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Home » Topics » Columns

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Plumber on call

The Hidden Cost of Missed Calls for Plumbers

TomEnglish_headshot.jpeg
Tom English
September 3, 2026

A frozen pipe at 9 p.m. doesn't wait for business hours, and neither does the homeowner calling about it.


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Faucet Components

Beyond Lead-Free: New Priorities in Faucet Component Design

Alicia Garrison Dan Knapp
September 1, 2026

The lead-free transition is entering its next phase, and engineered polymers are helping plumbing manufacturers and contractors balance long-term performance, manufacturing efficiency and sustainability in demanding drinking water applications.


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Engineer with safety gear inspecting red industrial piping system indoors.
Renewable Heating Design | John Siegenthaler

An Open & Shut Case (Part 2)

How a reversible thermal storage system can integrate with heat sources and loads, using strategic piping, controls and temperature management.
John Siegenthaler 200x200 author headshot on a white background.
John Siegenthaler, P.E.
August 26, 2026

Non-pressurized storage systems have advantages and limitations. In applications where cost per gallon of storage is critical, or where it’s otherwise impractical to bring in one or more pressure-rated tanks, a non-pressurized tank combined with the piping and control concepts discussed represents a viable solution to leverage the combination of time-of-use electrical rates, heat pumps, and the unsurpassed comfort made possible by modern hydronics technology.


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Emergency Plumber Near Me EAG Oped

The Click Goes to the Contractor They’ve Heard Of

Jeff Randolph
August 24, 2026

A familiar name can make all the difference when a homeowner needs help fast. That's why building brand recognition before the emergency can give plumbing and mechanical contractors an edge when customers are ready to call.


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lightning strike

Setting Up a Failproof System with an Air-to-Water Heat Pump and Boiler

Many air-to-water heat pumps now include hydronic-side components and system-level controls, but installers still need a backup plan when those controls go down.
John Siegenthaler 200x200 author headshot on a white background.
John Siegenthaler, P.E.
August 12, 2026

Many air-to-water heat pumps are combined with boilers. In retrofit projects, it’s likely an existing boiler; in new projects, it’s likely a mod/con boiler. The boiler can provide supplemental heat during very cold weather. It can also serve as a backup heat source should the heat pump become inoperable.


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Kristen PM Column Graphic

Water Goes Where It Wants To

The job of this industry is to make sure it has fewer chances to get there.
Kristen Bayles 200x200 headshot
Kristen R. Bayles
July 31, 2026

Water doesn’t care about travel plans or escaping the Alabama heat, or whether the right contractor is available before Monday morning. It finds the weak point, and if that weak point goes unnoticed long enough, a small issue can become a much bigger one.


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hydronics systems
Hydronics Workshop | John Siegenthaler

Improving Hydronic Efficiency

Watts the problem?
John Siegenthaler 200x200 author headshot on a white background.
John Siegenthaler, P.E.
July 27, 2026

Upcoming DOE regulations and rising energy costs are creating new opportunities to improve hydronic distribution efficiency through smarter circulator strategies.


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Old Faithful Inn

Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park

Historic charm, noisy pipes and hydronic curiosity at Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn.
Scott Secor
Scott Secor
July 23, 2026

What happens when a heating contractor spends three nights in one of America's most iconic historic hotels? Scott Secor shares observations on the Old Faithful Inn's hydronic heating system, from ornate cast-iron radiators to noisy TRVs and the questions they raised.


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Quality Heating Cooling Plumbing & Electric team

Serving Beyond the Service Call: Building a People-First Trades Business

Why human connection, not hustle or hype, is the real differentiator in residential HVAC and plumbing
Chris Lollini circle headshot updated 200x200
Chris Lollini
Cassie Pound
Cassie Pound
July 22, 2026

In a business driven by efficiency and productivity, Cassie Pound believes the greatest competitive advantage is human connection. Learn how her people-first approach to leadership, hiring and customer service has built a culture of trust that extends far beyond the service call.


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Building contractor looking at data on his laptop

Plugging the Leaks: How to Fix the Data Gaps in Your Plumbing Business

Phil Hotarek 200x200 headshot
Phil Hotarek
July 21, 2026

Understanding where business intelligence leaks occur can help contractors improve cash flow, strengthen margins and make smarter operational decisions.


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