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https://vimeo.com/1051782401   Welcome back to our weekly update. Today is January 31, 2025. Here at Mechanical Hub, we are heading into our busiest travel period of the year with a myriad of industry shows to be conquered. On this update we’ll head back down to Vegas as Eric shows us some cool stuff from the Read more

 

Welcome back to our weekly update. Today is January 31, 2025. Here at Mechanical Hub, we are heading into our busiest travel period of the year with a myriad of industry shows to be conquered. On this update we’ll head back down to Vegas as Eric shows us some cool stuff from the Milwaukee Tool booth at the World of Concrete. I just got back from RIDGID in Elyria, Ohio, and Eric shows us a new Bosch Heat Pump Water Heater install.

 

 

New Milwaukee Tools from World Of Concrete

 

 

Um, yeah. With Trump ready to assume the role of President for his second term, albeit not consecutively, other than the renaming the Gulf of America, how much can we “read the room” as to changes in policies, rhetoric or general feeling moving forward to things that relate to the PHVAC industry? We recently caught Read more

Um, yeah. With Trump ready to assume the role of President for his second term, albeit not consecutively, other than the renaming the Gulf of America, how much can we “read the room” as to changes in policies, rhetoric or general feeling moving forward to things that relate to the PHVAC industry? We recently caught with Mark Velentini, VP of Legislative Affairs at the PHCC-National Association, and Charles White, VP Regulatory Affairs at the PHCC-National Association—affectionately known as the “Chuck & Mark Show” by the PHCC—as they have their finger on the pulse of DC.

MH: We can kind of gauge what sort of policies/governance may come out of Trump’s term based on his first term, but how do you think the second time around will affect the plumbing industry in general?

Donald Trump, presidency, energy policy, water efficiency, plumbing, HVAC, trades, cooling, heating, water heating, PHCC

Mark Valentini

VALENTINI: A Republican Congress and administration will bode well on energy policy as PHCC members confront bans and restrictions on natural gas connections and appliances across the country. This will also bode well for tax policy as certain provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 are set to expire which have been beneficial for many contractors, especially when considering Congress revisiting the corporate tax rate and potentially lowering it to 15% down from 21%.

 

 

MH: Does a more deregulated government mean more uphill battles for water/energy efficiency?

Donald Trump, presidency, energy policy, water efficiency, plumbing, HVAC, trades, cooling, heating, water heating, PHCC

Charles White

WHITE: I think the previous Trump Administration showed us uphill battles when agencies were directed to create exempt categories like small cycle dishwashers and such. It is likely that the second Trump Administration will take these actions to the next level by moving to rewrite the underlying legislation. Having said that, the efficiency efforts will then move to the progressive states rather than being federal actions, we will probably not see much regression to less efficient standards and the high population states like California and New York will likely drive the industry to higher efficiency products.

MH: Do you think there may be changes to things like the Inflation Reduction Act or Infrastructure Bill or is that pretty much hands off at this point?

VALENTINI: It is rather early to tell, IIJA has been around for some time now and may be hard to change. The IRA has so many parts, that makes it hard to consider in one piece. Tax credits like Section 25c could be pretty safe but the HOMES and HEARS Acts may not be as safe since they represent almost $9 billion.

WHITE: Most of HOMES and HEARS programs have yet to roll out which could make them a prime target but since they have a low- and moderate-income focus, there may be an optics issue to remove those acts. The issues are complicated, but PHCC has been cautiously supportive of the IRA since much of that program flows to plumbing and HVAC contractors.

MH: What is the climate from your constituency? In other words, what are you hearing about this new election cycle—positivity, negativity or a wait and see approach?

VALENTINI: Positivity but also wait and see. PHCC must be vigilant on workforce policy as the new government may reconsider industry-recognized apprenticeships which risk watering-down training by compartmentalizing it into credentialing—contractors need skilled workers with a holistic skillset, not workers who are certified in a handful of specific tasks.

MH: How do interest rates come into play here?

VALENTINI: Lower interest rates bode well for real estate, which in turn bodes well for new construction, service, and remodeling work.

MH: From what I recall, Trump’s 1st term was pro-trades? Do you have any indication this will continue?

WHITE: While President Trump’s first term had support from the trade’s rank and file, the Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Rule received more negative public comments than perhaps any other rule. Those negative comments came overwhelmingly from those same rank and file workers. Polling data throughout the election shows that the President-elect enjoyed substantial support from skilled blue-collar workers, but his future actions must support their jobs in the workforce.

MH: Does anything change on the union front?

VALENTINI: That’s a sensitive question. I would venture to say that Teamsters and other labor groups that withheld endorsements are reading the room when it comes to their rank-and-file.

MH: Please give examples of any changes/addendums/eliminations to specific policies moving forward, if applicable. (i.e. Clean Water Act)

VALENTINI: We can expect to see legislation on tax reform and energy in the new Congress. Tight margins particularly in the House will require all Republicans to be on board to pass anything.

WHITE: It is possible that the new administration will review regulations that are currently in litigation, like the residential gas furnace rule, and perhaps decide to pull back those rules for revisions. This could also affect decisions on whether to appeal adverse court rulings such as the recent ruling against the DOL Overtime Rule.

Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical (Hiller), the region’s largest residential plumbing, HVAC, and electrical provider, is proud to partner with Toys for Tots to share the joy of Christmas with others. For the past five holiday seasons, Hiller has donated to toys to Toys for Tots with the purchase of each new tankless water Read more

Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical (Hiller), the region’s largest residential plumbing, HVAC, and electrical provider, is proud to partner with Toys for Tots to share the joy of Christmas with others. For the past five holiday seasons, Hiller has donated to toys to Toys for Tots with the purchase of each new tankless water heater. Since 2019, Hiller has purchased over $50,000 in toys to donate to underserved families in our community.

During this special promotion, available from November 1st through the end of the year, Hiller contributes $50 from each tankless water heater sold to purchase toys. And, as a special incentive to homeowners, Hiller offers a $250 Visa gift card with every purchase. In addition to funds raised, the company contributes with an additional monetary gift each year.

Toys for Tots is a non-profit organization launched by the U.S. Marine Corps in 1947. The organization is dedicated to providing new Christmas gifts to children and young adults who may otherwise not receive presents during the holidays. To date, Toys for Tots has supported over 301 million children with over 677 million toys and gifts.

Every December, Hiller’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Jimmy Hiller, and members of the Hiller family gather to shop for a truck’s worth of toys to donate hand-selecting various toys, games, and gifts that resonate with their own families. This shopping spree has quickly become one of the grandkid’s most anticipated Christmas events.

“One of my family’s most cherished holiday traditions has become our Toys for Tots shopping trip”, remarked Jimmy Hiller. “The holidays can be stressful and challenging for a lot of families, particularly in recent years. Through this promotion, we’re able to make sure that parents can create Christmas magic for their children. We feel so blessed to have had the support of our community for so many years”, he continued, “And we want to give back to our neighborhoods that have been so good to us.”

On Thursday, December 19th, the Hiller family met at a Nashville-area Walmart to shop together, hand-selecting new gifts, toys, and electronics for other children to enjoy on Christmas morning. This year’s selections, totaling over $12,000, filled more than 18 shopping carts. This donation, made possible by the community’s support, raises the 5-year total to more than $50,000 in toy contributions since the tradition began.

Hiller was founded in 1990 by Jimmy Hiller, the company’s single employee. Today, the organization includes over 600 “Happy Face” trucks and 880 associates across 18 locations in 7 states.

Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, provides residential and commercial service and repair throughout Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, Northeastern Mississippi, Southeastern Arkansas, Northern Alabama, Northern Georgia, and Northwest Florida. As the homeowner’s premier provider of choice with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, Hiller is Tennessee’s largest residential and commercial plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical services provider. Hiller, a 12-time honoree to the Inc. 5000 List, employs more than 800 associates, boasts a fleet of 600 “Happy Face” trucks across 18 locations, and has responded to over 1.8 million service calls in 7 states. For more information about Hiller, visit http://www.happyhiller.com or e-mail press@happyhiller.com.

HammerHead Trenchless, a leading manufacturer of trenchless installation, rehabilitation, and replacement solutions for underground utility infrastructure, has released the newest addition to their product line: The PortaBurst® PB30X. The PB30X is a portable, cost-effective and efficient method of replacing 2″ to 6″ lateral pipes in a minimum amount of time, with up to 30 tons Read more

HammerHead Trenchless, a leading manufacturer of trenchless installation, rehabilitation, and replacement solutions for underground utility infrastructure, has released the newest addition to their product line: The PortaBurst® PB30X.

The PB30X is a portable, cost-effective and efficient method of replacing 2″ to 6″ lateral pipes in a minimum amount of time, with up to 30 tons of pulling force. “Through extensive research and development, we were able to create a system that is 125 lbs. lighter than its predecessor, while maintaining the same power,” said Mark Randa, Sr. Manager of Research, Development & Engineering of HammerHead Trenchless.

Along with being lighter than HammerHead’s previous downhole unit, the PB30X prioritizes portability and breaks down into three components. According to Randa, this allows for easy carrying into basements and overall transportation of the unit.

Having the PB30X on a jobsite provides versatility as the unit can burst sewer laterals and slit water and gas services. “With a second jaw set and 3/8” cable, this unit can be used to slit plastic and lead water services,” said Randa.

To accompany the new PB30X, HammerHead Trenchless has also released the newest hydraulic control unit, the PB13X. The PB13X comes equipped with a new tethered controller or optional wireless controller to allow the operator to be close to the pit while the control unit is further away. “Our team spent time on with customers on their job sites and saw that flexibility is key to any job site and whether they use the tethered or wireless controller, we now provide that needed flexibility,” said Randa. “Our patent pending jaw system was created to increase speed and efficiency on the jobsite while making the unit versatile to allow for bursting and slitting,” he added.

To continue to provide flexibility to customers, HammerHead is now providing stackable extraction cages and an extended Quick Grip® Burst Head line covering 2-to-6-inch options. “The stackable extraction cages now allow to fully pull in a 6-inch burst head,” said Randa. “And the new burst head line can burst through any fracturable pipe and negotiate 45-degree bends,” he added.

The PB30X, PB13X, and additional components are all available for purchase at hammerheadshop.com

There has been some tough rhetoric coming out of president-elect Trump’s camp regarding tightening the screws on imported goods by implementing a hefty tariff on countries such as China, Mexico and Canada, to name a few. Is this a good attempt to bring more manufacturing stateside? How will this affect the economy? Is this even Read more

tariffs, economy, plumbing, heating, cooling, HVAC, president Trump, China, American manufacturing, construction, Made in America There has been some tough rhetoric coming out of president-elect Trump’s camp regarding tightening the screws on imported goods by implementing a hefty tariff on countries such as China, Mexico and Canada, to name a few. Is this a good attempt to bring more manufacturing stateside? How will this affect the economy? Is this even a good idea? We talk to some industry leaders about tariffs and what it means for the U.S. economy moving forward.

Recently, on the Crosstalk episode of the Make Trades Great Again and Appetite for Construction podcasts, this very topic came up and Andy Mickelson, Mickelson Plumbing and Heating, Missoula, Mont., and Eric Aune, Aune Plumbing, Zimmerman, Minn., were in unison in their view on tariffs. “There will be an impact,” says Mickelson. “Every single item that we touch has some impact from an imported product or good. And to sit back and believe that it’s not going to have a day-to-day impact or a cost increase is foolish.”

“It’s a tax that’s going to kill sales; it’s definitely going to affect us moving forward, especially if we see higher tariffs,” says Aune.

Mickelson continues, “There’s going to be a ‘trickle up’ effect, and along with that we’re going to see a lack of material … we saw brief chunk of this in 2021 when we had the port issues and shipping problems, and you extrapolate that into that into that these items aren’t coming because they are too expensive, how do you get around that? You can’t just flip a switch and just say we’re just going to make it here. We’re not ready for that, and I don’t think that this country is ready to become a manufacturing country. I don’t think there enough people who are willing to work on the assembly line … we can’t get people to sign up right now to become a plumber or an electrician or a data communication person—any of those manufacturing-type jobs are very much so in line with what it means to go out and work with your hands, be in a skilled trade.”

tariffs, economy, plumbing, heating, cooling, HVAC, president Trump, China, American manufacturing, construction, Made in America

So, the back-and-forth debate continues to brew relating to whether instituting tariffs is beneficial to the American economy and the American worker. Dain Hansen, Executive Vice President, Government Relations, The IAPMO Group, says that economists have different views on the topic of tariffs, but the plumbing industry is well-positioned to support continued domestic production of what our country needs—and increase U.S. exports to other countries.  

 “Any policy that strengthens our manufacturing muscle is good for the economy and increases job opportunities in the trades. Programs such as the Market Development Cooperator Program and Standards Alliance at USAID, along with the Department of Commerce’s Foreign Commercial Service, provide vital support to U.S. exporters. We hope the administration will continue backing these programs to ensure U.S. products remain competitive overseas. We continue to monitor the impact tariffs are having on our global industry as manufacturing move locations to avoid these costs,” says Hansen. 

While IAPMO is cautiously optimistic and vigilant, Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) shares concern. “During his campaign, President Trump spoke about his desire to increase tariffs—as high as 60% on Chinese goods, 10% to 20% across the board on all foreign goods, including Europe, and 25% on imports from Mexico, unless they curb the number of immigrants coming across the border. If he’s successful, these tariffs will have an inflationary impact, increasing the costs of production and in turn the costs of products in the marketplace. That’s certainly one of the biggest concerns plumbing manufacturers have right now. 

 “Our stance on this issue all along is that tariffs are harmful to the economy because they increase costs for manufacturers and have an inflationary impact on customers wishing to purchase plumbing products. These increased costs lead manufacturers to provide fewer jobs and they have less money for compensation as well. From an economic standpoint, we see no benefits from tariffs. PMI has always been an advocate for free and fair trade among nations,” says Kerry Stackpole, CEO and Executive Director, PMI.

According to Ben Brubeck, Vice President of Regulatory Labor and State Affairs, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), tariffs are a negotiating tool to renegotiate policies with other countries. “While having a hard time getting materials from overseas, resolving the domestic supply chain is a good thing.”