Articles by Kristen R. Bayles

Plumbing and mechanical professionals bear more responsibility than often recognized. They ensure building safety, function, and peace of mind for occupants. Every installation, service, or check involves managing expectations, reducing risks, and building trust.

The pandemic's slowdowns are over, but new challenges have emerged, including geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and fluctuating tariffs, highlighting the risks of relying on offshore manufacturing.

Allow your young workers time to learn. Mistakes will happen; turn them into learning opportunities. Do your best to create an environment where questions are encouraged! We all start somewhere, after all. And, most importantly, recognize growth when you see it. Gen-Z workers seem to thrive off of praise, so don’t be shy with it!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.