The plumbing trade has come a long way in the last century and a quarter. Manufacturing standards, along with plumbing codes and licensing, have made American plumbing systems some of the most advanced in the world. At the same time, there are many who believe that in some ways the industry has regressed in recent decades. Unprecedented growth in building …

The distinction between labor and management always has been blurred in the plumbing field. That’s because the vast majority of plumbing firm owners come from the ranks of trade workers who go into business for themselves. Small shop owners often continue working with the tools alongside hired help. As a result, master plumbers (owners) and plumbers (employees) have never been …

The forefathers of this organization rallied around the issue of “trade protection.” They sought to restrict the sale of plumbing products by manufacturers and dealers to certified tradesmen. From today’s perspective, that may seem like nothing more than economic protectionism. Back then, antitrust laws were just being formulated to combat the common practice in various industries of companies banding together …

Plumbing is not just a matter of conveying water in and out of a building. Most mechanically adept handymen can figure out how to do that. The tricky part is providing a system that will do so without sewage mingling with the drinking water and noxious odors permeating the building. This is the essence of the plumber’s craft. It takes …

When PHCC got its start 125 years ago, plumbing had just begun to evolve into a trade unto itself. During the 1880s, the transition from outhouses to indoor plumbing was moving at a rapid pace, starting with better homes and commercial buildings. The burgeoning market for indoor plumbing spurred some gasfitters and other metal workers to specialize in this work. …