Articles by Hannah Belloli-Oster

How can contractors can look beyond wages and traditional retirement benefits to build compensation strategies that reward loyalty, leadership, and long-term contributions to the business?

September brings another relatively light round of PHCP-PVF price increases, with adjustments affecting pumps, valves, piping products, and other plumbing-related product categories, with increases from 3% to 30%.

Georgia’s new contractor licensing provision aims to curb misleading advertising by unlicensed businesses while strengthening consumer protections and supporting contractors who meet state licensing requirements.

While this month's announcements were more limited, price adjustments still affected valves, hydronic controls, pipe, supports, water heating products, and other plumbing and PVF product categories, with increases reaching close to double digits for some lines. 

Data centers, AI infrastructure, and large commercial construction are fueling demand for industrial PVF products, even as tariffs, commodity volatility and labor shortages force manufacturers and distributors to rethink supply chain strategies.

As sustainability goals, labor shortages, and connected building technologies continue to reshape the market, valve selection has become more strategic than ever. Manufacturers say successful valve selection requires looking beyond initial cost and considering how the valve will perform as part of the overall piping system throughout the life of the building.

While many manufacturers implemented modest increases in the low-single-digit range, some select product categories saw increases of 10% or more.

Nominations are officially open for the 2026 Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times Top 40 Under 40 Next Gen All-Star competition.