Industry News

Rinnai America Corporation, a leader in innovative, energy-efficient tankless water heaters, commends the U.S. Senate for passing the bipartisan Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution, SJ Res 4, which overturns a Department of Energy (DOE) rule that would have effectively banned non-condensing tankless water heaters. This decision not only protects American jobs but also preserves consumer choice and fosters continued energy efficiency innovation.

Frank Windsor, President of Rinnai America Corporation, stated, “Today’s vote is a significant victory for American jobs, consumers, and energy efficiency. We applaud the Senate for their leadership in safeguarding U.S. manufacturing and ensuring consumers continue to have access to affordable, energy-efficient products that reduce long-term costs. We remain committed to our investment in U.S. manufacturing and innovation.”

The DOE’s proposed rule under the former Biden administration threatened to eliminate hundreds of jobs at Rinnai’s $70 million manufacturing facility in Griffin, Georgia. With the Senate’s support for the CRA, these jobs-and the long-term growth of American manufacturing-are now secure.

Rinnai would like to express its sincere gratitude to all the lawmakers in both the House and Senate who voted in favor of the CRA.

“We would also like to thank President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright for their unwavering support in championing American jobs and manufacturing,” said Windsor. “Their leadership has been instrumental in protecting consumer choice and affordability.”

“Georgia Congressman Brian Jack played a pivotal role in shepherding the bill through both chambers of Congress and in securing Presidential support,” Windsor added. “His tireless advocacy has safeguarded jobs in his district, preserved consumer choice in appliances, and protected energy-efficient products in the marketplace.”

Texas Senator Ted Cruz led the efforts in the Senate to support this critical resolution, and Rinnai is deeply grateful for his leadership.

“Senator Cruz’s unwavering commitment to protecting American jobs, consumers and energy efficiency has been vital in this effort,” said Windsor.

Rinnai extends its appreciation to Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock for their bipartisan support.

“Senators Ossoff and Warnock demonstrated true bipartisan leadership,” said Windsor. “Their dedication to safeguarding Georgia’s workforce and protecting businesses like Rinnai has made a meaningful difference. We are incredibly grateful for their continued advocacy for Georgia’s manufacturing sector.”

Rinnai’s non-condensing tankless water heaters are up to 50% more energy-efficient than traditional storage tank models, providing significant savings for consumers. The DOE’s rule would have pushed consumers toward less efficient storage tanks, increasing costs. Had the rule remained, consumers would have faced a $665 price hike per unit, plus up to $1,000 in installation costs, resulting in an additional $235 million in costs to families, particularly impacting low-income households and seniors.

Rinnai remains committed to providing innovative, energy-efficient solutions that benefit consumers, the environment, and the economy. We are thankful for the Senate’s leadership in safeguarding these important priorities.

I-CON has introduced its new Pro Line, a comprehensive suite of advanced technologies designed to improve water efficiency, enhance security, and reduce operating costs in correctional facilities. The new lineup includes intelligent software, robust controllers, and durable sensors built to withstand the demanding conditions of correctional environments.

At the core of the Pro Line is ENVISAGE® Pro, I-CON’s most advanced water management software to date. The system offers complete control over inmate water usage with real-time pressure and temperature monitoring, detailed reporting, and an intuitive scheduling system. Remote access capabilities enable facility managers to monitor and operate systems from virtually any location, while flexible wired or wireless connectivity supports diverse infrastructure needs.

The Pro Line also features NEXUS® Pro Controllers, designed to operate as stand-alone systems that manage fixture runtimes, lockouts, and settings. Housed in watertight locking cases with conformal-coated components for added protection, the controllers incorporate multi-colored LED indicators for clear status updates. Their support for both wired and wireless networks allows seamless integration into existing systems.

Lastly, the TruTOUCH® Pro LED Sensor indicates a variety of controller statuses for user feedback and diagnostics. Built with durable stainless steel and no moving parts, the sensor delivers long-term performance and proven functionality across more than one million activations. Its remote installation capability—up to 60 feet—provides flexibility in system design.

The Pro Line represents a significant advancement in correctional water management, offering facilities a reliable and innovative solution to optimize performance and reduce maintenance costs.

For more information, visit i-con.com.

Thousands of Pro Partners™ from around the world gathered for innovative industry learning and networking while celebrating 100 years of Rheem®

Rheem®, a leader in the HVAC/R and water heating industry, celebrating a century of excellence, and Ruud®, a part of Rheem’s family of 50 global brands, marked a major milestone, hosting the largest Pro Partner™ International Conference to-date. The event rallied thousands of key partners, with attendees present from around the globe, to embrace the future of HVAC and water heating with the theme “Next Starts Now.” Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas played host from March 31 to April 3.

The conference featured insightful business learning sessions with industry leaders and recognized experts. Presenters included national TV personality, Chip Wade, an in-demand designer and craftsman, and a number one best-selling author, Ryan Leak, who provided invaluable financial training for contractors and business owners. Additionally, Rheem unveiled an exclusive documentary at the conference that chronicled the manufacturing giant’s journey and evolution over the last 100 years.

“Industry partners from across the globe came together to share new product and service innovations, gain actionable business insights and explore opportunities for growth,” said Mike Branson, president, Global Air, Rheem. “As Rheem celebrates its historic 100th anniversary, the strength of our flagship Pro Partner event is a testament to a century of building industry partnerships. The conference had a dynamic energy and excitement about the incredible opportunities ahead.”

This year’s conference was an action-packed event, as it was the first-ever Pro Partner gathering to combine heating, cooling and water heating professionals, highlighting product innovations with a strong focus on cutting-edge developments in heat pump technology. Rheem showcased its Pro Partner Heating and Cooling program as well as the newly transformed Pro Partner Plumbing offering through a variety of educational sessions. With a packed agenda, attendees enjoyed educational sessions, high-level entertainment and immersive networking opportunities. They were also empowered with insights and strategies for success, all aimed at helping their businesses thrive in 2025 and beyond.

“Relationships have been at the foundation of our business for the last 100 years and remain key to Rheem’s and our partners’ success,” said Rich Bendure, president, Water Heating Division, Rheem. “By teaming with our Air Division in our first combined event, we were honored to celebrate our centennial anniversary with thousands of contractors, plumbers, and distribution partners. This incredible experience allowed us to share an empowering vision for our Pro Partners by offering them the broadest array of products, tools and support in Plumbing and HVAC while listening deeply to their feedback. It represents our commitment to investing in the industry’s present and future, because we believe that true success comes from working together.”

For more information on Rheem, visit www.rheem.com and to learn more about Rheem’s centennial celebration, visit www.rheem.com/100.

For additional information on Ruud, visit www.ruud.com.

A. O. Smith, a leader in water heating and water treatment products, has launched its highly-anticipated Spring Tools promotion for valued wholesale channel partners and their customers.

The promotion began on April 1 and runs through May 31, 2025. During this window, contractors will have the opportunity to receive a $25 tool credit when they purchase an A. O. Smith standard gas or electric water heater and a $50 tool credit when they purchase an A. O. Smith heat pump water heater from participating wholesale partners, while supplies last.*

“Our ongoing promotions are designed to give back to our valued customers and further strengthen the important relationships we have with our wholesaler partners,” said Betsy Curran, North America Water Heating director of marketing and customer engagement. “We’ve seen great excitement around the Tools promotion in the past and we are thrilled to bring it back again in 2025”

*For full promotion details and a list of participating wholesalers, visit www.hotwater.com/spring25promo.