Make Trades Great Again

Have we become too complacent when it comes to ordering online?  Its 2025 and yet, somehow and for whatever reason this online supplier is asking for four forms of order verification and signatures upon delivery for regular, everyday plumbing and hvac material orders lol!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanic...

Would you hire someone with zero trade work experience? What if they're in their 30's? How old is too old to start in the trades?  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newsletter sign up: https://bit.ly/MH_email

Are you the low bid? Are you being beat by the low bidder but offering a more complete job, is it apple to apples? This week the guys chat about a recent encounter Eric had on the job with another local plumber.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newsletter sign up: https://...

Our customer's finances are feeling the pinch more than ever as prices are the highest on record. Inflation, tariffs, shipping backlogs are just some of the bigger problems on the product side but a big part of the general population is finding it difficult manage unexpected bills. Eric is now offering financing and Andy is looking into it for his business. Have experience or thoughts to shar...

This isn't a how-to guide, let's get that out of the way immediately.  The guys chat about the accuracy of estimates, whether the price of a job changes when things are missed AND how some companies operate on the "low upfront bid" and tack on the add-ons as the job progresses.  Have experience or thoughts to share? Please do!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a fre...

As supply chains and tariffs are making running our service and construction businesses increasingly more difficult, is there benefit to buying only US? Do our customers care? Are they willing to pay more for products made in the US?    Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channel...

Eric's been working on a plan to partner with local builders for water conditioning in new construction homes and Andy talks about something similar they've been doing with a local general contractor in an affluent Missoula neighborhood.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our so...

Some recent changes to standard operating procedures were in order for Andy's plumbing & heating shop, Eric's making the change too.  Do you work in client's home's when no one is there? Should you? Give this one a listen and let us know what you think by sending us a message using the link below!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at...

New tools are great but new tool bags are awesome! Andy gives us a close look at his latest addition, the Veto Pro Pac Hybrid Tool and Meter bag (SB-LD) This episode is best viewed on the MH youtube channel:  https://youtu.be/RjQVIcKgg7k  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social chann...

Ever wonder how Milwaukee Tool decides what to build next or how they test them? Our guest John Jarzombek is a project manager at Milwaukee Tool. John has personally managed teams developing tools such as the MX Fuel Pipe Threader, the new roll groover, The Ringer and more.  It was fun to have John join us in Orlando at the AHR Expo podcasts pavillion, thanks John!  Text the guys your ideas &...

Are gas absorption heat pumps a viable alternative to the electrification of our heating and cooling systems?  Mike Cameron is a longtime Canadian friend working in Vancouver, BC. Mike installs and services a lot of the GAHP units, some are only prototypes but all are performing impressively.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send...

Building relationships with your local suppliers, reps and sales people is important for the success of your business. Of course it is!  This week the guys talk about a recent discussion happening behind the scenes about sourcing parts for hvac systems, buying local and/or online.  We've talked about this topic differently in the past, thanks for taking the time to listen to this episode, we...

Andy starts off a little spicy in this one. Sometimes the social media comment section is a terrible place!  Thanks to Reed Wiens for writing in to the show, this was a fun conversation!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_...

Thank you all for messaging! This was a fun conversation!  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newsletter sign up: https://bit.ly/MH_email

Chad joins the guys to tell the story of a birthday gone bad and it might be all because of an orange bucket…you’ll have to listen to hear the whole story.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newsletter sign up: https...

Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newsletter sign up: https://bit.ly/MH_email

Andy shares a few things he's observed over the last year that stand out.  Eric is a little nervous when looking back on three specific jobs...are we old enough to be replacing equipment we installed new?  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhu...

Back when we started out it was tough to get the phone to ring. Getting listed on manufacturer’s websites was one way we got our business name out there. Are you doing it?  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newslette...

The guys answer some questions  sent in by listeners  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newsletter sign up: https://bit.ly/MH_email

This episode works best as a video, you can watch it over on the MH YouTube channel https://bit.ly/4g4zYXp Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Newsletter sign up: https://bit.ly/MH_email

This week the guys are joined virtually by the hosts of the Appetite For Construction podcast, John Mesenbrink & Tim Ward. It's that time of year again where we take a look back and even forward into the new year. There was some fun bs'ing as well. Hope you enjoy! Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback...

It's roadtrip time for Andy as he met up with Eric for a super top secret install in Northern MN. You’ll have to watch [or listen] to learn all about the project. If the podcast just isn’t enough you could search the tag “#duluthbuild” on Instagram for more from the project job site.  Okay, J/K....Air-to-Water Heat Pumps are having a time right now, this project had the guys working in Eric&a...

Not all projects are run & organized the same, obviously. This week the guys have a short BS session and talk about a job Eric has coming up and one of Andy's preferred general contractors.  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.propane.com/hybrid  Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mick...

Canadian apprentice Adam Parent joins the guys to talk about his experiences and thoughts bout joining the plumbing trade in Canada.  Adam's experience in both residential and commercial work doing both plumbing and heating new construction, remodel and service have helped him hone his skills and find a place where he's challenged but excited to learn & do more.   Text the guys your...

It's never great when service vehicles break down but it's even worse when local mechanics are out weeks for repairs and parts are hard to track down.  This week Andy retells the story of a relative simple fix for a recent breakdown. How hard can it be to replace a starter on a 2020 Ford Transit anyway?  Text the guys your ideas & feedback! Get a free 2 hour online course at www.prop...