American plumbers have accomplished more in two centuries than the Romans did in 10.

People take for granted devices such as the T&P valve, kitchen disposal, flush toilet and so many of our industry's other useful gadgets that have made lives safer, healthier, more comfortable and convenient.

Every year on March 11, the international plumbing community comes together to celebrate World Plumbing Day. The day aims to spread awareness of the importance of plumbing and plumbers in protecting public health and improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities. 

Tool Tips—August 2018

Tool Tips—September 2018

Tool Tips—October 2018

Tool Tips—November 2018

Tool Tips—December 2018

Tool Tips—January 2019

Tool Tips—February 2019

Tool Tips—March 2019

Tool Tips—April 2019

Tool Tips—May 2019

Tool Tips—July 2019

When it comes to a well pump that has fallen off the pitless to the bottom of the well due to a broken adapter, it can cost a homeowner a lot to fix.

A lot of times a snake cable will just stir up the sludge and I have seen cables in clean-outs or manholes downstream where the pipe is still clogged.

This tool tip made my co-worker and our customer so happy that he made one and wrote my name on it. 

Contractors are a mobile breed — constantly on the move, from job to job. With so much shuffling around, there is more opportunity for human error — tools ending up on the wrong jobsite on the wrong day. When you have inventory tied up across different jobs, in the back of a work truck or van, or in a warehouse on a high shelf that’s rarely dusted, it’s easy for mistakes to be made.

When installing a shower arm or hand held hose wall elbow, thread a ½" coupling onto the male ends and select the appropriate size pipe nipple to use as a lever.

I have been reading a lot of tips about setting toilet bowls. 

We keep super glue on the truck for any time we run into needing an O-ring, but don't have the exact size. 

PEX can be a viable alternative to more traditional materials for fire sprinklers.

The Johnson Controls GRINNELL G-Fire One-Bolt Coupling features a single-bolt design that eliminates alternate tightening.

Now that many jurisdictions across the country are mandating fire sprinkler systems in new-home construction, de-signers need to be aware of the requirements and challenges these systems can face in relation to water meters.

Corrosion in fire sprinkler systems can go undetected until it's too late, causing damage or loss of life. Traditional ITM protocols can accelerate corrosion, but new advancements offer better prevention and monitoring for protecting lives and property.

Eighty-two percent of respondents use digital tools daily to help streamline training and development programs. The majority of respondents within this group recognize the diverse benefits that digital tools offer the skilled trades industry.

You would never send your plumbers into the field without training and tools, right? What about the necessary sales training? Here is a simple 8-step approach that you can weave into your weekly service meetings to boost your team’s effectiveness in promoting add-ons.

If you rely on search engine marketing for calls, you are putting your company at risk because you are relying on the unreliable. Here are eight steps to wean your company off big tech dependency.

Ninety percent of seniors would rather remain in their own homes than move to assisted living, according to AginginPlace.org. Given the costs of assisted living, aging-in-place makes financial sense as well. Yet, many homes are not ready, which presents an opportunity for plumbing contractors.

Why are some plumbers winners, while others struggle? It is not the market, location of the company, the role of government, customers’ attitudes, the availability of manpower or any of the other excuses bandied about. Winning plumbers share a set of intangible traits that affect how they approach the world, how they see the world, and thus, how the world responds to them.

If the country is not already in recession, it appears likely one will arrive in 2023. Here are six ways to turn the downturn into an opportunity.

Scalding in the home or burns from hot liquids is dangerous to anyone, but is a particular concern to the youngest and oldest Americans. Plumbers are charged with protecting the health of the nation. Thus, plumbers can play a key role in reducing the risk, starting with homeowner education.

It is always a mystery why more plumbers fail to emphasize drain cleaning — if they offer it at all. Some think it fails to offer enough revenue. Others think it presents too much low-dollar competition. Here are five solid reasons every plumber should offer drain cleaning.

A product with a "Made in America" label is not necessarily made in the United States. It could be made in Canada or Mexico. Do you want products made in America or the USA?

Here are 46 business proverbs or truths that apply to the plumbing profession, presented in no particular order. Accompanying each is a question every plumbing company owner should ask about his company.

You know him (or her). He is the irrational employee. The irrational employee is usually a good producer or an essential person. Here is how to manage him, instead of letting him manage you.

The current U.S. workforce is comprised of four generations: Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. But there’s one generation in particular that the skilled trades have their eyes on right now: Gen Z.

Many companies within the construction industry are chasing after the same pool of talent. Here are tips for mitigating the workforce shortage.

The trends that shape our industry are changing at a faster pace than ever before.

A successful home service franchise offers sales and marketing systems similar to those employed by large companies. These systems can be easily implemented and replicated over and over again.

Two-way texting, when a customer can proactively text your business and receive a response or have an entire digital conversation, offers a way to bolster client communication and as a result, satisfaction.

As the population grows older, there is a heightened need for affordable plumbing and HVACR systems that offer safety and accessibility.

The future for young women in this industry is now as bright as anyone wants it to be. If a young woman wants to work her way all the way up to the C-suite, the opportunities are there, and that is so exciting to see.

US faces a shortage of 500k skilled plumbers, costing $33bn annually. Plumbing requires rigorous training, creative problem-solving, and meticulous execution. Valuing the critical role plumbers play can address the shortage and pave the way for a thriving water infrastructure.

AI is the cornerstone of innovation in home services, but its true essence is diverse and multifaceted. Bloomberg predicts AI will affect 40% of global job roles. AI's ripple effects will be consequential for paid and organic search.

Every year during May, the International Code Council holds its Building Safety Month campaign to help raise awareness about the importance of building safety and educate the public on how to ensure their communities are resilient and sustainable.

The skilled trades industry is evolving as more Gen Z workers choose trades over college. Efforts to obtain certifications through learning modules and hands-on training are becoming integrated into daily work routines, helping tradespeople build long-lasting careers and enabling businesses to succeed.

Did you know that it only takes 30 seconds to create a deepfake? Deepfakes are AI-generated media that can be made using any device. They can be used to spread misinformation and harm a plumbing and mechanical company's reputation.

In modern construction, the phrase "a worker is only as good as his tools" holds true. To stay competitive, contractors must always seek innovative tools to boost efficiency. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is one such tool.

Every four years, the election season brings a natural decline in customer demand for services. Marketing costs rise as all channels become saturated with campaign spending, and consumer sentiment declines.