What Contractors Want: Rheem Shares Insights on Product Design and Hydronic Trends

Rheem is one of the world’s best-known and most-trusted manufacturers of air- and water-heating products. The parent company of more than 50 brands, Rheem has been at the leading edge of innovation since its founding in 1925, earning a reputation among contractors for performance, reliability and sustainability.

Patrick McLaughlin has been a Product Manager at Rheem since 2020, working out of the company’s Atlanta, GA headquarters. He spoke with CONTRACTOR about the challenge of complexity, the future of the hydronics market, and much more in this recent interview. 

CONTRACTOR: How are you balancing product simplicity with the growing demand for connected, high-efficiency equipment?

Patrick McLaughlin: Our Rheem and IBC boiler product teams believe high-efficiency and connectivity should enhance simplicity, not work against it. Products such as the Rheem FT Series and IBC boilers are designed to deliver advanced performance while remaining straightforward to install, commission and service.

Our approach is to handle complexity internally through intelligent controls and diagnostics, while presenting contractors with clear interfaces, logical menus and meaningful fault information. For larger applications, Rheem ThermaForce and FT™ Series boilers provide scalable, high-efficiency performance with controls that support cascading and system integration without adding installation burden.

Connectivity is applied with clear intent through the IBC V‑10 Portal, which provides secure remote access for monitoring and managing IBC boilers. Through the V‑10 Portal, contractors can view real‑time system performance, receive error and alert notifications, make operational adjustments, and diagnose issues remotely, often eliminating the need for a site visit. Remote visibility into boiler behavior and historical data allows issues to be identified earlier, resolved faster and, in many cases, prevented altogether.

The V‑10 Portal also supports better service preparedness by allowing contractors to “check in” remotely before arriving on site, improving efficiency and minimizing service disruption. Additionally, the platform enables technical support teams to verify settings and assist contractors remotely during setup or troubleshooting, further simplifying complex situations.

CONTRACTOR: What installation mistakes are you seeing most often across your tank, tankless, hybrid and boiler product lines?

McLaughlin: Across brands and product types, most installation challenges stem from flawed system fundamentals rather than the equipment itself. In boiler applications, we have seen issues related to improper system piping, venting, inadequate system flushing or failure to maintain the recommended water quality standards.

Another common concern is incomplete commissioning. High-efficiency boilers require careful attention to gas pressure, combustion settings and control configuration. Skipping these steps can negatively impact customer comfort, system efficiency and long-term reliability. One of the ways we’re tackling this is continuing to invest in clearer documentation, digital tools, and extensive product specific training for both the Rheem and IBC boiler platforms.

CONTRACTOR: Which segments of the water heating and HVAC market do you see changing the fastest over the next five years?

McLaughlin: High-efficiency hydronic heating is undergoing rapid change, driven by tightening energy regulations and increased focus on lifecycle operating costs. Within the boiler market, we expect continued growth in condensing and modulating boilers, particularly flexible platforms that serve residential and light-commercial applications.

Boilers such as Rheem ThermaForce are increasingly specified for projects requiring scalability, redundancy and integration into larger mechanical systems. Across all segments, contractors are seeking equipment that can adapt to a wide variety of applications, including hybrid systems and multi-boiler cascades.

CONTRACTOR: What feedback from contractors has most influenced your recent product design decisions?

McLaughlin: Contractors consistently emphasize the importance of ease of installation, serviceability and long‑term reliability. That feedback directly influences design decisions across the Rheem and IBC boiler portfolios, including improved access to components, intuitive control interfaces and pre-built kits that improve service in the field.

We also hear clearly that familiarity and consistency matter. Contractor’s value working with products they’ve been trained on, trust for reliability and can service quickly. As a result, we focus on platform continuity, using shared components and common SKUs across product lines whenever possible. This way contractors can stock fewer parts, rely on a single brand for replacements and service multiple models with confidence.

Strong technical support, training and documentation are also critical drivers of brand loyalty. Contractors want products that are easy to service, backed by responsive support and consistent from one job to the next. We continue to invest in contractor education and application resources for both Rheem and IBC boilers, helping contractors build confidence, reduce callbacks and stay loyal to brands they know and trust over the long term.

To learn more, visit www.rheem.com.