Make Trades Great Again

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? Send us a text Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 answer some questions sent in by listeners Send us a text Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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

This episode works best as a video, you can watch it over on the MH YouTube channel https://bit.ly/4g4zYXp Send us a text Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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

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! Send us a text Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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

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's in-laws home to connect the Viessmann Vitocal heat pump to a whole home hydronic heating system. Send us a text Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 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. Send us a text Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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

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. Send us a text Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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

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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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

Side note: No mater how much you talk thru a project 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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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 Do you subscribe to the Mechanical Hub weekly email newsletter? It's packed with industry events, new products and more to help you and your business. Subscribe here: https://mechanical-hub.com/enewsletter/ 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