employees feel supported and see opportunities for advancement, they are more engaged and more likely to build a long-term career with the organization.

Training may include manufacturer-led product updates, safety certifications, online learning modules, mentorship programs, or regular technical workshops.

Invest in people today for a stonger tomorrow. There is also a practical business benefit. Investing in training helps companies build internal expertise rather than relying solely on external hiring. Over time, today’s apprentices become tomorrow’s senior technicians and team leaders. When contractors prioritize ongoing training, they are often better positioned to build a talent pipeline from within their organization. One of the biggest misconceptions about training is that it requires large blocks of time away from the field. But the most successful training strategies are built around consistency, not intensity. You don’t want to pull technicians away from their work for weeks at a time; you want to create ongoing opportunities for learning throughout the year. Contractors should also take the time to identify where skills gaps exist within their teams. A new apprentice will have different development needs than an experienced service technician learning to work with emerging technologies. When training is approached strategically, it becomes easier to integrate it into the business.

A NEW REALITY The HVAC industry will continue to change. New technologies and evolving regulations are not temporary trends. They are the new reality of the trades. Contractors need to make training a regular part of their business strategy to adapt to those changes. As an HVAC contractor, you should not wait for skills gaps to appear before taking action. But rather invest in learning before it becomes a problem. Ongoing training isn’t just about keeping up. It’s about building a workforce that is prepared for what’s next. M e c h a n i c a l

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Compiled by Mechanical Business

BY THE NUMBERS

EDUCATION AND CAREER PATHS 50

COMPANIES SCALE BACK 3.1 Average per cent Canadian companies expect to increase salaries by in 2026, compared to 3.2 per cent in 2025, according to the 15th edition of Normandin Beaudry’s Salary Increase Survey.

5.3 Per cent of respondents who said they were freezing salaries this year.

Photo Johnson Controls

Per cent of Canadians in Embark’s Future Education & Career Paths Report 2026 who believe trade school and apprenticeships are the best way to prepare for a career in 2050, compared to 37 per cent who cited university.

86 Per cent of Canadians who think the skills employers value most will change significantly over the next 25 years, although only 20 per cent believe young people are being prepared for it.

20 Per cent of respondents who believe AI creates as many jobs as it takes away, although 61 per cent disagree.

3.2

HEAT PUMP POPULARITY

Per cent of employers in Quebec expected to raise salaries in 2026, excluding freezes, making it the highest increase among all the provinces.

91 Per cent of Canadian heat pump owners surveyed by Clean Energy Canada who said they would recommend a heat pump to their neighbours and friends.

64 Per cent of respondents who said they are very happy with their heat pump, compared to 25 per cent who said they were somewhat happy. Three per cent said they were very unhappy, while five per cent said they were somewhat unhappy.

GREENSPACE DECLINES 8 Per cent decrease in greenspaces in Canadian cities between 2000 and 2025, says Statistics Canada, with a 10.5-per cent decrease in larger urban centres.

45 Per cent of Ontario schools with any sort of natural play spaces, while one-third of schools have at least half their yard paved.

PRICES ON THE RISE 3 Per cent year-over-year increase in the CPI in July 2026, according to Statistics Canada.

25.7 Per cent increase in gasoline prices during the same period, one of the key drivers of increases in the CPI this year.

439 MILLION June 30 and July 3, 2026, as estimated by Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc.

Dollars worth of insured damage caused by thunderstorms in Ontario and Quebec between

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