Roto-Rooter snaps up two franchises for $20.6 million
The Roto-Rooter corporate entity has been acquiring franchises to “boost productivity, market share, and profitability”
Deirdra Funcheon
Latest stories
Insurers should foot the bill for smart water devices, white paper suggests
Sales of smart water devices “represent a revenue opportunity of more than $160 million by 2030,” according to the paper
National Careers in Trades Week kicks off
A January survey of 500 college and high school students found that 75 percent of teens aged 13 to 18 would consider a trade job over going to college
Trump’s push for 1 million new apprentices is off to a rocky start, critics say
In April 2025, President Trump directed three cabinet secretaries to deliver — within 120 days — a plan “to reach and surpass 1 million new active apprentices”
Meet Kurt Hudson, ACCA’s new chair
Hudson is president of Boston-based LC Anderson, Inc., a commercial HVAC business that he and his brother took over from their father in 2013
HVAC distributor sales rise 4.6% in February
The sales bump is a “welcome sight after low single-digit sales declines during December and January,” per a statement
U.S. skilled trades demand grows 3x faster than professional roles, study finds
“It is now more difficult and time-consuming to hire an HVAC professional and electrician than a software developer”
March’s most popular stories
A price-fixing lawsuit, rebates on the chopping block, industry chatter, and more
Labor Department moves to streamline new apprenticeship programs
The efforts stem from an April 2025 executive order signed by President Trump aimed at reaching and surpassing one million new active apprentices in the U.S., including in the skilled trades
Plumbing wholesale prices stay put in February
U.S. wholesale prices of both plumbing fixtures and residential gas water heaters in February were unchanged compared to the month prior