Kristen R. Bayles

According to recent research by Google, 70% of customers now take over a day to decide on which company to go to for both plumbing and HVAC jobs – even worse, 40% take up to a whole week. That means by not following up, you could be missing out on thousands in lost revenue. 

If emergency tariffs are ultimately invalidated and refunds issued, the headline may suggest broad financial relief. However, plumbing contractors and specifying engineers should temper expectations.

Presenting rebate amounts and net costs alongside energy savings over time can shift the conversation from “How much will it cost?” to “What’s this really worth?”

Their focus on culture-first training became the foundation for everything else: technical instruction, soft skills development and long-term career progression.

Data centers are moving faster than ever, and prefabrication is helping them keep up.

To start off the new year, editor Kristen Bayles reflects on 2025, and what's to come in 2026.

How ecommerce, AI-driven consumer behavior, and pricing transparency are transforming HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contracting — and why digital-first contractors are gaining a structural advantage.