Articles by Dave Yates

Education enhanced my earning potential. I became a more skilled technician, gained knowledge about new and emerging technologies, and became a much more valuable asset to my employers. Throughout my journey, I met numerous mentors in various aspects of the PHVAC trades and established insider contacts that proved to be invaluable.

If you treat a customer well, they will recommend your services to three others. However, if you treat a customer poorly and make them feel cheated, they will spend a lot of time spreading negative feedback, especially on social media.

When I think about renewable energy, solar power is the first thing that comes to mind. There's also hydroelectric power and other forms of renewable energy.

Ah, the age-old question of which came first – the chicken or the egg. If you watch “Loudermilk” on Netflix, you know the answer!

During the AHR Expo in Chicago, I met John O'Reilly at the Uponor booth. He mentioned that he represents Oatey, in addition to Uponor, and I'm interested in interviewing someone there about pipe dope and PTFE tape. John agreed to set me up with someone at Oatey.

As a PHVAC apprentice, I was required to purchase my own tools. With no help from my employers, I remember some mighty thin paychecks. I never forgot the financial strain that caused, so when I became a business owner, I set up tool purchasing accounts for employees and created a supportive work environment.

How do you deal with damaged embedded-in-concrete PEX tubing? Read on to find out the challenge I met and resolved.

There was a time when furnaces and boilers shared equal flexibility in Btu/h input/output and air delivery. It's hard to imagine, right? But times are changing. Will you embrace this change for profit, or cling to old ways as sales slip away?

The AHR Expo was held in Chicago's McCormick Convention Center from Jan. 22-24, 2024. Over 48,000 attendees interacted with 1,875 exhibitors across the North and South Halls, with 527,520 sq. ft. of space for products, technologies, and skill demonstrations.

Luxury bathrooms and kitchens have evolved, and the home improvement market is booming with IT-connected products. People want to control their heating, kitchen appliances, and plumbing products through apps.