For over 80 years, Lochinvar has been a leader of innovation and high-efficiency water heating. The company proudly offers boilers to meet the needs of any application from only a few thousand up to six million BTUs.
The company’s research and development section has been pushing the limits of boiler efficiencies for decades. Now the push towards decarbonization has the company exploring new solutions and new system designs, all while keeping the needs of the professionals who install and service their products top of mind.
We spoke to Robert Wiseman, Lochinvar Hydronics Portfolio Director, about the company’s latest generation of boiler technology. In addition to his more than 20 years with Lochinvar, Wiseman has a background in engineering and product management with a BSME from Tennessee Technological University and a MBA from Auburn.
CONTRACTOR: How has the push toward decarbonization changed the boiler industry’s product-development priorities?
Robert Wiseman: The industry is shifting toward more sustainable and flexible technology, prioritizing high-efficiency gas boilers alongside electric alternatives and hybrid solutions. Manufacturers are investing in R&D to meet regulatory goals while still prioritizing customer needs. Much of the focus during this transitional period is on hybrid systems and improved control platforms that optimize energy use and reduce emissions.
CONTRACTOR: What are you seeing in the mechanical room as contractors begin incorporating electric boilers and heat pumps alongside conventional boilers? (Electrical capacity, controls, space requirements etc.)
Wiseman: These days, contractors are managing more complex, integrated systems. This shift requires attention to electrical capacity upgrades, new control strategies for staging multiple fuel sources and space considerations, as heat pumps can have larger footprints than traditional gas-fired equipment.
Innovative new technologies, like Lochinvar’s Lectrus™ Commercial Electric Boiler, are accommodating for these challenges with user-forward features. Lochinvar’s Smart System™ LCD operating control platform allows for modulation and staging of the elements to operate within the full kW range of the boiler. This process prevents harmful over-cycling and overshooting of the desired system temperature—extending the life of the boiler and saving = money in the long run.
CONTRACTOR: Has decarbonization changed what contractors need to know to properly size, install, commission and service boiler systems?
Wiseman: Alongside the development of more advanced technology comes the need for education and training. Deeper knowledge of hybrid system integration, advanced control platforms and variable-flow technology are all necessary when installing modern systems.
Contractors must stay up to date on evolving regulations and be comfortable with the learning curve of new technologies like heat pumps and electric boilers. Manufacturers are actively bridging this knowledge gap through training resources such as Lochinvar University, which offers hands-on education and on-demand resources.
CONTRACTOR: Do you see the future of commercial heating as a transition away from boilers—or toward more integrated systems where boilers, heat pumps and electric equipment work together?
Wiseman: We see a transition toward integrated, hybrid systems rather than an abandonment of boilers. Gas-fired boilers remain essential for reliability, high capacity and extreme weather performance, particularly in retrofit applications. The future lies in combining the strengths of traditional high-efficiency gas-fired boilers with electric boilers and heat pumps, allowing facilities to dynamically switch between fuel sources to optimize costs, minimize carbon emissions and maintain operational stability.
