Columns

The TV Strategy That Builds Trust and Makes the Phone Ring

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:30:39 -0400

TV ads can build awareness, but earned media builds trust. Learn how a strong public relations strategy can position your company as the local expert, increase credibility, and keep your business top of mind when customers need to make a call.

Extreme Ownership in the Trades: The Leadership Standard That Changes Everything

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:28:44 -0400

Problems do not go away in business. They are part of the process. But in a culture of ownership, problems become opportunities for leadership. Instead of frustration, you get solutions. Instead of finger pointing, you get growth.

The Marketing Materials Your Sales Team Actually Needs

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 10:00:11 -0400

As companies begin evaluating budgets and planning for the future, many leaders focus on lead generation and brand awareness. While those initiatives are important, it is equally important to examine what happens after a prospect enters the sales funnel.

Visibility Matters for Contractors During Home Improvement Season

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:20:26 -0400

For contractors, summer is the perfect opportunity to build trust and establish themselves as the experts homeowners can turn to when those projects become more complicated and they need professional support. Home service professionals who have already built credibility and visibility are far more likely to earn that business.

The View From the New Desk

bellolih@bnpmedia.com (Hannah Belloli-Oster) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:43:32 -0400

In her first editor's note, Hannah Belloli-Oster shares how a carpenter father, a journalism degree, and a few career leaps led her to Plumbing & Mechanical, and why she's excited to learn alongside the industry she now serves.

The Benefits Package Your Best Technicians Are Quietly Comparing You Against

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In a hyper-competitive market, talent poaching happens instantly. Salary matches provide short-term retention, but fail to build long-term loyalty. The true competitive advantage comes from the daily workplace experience.

Does Buying a Company Make Sense?

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:06:59 -0400

Thinking about acquiring another plumbing company? Growth can be appealing, but an acquisition may create more challenges than opportunities, especially if you plan to sell your business in the near future. Learn why debt, integration hurdles, operational risks and buyer perceptions can impact your company’s value, and what business owners should consider before making a move.

The Hidden Cost of Material Procurement in Plumbing Projects

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

While managing field productivity is critical, many contractors routinely overlook a silent profit killer hiding in plain sight: material procurement.

Clear the Clutter and Make Your Company Ready to Sell

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:29:41 -0400

Whatever the reason, preparing to sell the company you have created and managed is a major decision that requires careful planning.

The Impact of EU Reach on Plumbing Component Materials

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

European Union (E.U.) regulators have concluded that PFAS, which do not degrade in the environment, are a major problem.

The biggest interview mistakes plumbing contractors make with journalists

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

As a contractor, one area you may overlook or may not fully understand is how media visibility can promote your business more effectively than traditional marketing or advertising.

Contractors who respond to punch lists with professionalism — not defensiveness — earn lasting trust

dyates@consultyates.com (Dave Yates) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Sometimes the smartest move on a punch list isn’t proving you’re right; it’s protecting the relationship.

New Mexico's PFAS regulations signal a new regulatory era

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

As the United States (U.S.) States pioneer regulations for trace chemicals, manufacturers, specifying engineers, and contractors must adapt to a new era.

AHR and KBIS/IBS highlighted how AI, efficiency mandates and workforce evolution are converging on the jobsite

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The conversation has clearly moved beyond connectivity for connectivity’s sake, and into something more actionable; and, with new expectations for energy-efficient and low-carbon systems, more necessary.

Building a profitable plumbing business in an uncertain market

chris@reputationigniter.com (Chris Lollini) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The next era of the trades won’t be dominated solely by the most prominent brands or the loudest marketers. It will be shaped by operators who understand efficiency, protect their margins, and invest in genuine relationships.

Navigating the United States perchlorate rulemaking: compliance strategies for the May 2027 final rule deadline

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0500

While perchlorate has been on the regulatory radar for decades, this specific action is driven by a complex legal history.

Trust means more than ever in 2026

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Homeowners are more selective than ever, and in a crowded marketplace, their choice often comes down to which company they trust most. Public relations plays a critical role in shaping, strengthening and protecting your reputation.

Aligning talent strategy with business strategy

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Developing leaders creates leverage for the organization. It allows business owners to step back from day-to-day operations and focus on strategic growth.

Reflections on a year of change: Why the plumbing and mechanical industry continues to deliver

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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

New pipe sizing standard brings critical changes and innovation to building services

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

This new standard will mark a turning point for water supply and sanitary drainage pipe sizing, which together haven’t received a meaningful update since the 1940s.

Beyond the classroom: finding fulfillment in the trades

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Recruit character, teach skill

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

You can teach anyone to sweat a copper joint or wire a circulator pump. What’s much harder to teach is attitude, curiosity, pride in craftsmanship, and the ability to make a customer feel at ease.

When competition becomes community

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Clear waters, clear purpose: reflections on protecting a vital resource

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In nature, water moves in carefully balanced cycles: it falls as rain, runs along streams, and percolates through the soil. Each step in that journey is absolutely critical to maintaining water's life-giving power. Similarly, human plumbing and water systems are designed to replicate that balance.

Ethics in service businesses: Making production-based business models work

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

As many companies adopt growth-oriented language, it’s important to explore the tactical strategies behind it. Key benchmarks to consider include: What roles do we need to fill in the next few years? How do we retain our experienced employees? Who is our ideal customer and how many will we have in three years? What are our projected revenues in 5 and 10 years? Are our plans aligned with healthy gross and EBITDA margins?

For an effective apprenticeship program, it’s critical to invest in tech

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Most crucial of all is developing a strong team of mentors who can help nurture aspiring technicians. This is often where the true value of an apprenticeship program is revealed. Most contractors have at least one veteran tradesperson about whom they would say, "I wish I had 10 of them!"

How a ride-along program can revolutionize plumbing recruitment

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Not every ride-along ends in a hire, and that’s by design. Last year, a candidate with over 20 years of experience applied. On the phone, he nailed every question with the right answer and knew what to say to capture my attention. His resume looked solid, so I invited him for a ride-along. But when he joined our team, the cracks appeared.

Prevention over panic: Educating tenants and customers to avoid costly mishaps

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

A proactive replacement of the garbage disposal months earlier would have eliminated the risk entirely. A routine inspection could have flagged the weak points before they failed. Educating tenants about proper system use — no paint down the drain, ever — might have stopped the problem at its source.

More than a paycheck: why retention starts with respect

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

It’s about clarity and consistency. Are your techs empowered to say no to unreasonable requests? Do they feel supported when a client pushes back? Do your customers understand the value behind your pricing, and the fact that your team isn’t just delivering a service, they’re delivering their skill, time and care?

How plumbers can enable insurable homes and deliver peace of mind for homeowners

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

To help control losses and to make insurance available to certain homes, more insurers are requiring plumbing leak detection devices as a condition of coverage, alongside smoke detector requirements that are ubiquitous throughout the industry.