Plumbing & Mechanical Top Stories

What's the best-paying state for a plumber?

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:30:27 -0400

Plumbing remains a stable and essential career, but the competition for talent is increasing. Contractors who understand regional wage trends and adjust accordingly will be better positioned to attract and retain the workforce they need.

Podcast: Rethinking Upselling

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Editor Kristen Bayles spoke with Blake Turner, master trainer at Nexstar, to discuss the misconceptions surrounding "upselling," and how through a few simple steps — focusing on communication, presenting options, and helping customers make informed decisions — contractors can improve both the customer experience and their business outcomes, without ever feeling like a salesperson.

The air-to-water heat pump summit brought contractors, suppliers, and educators together for hydronic technology

hydronicpros@gmail.com (John Siegenthaler, P.E.) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The air-to-water heat pump summit was held on March 4th in Burlington, VT, and attended by over 120 people.

PHCP-PVF price increases April 2026

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:30:40 -0400

The latest round of adjustments, effective from mid-March through mid-April, reflects that same trend, with measured increases across venting systems, brass and PVF components, HVAC parts, controls and copper fittings.

Can you find the problems with this space heating set-up?

hydronicpros@gmail.com (John Siegenthaler, P.E.) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:00:23 -0400

Can you identify some problems that are likely with this set up, and propose an alternative design to eliminate any such problems?

Amplify the trades: How technology and leadership multiply performance

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

One often-overlooked factor in technology adoption is how the human brain responds to change. We’re naturally wired to seek familiarity and avoid uncertainty, especially in high-pressure environments like the trades. When new systems are introduced without context or preparation, the brain reads that change as a threat, triggering resistance or disengagement. That reaction isn’t stubbornness; it’s human nature.

Truck of the Month: Skagit Plumbing

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:46:41 -0400

Late night show comedian mocks plumbing industry

Kylegargaro@achrnews.com (Kyle Gargaro) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:05:38 -0400

A joke about plumbers on late-night TV is a reminder of a deeper problem the trades have been dealing with for years.

Why retention is the new growth strategy for contractors

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400

How do you grow when hiring remains difficult?

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.

Meet team USA’s plumbing competitor for WorldSkill

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Charlie Goede’s journey from trade school to international competition reflects a new wave of skilled professionals entering the industry

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.

Cold snaps don’t just freeze pipes; they steal hot water

dyates@consultyates.com (Dave Yates) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

A common plea during the recent bitter cold spell: no heat, frozen pipes, frozen underground water service line and sewer lines, too! But, there’s always at least one issue homeowners never expected - running out of hot water when they haven’t had that problem previously.

Job switching drives biggest pay gains in construction, new ADP data shows

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

With skilled labor in short supply, contractors are facing rising wage pressure and a new reality: keeping talent may be harder than hiring it.

Why thermal mass and domestic hot water demand don’t always play nicely together

hydronicpros@gmail.com (John Siegenthaler, P.E.) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

When radiant slabs and high-demand fixtures share a heat source, thermal equilibrium doesn’t always favor the shower.

Podcast: The cost of missed calls

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode of And So It Flows, Kristen Bayles spoke with Jane Blanchard, head of brand and marketing at Service Forge, about a challenge many contractors underestimate: the true cost of missed calls.

As temperatures plunge across the eastern U.S., emergency calls surge

scottsecor@comcast.net (Scott Secor) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

The recent cold weather means one thing for contractors: an increase in calls.

The end of reactive service

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In a data-informed environment, plumbing and mechanical systems become managed infrastructure — visible, measurable and continuously optimized. Contractors who embrace that reality position themselves not simply as technicians, but as long-term asset stewards in an increasingly performance-driven built environment.

World Plumbing Day: The hidden infrastructure protecting public health

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:10:01 -0400

Modern plumbing infrastructure is so embedded in daily life that it is often taken for granted. Yet its impact on global health is enormous.

Code literacy: the contractor's best advantage

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Codes are expanding into areas like resilience, electrification, water quality management and long-term accountability. No longer are they static rulebooks; they’re living frameworks shaping how systems perform over decades.

How do North American and European hydronic systems differ?

hydronicpros@gmail.com (John Siegenthaler, P.E.) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

When comparing hydronic systems designs that are common in North America with typical European equivalents, comparisons reveal details that would be beneficial in either market, but are not “traditional” in one market or the other.

Growing without breaking the business: how mechanical contractors can scale responsibly

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:00:23 -0400

It’s tempting to chase new work without fully evaluating whether the project aligns with operation capacity or financial structure. We’ve all heard, “bigger is better,” after all. However, contractors need to establish clear criteria before pursuing additional work. That includes evaluating a few key factors.

10 Influential Women of 2026 in the Plumbing Industry

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 07:10:00 -0400

P&M highlights ten trailblazers in the industry for Women's History Month.

Beyond flow rates: the structural shift in state-level mechanical and plumbing regulation

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Although lower flow rates and higher energy factors remain central, the bills pending in Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia reveal a more profound structural shift.

The Glitch & The Fix: Troubleshooting hydronic piping mistakes in panel radiator systems

hydronicpros@gmail.com (John Siegenthaler, P.E.) — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Figure 1 shows a hydronic system that’s intended to supply four panel radiators, each with their own thermostatic radiator valve and an indirect water heater from a gas-fired sectional cast-iron boiler. The system is designed using primary/secondary piping. The primary circulator operates whenever the space heating load or the indirect water heater call for heat.

Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Piping products increase – February-March 2026

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:24:47 -0500

The upward pricing trend that carried into the new year is continuing through February and into March, with a steady stream of plumbing, hydronic, HVAC and PVF manufacturers announcing increases. While many adjustments are landing in the low- to mid-single-digit range, several manufacturers are implementing category-specific or “various” increases, with select product lines moving higher.

Your next HVAC upgrade could help your wallet and the planet

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:00:47 -0500

Many professionals are seeing an increase in the demand for more sustainable products and practices in the commercial sector.

Truck of the Month: Plumbing Outfitters

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:40:24 -0500

Designed by Lemon Seed Marketing, Plumbing Outfitters' truck design is inspired by the company's love for all-things outdoors.

Why sales follow-up matters more than ever

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:25:00 -0500

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.

Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs

baylesk@bnpmedia.com (Kristen R. Bayles) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:45:39 -0500

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.