Make Trades Great Again

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? Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

In this episode of Make Trades Great Again, Eric and Andy dive into how artificial intelligence, especially tools like ChatGPT, is reshaping the trades industry. They share personal experiences on using AI for everything from generating heat load calculations and troubleshooting boiler issues to crafting proposals and even coming up with recipe ideas! Tune in to hear how AI is saving time, enhancing productivity, and providing a new edge to everyday business challenges. Plus, a discussion on the pros and cons of AI reliance and a listener question from EJ on handling tricky customer situations. Whether you’re an AI skeptic or enthusiast, this episode sheds light on the future of tech in the trades. Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

Industry trade shows are an awesome way to see the latest new technology, to network with manufacturers and their reps, or even make purchases with some of the best deals of the year. This week the guys ask ChatGPT for a list of important shows throughout the plumbing, hvac and building industries. Why you should attend, where and when they are, are all discussed in this episode. Thanks for listening! Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

Have you sent in a message to the guys recently? This was a fun episode, we tried to get to all the questions, thank you for sending them our way! Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

What do you do when your spouse leaves town for the weekend? The only obvious answer for Eric was to tear out their two tankless water heaters and the boiler so he could start over. But wait, there’s more! In order for this to be called a success it had be finished before Heather returned home after just two days away. Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

The title may be confusing or even misleading. The guys talk about a recent trailer purchase Eric made for the business. It's not anything special but it should help with the workflow. Here's to hoping he made the right purchase! Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

Thanks to longtime listener Will Rutherford for writing in to the show asking our thoughts on taking a job started by another contractor. Also, have you ever walked on a job? You might be surprised who actually has (Andy or Eric?)! Thanks Will! Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

Hey we got caught up in vacation, so here is a throw back from our conversation with Patrick Caldow @caldowplumbing on IG. We'll be back soon with new content! Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

Industry news starts off today's episode with earning report from Lowe's indicating a droopy economy related to home improvements. But don't let that get you down! Eric gives us a recap of a recent Heat Pump Water Heater install. Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

Not every day is great. Sometimes you need to depend on the ones who depend on you. Side note: No mater how much you talk thru a projec and setting expectations before the job, there’s likely going to be some revelations by the customer as they realize how things are different now. After you did the install of the new furnace or water heater etc Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

One of Andy's recent projects takes a turn for the worse when the general contractor decides safety is definitely not first! Warning: This episode is probably cool af and you'll likely be hooked for life on the MTGA podcast! Send us a Text Message. Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

We're so excited and thankful for all the support and reaching this milestone! In this week's episode the guys look back at some highlights from the first four years of the MTGA podcast! There have been many great guests and some big supporters over the years. Special thanks to all who have dropped in, stuck around, sent in your ideas and questions. And thanks to our super fans Jay, Chad, Denver, Pat! Send us a Text Message. Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

"Do you have any advice for couples considering starting a business together?" We had so much fun having the girls join us that we asked them back for another episode and it was awesome. Once again we'd like to thank Sheryl and Heather for putting up with us and for making every day better as we work our way to the top building our business and making this life together. Thank you! Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

Ever think "If only I knew then what I know now" ? We are so pumped to bring you this and the next episode with special Guests Heather Aune & Sheryl Mickelson, the obvious better halves of the MTGA team. Sheryl runs the office and a good part of the business for Mickelson Plumbing & Heating. Heather has done the books for both MH & Aune Plumbing & Heating for over a decade on top of her (former) day job. It was so cool to hear their perspectives as we consider looking back to the early days of starting our business. Send us a Text Message. Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

Milwaukee Tool invited Eric out to see all the new tools available and coming soon to a job site near you. Eric gives us an inside look at some of the new tools and info you might not have seen yet. This episode has a ton of visual info best viewed on the MH Youtube channel Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

You might know Colton as @viking_pipefitter on the socials. You might know him from a training session or trades show when he worked for Viega but do you know how he got his start? This was a fun conversation, we hope you enjoy it! Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

The guys talk stress relief and how to handle the day-to-day stresses of running a small business. Some days are better than others for sure but having one or two things to keep you sane can make a huge difference! Send us a Text Message. Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

The guys are bs'ing about vans again. Should we change the title to the podcast to "Van Talk"? lol Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

The guys talk AI and how they've been using it for work. Scheduling, emails, videos etc. are just some of the ways Eric has put ChatGPT to work for him. Are you using any form of artificial intelligence on the job or in the office for day to day tasks? We'd really like to talk to you about it so text us! Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com

Most would agree it’s a good idea to have options when it comes to supply chain but we’re often loyal to at least one supplier. So, what would make you switch to another supplier? Send us a text Send us your feedback or topic ideas over on our social channels! Eric Aune @mechanicalhub Andy Mickelson @mick_plumb Check out our website: mechanical-hub.com