Demand for hydronic comfort solutions is heating up. According to a report by Technavio, the global market is expected to increase by more than 7 percent from 2018 to 2022, driven by a desire for more energy-efficient and energy-neutral technologies to improve the indoor climate. With more homeowners and building owners looking to advance the technologies in their structures to make them smarter, more efficient, or just more comfortable, it’s in a contractor’s best interest to become proficient in radiant heating and cooling systems to further expand their market — or, to dominate a niche market.

From keeping up-to-date with technology to simply finding folks to lay the pipework, hydronics contractors face a unique subset of challenges within the HVAC industry. Learning to navigate the hurdles make the race to the bottom line smoother and much more profitable. The NEWS spoke with some industry experts to identify the top five challenges contractors face and the steps they should take to make sure nothing stands in their way when it comes to optimizing their workflow rate.

Contractors can find a vast opportunity in selling radiant heat, which is growing in popularity as it gains further recognition by consumers and contractors alike for its unique qualities.

I’ve learned many things in the last 17 years. Perhaps the biggest learning curve for me has been with people. Of course, as individuals, we’re all different.

Here in the Santa Fe, New Mexico, area — and all across the nation, it seems — everyone wants to be “green.”

There are 2.2 million acres of scenic forest in the state of Pennsylvania, teeming with local wildlife and valuable resources. These resources — such as pure water, sustainable timber, and natural gas — need to be managed, preserved and maintained both for the habitats of plants and animals, as well as opportunities for outdoor recreation. Roughly 70,000 of those acres fall within the boundaries of Buchanan State Forest, which is named after the 15th President of the United States James Buchanan.

Sadly, it’s rare to hear about comfort and affordable housing together as one. Too often, there’s a compromise that must occur. It’s usually comfort that gives way to price and ease of installation. Yet, managers of Prairie Meadows, a Section 8 housing community in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, stood firm to make the change. Built in the 70s, the housing complex is undergoing a sweeping retrofit, aided by government funding.

Bosch is conquering the HVACR arena one equipment line at a time. This was evidenced through its broad portfolio of products on display at the 2018 AHR Expo.

Honeywell Intl. Inc. honed in on the connected home during the 2018 AHR Expo while also expanding its already broad portfolio in a number of different market segments, including hydronics, potable water systems, humidification, and IAQ.