Items Tagged with 'trends'

Contractors and engineers see a marketplace that is stabilizing, even if margins remain tight. “We remain cautiously optimistic about plumbing industry market conditions in 2026,” says Jason Pritchard, president of the Plumbing-Heating-Contractors—National Association (PHCC). He notes that while uncertainty remains, moderate growth is expected for plumbing and HVAC contractors, though high prices driven by tariffs and inflation will continue to shape consumer behavior.

The 2025 survey asked a handful of simple questions, starting with, “What is your most-used plumbing tool?” Nearly 25% of respondents said Channel Locks, while the majority of other contractors shared that their most-reached-for tool is a set of pump pliers. Adjustable wrenches and screwdrivers, specifically Philips-head, are notably popular as well.

In every U.S. state, including Washington D.C., home services ranked as the top category for new business openings among all categories on Yelp. 

PM Engineer Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke had the chance to speak with several key industry stakeholders about trends and technological developments in the market, including: Greg Nahrgang, vice president, technical services and product development, Charlotte Pipe and Foundry; Adam Botts, product manager for Viega; and Steven Dolejsi, applications engineering manager, IPEX.

Finding, training, and retaining employees will continue to be a challenge moving into next year. With many homeowners still feeling the pinch of inflation, contractors will notice that more potential customers are price-shopping.

There have been numerous studies over the years touting all the benefits of hydronic heating systems, including improved comfort and energy efficiency.