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Home » Topics » Plumbing & Mechanical Top Stories

Plumbing & Mechanical Top Stories
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Infographic with PMI's logo and the number of plumbing jobs and the economic impact of the plumbing industry.

Plumbing Industry Adds $442B to U.S. Economy, Faces 550,000-Worker Shortage

Two recent studies find the economic impact of plumbers & plumbing manufacturers, and the projected shortfall of plumbers by 2027.
Plumbing & Mechanical Editorial Staff
August 20, 2026

Plumbing Manufacturers International’s “Plumbing Manufacturing Industry Economic Impact Study” reveals the combined, total economic impact of plumbers and plumbing manufacturers to be more than $442 billion annually, with almost 1.8 million jobs, and over $142 billion in wages. 


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And So It Flows with Mike Rizzuto
And So It Flows Podcast

How Shower Design is Changing

Shower design has come a long way from the days when homeowners simply accepted whichever drain happened to be on the plumber's truck.
Kristen Bayles 200x200 headshot
Kristen R. Bayles
August 18, 2026
On this episode of And So It Flows, Plumbing & Mechanical Associate Editor Kristen Bayles is joined by Mike Rizzuto, National Technical Sales West for Infinity Drain, to discuss how changing consumer expectations are reshaping shower and drain design.
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And So it Flows: Understanding Backflow Prevention with Mike Gaulin
And So It Flows Podcast

Understanding Backflow Prevention

Breaking down the basics, codes, and technology
Hannah Belloli-Oster
Hannah Belloli-Oster
August 17, 2026
From common misconceptions to evolving technology, this episode explores what contractors need to know about backflow prevention, including inspections, repairs, replacements, codes, and selecting the right solutions.
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A contractor and apprentice look over documents on a jobsite.

Why Skilled Technicians Are Harder Than Ever to Keep

Construction hiring has outpaced overall private-sector job growth for more than a decade, but the labor pool hasn't grown fast enough to meet demand.
Kit Dickinson
Kit Dickinson
August 13, 2026

ADP Research reports that workers hired within the previous three months represented 3.6% of construction employment on average between 2019 and 2025. In 2026, that share has climbed to 4.6%, suggesting that hiring activity is accelerating. Even so, bringing new people through the door is only part of the workforce challenge. As competition for experienced talent intensifies, contractors must focus not only on attracting workers but also on creating reasons for them to stay.


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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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Birmingham Small Business Week

The Next Shift in Wastewater Training

As utilities prepare for large-scale retirements, Nyad is building an AI tool to preserve operator knowledge and deliver guidance when newer workers need it most.
Kristen Bayles 200x200 headshot
Kristen R. Bayles
August 11, 2026

For Nyad, success is not measured by removing operators from the process. It is measured by giving more operators access to the kind of guidance that has traditionally depended on who happened to be on shift.


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Georgia Law Unlicensed

Georgia Law Cracks Down on Unlicensed Contractor Advertising

New licensing provision targets unlicensed businesses advertising plumbing, HVACR, electrical, and utility contracting services
Hannah Belloli-Oster
Hannah Belloli-Oster
August 10, 2026

Georgia’s new contractor licensing provision aims to curb misleading advertising by unlicensed businesses while strengthening consumer protections and supporting contractors who meet state licensing requirements.


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drainage pipe

Understanding Backflow: Risks, Regulations and Prevention Measures

Understanding the causes of backflow, Section 608 requirements, testing protocols, and prevention strategies to help safeguard potable water systems.
Rich Anderson CBO
August 7, 2026

Backflow can compromise potable water systems and pose serious public health risks. Learn how the 2024 International Plumbing Code, proper backflow prevention, routine testing, and cross-connection control strategies work together to help protect drinking water.


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Price Increase Image

PHCP-PVF Price Increases: August 2026

This month’s price increases impact products across multiple categories
Hannah Belloli-Oster
Hannah Belloli-Oster
August 6, 2026

While this month's announcements were more limited, price adjustments still affected valves, hydronic controls, pipe, supports, water heating products, and other plumbing and PVF product categories, with increases reaching close to double digits for some lines. 


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Water damage and mold in a room.

When Every Minute Counts: The Plumber's Role in Water Damage Recovery

According to restoration professionals, the first hour after a plumbing failure often determines whether damage remains a relatively straightforward cleanup, or escalates into mold remediation, structural repairs and the permanent loss of furniture, electronics and irreplaceable family heirlooms.
Kristen Bayles 200x200 headshot
Kristen R. Bayles
August 6, 2026

Today's plumbing professionals do far more than repair broken pipes. By connecting homeowners with trusted restoration partners early in the process, they can help minimize structural damage, preserve irreplaceable belongings and guide customers through one of the most stressful events they may ever experience. 


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August 4, 2026

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In this webinar, you’ll learn how to reframe training as a measurable revenue driver by connecting contractor performance improvements to real business outcomes—like increased equipment sales, stronger margins, and greater share-of-wallet.

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