pme’s Top 20 Products of 2018

Congratulations to those products on this year’s list. These are based on the number of pageviews on pmengineer.com.

January 28, 2019

#1 Water-to-air geothermal heat pump from Modine

Modine unveils its latest premium geothermal unit, the GeoSync water-to-air geothermal heat pump. The unit harnesses the renewable thermal energy from water just below the ground’s surface (ground water) to heat and cool spaces. Read More >>

#2 Heat-pump water heaters from Bradford White

Bradford White Corp. announces the launch of its new AeroTherm heat-pump water heaters, which now are in production in the company’s plant in Middleville, Michigan. When compared to a standard electric water heater, the AeroTherm heat-pump water heater can save the average household about $300 a year, Bradford White explains. Read More >>

#3 Fire-tube boiler from Navien (AHR Expo Preview)

Navien introduces a new fire-tube boiler line, the NFB, which is designed for residential and light commercial applications. Four models range from 175,000, 199,000, 299,000 and 399,000 Btu/h, each offering a new patented heat exchanger design, ease of installation and service, intuitive interface, advanced controls, and simplified integration with IoT, Navien notes. Read More >>

#4 Side-mounted hinges from Mansfield Plumbing

Mansfield Plumbing Products’ Vanquish toilet features a new seat design with side-mounted hinges. The elongated, SmartHeight bowl is 17” high. A 12” rough-in ensures the toilet fits most spaces. Read More >>

#5 Self-calibration mode tankless water heater from Vesta

Vesta Smart Technology - VST condensing high-efficiency tankless water heaters are built using premium grade stainless steel heat exchangers. The VRP Model comes with a built-in Grundfos 15-58 recirculation pump and SSTL 1/2-gallon internal buffer tank. Read More >>

#6 Hot-water recirculation from AquaMotion

Aqua-Motion’s Aqua-Flash 2018 AHR Expo award-winning hot-water recirculation system offers instant comfortable 90° water at the sink and does not require power/batteries at sink, the company explains. Read More >>

#7 Slot drain option from Watts

Watts introduces the Dead Level Brickslot Grate, a stainless steel slot-drain option available for all 6”-wide Dead Level systems — Ductile Iron Frame (D), Polypropylene Frame (P) and Shallow Channel (S) for cast-in place applications. Read More >>

#8 Water heater shutoff from Taco

Taco Comfort Solutions’ LeakBreaker is a water heater protection device that guards against flood damage and is now available with the company’s eLink wireless technology. Read More >>

#9 Toilet sealing from Sani Seal

Sani Seal’s Tight Seal Elastomer Toilet Gaskets are a change in toilet sealing. This stackable kit can be as thin as 1/4” or as thick as 1” for use on deep or raised flanges. Multiple kits can be stacked for deeper flanges. Read More >>

#10 Hydraulic separator from Legend

Legend’s HS-808 Hydraulic Separator with LEGEND Connect is ideal for mechanical room piping. It functions as a hydraulic separator in a low-loss header and will remove air and dirt to keep the system clean. Read More >>

#11 Compact macerating toilet from Saniflo

Offering a reliable green solution that saves both water and floor space, the SANICOMPACT toilet from Saniflo installs quickly and easily anywhere in the home with no venting required. In addition to handling toilet waste, the toilet also can pump water away from a nearby sink. Read More >>

#12 Tankless water heater from Eemax

Eemax updates its AccuMix electric tankless water heater line with the AccuMixx II, which is ideal for public handwashing applications or other low-flow applications where temperature control is required. Read More >>

#13 Enhanced flexibility PEX pipe from Legend (AHR Expo Preview)

Legend’s Legend Flex Heating PEX is available in 20’ sticks ideally suited for piping from the mechanical room to the heat distribution units. The 20’ lengths are available in tube sizes 1/2”, 3/4” and 1”. Read More >>

#14 High-speed motor from Wolverine Brass

Professional Plumbing Group’s The Beast Garbage Disposal by Wolverine Brass provides a large-capacity, D.C. permanent-magnet high-speed “Vortex”-powered motor operating at 2,600 RPM and two stainless steel swivel impellers, which reduces the jamming and clogging often seen with disposals. Read More >>

#15 Boiler/volume water heater from Laars

Laars’ Pennant line of fan-assisted, modular boilers and volume water heaters is among the industry’s most versatile and environmentally friendly commercial systems for hydronic and hot water applications, the company states. Read More >>

#16 Magnetic boiler filter from Navien

Navien introduces NaviClean, powered by Adey. This magnetic boiler filter is designed to work with Navien NHB boilers, NCB-E combi-boilers and any other boiler systems up to 199,000 Btu/h. NaviClean protects boiler systems by using a powerful permanent magnet to capture high levels of iron oxide, sludge and debris from the incoming water lines. Read More >>

#17 Waterfall sink from Sloan

The SloanStone Waterfall ELWF (Electronic Lavatory Waterfall) sink is ideal for mixed adult and child locations and is ADA compliant. The design provides one or more adult height stations paired with one child-height station. Read More >>

#18 Press transition ball valves from NIBCO

NIBCO notes installers can save up to 75% in installation time with the company’s new press transition ball valves. The press-by-PEX design needs no extra components to transition from copper piping to PEX. Read More >>

#19 Copper push connect fittings from Brasscraft

Brasscraft’s line of Plumbshop products now includes copper push-connect fittings. These fittings can be used with copper, PEX, CPVC and PE-RT. They are easy to install — no soldering or gluing needed. Read More >>

#20 Integrated bidet functionality from Kohler

Kohler’s Veil one-piece toilet offers hygiene and comfort with bidet personal cleansing, an LED nightlight, and hands-free opening and closing. Its dual flush offers a choice of 0.8 or 1.28 gpf. The stainless steel bidet wand offers adjustable spray shape, position, water pressure, temperature, pulsate and oscillate functions. Read More >>

Jurisdictions are adopting the International Building Code 2018 edition and the 2018 edition of NFPA 101: Life Safety Code that adopt the 2016 edition if NFPA 13 by reference. This program will address technical changes specific to corrosion and air vents for the 2016 edition of NFPA 13. A task group concluded that venting the trapped air in a wet system can decrease water delivery time, reduce alarm ring delay, reduce water flow alarm cyclic ringing, and reduce corrosion activity.