Plumbing & Mechanical Top Stories - Articles

Editorial Opinion | Kristen Bayles

AHR and KBIS/IBS highlighted how AI, efficiency mandates and workforce evolution are converging on the jobsite

Tech takes the lead

March 25, 2026

The conversation has clearly moved beyond connectivity for connectivity’s sake, and into something more actionable; and, with new expectations for energy-efficient and low-carbon systems, more necessary.

Meet team USA’s plumbing competitor for WorldSkill

Charlie Goede shares how competitions, mentorship and hands-on training are shaping his journey to WorldSkills 2026.

March 23, 2026

Charlie Goede’s journey from trade school to international competition reflects a new wave of skilled professionals entering the industry

Guest Editorial | Mike Prencavage Jr. & Chris Lollini

Building a profitable plumbing business in an uncertain market

Why efficiency, community trust and disciplined leadership are becoming the real growth levers for contractors.

Chris Lollini

Mike Prencavage Jr.

March 20, 2026

The next era of the trades won’t be dominated solely by the most prominent brands or the loudest marketers. It will be shaped by operators who understand efficiency, protect their margins, and invest in genuine relationships.

Contractor's Corner | Dave Yates

Cold snaps don’t just freeze pipes; they steal hot water

Dave Yates

March 20, 2026

A common plea during the recent bitter cold spell: no heat, frozen pipes, frozen underground water service line and sewer lines, too! But, there’s always at least one issue homeowners never expected - running out of hot water when they haven’t had that problem previously.

A construction worker writing on a clipboard

Job switching drives biggest pay gains in construction, new ADP data shows

A 6.6% job-switching pay premium signals deeper labor shortages in construction, and forces contractors to rethink retention and compensation.

Kristen R. Bayles

March 20, 2026

With skilled labor in short supply, contractors are facing rising wage pressure and a new reality: keeping talent may be harder than hiring it.

Hydronics Workshop | John Siegenthaler

Why thermal mass and domestic hot water demand don’t always play nicely together

Hands off!

John Siegenthaler, P.E.

March 18, 2026

When radiant slabs and high-demand fixtures share a heat source, thermal equilibrium doesn’t always favor the shower.

And so it flows - The Cost of Missed Calls

And So It Flows Podcast

Podcast: The cost of missed calls

How missing calls can affect your business, your revenue, and your reputation.

Kristen R. Bayles

March 17, 2026

In this episode of And So It Flows, Kristen Bayles spoke with Jane Blanchard, head of brand and marketing at Service Forge, about a challenge many contractors underestimate: the true cost of missed calls.

Heating Perceptions | Scott Secor

As temperatures plunge across the eastern U.S., emergency calls surge

Cold Calls

Scott Secor

March 13, 2026

The recent cold weather means one thing for contractors: an increase in calls.

The end of reactive service

Sensorization, analytics, and service model transformation is changing the way that contractors react to, and are able to prevent, disruptions of service.

Kristen R. Bayles

March 12, 2026

In a data-informed environment, plumbing and mechanical systems become managed infrastructure — visible, measurable and continuously optimized. Contractors who embrace that reality position themselves not simply as technicians, but as long-term asset stewards in an increasingly performance-driven built environment.