HPAC - August 2026 by annexbusinessmedia

IAPMO WATER DEMAND CALCULATOR

THE OIL AND REFRIGERANT MIX

PRICING WORK TO REMAIN PROFITABLE

AUGUST 2026

HPACMAG.COM

HUMIDIT Y MANAGEMEN T REVIEWING T HE FUNDAME N

TALS

ALSO INSIDE

MODERN HYDRONICS FALL 2026

NEW

Elios Tankless Gas Water Heater Available now at Master.

Learn about the Elios Tankless Don’t miss the Master Class featuring John Siegenthaler (“Siggy”) Win an Elios Tankless in the Hydronics Haul-Away

SEE US AT BOOTH #25

MODERN HYDRONICS SUMMIT 2026

TO LEARN MORE VISIT

MASTER.CA

CONTENTS

AUGUST 2026 / VOL. 100 NO. 4

11 FEATURES

COVER PHOTO: ANDRIY MEDVEDIUK/ADOBE STOCK

52 HPACMAG.COM

11 COVER STORY

HVAC HUMIDITY MANAGEMENT FOR THE HVAC TECHNICIAN A service tech’s responsibility is to ensure installed equipment is operating to the best of its ability. By Ian McTeer

REFRIGERATION COMPRESSOR LUBRICANTS IN TODAY’S CHANGING WORLD As refrigerants change, the role of the lubricants remains the same and must be respected. By Dave Demma

PLUMBING OPTIMIZING PLUMBING PIPING A review of the latest 30 Mechanical Minutes webinar which focused on the IAPMO Water Demand Calculator and the benefits it’s bringing to plumbing systems. By Doug Picklyk

BUSINESS PRICING FOR TOMORROW How to stay profitable when costs keep climbing, and why protecting gross margin requires more than raising prices. By Matthew Birch CONTINUED ON P4 AUGUST 2026 | HPAC

CONTENTS

AUGUST 2026 / VOL. 100 NO. 4

DEPARTMENTS 6 UPFRONT 8 FEATURED NEWS Greener Homes program update. 8 INDUSTRY NEWS 41 MECHANICAL SUPPLY NEWS 43 PEOPLE 53 THE SOURCE 54 CALENDAR

ALSO INSIDE

MODERN HYDRONICS 2026 FALL

RADIANT COOLING UNDER CONTROL Custom build in Vernon, B.C. showcases

radiant heating & cooling.

MH4

MH14

SYSTEM DESIGN FLIP FLOP Setting up a simple ‘load toggling’ design to satisfy heat calls for both an air handler and slab floor at the same time. By John Siegenthaler

NEW PRODUCTS From the latest in air-to-water heat pumps to safety valves and design software.

MH9 CASE STUDY COOLING UNDER CONTROL A home near Vernon, B.C. with radiant heating & cooling. By Doug Picklyk

• Time-of-Use Test Case • DIY Controls • Hydronics Products a publication of

MH4 4

HPAC | AUGUST 2026

MH16 TIME OF USE IT’S ABOUT TIME As the industry continues on the road to electrification, there are ways to maximize hydronics systems and minimize electrical costs. By John Siegenthaler

MH9 HPACMAG.COM

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DISCOVER MORE

< UPFRONT IS UPSKILLING THE ANSWER I SEEM TO HAVE STRUCK A NERVE IN OUR LAST ISSUE WITH MY COLUMN ABOUT THE MISSING MIDDLE — a scarcity of those mid-aged pluming/heating/HVAC technicians who are in a position today to be training the next generation of techs entering the field. I received an e-mail from Mike D., a retired HVAC/R technician from Nova Scotia, who recalled his early days back in 1979 when his employer would always hire new graduating apprentices at a time when you could send both a tech and an apprentice to a job and charge for both (and get paid). “These apprentices (like myself at the time) got out every day with a licensed tech to gain experience and much needed on-site experience in front of an audience. They (me) were the future middle guys.” But he acknowledges that more competitors entering the field drove prices and labour rates down, and customers no longer wanted to pay for two people on a service call. This led to apprentices moving mostly to construction jobs and getting “little to no experience on the service side.” Upon moving to management, Mike tried to keep hiring apprentices to keep the pipeline of experienced service workers growing, but he knows many shops stopped hiring apprentices all together: either they would end up laying off the apprentices once they got their ticket because the company already had enough licensed techs, or they were reluctant to hire apprentices because they would only end up leaving. He does think that maybe government incentives could help employers hire apprentices and make it financially viable, but it is still a dilemma. Mike also notes that in his final years in the trade he “downsized” to residential heat pumps, something he refers to as “a whole new can of worms and conversation for another day.” Well, there is no avoiding the deluge of heat pumps hitting the residential market today, and as an industry it’s a topic that can’t be put off any longer. These products/systems need to be installed by trained professionals, and that’s becoming an issue across this country. Hopefully new apprentices are becoming familiar with these products, but once again we’re faced with a missing middle — HVAC techs trained on gas appliances but not heat pumps. The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) has been taking initiative on this front and received federal funding to address the issue. First with its “Bridging the Skills Gap” research back in 2025 followed by a subsidized course delivered to a small group of experienced residential techs in Ontario teaching the nuances of heat pump systems. Additional funding has been secured for similar assessments in Atlantic Canada and in B.C. And there will be an update to its subsidized programs being offered to “upskill” more existing residential HVAC techs in Ontario. The HVAC/R industry continues to evolve, and it’s important for all involved to recognize where gaps exist and work together to create the best possible outcomes for homeowners who are relying on properly installed equipment. <>

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PUBLISHER Peter Leonard (416) 510-6847 pleonard@hpacmag.com CEO Scott Jamieson sjamieson@annexbusinessmedia.com PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40065710 Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning (established 1925) is published 6 times per year by Annex Business Media. HPAC Magazine is the leading Canadian business publication for the owner/manager of mechanical contracting businesses and their supply partners. ISSN: 0017-9418 (Print) ISSN 2371-8536 (Online) Contents Copyright © 2026 by Annex Business Media may not be reprinted without permission. SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: To subscribe, renew your subscription or to change your address or information please visit us at www.hpacmag.com. Subscription Price per year: $46.68 (plus tax) CDN; United States: $118.81 CDN; Elsewhere: $130.48 CDN; Single copy Canada: $8.00 CDN. Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning (establish 1925) is published 6 times per year by Annex Business Media. HPAC Magazine is the leading Canadian business publication for the owner/manager of mechanical contracting businesses and their supply partners. MAIL PREFERENCES: From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods: Tel: 416-510-5113, Fax: 416-510-6875; E-mail: apotal@annexbusinessmedia.com; or by mail: 111 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 400, Toronto ON M2H 3R1 Annex Privacy Officer Privacy@annexbusinessmedia.com Tel: 800-668-2374 HPAC Magazine receives unsolicited materials (including letters to the editor, press releases, promotional items and images) from time to time. HPAC Magazine, its affiliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, re-publish, distribute, store and archive such unsolicited submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort. NOTICE: HPAC Magazine, Annex Business Media, their staff, officers, directors and shareholders (hence known as the “Publisher”) assume no liability, obligations, or responsibility for claims arising from advertised products. The Publisher also reserves the right to limit liability for editorial errors, omissions and oversights to a printed correction in a subsequent issue. HPAC Magazine’s editorial is written for management level mechanical industry personnel who have documented training in the mechanical fields in which they work. Manufacturers’ printed instructions, datasheets and notices always take precedence to published editorial statements.

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HPAC | AUGUST 2026

HPACMAG.COM

NEWS FEATURE SEE THE LATEST NEWS @ HPACMAG.COM

NEW GREENER HOMES PROGRAM EXTENDS TO B.C., QUEBEC, NOVA SCOTIA AND PEI The Federal Government has announced the first expansion of its Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program since it launched in September last year. Originally adopted in Manitoba only, the program is now being embraced by British Columbia, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The retrofits program will see over $500 million in funding, $300 million of which is federal, be directed to help over 35,000 low- and median-income households install heat pumps and/or other energy efficiency upgrades at no cost. The program will be delivered in co-ordination with the four provinces, as well as with Hydro-Québec (Quebec), BC Hydro and Fortis BC (in B.C.) and EfficiencyOne (Nova Scotia). In Manitoba the program is administered through Efficiency Manitoba. In B.C., the program is an extension of the Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP) through BC Hydro and FortisBC providing no-cost home-energy retrofits to low-income homeowners and tenants including heat pumps, dual-fuel systems and more. In Quebec, through Hydro-Quebec‘s Éconologis program, homeowners can qualify for free heat pumps and more. In Nova Scotia, the funding will expand the existing HomeWarming and African Nova Scotian Communities Retrofit programs offered by Efficiency Nova Scotia, part of EfficiencyOne. In PEI, there is no mention of free heat pumps, but the province and the feds are investing nearly $15 million over five years to offer free home insulation for low-to medium-income households. canada.ca

HPAC | AUGUST 2026

Award recipients at the 2026 Annual Conference.

Sterling Associates in Vancouver; and Fitsum Tariku, of Simon Fraser University. Dale Carter of DEC Engineering, Comox, B.C., received the Distinguished 50-Year Member Award. Kevin Clannon with Master Group in Dieppe, New Brunswick, received the William J. Collins Jr. Award. Tina Abbasi, of Zapas in Woodbridge, Ont., won a Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA) Award of Individual Excellence. Marie-Pier Trépanier and Louis Gosselin of Université Laval, Quebec City received a Poster Presentation Award. ashrae.org. HPACMAG.COM

IMAGE COURTESY ASHRAE

CANADIANS AMONG THIS YEAR’S ASHRAE AWARD WINNERS ASHRAE recognized outstanding achievements at its 2026 Annual Conference in Austin, Texas in late June with many Canadians listed among this year’s award winners. The Exceptional Service Awards recognizing past Distinguished Service Award recipients inculded: Robert Bean, distinguished lecturer and former HPAC magazine contributor, now living in Lake Chestermere, Alberta; Isabelle Lavoie, general manager at Johnson Controls, Montreal; and Carey Simonson, a professor in the department of mechanical engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. Distinguished Service Award winners this year include: Niss Feiner, principal mechanical designer at Delta-T Designs in Oro-Medonte, Ont.; Kyle Hasenkox, a principal at Rocky Point Engineering in Victoria; Heric Holmes, P.Eng. senior manager of mechanical engineering at Bird Construction, Edmonton; Genevieve Lussier, president at Eequinox, Montreal; Les Pereira, past president of ASHRAE BC; Elia Sterling of Theodor

PITT MEADOWS PLUMBING ADDS CONNELLY MECHANICAL TO ITS TEAM Pitt Meadows Plumbing (PMP), a full service commercial mechanical contracting company in Maple Ridge, B.C., has announced that Connelly Mechanical Systems is now part of the PMP team. Based in Surrey, B.C., Connelly Mechanical was founded in 1995 by Chris Gray and offers commercial mechanical contracting, including plumbing, HVAC, fire sprinklers, digital controls, gas work, design assist and design build mechanical services. Connelly are specialists in multi-family projects (concrete or wood frame), seniors care homes, office/commercial buildings and energy efficient LEED projects. “We have always respected the company Chris has built and the reputation Connelly Mechanical has earned in the industry,” said Steve Robinson, president of Pitt Meadows Plumbing. pittmeadows.net cmsl.ca

INDUSTRY NEWS

SOURCE: RIGHT TIME

SEE THE LATEST NEWS @ HPACMAG.COM

RIGHT TIME NAMES NEW CEO Right Time Heating and Air Conditioning, a nation-wide collection of HVAC service companies owned by San Franciscobased Gryphon Investors, has appointed Steven Tsambalieros as CEO. Tsambalieros takes over the role Steven from interim-CEO Karl Fessenden, who Tsambalieros, new filled in following the departure of Doug CEO of Right Time Hart, who served as Right Time CEO Heating and Air Conditioning. from May 2024 through February of this year. Fessenden transitions to the role of executive chairman of Right Time, joining the executive leadership team, Gryphon and the board. The new CEO, Tsambalieros, brings over 30 years of executive leadership experience, most recently as president of Rentokil Initial’s Canadian Pest, Ambius and Steritech businesses. He also had previous leadership experience with Second Cup and Swiss Chalet. “I am confident that he [Tsambalieros] is the right executive to help lead Right Time during its next phase of growth,” said Fessenden in a media release. Currently, Right Time operates out of 23 sites across the country with locations in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia. Right Time is part of Gryphon’s North American Essential Home Services holding company (along with Southern HVAC with operations in the Southern U.S.). Right Time is headquartered in St. Catharines, Ont. right-time.ca CLIMATECARE CO-OPERATIVE EXPANDS TEAM, CONTINUES GROWTH ClimateCare Co-operative, Canada’s largest network of independent HVAC contractors, has added Mike Shanks to the team as director of membership growth. Shanks brings more than 30 years of experience in Mike Shanks, business development and franchise net- ClimateCare’s new director of work growth, most recently as a profit cen- membership. tre manager with EMCO Corp. Based in Ontario, he will be on the road meeting contractors in markets across Canada seeking to expand the cooperative. In membership news, Annapolis Valley Air Management has joined the discovery participant program, growing ClimateCare’s reach in Atlantic Canada, while Climate Works Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, which serves both Ottawa and Toronto, has joined ClimateCare as an enterprise member. climatecare.com HPACMAG.COM

EASTERN ONTARIO HVAC SERVICES GROUP ACQUIRED BY MERIDIAN HOME SERVICES A roll-up of four Eastern Ontario residential HVAC service companies assembled by King West Partners has been sold to Meridian Home Services, a portfolio company of Toronto-based KCM Holdings Group. Built up over approximately three and a half years, King West Partners built a portfolio of local independent HVAC operators in the Ottawa area creating a regional network, beginning with the acquisition of Parent Heating & Cooling of Ottawa in November 2022, followed by the additions of Forest HVAC (Ottawa), Sauve Heating & Air Conditioning (Prescott) and Stan’s HVAC (Ottawa). Meridian Home Services now adds these four residential HVAC service companies to its portfolio which also includes Gilles Renaud Heating and J.D. Swallow Heating & Cooling, both in the Ottawa area. The transaction is part of a pattern of private equity consolidation in the Canadian residential HVAC services market, where independent operators are being grouped into regional platforms to benefit from shared resources and build on the existing legacy businesses. meridianhsgroup.com NEW REPORT MAKES THE CASE FOR GEOTHERMAL-AS-A-SERVICE IN CANADA A new white paper from the Building Decarbonization Alliance and the Transition Accelerator argues that geothermal heating is ready to scale across Canada—and that a new delivery model is the key to unlocking it. The Geothermal-as-a-Service (GaaS) model hands financing, installation, and long-term maintenance of the ground loop to a specialized third-party provider, while the building owner pays a monthly service fee. This model shifts the new builing capital risk away from developers, and it creates a cleaner scope of work for the HVAC contractors brought in to handle the building-side mechanical system installation and maintenance. For HVAC contractors, ground-source heat pumps are worth understanding in depth as the applications in larger buildings continues to grow. As GaaS providers expand beyond Ontario into new markets and building types, demand for contractors with geothermal competency will follow. The report flags workforce capacity as a key bottleneck to scaling the market. Geothermal expertise is unevenly distributed across Canada, and contractors who build that knowledge now will be well positioned as the model grows. The full report is available at buildingdecarbonization.ca. Continued on p10 AUGUST 2026 | HPAC

< INDUSTRY NEWS Continued from p9

CALGARY PLUMBING CONTRACTOR HIT WITH $330,000 PENALTY AFTER WORKPLACE FATALITY By Brandi Cowan Mr. Mike’s Plumbing Ltd. has been penalized a total of $330,000 after pleading guilty to one count under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act for failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker. The Crown withdrew 10 other counts. 10

HPAC | AUGUST 2026

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on a water and sewer line construction site in Calgary on June 8, 2023. One worker died after an excavation caved in and buried them. The court fined the company $115,000, including the victim fine surcharge. Under a creative sentence, the court also ordered the company to pay $215,000 to the Injury Prevention Centre. The centre will conduct a province-wide safety awareness campaign to empower young workers to recognize hazards, speak up about unsafe work and help prevent workplace injuries through targeted education, industry collaboration and a shared commitment to safer workplaces. The company and the Crown had up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalty. alberta.ca

CANADIAN STUDENTS AMONG THIS YEAR’S ASHRAE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ASHRAE has awarded 47 Society scholarships for students around the world, including four Canadian scholars. The top prize this year, the ASHRAE Presidents Scholarship (a $12,500 prize) was presented to Junhyuk (Harry) Lee, a student at the University of Manitoba. A Willis H. Carrier Scholarship ($10,000) went to Luna Marouf, York University (Toronto). Matthew Lynch of George Brown College (Toronto) received an Engineering Technology Scholarship ($5,000). And Genevieve Beirne from the University of Toronto, received the Lynn G. Bellenger Engineering Scholarship ($5,000). ashrae.org/scholarships. HPACMAG.COM

PHOTO: DOUG PICKLYK

FIRST GLOBAL HVAC/R WOMEN WEEK COMING THIS OCTOBER Launching this October, the all-new Global HVAC/R Women Week (October 25-31) is intended to be an international week-long celebration connecting local voices across the HVAC/R sector. Stephen Gill, initiator of the event and the founder of World Refrigeration Day, explains: “Global HVAC/R Women Week is about building a community that lasts beyond one week. “This is not something for women or women’s groups to carry alone. Everyone in HVAC/R can show up, speak up and lift others up. Every new connection will help us build one stronger global HVAC/R community.” A central theme is: “Local voices. Global connections. One HVAC/R community.” The organizers are encouraging women’s networks, professional and trade bodies, employers, manufacturers, contractors, educators, students, publications and individuals to participate in some way. The inaugural Week begins on 25 October, the birthday of Margaret Ingels, a pioneering American engineer whose work advanced the understanding of AC, ventilation and human comfort. globalhvacrwomenweek.com

ADVISORY ISSUED REGARDING CERTIFICATION OF PEX TUBING The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI), the Texas-based trade association representing all segments of the plastics piping industry, has issued an advisory regarding certain crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing products being sold in Canada and the U.S. The advisory states, that based on PPI’s review, certain PEX tubing products may not comply with required industry standards and are not third-party certified to mandatory industry standards, despite implied claims. PPI notes that major model codes require that PEX tubing products for plumbing and mechanical applications are to be marked with industry standards such as ASTM F876 and CSA B137.5 and shall be third-party certified. The advisory indicates that: “Non-compliant and non-certified PEX tubing is marked with various tradenames and has been offered for sale via several distribution channels, including popular online retailers.” It goes on to say: “products are not listed and labelled by third-party certification agencies to verify compliance with the mandatory industry standards.” The advisory warns: “The sale, installation, or specification of non-listed materials can expose installers, retailers, distributors, and specifiers to potential legal liability if a product failure occurs.” PPI recommends only specifying, purchasing, and installing PEX tubing which is properly third-party certified and clearly marked with the third-party certification agency logo or logos (i.e., listed and labelled). Third-party certification records can also be found on certification agency websites and/or requested from the manufacturer or supplier of the PEX tubing. plasticpipe.org

HVAC >

HUMIDITY MANAGEMENT

for the HVAC Technician A service tech’s responsibility is to ensure installed equipment is operating to the best of its ability. BY IAN MCTEER

PHOTO: RAYLIPSCOMBE/GETTY IMAGES

umidity control has always been one of the trickiest parts of residential HVAC, and it’s becoming even more important as homes get tighter and equipment gets more efficient. Technicians don’t need to be psychrometric engineers, but we do need a practical grasp of specific humidity, relative humidity, dew point, wetbulb temperature, enthalpy and even oldschool “grains” of moisture. These aren’t academic terms; they’re the measurements that explain why a system won’t pull moisture on a mild day or why a customer feels clammy at 72F. When indoor dew point climbs, anything in the house that’s cooler than that dew point becomes a condensation target, from supply registers to HPACMAG.COM

coldwater pipes. Knowing how to measure moisture, how air actually holds (and releases) water, and how modern equipment interacts with that moisture is now part of everyday troubleshooting. As homes continue to tighten and residential ventilation strategies evolve, technicians must be able to recognize when humidity problems stem from the HVAC system, and when they’re really symptoms of a building science issue.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS Following is that fundamental list of technician-focused terms that everyone in the field should be familiar with and understand. This is not theory for theory’s sake, but rather these are the terms that will help you explain what’s happening and why:

Specific Humidity: The actual mass of water vapour in the air (grains or weight of water vapour in one pound of dry air). Why techs care: It tells you the real moisture load, independent of temperature. Useful when diagnosing systems that “cool but don’t dry.” Relative Humidity (RH): Is the percentage of moisture in the air compared to how much it could hold at that temperature. Why techs care: Customers talk in RH, but RH alone is misleading: 60% RH at 75F is not the same moisture load as 60% at 68F. Dew Point Temperature: The temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapour resulting in condensation on colder surfaces. This Continued on p12 AUGUST 2026 | HPAC

< HVAC

Continued from p11

HOW TO APPROACH “POOR PERFORMANCE” CALLS I would argue that most “not working well” calls are not failed parts: they’re airflow, refrigerant charge, component 12

HPAC | AUGUST 2026

Coldwater pipes become condensation targets when the indoor dew point climbs.

cleanliness, or moisture related. The question is: How deep should a tech go? It’s hot, you’ve got more calls to do, and this job only needed a compressor run capacitor replaced, so I’m good to go. Hold on, the unit has been off for a day or two, and I would argue that there is a minimum every residential technician should do once the system is up and running again. This is the “no excuses” tier of service call as I see it: • Check airflow (filter, blower speed, utilize manufacturer’s charts and or commissioning report.) • Check charge (superheat/subcooling) • Check indoor evaporator coil, blower wheel, secondary heat exchanger coil, and outdoor condenser coil for cleanliness • Measure drybulb temperature split

(return vs supply) but be aware that a lower-than-expected split might be because the system is working on the latent load and with less sensible heat to measure, a 16F split might seem problematic rather that the 20F split you’re looking for. This alone solves some of performance complaints. But drybulb temperature alone can lie to you. The charts I once used to help determine proper system operation relied on the technician measuring the wet bulb temperature of the air entering the indoor coil. Wet bulb temperature represents how much heat energy is contained within the water vapour your current system needs to deal with. A high wet bulb indicates a greater amount of heat energy is present at the evaporator coil. Continued on p14 HPACMAG.COM

PHOTO WIRESTOCK/GETTY IMAGES:

is the absolute moisture content of the air; the higher the dew point, the more water vapour is in the air. Why techs care: Dew point is the best indicator of comfort complaints, window condensation, and whether the coil can actually dehumidify. WetBulb Temperature: Is not the same as dew point temperature although both are related to air moisture. Wet bulb temperature indicates the lowest temperature air can reach via evaporative cooling as measured by wrapping a thermometer bulb in a wet cloth that is exposed to an airstream. It is a temperature that reflects how much capacity the air has to remove heat by evaporation. Why techs care: Wet bulb is the gateway to enthalpy, total heat and real system performance. It’s also the only way to know if the coil is doing what the manufacturer says it should. Enthalpy: Is the total heat content of the air and is found on the psychrometric chart by extending the wet-bulb temperature line past the 100% saturation line. (BTU’s per pound sensible + latent). Why techs care: When a system “runs but doesn’t cool,” enthalpy change across the coil tells you whether the system is removing heat and moisture or just blowing air around. Grains of Moisture: 1 grain = 1/7000 of a pound of water. Why techs care: Grain depression (difference between return and supply) is the most intuitive way to see if the system is actually dehumidifying. Sensible Heat Ratio: This is the fraction of total heat in an HVAC system available to change the air temperature with the remainder used for moisture removal.

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< HVAC

PHOTO: IAN MCTEER

Continued from p12

Figure 1. A wet bulb thermometer and an enthalpy card, or a psychrometric chart/app. These are tool set essentials.

The manufacturer’s chart for a fixed metering device will provide the appropriate superheat given current conditions. With a TXV or EEV (in test mode at 100% capacity), even though the measured subcooling is correct does not mean the evaporator coil is working as intended; the suction pressure may be too low for uncorrected airflow problems. If the customer has a smart thermostat that displays indoor temperature and humidity, a quick trip to a psychrometric chart or app will provide a ballpark wet bulb temperature. A wet bulb thermometer (Figure 1), enthalpy card, or a psychrometric chart/app are part of any technician’s tool set. And remember, the dry-bulb split temperature measures sensible heat. Thus, a 22F temperature split between the return and supply air ducts on a muggy day should tell you the SHR (sensible heat ratio) is out of proportion. My unit has an SHR of 0.83: 83% of its capacity is sensible, 17% is latent. Determining capacity is a deep dive, useful but not on every call. The system capacity formula to get total cooling (sensible + latent) looks simple: • BTU/hr = CFM x 4.5 x delta enthalpy • 4.5 comes from weight of one pound of air (0.075 lb/ft3) x 60 min/hr 14

HPAC | AUGUST 2026

• Delta enthalpy is the enthalpy change across the evaporator coil in Btu/lb based on entering/leaving wet bulb temperature. The hard part is determining airflow, and guessing doesn’t work. Regardless of the fan airflow setting, it’s not possible to be sure the appropriate amount of air is being delivered without measuring. Use the best available method (more on this in a future article). For example, suppose the following data is taken: Measured CFM = 1085 Delta Enthalpy = 5.2 btu per pound of dry air Thus, 1085 x 4.5 x 5.2 = 25,389 Btu/hr. The manufacturer’s submittal data says, at 95F outdoor air entering temperature: • Rated capacity of the equipment is 27,000 Btu/hr • Sensible Heat Factor is 0.83 Is there a problem here assuming it is the hottest day of the summer? The measured capacity is around 6% less than specification. But at an SHR of 0.83, that means 4,316 Btu/hr is left for moisture removal. Spec sheet rated capacity of 27K Btu/hr should have 4,590 Btu/hr a difference of only 274 Btu/hr, again about 6% less than rated. Regardless, it is going to take a long time to bring that house under control. HPACMAG.COM

But there’s more! Several years ago, a representative of the Ontario Home Builders Association noted approximately 4.8 million houses were built in Ontario at a time when there was little or no consideration given to a home’s energy performance. So, an HVAC service technician walking into a house built in 1978 might be dealing with: • New windows • New doors • Added insulation • Finished basement with DIY renovated ductwork moved around to enhance aesthetics rather than functionality • 150 cfm bathroom fans replacing the old 25 cfm model (still connected to 4-in. duct!). • 350 cfm kitchen exhaust fan capable of depressurizing the entire house. • Massive clothes dryers venting as much as 230 cfm. • Poorly installed, unbalanced HRV.

“Modern HVAC equipment is not inherently bad at humidity control, but too many units are specified and installed in ways that guarantee complaints.” • Or no ventilation at all other than open windows. Every one of these changes affects: • Infiltration air – summer and winter • Moisuture load • Latent versus sensible heat balance • Equipment runtime • Evaporator coil performance • Sensible Heat Ratio • Perception of comfort Invariably, in such houses, the HVAC system is often dramatically oversized. This is why humidity control is so inconsistent in older houses; the envelope is a moving target. Someone once said, “there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know.” This describes perfectly the chaos created by haphazard HVAC applications causing end users to blame contractors and technicians for poor humidity control when the real issue is the house is now tighter, wetter and less ventilated than when the original system was sized.

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Continued on p16 AUGUST 2026 | HPAC

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< HVAC

Continued from p15

Engineering technologist and former HPAC contributor Robert Bean tells us what should be one of the best-known knowns, “HVAC load calculations and HVAC design is not thermal comfort design. It starts with the architecture, followed by the enclosure and interior system design; then, and only then, the HVAC system.” Build better buildings, that’s all.

Understand that equipment selection and sizing is not so much harder to do than in yesteryear, the problem is houses have become harder to understand. Homeowners often complain that the basement is freezing and the master bedroom is roasting; no moisture management going on here. Modern HVAC equipment is not inherently bad at humidity control, but too many units are specified and installed in ways that guarantee complaints. Inverter systems should be much better at latent removal when properly sized, properly controlled and installed in a building that isn’t fighting them. A tall order to this day. So, once the compressor run capacitor got replaced in our scenario, the technician should also be doing a thorough inspection of the outdoor and indoor unit: • Coil cleanliness. • No loose or burned wiring, otherwise repaired. • Check for voltage, voltage drop across the contactor, compressor amps, condenser fan motor amps. • Check refrigerant charge after an inspection of the indoor air handler/furnace/blower wheel/evaporator coil with cleaning as necessary. • Run the system long enough to verify superheat or subcooling based on manufacturers data that should be available, although annoyingly too often not. 16

HPAC | AUGUST 2026

PHOTO: AQUAARTS STUDIO/GETTY IMAGES

WHAT SHOULD A TECHNICIAN DO?

Human comfort problems are often perceptions that can't be measured.

• With luck, the system is properly charged and the initial 30F of superheat is dropping rapidly. Thus, a technician’s first duty is to ensure whatever equipment they come across is working properly. However, a deep dive may be necessary to understand why the advertised performance is lacking. Even measuring the relative humidity on a hot day in the master bedroom only indicates the level of moisture, or how full the air is, but it cannot tell you how much moisture is there in terms of grains per pound. Don’t confuse moisture control (dehumidification) with the percentage of relative humidity. Dehumidification is all about moisture removal and the only way to control humidity is to properly specify and select equipment combined into a system that actually performs properly in the real world. Technicians often get called to solve “comfort” problems like “the house

feels muggy” or “it’s cool, but not comfortable”, or “the AC is running, but I still feel sticky.” These are all perceptions, not measurements. A service technician’s responsibility is to ensure the equipment is operating correctly, even when the system itself has been poorly applied or improperly designed. Techs can repair what’s repairable, restore the unit to proper operation; however, the customer must be made aware of any fundamental shortcomings that no amount of charging, cleaning or adjusting will solve. <> Ian McTeer is an HVAC consultant with over 35 years of experience in the industry. He was most recently a field rep for Trane Canada DSO. McTeer is a refrigeration mechanic and Class 1 Gas technician. Comments or questions? Ian can be reached at imcteer@outlook.com. HPACMAG.COM

MODERN HYDRONICS 2026 FALL

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CONTENTS

Modern Hydronics

MH4 SYSTEM DESIGN

MH14

Flip Flop

NEW PRODUCTS

Tips on setting up a ‘load toggling’ design to satisfy heat calls for both an air handler and a radiant slab floor at the same time. By John Siegenthaler

MH9 CASE STUDY

Cooling Under Control Reviewing a modern house project outside of Vernon, B.C. using a controls-first strategy to incorporate hydronic heating and cooling. By Doug Picklyk

From the latest in air-to-water heat pumps to safety valves, electric boiler/storage tanks and hydronics design software.

MH16

It’s About Time As the industry continues down the road to electrification, there are ways to maximize hydronics system designs to minimize electrical costs. By John Siegenthaler

MODERN HYDRONICS COVER PHOTO:VISUAL GENERATION/GETTY IMAGES

a supplement of Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning Magazine 111 Gordon Baker Road, Suite 400, Toronto, ON M2H 3R1 TEL: 416.442.5600 FAX: 416.510.5140 www.hpacmag.com

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MODERN HYDRONICS

FALL 2026

MH3

SYSTEM DESIGN

Modern Hydronics

FLIP FLOP Setting up a simple and cost-effective ‘load toggling’ design to satisfy heat calls for both an air handler and slab floor at the same time. BY JOHN SIEGENTHALER

ome hydronic system designers choose to combine a heated slab floor on the ground level of a home with an air handler on the second story. Figure 1 (below) shows an example of such a system, which is supplied by a monobloc air-to-water heat pump. For the sake of discussion, assume that air-to-water heat pump has a nominal 4-ton (48,000 Btu/h) heat output rating. At design load the air handler is rated for 20,000 Btu/h output when supplied with water at 120F, and the slab is designed to release 20,000 Btu/h when supplied with water at 105F.

To produce these different supply water temperatures the installer decides to set up the heat pump controls for a supply temperature of 120F, and he uses a motorized three-way mixing valve to reduce the water temperature to the floor heating circuits. When only the air handler is operating the heat pump supplies the 120F water. Whenever the heated slab is operating by itself the heat pump has no problem providing the required water temperature. However, when the floor heating zone and the air handler are operating at the same time, and the outdoor air tempera-

ture is around -4C/24F, the fluid temperature leaving this heat pump can’t climb above 103F, regardless of how long it operates.

WHAT’S WRONG? All hydronic systems seek to operate at “thermal equilibrium.” That’s a steady state condition where the rate of heat production by the heat source is the same as the rate of heat dissipation by the load. The greater the heat emitter surface area available to dissipate heat, the lower the water temperature will be when Continued on MH6

air handler

PRV

monobloc air-to-water heat pump

check valve

fluid feeder

mixing valve

Figure 1. A simple air-to-water system heating a slab floor and a hydronic air handler. MH4

FALL 2026

slab floor heating

MODERN HYDRONICS

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ILLUSTRATION: JOHN SIEGENTHALER

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Supports radiant heating and hydronic zone upgrades

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SYSTEM DESIGN

TIME SHARING A more practical approach, especially when correcting an already installed system, is to “share” the heat pump’s heat output between the two loads. I refer to this as “load toggling.” It requires detection of when both loads are calling for operation at the same time. When this occurs, the controls need to allow only one load to operate for a specific time and then switch to the other load (and run only that load for another specific amount of time). For example, when both loads in Figure 1 are calling for operation at the same time, the slab heating might be allowed to operate for 25 minutes with the air handler off, followed by the air handler running for 35 minutes with the slab off. Load toggling can be accomplished using a repeat cycle time delay relay, such as the one shown in Figure 3. This relay has multiple operating modes and settings for those modes. For the toggling application, the mode setting would be “flashing.” For the relay shown in Figure 3, the time over which each cycle of the relay’s contacts occurs is adjustable from 0.05 seconds to over 100 hours. For this application, a time interval of several minutes is appropriate. For example, allowing the air handler to operate for 30 minutes with the no heat input to the slab, and then switch it off and allow slab heating to operate for the next 20 minutes with no heat input to the air handler. This 30/20 time interval MH6

FALL 2026

40000

slab heat output 20,000 Btu/hr at Ts = 105 ºF

105 ºF

20000

combined heat output air handler + slab heat pump output (Btu/hr)

balance point

30000

air handler output 20,000 Btu/hr at Ts = 120 ºF

10000 0

0 ºF

14 ºF

28 ºF

24 ºF

room air temperature = 70 ºF

50000

WHAT TO DO? One way to overcome this issue is to install a heat pump with a higher heating capacity. This would shift the balance point up and to the right, allowing for a higher supply water temperature to the air handler when both loads are operating at the same time. However, that higher supply temperature still might not make it up to 120F under design load conditions. Beyond this uncertainty is the daunting and expensive change out of the existing heat pump for a higher capacity unit. Doing so could also lead to short cycling under partial load conditions, especially if the larger heat pump is a single speed unit.

42 ºF

60000

56 ºF

70 ºF

outdoor air temperature (ºF)

Heat output (Btu/hr)

thermal equilibrium is achieved. The graph in Figure 2 shows how the heat output of the floor slab and air handler will vary based on supply water temperature. The room air temperature is assumed to be 70F. At a supply water temperature of 103F the heating capacity of the heat pump is the same as the total heat dissipation ability of the distribution system. That’s where this system achieves thermal equilibrium. The floor heating zone is fine at this condition, but the output of the air handler is significantly lower than what was planned for based on the assumption that 120F supply water would be available.

100

110

Supply water temperature (ºF)

120

Figure 2. A graph illustrating how heat output of the floor slab and air handler will vary based on supply water temperature.

then repeats as long as both loads are calling for heat. These time intervals are easily adjusted, and the relay in Figure 3 has double pole/double throw (DPDT) contacts, and it mounts into a standard 8-pin octal relay socket. It’s enabled to operate whenever 24 VAC is applied to the coil. In Figure 4 you see a wiring schematic where the repeat cyFigure 3. Example of a repeat cycle time delay cle time delay relay (RCR) is comrelay, the Macromatic TR bined with four other single pole/ 6512U. double throw (SPDT) relays. Relays (R1) and (R2) have 120 VAC coils, and are wired in parallel with their associated zone circulator. Their function is to “detect” when their associated zone circulator is called to operate by the multi-zone relay panel. A normally open contact in relay (R1), designated as (R1-1), is wired in series with a normally open contact in relay (R2), designated as (R2-1). When both of these contacts are closed, 24VAC from the zone relay panel, or a separate 24VAC transformer, passes to the coil of the repeat cycle time delay relay (RCR), and it begins its first timing cycle. The (RCR) relay has been configured so that the first timing cycle immediately sets the following contact status: • RCR-1 closes • R3 coil is energized • R3-1 N.C. opens (turning off the air handler circulator) • RCR-1 N.C. opens • R4 coil is off • R4-1 N.C. remains closed (allowing the slab circulator to run)

MODERN HYDRONICS

WWW.HPACMAG.COM

Modern Hydronics

120 VAC multi-zone relay center zone 2

R1 120 VAC coil

R3-1 N.C.

normally closed

pole #

relay name

120 VAC coil

R4-1 N.C.

RCR-2 N.C.

relay coil normally open relay contact normally closed relay contact

L N

slab air handler heating zone zone

24 VAC motorized mixing valve

24VAC

R1-1

zone 1

24 VAC coil R3

R2-1

24VAC

heat source heat enable

• R3-1 N.C. closes (allowing the air handler circulator to run) • RCR-1 N.C. closes • R4 coil is energized • R4-1 N.C. opens (turning off the slab circulator) At the end of the second cycle the above “toggling” actions repeat if both loads are still calling for heat. When only one load is operating the repeat cycle time delay relay (RCR) is not energized, and relay contacts R3-1 N.C. and R4-1 N.C. are both closed. The active load is controlled solely by its associated thermostat.

RCR-1 RCR

RCR-1 N.C.

R4 24 VAC coil

Figure 4. A wiring schematic with a repeat cycle time delay relay (RCR) combined with four single pole/double throw (SPDT) relays.

At the end of the first timing cycle the status of the relay contacts change to the following: • RCR-1 opens • R3 coil is off

EASY & INEXPENSIVE Relays (R1), (R2), (R3), and (R4) are simple single pole double throw (SPDT) relays. The (R1) and (R2) relays must have 120 VAC rated coils, while (R3) and (R4) must have 24 VAC rated coils with 24 VAC coils. The contacts in relays (R1) and (R2) are only handling a fraction of one amp in low voltage circuits. The contacts in relays (R3) and (R4) handle the current needed to operate one of the circulators. Most residential and light commercial zone pumps only require 1 to 2 amps. You can see in Figure 5 a product that can be used for relays

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Continued on MH8

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MODERN HYDRONICS

FALL 2026 MH7 2026-07-24 9:17 AM

SYSTEM DESIGN thermostats

120 VAC

relay name

OMRON G2S-1-S relay coil

N.C.

com.

N.O.

Figure 6. The three connections for the contacts are grouped together.

(R3) and (R4). It’s an OMRON G2R-1-S, with 24VAC coil and contacts rated up to 10 amps. A very similar relay, OMRON G2R-1-T, has a 120 VAC coil, and can be used for relays (R1) and (R2). You can buy these SPDT relays online in the price range of $10 to $15 each depending on quantity. They can be mounted on relay sockets or directly wired using quick connect terminals as shown in Figure 4. These relays have clear plastic cases through which you can see the contacts. The two contacts that are touching each other are the normally closed contacts. The two contacts with a gap between them are the normally open contacts. The two connections for the coil are grouped together. The three connections for the contacts are also grouped together, as shown in Figure 6. These relays can be mounted in any orientation. Be sure to use an indelible marker to label each relay. MH8

FALL 2026

24VAC

R2 R1-1

R3-2 N.C.

normally open relay contact normally closed relay contact

RCR-2 N.C.

relay coil

Figure 5. Example of a relay, an OMRON G2R-1-S with a 24VAC coil and contacts rated up to 10 amps.

multi-zone relay center

RCR-1

pole #

L N

24VAC

normally closed

R3-1

RCR-2 N.C.

zone 2

zone 1

R2-1

boiler heat enable

RCR

air handler zone

slab heating zone

24 VAC motorized mixing valve

Figure 7. Wiring design when using three relays.

Also be sure to leave a wiring diagram, such as the one in Figure 3, with the system documentation so that a future technician can see how the coils and contacts need to be arranged. It’s worth mentioning that the same operating logic could be done using three relays rather than the 4 (SPDT) relays shown in Figure 3. However, one of those relays must be at least a double pole/ double throw (DPDT) relay. They’re available but are considerably more expensive than the (SPDT) relays mentioned earlier. Figure 7 shows the required wiring using three relays.

FINAL THOUGHTS If you apply this technique be sure the zones in the multi-zone relay centre are not configured for priority operation. Relays other than those mentioned above, but with equivalent functionality, could be used. Be sure that the coil voltages for the relays are correct and ensure the current rating of the relays is suitable to handle the current required by the circulators. I suggest wiring the relays as shown in MODERN HYDRONICS

the schematics and testing the operation of the overall control system prior to installing it on-site. Load toggling is well applied in systems where one of the loads is a high thermal mass heat emitter such as a heated floor slab. The thermal mass of a heated slab tends to dampen out “pulsed” heat inputs with virtually no noticeable effects on comfort. Pulsed heat input to low thermal mass heat emitters such as the air handler will be more noticeable. Still, as long as those low mass emitters can deliver the heating energy needed by the space averaged over a period of perhaps an hour, the average interior temperature should not vary more than it would with any low mass emitter operated by a thermostat. <> John Siegenthaler, P.E., has over 40 years of experience designing modern hydronic heating systems and is the author of Modern Hydronic Heating (4th edition) and Heating with Renewable Energy (visit hydronicpros.com). WWW.HPACMAG.COM

CASE STUDY

Modern Hydronics

This custom 4,000 sq. ft. modern house uses indoor radiant heating and cooling.

COOLING UNDER CONTROL A custom home built near Vernon, B.C. performs as a showcase for air-to-water heating and cooling in a Canadian climate. BY DOUG PICKLYK

ALL IMAGES COURTESY TEKMAR

ollowing over 20 years of working as a contractor in Canada, selling, designing, installing and servicing geothermal systems coupled with hydronics in boutique homes in the Nelson, B.C. area, around four years ago Scott Grimshaw (a native New Zealander) launched a product distribution and design consulting company, Granite Geohyrdronic Supply, with the goal of educating the market on how to design modern mechanical systems using heat pumps for hydronic heating and cooling. Grimshaw established his new distribution business in Coldstream, B.C., a municipality directly southeast of Vernon and located at the northern end of Kalamalka Lake in the Okanagan Valley. The relocation also initiated the conWWW.HPACMAG.COM

struction of his family home, a custombuilt 4,000 sq. ft. two-level house on a hill overlooking the lake. A modern design in many ways, the building envelope approached passive house levels with an air leakage rate of close to 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 pascals (0.6 ACH50), and for the mechanical system he installed an air-towater heat pump feeding in-floor radiant on both levels along with fan coils to supplement heating and cooling and also provide the necessary humidity control. “When we were building this house, I decided to put a system in that could be a showcase for young contractors and builders,” says Grimshaw. With plenty of glazing and full southwest exposure on both levels, he notes that it made a great MODERN HYDRONICS

test case for this kind of heating and cooling system.

SHOWCASE PROJECT His project also served as a way to display the products he was distributing, and it also turned out to be a perfect test site for a prototype of the Smart Heat Pump Control 291 being developed by Tekmar (headquartered in Vernon), a product line Granite also represents. As an Enertech distributor, Grimshaw selected that company’s Advantage airto-water system for the project. The heat pump’s outdoor monobloc unit connects to an indoor hydro box with water lines, and then out to the zones. With an inverter driven compressor in the outdoor unit and a variable speed Continued on MH10 FALL 2026

MH9

CASE STUDY

The home uses a monobloc air-to-water heat pump to supply the hot and cold water for the hydronic heating and cooling.

Smart Mix and Smart Heat Pump controls are mounted on the side wall. The floor standing boiler is for the swimming pool.

These well-insulated branches (right) lead to the fan coils, and in cooling mode deliver the coolest water available to help condense and remove humidity from the air.

circulator and a pressure-independent bypass on the indoor control, the system can self-adjust its heating and cooling output to the load requirements, and because of this it doesn’t require a

buffer tank to avoid short cycling potential. A space saving benefit for the mechanical room. For the in-floor radiant, there are eight zones (four on each level), and the design

MH10

FALL 2026

MODERN HYDRONICS

called for three inches of insulation under the lower level four-inch slab. On the upper floor the tubing was encased in a twoinch pour. The PEX is layed out with six-inch spacing on centre. Both levels were covered with engineered hardwood. “I’ve traditionally used six-inch spacing everywhere, and it works well with cooling because you get that even output,” says Grimshaw. To complement the radiant systems, he installed Jaga fan coils (another brand he represents) to provide second stage heating and cooling and manage the humidity when cooling. In some areas two zones share one fan coil (two downstairs bedrooms) and in the downstairs open space there’s a wall mounted panel radiator with a blower fan and condensate drain that takes care of that space. The primary bedroom suite has a fan coil mounted in a bulkhead in the closet, along with a duct into the bathroom. Grimshaw notes that you don’t use radiant floor cooling in bathrooms because WWW.HPACMAG.COM

Modern Hydronics there’s too much humidity created. In those zones the floor cooling is turned off at the controls. The kitchen space on the upper floor has two ducts feeding an architecturally attractive long slot grill that satisfies the main floor, kitchen, dining and living area. “I always wanted a slot grill,” says Grimshaw. The house has an ERV system, but it’s separate from the heating/cooling mechanics. The mechanical room also includes a Viessmann high mass boiler used primarily for the swimming pool. It was Grimshaw’s first pool, and he wanted to be able keep the temperature almost hot tub hot like, and he wanted to be able to keep swimming in the winter months.

COOLING CONTROL The system incorporates Tekmar’s new smart heat pump control that is also connected to Tekmar thermostats, zone valve controls and a smart mixing con-

trol. The controls allow remote monitoring via a mobile app. While hydronic heating controls have become straight forward for experienced hydronics techs, it’s the move to cooling that requires additional considerations. For first stage cooling in the house, the zone thermostats initiate the radiant in floor system, but if the temperature inside increases and the radiant cooling can’t keep up, stage two brings on the fan coils. “We can have preset fan speeds on how much we want those fan coil motors to blow,” says Grimshaw. As mentioned, the fan coils also serve to remove humidity from the air to prevent condensation inside the home. “The thermostats basically measure and control room temperature and relative humidity,” explains Mercedeh Fallahkhair, senior product manager with Tekmar. “Using these values, the thermostats calculate the rooms’ dew point tempera-

ture, which is where condensation will form on cold surfaces.” The dew point is communicated to the Tekmar smart heat pump control which measures both the outdoor air temperature as well as the heat pump’s supply and return water temperatures. This is where the smart mixing control (Smart Mix 295) comes into play. For the radiant in floor, the mixing control regulates a three-way mixing valve keeping the floor water temperature approximately two degrees Fahrenheit (or one degree Celsius) above the highest dew point reported by the thermostats. “This ensures condensation does not form on the piping, manifolds, or floor surface while still providing effective cooling,” notes Fallahkhair, who adds that the mixing valve is used to both regulate the water temperature to be above the dew point for cooling and for outdoor Continued on MH12

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MODERN HYDRONICS

FALL 2026 MH11 2026-07-30 3:12 PM

CASE STUDY reset during the heating season. “I was really happy about how accurate that smart mix control was able to target temperature for the radiant” adds Grimshaw. Only one mixing valve was required to take care of all the radiant zones on both levels of the home. For the fan coils, there is no mixing required. “We want to run really cold water across those radiators and pull the humidity from the home and drop it into the condensate pan and run that down the drain,” says Grimshaw. There are Belimo two-way valves for the hydronic fan coils. When a thermostat makes that second stage call it closes the contacts and opens the flow to the fan coil, and that is set for whatever flow rate the fan coil requires. Because of the colder water used for this application all the pipes have been well insulated to prevent condensation. The fan coils are also set up for sec-

A fan coil supplies two ducts feeding this long slot grill on the upper floor that satisfies the supplemental cooling/humidity extraction for the main floor kitchen, dining and living area.

ondary heating, plus Grimshaw shares how during the shoulder seasons, on cool mornings when you don’t want to start putting heat into the slabs because

by two o’clock you’ll need cooling, there are settings where if you want a little bit of heat in the house, you don’t put it into the floors, you can provide heating with

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Modern Hydronics only the fan coils. Overall, Grimshaw believes strongly in both the versatility and the comfort provided through hydronic heating and cooling. “Radiant floor heating is a very comfortable system, and I’ve lived with radiant heating systems in every house I’ve built. But I would venture to say that radiant for cooling is as comfortable, if not more, than a regular cooling system that’s blowing air all over the place.”

CONTROLS FIRST Grimshaw recalls the early days of his geothermal contracting business designing and installing systems with hydronics and fan coils and then configuring a bunch of relays to control the system. He now appreciates taking a more controls forward approach, and serving as a test site for the new smart controls for this project made the process much cleaner to install from the start.

He notes that by preparing the controls setup ahead, along with a wiring diagram, allows the rough-in team to wire early (no fishing wires through finished walls) and the journeymen techs also know how many wires are running to each unit. “The controls forward approach is just thinking about the project and piping it how it needs to be piped, wiring it and controlling it, and doing it all up front. And it really creates a lot less stress,” says Grimshaw.

A COOL TREND While air-to-water heat pumps are still emerging on the Canadian residential market, both Grimshaw and Fallahkhair see promising growth for hydronic radiant heating and cooling. “In North America, air conditioning has become an expected feature in residential construction rather than a luxury,”

says Fallahkhair. “Historically, hydronic systems have been viewed primarily as a heating system only, contributing to a decline in hydronic share of the residential HVAC market. Projects such as this demonstrate how modern controls, heat pumps, fan coils and radiant floor cooling can work together as an integrated comfort solution.” Grimshaw agrees, adding that he’s seeing some growth in his market. “It’s the more forward-thinking contractors out there who are willing to look at new designs,” he says. “The nice thing is that we’re showing those young contractors — the ones that used to be just the plumbing and heating guys who would pass on the cooling to the HVAC air-to-air guys — how to become cooling techs. We show them the controls and fan coils and let them know, ‘Hey, you don’t have to give that cooling work away anymore.’” <>

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Modern Hydronics

NTI’s Verta Series of air-to-water heat pumps feature R32 refrigerant and deliver high water temperatures even in low ambient conditions. The outdoor Verta monobloc heat pump requires a wall-hung indoor unit with two options: the Hydrobox, with a 7-in. touchscreen and main control board that includes a 3kW backup heater, a circulation pump and a 3-way valve for DHW; or the Control Box which also has a 7-in. touchscreen and all necessary field wiring. The Daikin ALTHERMA 3 H HT high-tempera-

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ture, air-to-water heat pump includes a monobloc outdoor unit plus an indoor unit with water lines running indoors. The outdoor unit uses

Hydronics Design Studio

R32 refrigerant, and the system operates down

Professional Version 3.0

By Mario Restive & John Siegenthaler

to -28C/-18F for heating. And the leaving water temperature can be up to 70C/158F. It uses

Tw = Tair + (Tin − Tair ) e

(

string segment 1

segment 2

inverter-driven compressors and fan motors,

⎡ ⎤ aL −⎢ ⎥ ⎣ 8.01Dc( f ) ⎦

H L = ⎡⎣α cL ⎤⎦ f 1.75

segment 3

)

q = ⎣⎡8.01Dc ⎤⎦ ( f )(∆T )

and with insulation surrounding the compressor and double sound reduction plates it can operate quietly, down to 41 dBA.

Version 3.0 of the Hydronics Design Studio, a

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Windows-based software to assist with hydronic The Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan WUZ air-to-water

heating and cooling system design, provides ex-

heat pump is a refrigerant-split R32 system that

panded capabilities including: a module that

can provide hydronic heating, chilled water for

calculates pressure drop, head loss, volume,

cooling and domestic hot water. The outdoor

and Reynolds number for user-specified piping

unit connects to the indoor hydrobox with refrig-

strings; a circulator database with over 400

erant lines, and by keeping water circuits in-

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doors the design eliminates the need for glycol

variable speed options; a database of antifreeze

or heat trace. Available in 2-, 3-, and 4-ton ca-

solutions including low viscosity propylene gly-

pacities, the outdoor unit operates down to

col, and more. Updates include improved print-

-30C, with 100% heating capacity down to -15C.

ing capabilities and an extensive help system

It has a leaving water temperature up to

and links to YouTube tutorial videos for each

70C/158F.

module.

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MH14

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TIME OF USE

Modern Hydronics

IMAGE COURTESY OF GRIDWORKS CONSULTING

IT’S ABOUT TIME

Figure 1. A graphing showing wholesale electricity pricing fluctuations for a utility in Maine.

As the industry continues down the road to electrification, there are ways to maximize hydronics system designs and minimize electrical costs. BY JOHN SIEGENTHALER

any utilities in North America are increasing the amount of renewably generated electricity available to their grid. It mostly comes in the form of utility-scale solar photovoltaic systems and large wind turbines. At times these intermittent sources, when combined with base generation, produce more electrical power than needed within the utility’s service territory. For utilities with large amounts of solar PV electric generation these “surges” in available power can occur under sunny mid-day conditions, or perhaps on weekends or holidays when normal electrical demand is lower. For utilities that get power from large wind farms surplus output might occur on windy nights when demand is low but all the multi-megawatt turbines are producing at full capacity. It might seem intuitive that when such “over generation” occurs the solution is MH16

FALL 2026

to shut down some of the generation equipment, but that’s not as simple and quick as turning off a switch. When a wind turbine is not producing power its economic return on investment is degrading, and its contribution to renewably generated electricity is zero. A similar scenario applies to hydropower. The solution is not to curtail generation, it’s to find ways of off-loading surplus power to loads that can accept it. One way to deal with over generation without curtailing renewably sourced electricity generation is to reduce the wholesale cost of that electricity and offer it for sale to other utilities. Some utilities use data for load trends and weather forecasts to establish wholesale pricing for electricity 48 hours in advance. Other utilities can then decide what amount of electrical energy (megawatt•hours) they need, and what price they are willing to pay for that power. MODERN HYDRONICS

This “transactive” approach to grid management has been used for years. It’s also proving to be a key concept for optimizing the use of renewably sourced electricity.

DEAL, OR NO DEAL To entice other utilities to purchase surplus power the utility wanting to sell it sets its “willing to sell” wholesale price for each of the next 48 hours. In some cases that “price” can be negative. That’s right; at the wholesale level there are times when one utility will pay another utility to accept their surplus power. This has occurred in utility districts with abundant solar and wind power generation, and in some cases the negative pricing can last for several hours. Figure 1 shows an example of how the wholesale price of electricity (in $/ Megawatt•hour) can vary (this example is from central Maine). Any portions of the graph below 0 represent negative prices Continued on MH18 WWW.HPACMAG.COM

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TIME OF USE existing oil-fired boiler (retained as backup only) PRV indoor heat pump R-134a zone supplies

(P2) air separator

(P4)

(MV3)

Thp

balancing valves

ECM circulator 0-10 VDC control

zone valves

(T1)

(PD)

1" copper

refrigerant line set

PRV

AB Outdoor heat pump R-410A

anti-condensation valve

(MV1)

1" copper

(P1) zone returns

119 gallon buffer tank

3-way valve allows for recirculation at startup and during defrosting

magnetic dirt separator

20 gallon thermal mass tank for defrosting

make-up water assembly

Tsr

62 gallon exp. tank

valves for testing 2-pipe vs. 3-pipe buffer configuration

ECM circulator 0-10 VDC control w/ internal check valve

discharge (MV2)

charge

air vent w/ isolation ball valve

(Psd)

TANK #3

discharge

charge

temperature sensors

TANK #2

TANK #1

electric elements sparge tubes

Figure 2. A complex piping concept used to take advantage of low electricity pricing.

(LMP = locational marginal pricing). To sell access electricity there has to be a willing buyer and a way to move that power. The latter can be a major constraint for some utilities. The physical limits of the local power grid cannot always accommodate the need to wheel all surplus power.

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING Imagine what you could do with an air-towater heat pump capable of producing water at temperatures of 170F or more, thermal storage, and a retail utility rate that sets the price of electricity on an hourly basis 48 hours into the future. During some of those hours, electricity might cost upwards of $0.40/ kWhr. At MH18

FALL 2026

119 gallon thermal storage tanks (in series)

other times it might be less than $0.07 / kWhr. And at still other times it might be less than $0.00 / kWhr! I suspect your first thought is to purchase the electricity when its price is lowest, convert it into heat using the heat pump, and then store that heat in insulated tanks of water. Well, you’re on the right track, but it gets a bit more complicated. First, there must be assurance that the building being heated by this approach has consistent comfort, regardless of fluctuations in electricity prices. Another consideration is available thermal storage capacity and the associated temperatures (i.e., you can’t store heat at 180F if the heat pump can only proMODERN HYDRONICS

duce 170F). Another is the limitation of the heat emitters (i.e., you can’t drain storage down to 100F, if the heat emitters can’t sustain building comfort using those relatively low water temperatures). Although the overall concept of such a system makes sense, the details of how to control it in an optimal way can be complex. Research is currently underway in Northern Maine dealing with the above multi-variable scenarios, and modern hydronics technology is being used to reduce dependency on fuel oil by leveraging the advantages of this “transactive” management of electricity. The research involves multiple instalWWW.HPACMAG.COM

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRIDWORKS CONSULTING

Modern Hydronics

Figure 4. Electric water heaters used as thermal storage tanks and piped in series.

Figure 3. The oil-fired boiler retained for back-up.

lations in existing “average” homes in central Maine. Those systems have extensive control and monitoring hardware. They were built to demonstrate what’s possible, and the results to date have been both impressive and encouraging. The illustration in Figure 2 shows the piping concept for one of the installations. These systems use high temperature “cascade” air-to-water heat pumps capable of producing 180F leaving water temperature. Those cascaded units have an outdoor heat pump running on R-410A refrigerant that routes refrigerant from its condenser to the evaporator of an indoor heat pump running on R-134A refrigerant. The outdoor unit “lifts” the temperature of the refrigerant from below that of outdoor air to an intermediate level. The indoor heat pump “amplifies” that temperature higher than what a current generation air-to-water heat pump, running a single refrigerant cycle, can create. High enough to transfer heat to water at 180F. One of these cascade heat pumps was retrofitted to a system that had an oil-fired boiler serving 4-zones of fin-tube baseboard. The existing boiler, seen in Figure 3, was retained as a backup heat source. The initial configuration of the system includes a 119-gallon buffer tank, along with three 119-gallon electric water heaters used as thermal storage tanks piped in series (see Figure 4). This series piping configuration allows good temperature stratification. The coolest water is in the lower portion of the right tank, while the hottest water is in the upper portion of the left tank. All three tanks include “sparge tube” diffusers to minimize mixing currents that would otherwise disrupt temperature stratification. The electric elements in these tanks are currently not used, but could be configured to capture low cost electrical energy beyond that used by the heat pump. If used this way they can respond instantly, which is imporWWW.HPACMAG.COM

tant since some transactive electrical offerings might only last a few seconds. Looking back at Figure 2, to put heat into storage the heat pump operates along with its circulator (P1). Motorized valve (MV1) is closed, forcing flow into the upper portion of thermal storage tank #1. Water from the lower portion of tank #3 flows back to the heat pump through motorized valve (MV2). During this time the buffer tank can provide some heat delivery to the distribution system. However, if the buffer tank runs low on heat valve MV1 opens to allow the buffer to be heated from the heat pump. This ensures that comfort is not compromised in the process of charging thermal storage. To remove heat from thermal storage, circulator (P2) operates at variable speed, which is controlled by a 0-10 VDC signal from the system’s controller. The flow of hot water passes through valve (MV1). The heated water from thermal storage can blend with water from the upper portion of the buffer tank as required to maintain a target supply water temperature to the heat emitters. That target temperature is based on outdoor reset.

TINY TANK One “nuance” of many air-to-water heat pumps is that they turn on their circulator 2-3 minutes prior to starting their compressor. During this time the heat pump’s internal controller measures flow rate to verify that adequate and stable flow is present prior to starting the compressor(s). Although this action is prudent in protecting the heat pump against inadequate flow, it can destroy beneficial temperature stratification in the thermal storage subsystem by circulating water from the lower portion of the coolest tank to the upper portion of the hottest tank. One work around is to “recirculate” flow exiting the heat

MODERN HYDRONICS

Continued on MH22 FALL 2026

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TIME OF USE

THE BRAINS Over the last several decades the controls used in hydronic heating systems have ranged from crude bimetal switches, to capillary tube aquastats, to little glass tubes containing a few drops of mercury, and finally to microprocessors. The systems being tested in Maine take it a step further. They use a Raspberry Pi microcomputer as both a local controller and a means of accessing online energy cost and weather forecasting data. That little computer costs about $40. It accepts inputs from several temperature sensors and flow meters and uses that information along with some very specific programing to coordinate the operation of every valve, circulator or other controllable device in the system. It’s also used to log and report system performance information. The Raspberry Pi can’t directly power MH22

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Raspberry Pi™ microcomputer relay board for 24VAC and line voltage outputs Figure 5. A Raspberry Pi microcomputer and a relay board it drives.

24VAC or line voltage devices, but that’s easily handled by using the digital outputs from the Raspberry Pi to drive relays that switch 24VAC and line voltage devices on and off. Figure 5 shows the Raspberry Pi microcomputer and one of the relay boards it drives. You may be thinking, what happens to this system if the Internet connection is lost? The people conducting the research have planned for that contingency. If the Internet connection is lost the system automatically goes into a safe “local control” mode. And if the Raspberry Pi computer fails the system automatically reverts to its original oil-fired boiler mode.

WHY THIS IS RELEVANT Research systems are built to test concepts and find potential “weak points” in those concepts. The process comes down to test, observe, refine and repeat. The systems described above are works in progress. Still, from what I’ve seen so far their operation is impressive. One system was able to maintain stable comfort in a home through nights with -5F/-20C outside temperatures while running the heat pump only during offpeak (low cost) electrical periods. The data indicates minimal variation in the hot water temperature supplied to the zone circuits while the heat pump MODERN HYDRONICS

was operating as well as during on-peak electrical periods up to 5 hours long, when the heat pump was off. I’ve had the pleasure or working with the team that designed, installed and operated these research systems, and in my opinion they are exploring concepts that are far beyond what the current North American hydronics industry deals with on a day to day basis. Continued work on these systems will lead to refinements in both the hardware and software used for transactive energy management. Test results from these systems may eventually lead regulators to approve different electric rate structures that could benefit both the customer and the utility. Those results could also be laying the groundwork for how hydronics technology is applied in the future. These systems also demonstrate that modern hydronics technology is an ideal “media” for leveraging more complex electrical rate structures that benefit both the customer and the utility. <> John Siegenthaler, P.E., has over 40 years of experience designing modern hydronic heating systems and is the author of Modern Hydronic Heating (4th edition) and Heating with Renewable Energy (visit hydronicpros.com). WWW.HPACMAG.COM

IMAGE COURTESY OF GRIDWORKS CONSULTING

pump back into the heat pump until the leaving water temperature is slightly higher than the temperature at the top of the “hot” thermal storage tank. From a piping standpoint this is accomplished using a 3-way motorized valve. Another situation that can disrupt temperature stratification in storage is when the heat pump goes into defrost. During this time the heat pump operates in cooling mode, pulling heat from “something” inside the building, and using it to melt frost on the outdoor coil. For the system in Figure 2 that “something” is a small tank piped so that it’s part of the recirculation circuit through motorized valve (MV3). A 20-gallon tank can supply defrost heat for a nominal 4-ton heat pump for about eight minutes, which is typically adequate to complete a defrost cycle. Other defrosting control scenarios are possible, including temporarily operating all the zones to scavenge heat from the building, or tapping into the thermal mass in the lower portion of the coolest thermal storage tank.

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MECHANICAL SUPPLY NEWS MANUFACTURERS • DISTRIBUTORS • WHOLESALERS

Norm Bajwa, CIPH National Chair for 2026-27.

CIPH RISING The 2026 Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) annual business conference celebrated the strength of collaboration and entrepreneurial spirit. Held at the beautiful (though haunted) Algonquin Resort in St Andrews, New Brunswick, June 14-16, the national association consisting of manufacturers, wholesalers, manufacturers’ agents and associates in the plumbing, heating, hydronics and water systems industry in Canada gathered for three days of networking, education and association business. This year’s theme, “Rising Tide”, was appropriate for a setting along the Bay of Fundy, famous for the highest tidal range on the planet. Rising through the ranks to the role of National Chair for 2026-27 was Norm Bajwa of Bartle & Gibson. Bajwa takes over the role from outgoing Chair, Brent Cornelissen of +osb. Two of the educational sessions offered insights into how organizations are managing in an ever-changing business landscape. The ‘Fireside Chat with Industry Executives’ included leaders from A.O. Smith, Blanco, Rheem, Deschênes Group and Emco. A common message was the importance of being able to adapt and control what you can control. The distributors are placing a strong focus on being able to adapt and deliver on the customers’ changing expectations. HPACMAG.COM

All agreed that despite the integration of AI into their businesses, the importance of human-based values being expressed and embraced both inside the company and outward to customers is vital. A “Fireside Chat with Association Partners,” stressed the importance of industry involvement in advocacy efforts and the required expertise of members to help deliver the right message. Other sessions included, distribution strategy expert Ian Heller sharing how to improve your bottom line by charging based on the value you provide; social researcher David Coletto of Abacus Data revealing the overall mood among Canadians is shifting from one of “scarcity” — do I have enough — to “precarity” — are we safe from outside forces; and the final keynote was an uplifting story delivered by Tareq Hadhad, a Syrian refugee to Canada who, with his family, founded Peace By Chocolate, an awardwinning chocolate making business in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Hadhad shared how businesses receive more value when focusing not on their return on investment (ROI), but rather on their return on kindness (ROK). During the event the association also recognized members with awards: The Canadian Hydronics Council awarded Dan Kirkpatrick, recently retired from Uponor, with the Award of Merit. The annual Golden Leaf Award, presented to a manufacturer who supports the efforts of sales agencies, was presented to FGI Industries. The CIPH Women of Distinction Award was presented to Julie Storey of Boshart Industries. And Barbara O’Reilly of Rheem Canada was presented with the Honourary Life Member Award. Next year’s CIPH Annual Business Conference will be held in Victoria, B.C., June 12-15, 2027. ciph.com

TACO BEING ACQUIRED BY PENTAIR Pentair has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Taco Group Holdings (Taco), the Rhode Island based and familyowned manufacturer of hydronic solutions, for approximately US$1.4 billion. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026, Pentair was originally founded in Minnesota and is now listed on the New York Stock Exchange and headquartered in London, UK. The company’s portfolio of divisions include Pentair Flow (municipal waterworks, industrial, commercial, agricultural), Pentair Water Solutions (residential/commercial water filtration/ treatment) and Pentair Pool (pool/spa solutions). The deal is expected to close in Q4, and Taco is planned to be a part of Pentair’s Water Solutions segment and is will to continue to retain the Taco brand and maintain a presence in Cranston, Rhode Island. pentair.com tacoinc.com

SYSTEMAIR ACQUIRES MISSISSAUGA’S TEMSPEC Swedish ventilation manufacturer Systemair has acquired Temspec Inc., a Mississauga-based manufacturer of decentralized HVAC equipment. Temspec, which has been operating since 1971, specialises in HVAC solutions for multi-storey buildings and schools, with a focus on energy efficiency and noise reduction. The company employs approximately 90 people and posted revenues of around $29 million in its most recent fiscal year. systemair.com temspec.com Continued on p43 AUGUST 2026 | HPAC

< PEOPLE +osb has appointed Anton Novikov as director of marketing, taking on the role following the retirement of Michael Pinet, who spent 24 years with the company. Novikov brings more than 20 years of marketNovikov ing experience, most recently with Masco Canada. Airmax Technologies has added Paul Anderson as west GTA and southwestern Ontario territory sales manager and Joanne Picozzi as eastern Ontario Anderson territory sales manager. Anderson Picozzi brings over 15 years of HVAC and hydronics sales experience, and Picozzi is a bilingual sales professional with more than 20 years of experience in the HVAC and construction industries. The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) has named Olivia Auriat as director of advocacy. A public affairs professional, Auriat has served as a senior advisor to cabinet ministers in Manitoba and Ontario and held various govern- Auriat ment relations roles. Noble Ontario has named Katherine Charles as a profit centre manager at its Hamilton plumbing location and Rickhi Seecharan has joined as profit Seecharan centre manager at Noble’s Rexdale Charles HVAC location. In addition, Chris Donnelly has joined as an account manager at Noble’s Kitchener Wilson location bringing more than 20 years Ismaiel of mechanical and wholesale experi- Donnelly ence, and Moe Ismaiel has joined Noble as an industrial account manager in the GTA, bringing a strong background in MRO solutions, account management and customer relationship development. IN MEMORIAM The Canadian plumbing and heating industry has lost two icons with the recent passing of Bruce Barclay on June 23, and Wayne Bingle on July 1. Both men played invaluable roles as manufacturer’s representatives and leading the industry forward in Canada. Bruce founded Barclay Sales Ltd. in Port Coquitlam, B.C., in 1971 and spent 40 years helping shape the Western Canadian plumbing and HVAC market. He also served as president of CIPH BC Chapter from 1991 to 1993, and he was on Barclay 42

HPAC | AUGUST 2026

Roth has promoted Justin Spaulding to vp of sales – east, and Matt Gibbs to vp of sales – west. Spaulding, with Roth since July 2017, and Gibbs, Spaulding Gibbs since April 2018, have both have played roles in strengthening customer relationships across their respective territories. WaterFurnace has promoted Ryan Johnson to vice president residential and Dean Grunseth to vice president of commercial. The promotions follow Johnson the retirements of Bruce Cole and Paul Selking from those respective roles.

Grunseth

The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) has hired Bianca Kennedy as director of events. Most recently with Papp Newcom Media, Kennedy joins HRAI’s Kennedy internal leadership team to expand its events portfolio. Scott Papp has been promoted to head of revenue growth. He will lead efforts to grow membership, expand sponsorship and increase awareness of education programs. Daikin Applied has appointed Yu Nishiwaki as its new president/CEO. With Daikin for nearly 30 Moe Hirao years, most recently Nishiwaki Nishiwaki served as COO since 2023, and he was previously general manager for Daikin Air Conditioning Italy and vice president of strategic planning for Daikin Applied Americas. In addition, James Moe has been named COO and Hirokazu Hirao is now COO of manufacturing. Moe joined Daikin Applied in 2016, and Hirao has spent over 37 years with Daikin Industries.

the CIPH National Board from 2003 to 2006. In 2008, he received the Honoured Life Membership, the first manufacturer’s agent to receive the distinction. Wayne Bingle, a prominent figure in the industry, leaves a legacy of mentorship and deep professional relationships. Wayne was awarded the CIPH Lifetime Service Award in 2012 as a member of The Morgan Group, recognizing his 40 Bingle years’ service in the industry. He also spent over a decade with Uponor and was known as the “Godfather of PEX.” HPACMAG.COM

MSN >

Continued from p41

ZURN ELKAY ENTERS WATER HEATER MARKET Zurn Elkay Water Solutions announced its intent to acquire Intellihot, a privatelyheld U.S.-based manufacturer of tankless water heating solutions serving institutional and commercial markets. Based in Illinois, Intellihot offers gas and electric tankless water heaters with a focus on energy efficiency and cost savings, including its unique tankless heat pump water heater. “We are excited about Intellihot, an earlier-stage technology disruptor in the tankless water heating market,” said Todd Adams, Chairman/CEO of Zurn Elkay in a media release. Intellihot’s net sales in 2026 are expected to be approximately US$37 million. The transaction is expected to close early in the third quarter. zurnelkay.com intellihot.com

weatherman didn’t disappoint with partly cloudy skies and warm temperatures for another welcome kick-off to summer and a great way for local area contractors to kick-start a well-deserved weekend. noble.ca

Contractors lined up for a Curtis Joseph autograph at annual Noble BBQ.

T-SHIRTS, AUTOGRAPHS AND MORE Contractors from across the Greater Toronto Area flocked to the annual Noble customer appreciation BBQ for great food, the latest t-shirt and an autograph from former NHL goaltender Curtis “Cujo” Joseph. Held on Friday, June 19th at the Noble Ontario headquarters, contractors lineup for the ice cream truck, and the

CARRIER ACQUIRES AI BUILDING AUTOMATION FIRM 75F Minnesota-based 75F, a cloud-native building automation company with integrated artificial intelligence, is now part of the Carrier family. The 75F platform combines wireless sensors, AI-enabled controls, and cloud software designed to reduce installation time and simplify commissioning. Carrier plans to integrate 75F’s auto-commissioning and AI capabilities across its existing platforms, including WebCTRL and its data centre thermal management suite. carrier.com 75f.io

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< PLUMBING

OPTIMIZING PLUMBING PIPING A review of the latest 30 Mechanical Minutes webinar which focussed on the IAPMO Water Demand Calculator and the benefits it’s bringing to plumbing systems. BY DOUG PICKLYK

Webinar participants: (left to right: Doug Picklyk, editor HPAC; Kevin Wong, Canadian codes manager with GF Building Solutions/Uponor; and Toju Omaghomi, research manager with IAPMO.

he plumbing industry keeps evolving, but the way the industry sizes piping in some jurisdictions still relies on methods developed in the 1940s. On Tuesday, July 21st HPAC magazine was joined by Toju Omaghomi, industry research manager with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and Kevin Wong, Canadian codes manager with GF Building Solutions/Uponor for a discussion about the IAPMO Water Demand Calculator, a free tool developed to replace outdated piping sizing methods. This edition of 30 Mechanical Minutes was sponsored by Wolseley Canada, plumbing and HVAC wholesalers with branches nationwide. To gauge the audience’s familiarity with plumbing pipe sizing, upon registration attendees were asked: “How do you size plumbing piping for homes and larger buildings?” The replies ranged from: “We use linear branch lengths and riser heights,” or “We use “Hunter’s Curve, or a modified Hunter’s Curve,” to “We go off past experience.” The results of this poll revealed the ne44

HPAC | AUGUST 2026

cessity of introducing a new method for pipe sizing to the Canadian audience. The Hunter’s Curve, a design tool developed in 1940 by Roy Hunter, has been an accepted method for pipe sizing for generations. Based on the number of plumbing fixtures and the probability of their use, the tool was used to predict the peak demand flow rate for a building, and thus it could help determine the water piping sizes required. In the 1940’s plumbing fixtures used a lot of water, and studies since have confirmed that the application of Hunter’s method today leads to drastically oversizing plumbing piping. IAPMO, the U.S.-based association involved in codes and standards development and industry research, recognized an update was required. As Omaghomi explained during the webinar: “The problem we were trying to solve is, ‘How do we bring the Hunter’s Curve into the 21st century?’” She illustrated how over the years energy policies have mandated that manufacturers decrease the flow rates of faucets/shower heads and gallons per

flush of toilets, etc., so as a result today’s efficient fixtures require much less water delivery. And while the Hunter design curve evaluated the probability of fixture demand at peak times, IAPMO needed to update those models taking into consideration different fixtures with different usage patterns in modern times. “We studied over a thousand singlefamily residential homes [across nine states, 62 cities], and we found the probability of fixture use for six fixtures (shower, dishwasher, sink faucets, bathtub, the toilet and the clothes washer)” noted Omaghomi. From that data they determined the peak hour probability of fixture use, the “p-values.” This data was then applied to multiunit residential buildings, where they found the probability of peak use at the same time decreasing as the number of units increased. Based on these new data sets (peak demand values and modern water flow rates “q-values) IAPMO was able to create its water demand calculator to help plumbers and mechanical engineers in HPACMAG.COM

sizing plumbing piping. As a result of their work, the IAPMO Water Demand Calculator has been in the Uniform Plumbing Code since 2018. The basic IAPMPO Water Demand Calculator is a free fillable Excel file found on the IAPMO website, where users can select type of building (multifamily or single family residential), then input the number of fixtures and adjust the fixture flow rates. It’s currently only available for residential buildings. The calculator will compute the peak demand flow, and it will also display a “Hunter Number,” which is the number of busy fixtures at peak demand given the probability of use. It also provides information on the probability of stagnation during the peak hour.

BENEFITS When asked about the benefits of using the calculator, Wong approached the question by looking at affordability. “If

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you reduce your pipe sizing, you reduce your pump sizing, you reduce your valve sizing, you reduce all the fittings and accessories along the way,” he said, adding, “And you also decrease the amount of wastewater use.” He also commented on the water stagnation issue that came along with oversizing pipes in the past. “The result was more standing water in the pipes leading to less free chlorine in the water at use, water stagnation and potential Legionella. Which is a big conversation in the building code here in Canada and in the U.S.” “So, getting the Water Demand Calculator codified in as many jurisdictions as possible in the U.S. and Canada helps that conversation greatly.” Omaghomi was able to demonstrate (using data collected from 20 multi-unit residential buildings across the U.S. ranging from 8 units to 384 units) that by comparing Water Demand Calculator

outputs to actual usage rates that the actual peak usage was still below the Water Demand Calculator numbers and well below the Hunter’s curve calculations. She shared a specific example of a building in Wisconsin with 88 units. The Water Demand Calculator calculated design flow was 28 gallons per minute (gpm), and the designers added 6.1 gpm for a swimming pool and 25 gpm for hose bibs on the building, so a total design flow of 69 gpm. When looking at data recorded over 19 days, the maximum instantaneous flow rate was 39.9 gpm, and the 99th percentile flow rate was 20.3 GPM. “This is evidence that the water demand calculator is performing as we think it should,” said Omaghomi

CANADIAN EXPERIENCE In Canada, the City of Vancouver has Continued on p46

AUGUST 2026 | HPAC

2026-08-12 3:21 PM

< PLUMBING

IMAGE COURTESY IAPMO

Continued from p45

The IAPMO Water Demand Calculator is a free tool available on the IAPMO website.

embraced the IAPMO Water Demand Calculator, and Wong was able to share what’s he’s learned from their experience. “They started carefully and slowly. They said, ‘Lets try it out with greywater.’” He added that it worked “really well,” and so they upgraded it to plumbing. “So far so good in the City of Vancouver,” said Wong. “I wish there were other jurisdictions that would grab it in Canada, but we’re in the wait and see period.” He then noted that Chris Radziminski, building policy engineer with City of Vancouver, proposed the code change they developed in Vancouver to the national model code committee for the next edition in 2030, and it has been accepted as a proposed change and will likely end up in the public review phase next year. Wong also explained that once a proposed code change gets accepted into the model code review other jurisdictions can choose to adopt the change early. “We’ve seen that happen several times over the last two decades,” he 46

HPAC | AUGUST 2026

“I wish there were other jurisdictions that would grab it in Canada, but we’re in the wait and see period.” – Kevin Wong said, adding that adoption of the Water Demand Calculator could occur in some areas of Canada sooner than later. In the U.S. at least 12 states have adopted the calculator into code along with some individual municipalities. The three main drivers for adoption, according to Omaghomi, are cost savings, water savings and health related issues.

NEXT STEPS Currently the Water Demand Calculator is designed for residential buildings only, and its free version can be found on the IAPMO website along with a user guide, a frequently asked questions (FAQs) section and additional supporting documentation including engineering studies. There is also a Pro version (a paid subscription option) allowing for more elaborate designs with multiple sec-

tions of a residential building. Right now, IAPMO is out trying to collect data for different types of commercial and institutional buildings (office towers, hotels, healthcare, etc.) to continue their research. “We are looking at the peak demand experience in the different buildings,” said Omaghomi, who appealed to the webinar audience (and to the industry at large) to allow IAPMO to monitor their buildings’ usage patterns. “Even in Canada,” she said, “If you have buildings that we can monitor, reach out to us.” The 30-minute conversation was followed by a Q&A session with the live audience. To view the entire webinar (or any of the previous 20-plus episodes of 30 Mechanical Minutes) visit the Webinars section at hpagmag.com, or you can subscribe to the HPAC YouTube channel: youtube.com/@hpacmag. <> HPACMAG.COM

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< REFRIGERATION

COMPRESSOR LUBRICANTS in Today’s Changing World As refrigerants change, the role of the lubricants remains the same and must be respected. BY DAVE DEMMA

HPAC | AUGUST 2026

PHOTO: NADZEYA HAROSHKA/GETTY IMAGES

hen I was employed by a flow control valve manufacturer, I was part of the team that would interview and select mechanical engineering graduates for sales engineer roles. After candidates were selected, they would start a training period which included learning about the basic refrigeration cycle, types of refrigeration applications, the various industries that required refrigeration, and the flow control product line along with account management principles. At some point, the trainees would take a field trip to a local supermarket. Without exception, they were always flabbergasted at the elaborate array of equipment that provided the cooling capacity to maintain the integrity of the perishable food products. Most of them would comment: “I thought there was just a plug-in behind every display case.” They thought the supermarket was full of common refrigerators. While the refrigeration industry (AC and refrigeration) touches every aspect of our lives—and could probably qualify as one of the top five inventions in all of history—it is still quite unknown by the general public just how much this industry impacts one’s daily life. While most individuals who drive a car are familiar with motor oil, air conditioning and refrigeration systems use

an oil that is quite different, yet like any mechanical device with moving metal parts, including air conditioning/refrigeration compressors, lubrication is essential and has one primary function, protect those moving metal surfaces. Without lubricant metal-to-metal contact will quickly degrade machined surfaces, leaving a compressor incapable of performing. In addition, the lubricant also reduces operating friction in the compressor and acts as a seal between the high and low side pressure areas (piston rings sealing the high pressure above the cylinder from the low pressure in the crankcase). Below are important terms related to compressor oils: Miscibility: This is the ability of the lubricant and the refrigerant to mix completely into a uniform solution. One of

the problems with refrigeration compressors is that they pump oil. It would be ideal if 100% of the oil stayed in the compressor crankcase, but that is simply not possible. While piping design and sizing (which will determine suction vapour velocity in the pipe) plays an important role in ensuring the oil pumped into the system returns with the suction vapour to the compressor, if the oil is not miscible with the refrigerant it will not return. For example, refrigeration oils are not miscible with Ammonia. As such, Ammonia systems will have oil drain ports at various locations in the system low side, which allow for draining the oil. This is part of the weekly maintenance of an Ammonia refrigeration system, accompanied with the addition of new oil to the system. HPACMAG.COM

System Temperature Limits

▪ 200F° - or less

Safe oil sump temperature, good oil velocity

▪ 300F° - or less

Safe compressor operation

▪ 310F° to 330F°

Ring and piston wear

▪ 350F°

Mineral oil begins to decompose

▪ 400F°

Alkylbenzene oil begins to decompose

▪ 400F°

POE begins to decompose

Figure 1. Oil temperature limits

Viscosity: This is a measure of the oil’s thickness, or its resistance to flow. There are two units of viscosity ratings used with refrigeration oil: Saybolt Universal Seconds (SUS) is the older measure; ISO Viscosity Grade Number (ISO VG) is the newer measure. With both measuring systems the higher number is a thicker oil. Hygroscopic: The ability of the oil to attract and hold moisture. For example, Polyol Ester Oil (POE) is highly hygroscopic. The typical plastic containers

used for mineral oil are moisture permeable. Storing POE in plastic containers would allow moisture to infiltrate the container, rendering the oil useless. As such, POE is packaged in metal cans. Water does not belong in a refrigeration system. When present, through the process of hydrolysis, POE will decompose into acids and alcohol. Not only does the decomposed oil lose its lubricating ability, the acids can lead to weakening of compressor motor insulation, ultimately resulting in a motor burn.

Following are some of the common refrigeration oils in use: Mineral: Naphthene-based mineral oils are suitable for refrigeration systems using CFC or HCFC refrigerants and have been the standard for generations. For existing R-22 systems, mineral oil would likely be the oil in use. One of the drawbacks in using R-22 in low temperature applications is the resulting compressor high compression ratios and high discharge temperatures. In these applications, it is not unusual to see discoloured oil in the compressor crankcase. Figure 1 is a chart showing temperature limits in refrigeration systems, specifically the temperatures to avoid for long compressor life. It is difficult (if not impossible) to accurately measure the discharge temperature inside compressor cylinders. Compressor manufacturers have determined that the discharge temperature, Continued on p50

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< REFRIGERATION Continued from p49

measured six inches from the discharge service valve, will be approximately 50F to 75F lower than the actual discharge temperature (see Figure 2). To be safe, measure the discharge temperature as outlined above, and add 75F to it. Mineral oil worked well with refrigerants that contained chlorine, but it’s not miscible with modern HFC and HFO refrigerants. Alkylbenzene (AB): A synthetic oil, which is also suitable for refrigeration systems using CFC or HCFC refrigerants. As compared to mineral oil, it offers improved refrigerant miscibility at low-temperature conditions. And, for low temperature R-22 applications it can withstand somewhat higher temperatures before decomposition. Polyol Ester (POE): This has become the standard oil since the introduction of HFC/HFO refrigerant blends. It is also backwards compatible and can be used in systems which used mineral/alkylbenzene oil (CFC/HCFC refrigerants). It is more thermally stable than mineral oil. But, as mentioned above, it is highly hygroscopic. As such, moisture content in POE cannot be removed when a system is evacuated with a vacuum pump. It will require the use of filter-driers (of which high water content filter-driers are recommended). Polyvinyl Ether (PVE): Another synthetic oil which is some-

Figure 2. Measuring discharge temperature.

times used as an alternative to POE oil. It is common in mini/ multi split and VRV/VRF systems. PVE is more hygroscopic than POE oil, but it does not undergo hydrolysis in the presence of water. While PVE is highly hygroscopic, the moisture content in the oil can be removed with system evacuation.

NEW REFRIGERANTS With the new A2L (mildly flammable) refrigerants and the everincreasing application of CO2 systems there are some changes in oil requirements (see Figure 3). While the oil may be changing in systems with newer refrig-

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Refrigerant R-32 R-454A R-454B R-454C R-744 (CO2)

Class

A2L A2L A2L A2L Natural

Application

Air Conditioning Refrigeration Air Conditioning Refrigeration Refrigeration

Oil Requirement POE46 POE32 POE32 POE32 POE85

Figure 3. Recommended oils for new A2L refrigerants and CO2.

erants the same guidelines still apply to maintain the integrity of the lubricant in use. Following are the basic steps to follow. 1. Water in the system will result in oil decomposition and the production of acid. Care should be taken in new installations to ensure that the system is leak free and properly evacuated prior to startup. 2. Oil is the scavenger in the system. If contaminants are present, they will be contained in the oil. During installation, it’s important to flow nitrogen through the piping as it’s being brazed. This will eliminate the formation of copper oxide on the interior walls of the copper piping during the higher temperatures required for brazing. 3. When it is required to open a system to replace a component or make repairs, always replace the filter-drier before restarting the system. Filterdriers are relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of a compressor replacement. 4. High discharge temperature is the enemy of oil, and excessive oil temperatures will result in oil decomposition reducing the ability of the lubricant to perform, and the resulting decomposed oil will serve as a contaminant that can/will prevent control valves from operating correctly. Lack of maintenance in the form of a dirty condenser will result in high discharge temperatures. Worn, shoddy, or improper wall thickness insulation on the suction line will result in higher suction vapour temperature. A 1-degree F increase in the suction vapour HPACMAG.COM

temperature will result in a 1-degree F increase in the discharge temperature. Likewise, an improperly adjusted expansion valve, resulting in higher than normal superheat, will also translate in to a higher discharge temperature. A system running out of design, with low suction pressure, leads to the compressor operating at a higher compression ratio. This will also result in higher discharge temperatures. If an older lower temperature application is still using R-22, its thermodynamic properties will result in higher discharge temperatures. In applications like this, either a mechanical or electronic valve should be used to desuperheat the suction vapour, which in turn will reduce the discharge temperature. These valves monitor discharge temperature, and de-superheat the suction vapour temperature when the discharge temperature is above the mechanical valve (or EEV controller) set-point. If a compressor suffers a hermetic motor burn, it’s likely that acid, oil decomposition, particulate matter (pieces of the compressor), and water will be present in the system. This is the worstcase scenario for a system, as there are several things that must be completed to ensure the system is back in good working order. A. Replace the failed compressor. B. Check motor amperage and oil pressure (on compressors with an oil pump) to verify they are within normal specifications. C. Check voltage supply, all electrical connections and the contactor/ starter condition to verify they are

within normal specifications. D. Disassemble failed compressor (if possible) to gain an understanding of how/why it failed. E. Correct the root cause of the failure, as simply replacing the compressor without correcting the cause will likely result in another failure. F. Most compressor motor failures are the result of a system related, or mechanical related, problem that progressed into a motor failure. G. Replace the liquid filter-drier with a high capacity (for acid and oil decomposition) filter-drier for cleanup. H. Add a properly sized suction filterdrier to aid in the system cleanup. I. Return the next day, take an oil sample, and verify whether acid is still present in the system. J. If acid is present, replace the liquid and suction filter-driers again. While filter-driers remove system debris in time, if the oil is dark brown/black the next day, replace the oil. K. Repeat G/H until the oil sample indicates that the acid level in the system is within safe levels. As I have noted many times in the past, I like to view a technician as a doctor. A complete understanding of the system operation, the component function and operation, a full understanding of the control circuitry, and an absolute fanatical desire to understand why the failure occurred, will result in a successful remedy for whatever problem is faced. This should be the desire of every technician! <> Dave Demma holds a degree in refrigeration engineering and worked as a journeyman refrigeration technician before moving into the manufacturing sector where he regularly trains contractor and engineering groups. He can be reached at ddemma@uri.com. AUGUST 2026 | HPAC

< BUSINESS

PRICING FOR TOMORROW How to stay profitable when costs keep climbing, and why protecting gross margin requires more than raising prices. BY MATTHEW BIRCH

HPAC | AUGUST 2026

inally estimated. Fuel costs continued to fluctuate, and warranty work had quietly increased. None of these items seemed significant on their own, but together they had absorbed much of the additional revenue generated by the price increase. Scott hadn’t made the wrong decision. He had simply discovered an important truth. Pricing isn’t an event. It’s a system. Over the years, I’ve come to believe that protecting profitability through pricing requires three disciplines: (1) building the right price, (2) maintaining that price as costs change, and (3) consistently delivering that price in the field. When any one of those disciplines begins to weaken, gross margins follow.

Fueling up service vans is just one more rising cost to factor into a service business pricing strategy.

busy while unknowingly sacrificing profitability. Strong pricing isn’t about charging the highest price in the market. It’s about consistently recovering the full cost of providing exceptional service while generating the margin required to reinvest in people, equipment, and future growth.

BUILDING THE RIGHT PRICE

MAINTAINING THE RIGHT PRICE

The first discipline is building the right price. Many owners naturally look to competitors when evaluating pricing, but sustainable pricing begins with understanding the true cost of delivering the work. Labour and materials are only part of the equation. Vehicle expenses, payroll burden, insurance, administrative support, training, warranty work, callbacks, non-billable time and shop overhead all contribute to the actual cost of every service call. When these costs aren’t fully recovered, businesses can remain extremely

The second discipline is maintaining the right price. Historically, many businesses reviewed pricing once each year. Today’s operating environment has made that increasingly difficult. Costs no longer move annually. They move continuously. Supplier pricing changes throughout the year, labour markets shift, insurance renewals arrive with higher premiums, fuel costs fluctuate and regulatory changes often increase the overall cost of doing business. Inflation rarely destroys profitability overnight. Instead, it quietly erodes HPACMAG.COM

PHOTO: LAJST/GETTY IMAGES

y early spring, Scott was convinced he had solved his profitability problem. Like many plumbing contractors, he had spent the previous two years watching costs increase from almost every direction. Supplier prices continued to climb. Wages had increased to remain competitive in a tight labour market. Fuel, insurance, and vehicle expenses all seemed to move in one direction. Like many business owners, Scott reached a logical conclusion: if costs are increasing, prices need to increase too. So, he adjusted his pricing. Not dramatically, but just enough to protect his margins. The encouraging part was that customers continued saying yes. The schedule remained full. Technicians stayed busy. And monthly revenue continued climbing. From the outside, everything suggested the business was becoming more profitable. Then his monthly financial statements arrived. Despite charging more than ever before, his gross margin had barely improved. As he worked through the numbers with his accountant, the explanation became clear. Several supplier price increases had occurred after estimates had been prepared. Labour costs had risen again as wage adjustments took effect. A number of larger jobs had required more technician hours than orig-

gross margin one small increase at a time. This is why financial reporting becomes so important. Monthly financial statements are not simply historical records prepared for tax purposes; they provide an opportunity to monitor gross margin and identify trends before they become significant problems. When margins begin to decline, pricing should certainly be evaluated, but it should not be the only area of investigation. Changes in technician productivity, estimating accuracy, overtime, callbacks, purchasing practices and warranty work can all influence gross margin just as much as the selling price itself. The earlier these trends are identified, the easier they are to correct.

DELIVERING THE RIGHT PRICE The third discipline is consistently delivering the price. This was reinforced during a recent conversation with Edmonton plumbing contractor Dan, who shared an observation about one of his apprentices. The young technician had recently completed another year of schooling and was developing into an excellent plumber. He understood the technical work, cared about recommending the right solution for each customer, and he had all the skills necessary to perform the repair. What he struggled with was presenting the recommendation. When it came time to explain the solution and discuss the investment required, his confidence disappeared. Dan smiled as he reflected on his own career and explained HPACMAG.COM

that one of the biggest turning points for him wasn’t becoming a better plumber, it was becoming more confident presenting the right solution and its associated cost. Once he stopped second-guessing himself and simply explained what he believed was in the customer’s best interest, customers became noticeably more comfortable moving forward—even when the repair represented a larger investment than they had expected. That observation highlights an important financial lesson. The most carefully constructed pricing model only achieves its intended result if it can be consistently executed in the field. Customers certainly evaluate price, but they also evaluate confidence. When a technician appears uncertain, customers often begin questioning the recommendation itself. The quoted price hasn’t changed, but the customer’s confidence in the decision has. For business owners, this creates an important opportunity Technical training remains essential, but helping technicians confidently communicate is equally important. Pricing discipline doesn’t end when the estimate is prepared. It ends when the customer clearly understands the value of the solution being presented. Sometimes what appears to be a pricing problem is actually a communication problem. As costs continue to rise, many owners naturally ask whether they should increase their prices again. While that may ultimately be the right decision, it’s only one part of protecting profitability. Equally important is understanding whether the business is recovering its true costs, whether gross margins are being monitored consistently, and whether technicians are confidently communicating the value behind every recommendation. Businesses that consistently protect their margins rarely rely on one large pricing adjustment every few years. Instead, they make smaller, informed decisions throughout the year based on accurate financial information and disciplined operational review. Pricing isn’t an annual exercise. It’s an ongoing financial management process. In today’s environment, the companies that remain consistently profitable won’t necessarily be the ones charging the highest prices. They’ll be the ones treating pricing as a system—one that evolves alongside the business, protects gross margin, and provides the financial foundation necessary for long-term success. <> Matthew Birch is the founder of Legacy Profit Solutions and The Legacy Directory, a curated network that helps business owners build stronger financial teams by connecting them with bookkeeping firms based on verified industry experience. matthew@legacyprofit.ca AUGUST 2026 | HPAC

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2026

Visit event websites for the most current updates and registration details. Modern Hydronics Summit September 10 HPAC magazine’s annual Modern Hydronics Summit returns to Toronto and will be held at the International Centre, near the airport with plenty of parking and easy access. Focused on hydronics, there will be sessions for experienced and novice contractors as well as engineers, along with displays of the latest in products and technologies pushing the industry forward.

IAPMO Education & Business Conference September 13-17 The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) hosts its annual conference at Universal City, California. This marks the 100th anniversary of IAPMO, founded in 1926 in Los Angeles. This year’s event will be a celebration.

AIM/R Annual Conference September 14-17 The Association of Independent Manufacturer Representatives will hold its 54th annual conference in Napa, California. This year’s theme is “The Perfect Blend,” appropriate for an event in wine country.

aimr.net

iapmo.org

modernhydronicssummit.com

HRAI Annual Conference September 20 - 22 This year’s Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) Conference and annual general meeting is being held in Gatineau, QC. Member companies, including manufacturers, wholesalers, contractors, and industry leaders gather for a variety of social and networking events along with a series of informative and thought-provoking sessions on topics of interest for this evolving industry.

ASHRAE Building Decarbonization Conference September 23-25 Now in its 6th year, this year’s conference in Seattle places a spotlight on what works. Attendees dive into proven strategies, case studies, and scalable solutions across a broad mix of building types, including data centres, airports and more. This year’s theme is Decarbonization That Delivers: From Policy to Projects to Performance.

Canadian Hydronics Conference September 24-25 The Canadian Hydronics Conference is presented annually by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) Canadian Hydronics Council (CHC). The two-day conference heads to the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel featuring keynote presentations, technical sessions and a tabletop trade show.

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ashrae.org

hrai.ca

MCAC Annual Conference September 30 – October 2

Kitchen + Bath Canada November 11-12

The Buildings Show December 2-4

The Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada will be heading to Kelowna, B.C for this year’s annual gathering with educational keynote speakers and interactive sessions focused on future trends and developments combined with networking opportunities for colleagues from across Canada.

Kitchen & Bath Canada (KBC) Expo will be taking place at the Toronto Congress Centre and will be attracting both designers and contractors across the country. Now under new ownership, the show is being reimagined to reflect the needs of Canada’s kitchen and bath community.

Held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, this show is designed to attract contractors seeking to discover the latest in trends for the residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial building sectors. The event includes a comprehensive conference program and trade show.

kbcexpo.com

2027

mcac.ca

thebuildingsshow.com

AHR EXPO January 25-27

ISH March 15-19

MCEE April 14-15

The Air conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration (AHR) Expo returns to Chicago to showcase the latest in technology advancements for the industry. Co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI, the expo and conference is the largest of its kind in North America.

Held at the expansive Frankfurt fairgrounds in Germany, ISH is the world’s leading trade fair for the HVAC, hydronics, plumbing and water services industry. Featuring leading edge technologies, the show represents the future for the industry.

Held in Montreal every two years, MCEE Expo is Canada’s largest combined mechanical, plumbing, hydronics, HVAC/R, electrical and lighting expo. The 2027 event at the Palais des congrès de Montréal will feature a 17% increase in floor space.

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