News, Products and Information for Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors


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John Mesenbrink


Chief Editor John Mesenbrink gives you an inside look at the year's hottest industry events through unprecedented coverage of shows like PHCC Connect, Greenbuild, IBS and more! Visit our new On the Road Convention Videos page to see more footage.

Current Issue

Updated for February 2010 on 02/12/10

A contractor’s guide to selecting drain cleaning tools

You are a professional plumbing contractor. You know that the best tool to clear a clogged kitchen sink is very different than the right tool to clear a main drain. But did you know that though one tool could be ... >> More

Hydronic heating gets ‘smart’

Today, some form of comfort system automation is available in most new homes. But more than programmable thermostats and outdoor temperature sensors, the future of home automation is found in , ... >> More

Air & dirt separator up to challenge of hotel’s iron oxide...

In the hotel business the most common guest complaint is over room comfort, specifically air conditioning. Described as being a “killer” in customer satisfaction indexes, this is exactly what happened when the ... >> More

Integrated heat pump water heaters

Over the past 10 years, the water heater industry has seen many advances in technology, delivering higher performance and greater efficiencies: flammable vapor ignition resistance (FVIR), tankless gas, ... >> More

Hire good technicians and empower them

All professional sport franchises start their seasons with hopes of winning the championship of their respective sport by season’s end. All franchises have an owner or owners. And each owner needs a ... >> More

PHC is a commodity... NOT

What is a commodity? My favorite author, Dr. Larry Steinmetz, defines a commodity as a product or a service that is widely and readily available, with no discernable difference. ... >> More

Warm-floor solar heating for concrete pools

Solar pool heating is already a much larger industry in the United States than solar home heating. Swimming pools can require a tremendous amount of heat depending upon the climate, and so pool ... >> More

Living a lie

I’m a big reader. Fiction, non-fiction, as long as the writing is good and/or the message is compelling. I love to learn from smart, successful people, and many of them are gracious enough to write books telling ... >> More

Is commercial/industrial construction dodging a bullet...

With Arab Emirate Dubai opening the highest building in the world in January, thereby incurring multi-billion dollars of debt, which it was in danger of defaulting, the Arabian Peninsula’s Golden City was lucky in being ... >> More