Articles by Kristen R. Bayles

Harry Warren, Inc. directors posing for a group photo in the conference room.

Plumbing & Mechanical 2025 Rep of the Year: Harry Warren, Inc.

A rep agency with small beginnings and a focus on family

June 5, 2025

Celebrating over 50 years of service, Harry Warren, Inc. has been named Plumbing & Mechanical’s 2025 Rep of the Year. Over the years, this family-run agency has grown from a one-man operation into a leading manufacturers’ rep by staying true to its core values: integrity, service and people-first leadership.

Farmer watering the plants, vegetables and seedlings in a greenhouse.

Beyond green: water conservation as risk management

People have seen water conservation as a strictly environmental issue for many years, but things are changing.

Kristen R. Bayles

June 4, 2025

Water conservation has become a critical issue, with over 4 billion people living in water-stressed areas. Effective water management is vital for both commercial and residential businesses to address consumer concerns and comply with regulations.

President Trump signs executive order promoting skilled trades and apprenticeships

This Executive Order aims to modernize the federal workforce development.

Kristen R. Bayles

May 9, 2025

This order aims to help equip the future skilled trades workers of America with the training, knowledge and experience that is needed to increase the number of skilled trades workers and apprentices in the U.S, and to invest in the reindustrialization and economic growth of America.

Young son helping father on the kitchen floor, fix the kitchen sink.

From the Editor | Kristen Bayles

New Editor joins Plumbing & Mechanical Group at BNP Media

Roots in renovation

Kristen R. Bayles

May 5, 2025

Walking into the bathroom of my childhood home, I recall spilling my mom’s dark red nail polish on the white tile floor. Sitting on the edge of the bathtub, I held the flashlight for my dad while he fixed a leaky pipe under the sink.

Behind the Wall: Where smart plumbing gets smarter

Adoption of connected plumbing systems calls for greater cybersecurity awareness and consumer education.

Kristen R. Bayles

May 2, 2025

From smarter water heaters and valves to AI-powered diagnostics and real-time energy optimization, the future of plumbing is here —and it’s connected.