Articles by Kristen R. Bayles

When Ryan Edgington began exploring the value of Oxford Plumbing & Heating out of curiosity, the third-generation owner navigated the sale of a deeply rooted community business while preserving its people-first values. 

I'm grateful my family showed my brother the value of trades. After my great-grandfather's plumbing business closed, my dad became a welder and shared his skills with my brother during many afternoons in the work shed, like an apprentice learning from a master.

Did you know that plumbing apprenticeships can be dated all the way back to the European medieval period? Back in the 1300s-1500s, Masters of trades would take on young, unskilled workers and teach them their craft in exchange for their indentured servitude, wherein they would work for years without pay while they honed their craft.

Stopping the leak is only part of the job. Knowing when to call in a restoration expert can protect plumbers from callbacks, liability and long-term damage.

Across markets, contractors report that moving labor from unpredictable jobsite conditions into controlled fabrication environments is yielding measurable gains: fewer errors, improved safety metrics, and installation timelines compressed from weeks to days.

Franchising offers tradespeople a structured path to entrepreneurship, combining operational know-how, leadership skills and established brands for faster growth and long-term success.

At sea, there’s no backup system for clean water. Every drop must be filtered, pumped and protected — and that’s where plumbers come in. On Mercy Ships’ floating hospitals, skilled volunteers work to maintain these life-sustaining systems, ensuring that the ability to deliver safe, reliable care doesn’t leave when the ship sails away.

Artificial intelligence is being used in a plethora of ways across the trades industry. According to Lynn Wise, CEO of Contractor in Charge, “Plumbing and mechanical contractors are moving past the experimental phase of AI and are adopting practical solutions that integrate directly into their daily operations. These tools are streamlining workflows, enhancing customer service, and boosting profitability.”

Driven by advancements in refrigerants, controls and system design, modern heat pumps are taking on applications once thought beyond their reach — from food service and healthcare to district energy and industrial processes. This evolution is creating new opportunities for engineers, facility owners and contractors to rethink how buildings are heated, cooled and powered.

People from all over the world came together with a shared purpose: to learn, grow, and help one another succeed. I sat with plumbers from Georgia during one session, and over lunch, I joined a group from Wisconsin. We talked about everything from the unique challenges of running a business in different regions to funny on-the-job stories that reminded us all why we love this industry.