Why Plumbing Licensing Matters in Utah

Licensing in the plumbing trade is not just paperwork.

It protects public safety. It protects consumers. It protects trained professionals. It keeps standards in place so plumbing work is not treated like a side job that anyone with a wrench can take on.

In Utah, plumbing licensing helps ensure that the people working on water heaters, water supply systems, drainage systems, commercial buildings, residential facilities, and mechanical systems have proper training and understand the codes that protect the public.

Licensing also prevents unqualified workmanship, strengthens the industry, and supports ongoing education. It gives plumbers accountability, legal protection, credibility, better job opportunities, and a stronger path toward higher wages.

So what is the purpose and mission of UPHCA, the Utah Plumbing & Heating Contractors Association?

Simple.

Advocating for the industry is the bedrock purpose of this organization.

UPHCA works to protect the plumbing and mechanical trades in Utah by defending licensing standards, clarifying rules, supporting professional contractors, and making sure the people writing laws and regulations understand what is actually happening in the field.

Here are several examples of how UPHCA has advocated for Utah plumbing contractors, mechanical contractors, and the communities they serve.

Why Utah Plumbing Licensing Matters

Plumbing is tied directly to public health and safety.

When plumbing is done wrong, the problems do not always show up immediately. A bad installation can create leaks, water damage, contamination risks, drainage problems, gas safety concerns, failed inspections, and expensive repairs later.

That is why Utah plumbing licensing matters.

Licensing creates a standard. It tells homeowners, business owners, facility managers, builders, and government agencies that plumbing work should be handled by trained professionals who understand the code and carry responsibility for the work.

Without strong licensing standards, trained plumbing contractors are forced to compete against unqualified labor, handyman work that goes beyond legal limits, and companies operating outside the intended rules.

That hurts the industry.

It also puts consumers and property owners at risk.

UPHCA’s role is to keep that from happening.

Clarifying the Handyman Statute

One of the key areas UPHCA has worked to clarify is the handyman statute.

There has been confusion in the marketplace about what kind of plumbing work a handyman can legally perform. UPHCA has helped reinforce the proper boundaries.

The key point is this:

No plumbing work other than the repair of a plumbing fixture can be done by a handyman.

That distinction matters.

Repairing a fixture is not the same thing as altering a plumbing system, installing new plumbing, modifying piping, or working on systems that require licensed knowledge.

Any project involving a plumbing or electrical system must be performed by a properly licensed plumbing or electrical contractor.

This protects homeowners, businesses, property owners, and legitimate licensed contractors who have invested in the proper training, licensing, insurance, and compliance required to do the work correctly.

Strengthening the Maintenance Exception

Another important area of UPHCA advocacy involves the Maintenance Exception under R156-55a.

Approximately 18 months ago, UPHCA successfully championed rule changes to tighten and clarify the definition of an “employee” within the Maintenance Exception.

This may sound technical, but it matters in the real world.

Before this clarification, there was room for building owners, facilities, or other parties to use unlicensed 1099 contractors or outside maintenance companies to perform plumbing work under the label of “maintenance.”

That created problems for compliance, safety, and licensed contractors.

UPHCA helped clarify that maintenance personnel must be W-2 employees on the payroll of the facility owner. They cannot be independent contractors or handyman services brought in to do plumbing work without the proper license.

The rule also clarifies what maintenance actually means.

Maintenance includes routine actions to repair, replace, refinish, or preserve an existing structure in its original condition.

But maintenance does not include modifications, repairs, or installations involving plumbing or electrical systems.

That matters for both commercial and residential facilities.

These clarifications help maintain safety, protect the public, and keep regulated plumbing work in the hands of licensed professionals.

Water Heater Installation and Proper Licensing in Utah

Water heater installation has been one of the ongoing misunderstandings in the industry.

Some people think water heaters are simple appliance swaps.

They are not.

Water heaters involve plumbing connections, safety considerations, pressure, temperature, fuel sources in many cases, venting in some applications, and code compliance. A bad installation can create real safety issues and expensive property damage.

UPHCA has consistently reinforced the proper licensing standard:

Only a licensed journeyman plumber is authorized to install or work on water heaters.

This helps ensure that water heater installations meet safety and compliance standards, reducing risk for homeowners and businesses.

UPHCA has also reinforced that HVAC companies are not permitted to install water heaters unless they hold the appropriate plumbing license.

The only exception is that homeowners may replace their own water heaters within their personal residence.

That distinction is important.

This is not about protecting territory for the sake of protecting territory.

It is about protecting public safety, maintaining code compliance, and making sure plumbing work is performed by people who are trained and licensed to do it.

Water Conditioning Statute and S410 License Clarification

UPHCA has also worked to clarify issues around water conditioning equipment and the S410 license classification.

Under R156-55a-103 License Classification, S410 includes:

“Water conditioning equipment and only such pipe and fittings as are necessary for connecting the water conditioning equipment to the water supply system within the premises.”

In plain language, this means work involving water conditioning equipment, such as water softeners or filtration systems, is permitted under that classification only to the extent that it involves connecting the equipment to the existing water supply system within the building.

The exemption applies only to the installation or maintenance of the water conditioning unit itself.

Any pipe and fittings used must be strictly limited to what is needed to connect that unit to the existing plumbing system.

It does not include broader plumbing modifications.

That means altering supply lines, adding new piping beyond the immediate connection, changing drainage systems, or modifying the plumbing system must be performed by a licensed plumber.

This clarification matters because it allows water conditioning specialists to perform the work within their scope while keeping significant plumbing work under the proper licensed trade.

That protects system integrity.

It also protects homeowners, businesses, and licensed plumbing professionals.

Preventing Sales Tax on Services

UPHCA’s advocacy is not limited to technical licensing rules.

In 2018 and 2019, the Utah State Legislature considered expanding sales tax to cover all services.

That proposal would have created major challenges for service-based industries, including plumbing, HVAC, mechanical, and subcontractor businesses.

Through the strong advocacy of UPHCA and allied organizations, the proposal was ultimately abandoned.

That helped protect businesses and consumers from increased costs.

For contractors, this kind of advocacy matters because taxes, rules, compliance requirements, and regulations directly affect the cost of doing business.

Many contractors are busy running crews, bidding jobs, answering calls, handling employees, serving customers, and trying to stay profitable.

UPHCA helps make sure the industry is represented when decisions like this are being discussed.

Giving Licensing Boards and Industry Professionals a Voice

UPHCA also played a key role in supporting legislation that gave the Plumbing & Electrical Licensing Boards and the Construction Services Commission authority to submit expert opinions and recommendations directly to the legislature.

That is a big deal.

The people who understand the industry should have a voice in the laws and regulations that affect it.

By supporting this legislation, UPHCA helped ensure that professionals within the trade can help shape policy in a way that reflects real-world jobsite knowledge, safety concerns, licensing standards, and industry needs.

Without that voice, decisions can be made by people who do not fully understand the consequences for contractors, apprentices, businesses, and consumers.

UPHCA works to keep the industry in the room.

Defending Utah Plumbing Licensing Standards

There have been continuous efforts by lawmakers and influential groups to reduce or eliminate licensing requirements in Utah.

That may sound harmless to people outside the trade.

But people inside the industry know better.

Weak licensing standards can create lower-quality work, unsafe installations, unfair competition, reduced professionalism, and less incentive for workers to pursue proper training.

UPHCA has been a steady advocate for the critical role licensing plays in protecting public health and safety, maintaining industry standards, and supporting career development in the skilled trades.

For plumbing contractors, this is not just about regulation.

It is about protecting the value of the license.

It is about protecting the career path.

It is about making sure trained professionals are not undercut by unqualified workers doing regulated work without the same standards.

UPHCA as a Respected Industry Voice

UPHCA remains a leading advocate for Utah’s plumbing and mechanical trades.

The association actively engages with legislators, governmental agencies, licensing boards, regulators, contractors, and industry partners to support fair policies and professional standards.

That work does not always happen in public.

A lot of advocacy happens in meetings, rule discussions, legislative conversations, board engagement, and behind-the-scenes clarification that most contractors never see.

But the results matter.

When rules are clarified, licensing is protected, service taxes are challenged, or policymakers hear from real industry professionals, contractors benefit.

That is part of the value of having a strong trade association.

Why This Matters for Utah Contractors

A lot of contractors ask a fair question:

“What does UPHCA actually do?”

This is part of the answer.

UPHCA helps protect the standards that protect your license, your business, your employees, and your industry.

It helps push back when licensing is threatened.

It helps clarify rules that affect who can legally perform plumbing work.

It helps advocate for locally owned and operated professional plumbing companies that follow the rules and do the work the right way.

It helps give the plumbing and mechanical trades a stronger voice in Utah.

If you are a licensed plumber, plumbing contractor, HVAC contractor, mechanical contractor, apprentice, supplier, or industry partner, that should matter to you.

Because when the industry is not organized, other people make decisions for it.

Continuing the Mission

UPHCA remains committed to advocating for policies that protect the integrity of the plumbing industry while ensuring public safety.

Through legislative work, regulatory clarification, public education, continuing education, apprenticeship support, and industry leadership, UPHCA continues to support professional plumbing and mechanical companies across Utah.

This work is not finished.

Licensing will continue to be challenged.

Rules will continue to need clarification.

Contractors will continue to need representation.

And Utah’s plumbing and mechanical trades will continue to need a strong voice.

UPHCA is here to be that voice.

For more information about advocacy efforts, membership, continuing education, or how to get involved, visit www.uphca.net.

Utah Plumbing CE Deadline 2026: Get Your 12-Hour CE Done Before 11/30/2026

The Utah plumbing CE deadline 2026 is not the kind of thing you want to remember in late November.

By then, the work does not slow down just because renewal season shows up.

Crews are still in the field. Service calls still come in. Customers still need answers. Office staff are still chasing paperwork. Owners are still trying to keep jobs moving. And if multiple employees need CE at the same time, a simple renewal requirement can turn into a company-wide headache fast.

The renewal deadline is November 30, 2026.

If you need Utah plumber CE hours for the 2026 renewal cycle, the cleaner move is to get your 12-hour CE package handled early.

UPHCA has a 12-hour video CE class package available now for Utah plumbing professionals, HVAC contractors, mechanical contractors, and subcontractors who need to stay ahead of renewal season.

Early bird pricing is available with code EARLYBIRD2026.

Use the code to get the 12-hour video CE class package for $230.

Get your CE handled early:
Register for UPHCA CE classes

Utah Plumbing CE Deadline 2026: What Contractors Need to Know

The Utah plumbing CE deadline 2026 is 11/30/2026.

That date matters because continuing education is one of those tasks that feels easy to push off.

It is not usually the emergency in front of you today.

You have jobs to schedule, crews to manage, bids to finish, inspections to handle, customers to call back, parts to track down, and jobsite problems that need attention right now.

But CE has a bad habit of becoming urgent at the worst possible time.

When contractors wait until renewal season, everything gets tighter:

Employees forget they still need hours.
Office staff spend more time sending reminders.
Owners have to stop and ask who is done and who is not.
Workers try to squeeze CE around full schedules.
Everyone else who waited is trying to finish at the same time.
A task that could have been simple becomes one more pressure point.

Getting CE done early keeps it from becoming a November problem.

What Utah Plumber CE Hours Are For

Utah plumber CE hours are not just paperwork.

Continuing education helps license holders stay current on rules, code topics, safety issues, and practical concerns that affect the trade.

A good CE class should help contractors stay sharper, not just busier.

That matters for:

Licensed plumbers
Plumbing contractors
HVAC contractors
Mechanical contractors
Subcontractor business owners
Service managers
Company admins helping employees renew
Office assistants tracking employee completion
Employers responsible for crew readiness

If your work depends on licensed people staying current, CE should be treated like part of your operating rhythm.

Not a panic task.

UPHCA’s 12-Hour Video CE Package

UPHCA’s 12-hour video CE package is built for busy Utah contractors.

The biggest advantage is simple:

You can watch your CE classes.

You do not have to sit there grinding through page after page of reading just to get your hours done.

For contractors, technicians, and employees who are already tired after a long day, video CE is a much better fit. It is easier to start, easier to stay with, and easier to fit around real work.

The package is available now through UPHCA.

Use code EARLYBIRD2026 to get the 12-hour package for $230.

If you already know the hours have to get done, there is no real advantage to waiting.

Ready to start?
Buy the 12-hour video CE class package

Why Video CE Works Better for Busy Utah Contractors

Contractors do not need more friction.

They need CE that fits around work.

That is why video classes make sense for Utah plumbing and HVAC professionals who are already balancing service calls, inspections, customer expectations, jobsite delays, employees, and scheduling pressure.

Easier to Start

Reading-based CE can feel like something you have to force yourself through.

Video CE gives contractors and employees a cleaner way to begin and keep moving.

That matters because the hardest part is often just getting started.

Better for Real Work Schedules

A contractor may need to work on CE after hours, between jobs, during a slower stretch, or when office staff finally sends the reminder.

A video class format fits that reality better than a reading-heavy process that feels like punishment.

Less Like Busywork

The point is not just to survive 12 hours.

The point is to complete the required education, get your hours handled, and move forward without dragging the task out longer than necessary.

Easier for Office Admins to Push

If you are an office admin, assistant, or service coordinator, you already know the problem.

It is not always buying the class.

It is getting people to finish.

The easier the class is to access and complete, the less chasing you have to do later.

DOPL Plumbing Renewal: Why Company Owners Should Plan Early

For business owners, CE is not just an individual license holder issue.

It becomes a company issue fast.

If several employees need CE, someone has to know:

Who needs hours
Who already purchased the class
Who has started
Who has finished
Who still needs reminders
Who is close to the deadline
Whether the company is waiting too long

The DOPL plumbing renewal process is easier when you plan before the deadline.

If you wait until November, you may be managing CE at the same time you are managing holiday schedules, weather changes, year-end jobs, customer pressure, and normal crew problems.

That is a bad trade.

If you own or manage a plumbing, HVAC, or mechanical company, start now.

Get the employees who need CE pointed to the right package early.

Send your team to the UPHCA CE page and have them use code EARLYBIRD2026.

A Practical CE Checklist for Office Admins and Assistants

If you are the person in the office who keeps the company organized, this part is for you.

You may not be the one taking the class.

But you may be the one who gets stuck chasing everyone else.

CE planning should not wait until the owner asks, “Are we good on renewals?”

Use this simple process:

1. Make a List of Employees Who Need CE

Start with every employee who may need Utah plumber CE hours for the 2026 renewal cycle.

Do not rely on memory.

2. Confirm Who Needs the Full 12-Hour Package

Some people may need the full package. Some may already have hours handled.

Get the status clear before the rush starts.

3. Send the UPHCA CE Link

Send employees directly to the UPHCA CE registration page.

Do not make people hunt for the right page.

4. Give Them the Early Bird Code

The code is:

EARLYBIRD2026

That gets the 12-hour video CE package for $230.

5. Ask for Confirmation

Ask employees to confirm when they have purchased and completed their classes.

A quick spreadsheet is better than guessing.

6. Follow Up Before Renewal Season

Do not wait until November to check again.

The earlier you get the team moving, the less painful the process gets later.

How Much Is the UPHCA 12 Hour CE Utah Package?

UPHCA’s 12 hour CE Utah package is available with early bird pricing.

Use code:

EARLYBIRD2026

That brings the package price to:

$230

This is the cleaner play if you already know CE has to get done.

Waiting does not make the requirement go away.

It usually just makes the schedule tighter.

Why Contractors Use UPHCA for CE

UPHCA is not a random CE vendor trying to sell a class to anyone with a license.

UPHCA is connected to Utah’s plumbing, heating, HVAC, mechanical, and subcontractor industry.

That matters.

The organization works with contractors, apprentices, instructors, members, sponsors, and business owners across Utah. The CE package is part of a larger effort to support the trade through education, UPHCA advocacy, workforce development, and industry connection.

For contractors, that means the CE offer is not floating in space.

It comes from an association that is already involved in the industry.

Contractors who want to stay more connected can also learn more about UPHCA membership and the role UPHCA plays in supporting Utah’s plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical trades.

How UPHCA Supports the Next Generation of the Trade

Continuing education helps current license holders stay on track.

Training the next generation matters too.

Through UPHCA Academy, the organization supports apprenticeship training and workforce development for Utah’s plumbing and mechanical trades.

That matters because the industry needs more than CE compliance.

It needs trained workers, stronger crews, better career paths, and a trade pipeline that actually supports contractors in the field.

When Should You Buy Your 2026 CE Package?

Now is the practical answer.

Not because the deadline is tomorrow.

Because the deadline is real.

The closer you get to November 30, 2026, the more crowded everything gets.

If you wait, you are competing with your own schedule, employee delays, reminder fatigue, job pressure, and every other contractor who also waited.

If you buy now, you can use the early bird code, start early, finish early, and move on.

That is a better plan.

What Contractors Should Do Next

Here is the simple version:

The renewal deadline is 11/30/2026.
Utah plumbing CE hours still need to be handled.
UPHCA has a 12-hour video CE class package available now.
Early bird pricing is available with code EARLYBIRD2026.
The package is $230 with the code.
The class is available through UPHCA.

If you are responsible for yourself, get it done.

If you are responsible for a crew, start getting people moving now.

If you are an admin or assistant, send the link and code before the renewal rush starts.

Register Before the Renewal Rush

The Utah plumbing CE deadline 2026 is fixed: November 30, 2026.

Whether you finish early or wait until the deadline starts causing pressure is up to you.

The smart move is to get your 12-hour CE package now, use the early bird code, and keep one more renewal task off your back.

Get your 2026 CE handled early. Visit UPHCA’s CE page and use code EARLYBIRD2026 to get the 12-hour video CE class package for $230.

Improved FAQ Section

What is the Utah plumbing CE deadline for 2026?

The Utah plumbing CE deadline for the 2026 renewal cycle is November 30, 2026.

Where can I get Utah plumber CE hours?

You can get Utah plumber CE hours through UPHCA’s 12-hour video CE class package.

How much is the UPHCA 12-hour CE package?

Early bird pricing is available with code EARLYBIRD2026. Use the code to get the 12-hour video CE class package for $230.

Who should take the UPHCA 12-hour CE package?

The package is for Utah plumbing professionals, plumbing contractors, HVAC contractors, mechanical contractors, and subcontractors who need CE for the 2026 renewal cycle.

Why should plumbing and HVAC companies start CE early?

Companies should start early so owners, admins, and assistants are not chasing employees close to the renewal deadline. Planning early helps reduce pressure and keeps the process cleaner.

Can office admins help employees get CE handled?

Yes. Office admins can help by making a list of employees who need CE, sending the UPHCA CE link, sharing the EARLYBIRD2026 code, and tracking who has completed the package.

At the UPHCA annual spring conference in St. George, the UPHCA Pipeline Podcast sat down with Trent Schmid from Mountainland Supply to talk about contractor relationships, industry support, supplier challenges, and the value of staying connected inside Utah’s plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical trades.

The conversation took place during a busy few days at conference, with training, networking, golf, a bike ride, and other events bringing contractors, suppliers, vendors, and association members together.

That matters because the trades are built on more than materials, bids, and job schedules.

They are built on relationships.

A good supplier relationship can save a contractor time, reduce headaches, support better project planning, and help crews get what they need when they need it. For many Utah plumbing and mechanical contractors, that kind of relationship becomes a major part of how work gets done.

Mountainland Supply has been a longtime supporter of UPHCA, UPHCA Academy, and the contractors who make up the Utah plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical industry.

Watch the UPHCA Pipeline Podcast Episode

Mountainland Supply’s Role in the Utah Trade Community

Mountainland Supply has been a sponsor of UPHCA for many years.

During the podcast, Trent explained that the company benefits from the relationships built through the association and the conference. Over the years, those relationships have connected Mountainland Supply with contractors, sponsors, vendors, and people throughout the industry.

That is one of the biggest values of association involvement.

It creates a place where business relationships can grow naturally. Contractors meet suppliers. Vendors meet business owners. People trade ideas, talk through problems, and build trust over time.

In the trades, trust matters.

A contractor does not want to wonder whether materials will show up, whether the order is right, or whether a supplier understands the project. They want a supply partner who knows the job, knows the schedule, and can help keep work moving.

That is where long-term supplier relationships become valuable.

Contractors, vendors, and industry partners who want to build those relationships should stay connected through UPHCA events and membership opportunities.

Supporting UPHCA Academy and the Next Generation

One of the strongest parts of the conversation was the recognition of Mountainland Supply’s support for UPHCA Academy.

UPHCA Academy depends on support from members, contractors, suppliers, instructors, employers, and industry partners. As a nonprofit school, the Academy does not operate like a large state-funded institution. It relies heavily on tuition, donations, and support from companies that care about training the next generation.

Mountainland Supply has helped the Academy by donating plumbing supplies, contributing money, and supporting practical lab work for students.

That support shows up in real training.

When students work on disposals, sinks, toilets, pipe assignments, and other hands-on learning projects, materials have to come from somewhere. Suppliers like Mountainland help make those labs possible.

That is not just a nice gesture.

It directly supports workforce development.

Utah needs trained plumbers, HVAC professionals, and mechanical workers. Those people do not appear by accident. They are built through training, mentorship, jobsite experience, and industry support.

When suppliers help schools like UPHCA Academy, they are helping strengthen the future of the trade.

Companies that want to support training, student development, and the future workforce can learn more about how to support UPHCA as a sponsor.

UPHCA Academy Is Expanding Into HVAC

The podcast also touched on a major Academy update: UPHCA is launching its HVAC program.

The plumbing program already has more than 250 students, and the Academy is now beginning to build out the HVAC and mechanical side of its training.

That expansion matters for Utah contractors.

Plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical systems are all part of the skilled trade workforce Utah needs. As the state continues to grow, contractors need trained workers who understand practical systems, jobsite expectations, code, safety, and hands-on work.

UPHCA Academy’s expansion into HVAC is part of a larger effort to build a stronger mechanical trades training pipeline.

Mountainland Supply also serves multiple markets connected to that world, including plumbing, HVAC, waterworks, pumps, drilling, irrigation, and other product categories.

That overlap makes supplier support even more important.

As training expands, students need access to real materials, real systems, and real industry relationships.

Anyone interested in the Academy’s mechanical training expansion can learn more about HVAC training in Utah.

A Supplier With Multiple Trade Verticals

Mountainland Supply serves several trade categories, including:

Plumbing
HVAC
Waterworks
Pumps
Drilling
Irrigation
Related product markets

The company also serves multiple regions, including Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Phoenix, Denver, and Wichita, Kansas.

For contractors, that range matters because many jobs are not isolated to one narrow category. A plumbing contractor may have needs that touch waterworks or mechanical products. An HVAC contractor may need a supplier who understands broader jobsite requirements. A contractor working on larger projects may need help planning materials across multiple phases.

A supplier with broad product knowledge can help contractors work more efficiently.

Pricing Volatility and Supply Challenges

The conversation also covered one of the ongoing challenges in the supply world: pricing volatility.

Trent mentioned that copper pricing and precious metal pricing have been moving around, which creates challenges in the wholesale industry.

Contractors feel that too.

When a contractor is bidding a larger project, pricing volatility can make planning harder. Material costs affect bids, margins, timelines, and customer expectations. A strong supplier relationship can help contractors stay informed and plan smarter.

That does not mean every pricing problem disappears.

It does mean contractors have someone to work with when material costs change, product availability shifts, or a job requires more coordination.

How Suppliers Help Contractors With Larger Projects

For larger projects, contractors often need more than a simple product pickup.

They may need to bring a supply list to a supplier, talk through the project, coordinate product timing, and plan what materials are needed and when.

Mountainland Supply helps contractors bid projects, land projects, order product, and facilitate materials based on project needs.

That can be a major help for plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical contractors who are working on schools, commercial jobs, public projects, or larger construction schedules.

A strong supplier helps reduce the amount of running around a contractor has to do.

That lets contractors focus on what they do best: managing crews, completing work, serving customers, and keeping projects moving.

Why Contractor-Supplier Relationships Matter

One of the most practical lessons from the podcast is simple:

If a working relationship is strong, contractors often stop shopping around for every single item.

That does not mean price does not matter.

It means reliability matters too.

When a supplier understands a contractor’s needs, communicates well, helps with project planning, and consistently supports the work, that relationship becomes valuable.

Good supplier relationships can help contractors:

Save time
Reduce hassle
Plan larger projects
Coordinate materials
Avoid unnecessary running around
Build confidence in product support
Keep jobs moving more smoothly

For busy contractors, those benefits add up.

How Contractors Can Connect With Mountainland Supply

Contractors can reach Mountainland Supply through Mountainland Supply.

The company has branches throughout the Wasatch Front and in St. George, with multiple trade categories and showrooms for higher-end fixtures and products.

The podcast also noted that Mountainland has plumbing, waterworks, and HVAC presence in St. George, along with a newer irrigation branch opening in the area.

For Utah contractors, that kind of local branch access can be useful when planning projects, sourcing materials, or building a stronger supplier relationship.

Why UPHCA Membership Matters

The conversation also turned toward a bigger question:

Why should contractors be part of UPHCA?

Trent pointed to several practical reasons, including sharing best practices, building friendships, accessing training opportunities, and connecting with business-related resources.

That is a good summary of what association membership can do when contractors actually participate.

UPHCA is not just a logo or a line item.

It is a place for contractors, suppliers, vendors, educators, and industry partners to connect. It provides opportunities for training, Utah continuing education classes, legislative work, legal awareness, vendor relationships, and business support.

For contractors, that can mean:

Better relationships with suppliers
More access to industry information
More training opportunities
More connection with other contractors
More visibility inside the trade
A stronger collective voice on industry issues

UPHCA currently has more than 250 contractors involved, and the association is continuing to grow.

That growth matters because the larger and more active the association becomes, the stronger the voice of Utah’s plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical trades becomes.

If your company wants more connection, more industry visibility, and a stronger voice in Utah’s trade community, now is a good time to join UPHCA.

UPHCA Advocacy and Industry Support

Supplier relationships are one part of a strong trade community. Advocacy is another.

UPHCA works to keep Utah plumbing, HVAC, mechanical, and subcontractor professionals connected to the conversations that affect their businesses. That includes licensing, regulation, training, legislative issues, and the future of the trade.

Contractors who want to understand what UPHCA is working on can read more about UPHCA advocacy.

Conferences Still Matter

It is easy to think conferences are just another event on the calendar.

But the conversation with Mountainland Supply shows why they still matter.

At a conference, contractors do not just sit in classes. They meet suppliers. They talk to vendors. They learn about new opportunities. They build relationships that may help them later on a job, a bid, a training need, or a business problem.

The UPHCA spring conference in St. George included training, networking, golf, a bike ride, ATV opportunities, and a casino night.

Those events may sound casual, but they serve a serious purpose.

They get people in the same room.

And in the trades, getting people in the same room still matters.

Contractors and suppliers who want to stay involved should watch for upcoming UPHCA events.

Final Takeaway

The UPHCA Pipeline Podcast conversation with Trent Schmid from Mountainland Supply was a good reminder that the plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical industry depends on strong relationships.

Contractors need reliable suppliers.

Students need hands-on materials.

Training programs need industry support.

Associations need active members and sponsors.

And the trade gets stronger when contractors, suppliers, vendors, educators, and business owners stay connected.

Mountainland Supply has been a strong supporter of UPHCA, UPHCA Academy, and the broader Utah contractor community.

That kind of support matters.

If you are a Utah plumbing, HVAC, or mechanical contractor, the message is simple:

Build the right relationships. Get involved. Show up. Use the resources around you.

That is how the industry gets stronger.

Take Action

If you are part of Utah’s plumbing, HVAC, or mechanical industry, UPHCA gives you a place to connect, train, support the next generation, and help strengthen the trade.

Key Takeaways

Mountainland Supply has been a longtime sponsor and supporter of UPHCA.
Supplier relationships matter because they help contractors save time, plan jobs, coordinate materials, and reduce hassle.
Mountainland Supply has supported UPHCA Academy with materials, donations, and practical lab support.
UPHCA Academy has more than 250 plumbing students and is expanding into HVAC training.
Mountainland Supply serves plumbing, HVAC, waterworks, pumps, drilling, irrigation, and other trade markets.
Pricing volatility, especially around copper and precious metals, continues to be a challenge in the wholesale supply space.
Contractors can work with suppliers like Mountainland on larger project bids, material lists, and coordinated product ordering.
UPHCA membership creates value through best-practice sharing, training opportunities, supplier relationships, legislative work, and industry connection.
Conferences matter because they bring contractors, vendors, suppliers, sponsors, and industry partners together.
Strong trade relationships help strengthen Utah’s plumbing, HVAC, and mechanical industry.

UPHCA June Update: CE Classes, Training Expansion, Golf Tournament, and Capitol Advocacy

UPHCA’s June monthly update is here, and this one is worth a few minutes.

This month’s update covers what Utah plumbing, HVAC, mechanical, and subcontractor professionals need to know right now: 2026 video continuing education, Academy graduation, training facility expansion, St. George backflow classes, the August golf tournament, and continued advocacy work at the Utah State Capitol.

If you are a contractor, apprentice, sponsor, employer, or UPHCA member, this is the kind of update that helps you stay connected to what is happening inside the industry.

And yes, it is also a reminder to get your CE handled before you are eating leftover Thanksgiving pie and wondering if your hours are done.

Watch the June update video here:

2026 UPHCA Conference Recap

The 2026 UPHCA Conference in March was a strong success.

A lot of people attended. A lot of events were held. Most importantly, a lot of good conversations happened between contractors, vendors, sponsors, business owners, and members of Utah’s plumbing, HVAC, mechanical, and subcontractor community.

That part matters.

The value of a conference is not only the class, meeting, or official schedule. Sometimes the most useful part is the hallway conversation with someone who has already dealt with the same issue you are facing. It is sitting down with another contractor who understands your crew problems, business pressure, jobsite challenges, or next project.

That is why showing up still matters.

UPHCA events give members a chance to connect, learn, and spend time with other people working in the same industry. If you attended this year, thank you. If you missed it, the short version is simple: you missed a good one.

UPHCA is already looking ahead to bigger surprises and potential guests for future events.

The stronger these events become, the more value they bring to Utah contractors.

12-Hour UPHCA Video CE Classes Are Available Now

Now let’s talk continuing education.

UPHCA’s 12-hour video continuing education packages are available now for the 2026 renewal cycle.

The important date is:

License renewal is due November 30, 2026.

That may sound far away, but contractors know how fast a year moves. One day it is summer. The next day, November is here, jobs are stacked up, holidays are on the calendar, and CE suddenly becomes one more thing you are trying to squeeze in at the worst possible time.

Do not do that to yourself.

UPHCA’s 12-hour video CE packages are open now. Elite Club members and early birds both get discounts.

Use discount code EARLYBIRD2026 to pay $230 instead of $249.

These are video classes, so you do not have to read your 12 hours. You can watch them, get your hours done, stay compliant, keep your license moving, and get back to work.

CE may not be the most exciting thing on your calendar, but it still has to be handled.

Better now than at the last minute.

Get your CE done now:
Buy the 12-Hour Video CE Package

UPHCA Academy Graduation Is Coming Up

UPHCA Academy graduation is coming up, and dozens of students have already signed up.

That is a big deal.

These students have put in the time. They have worked, learned, showed up, and kept moving toward a career in the trades. That deserves to be recognized.

If you need to be included in graduation, sign up now.

UPHCA also needs to make sure there is enough space for family members at the event. Nobody wants grandma standing in the hallway because somebody forgot to register.

The Academy continues to be one of the most important things UPHCA does.

The future of the industry is not built by accident. It is built by contractors, instructors, employers, and students who care enough to train the next generation.

Need to be included in graduation?
Sign up for Academy Graduation

New St. George Lab Is Open

UPHCA’s new lab in St. George opened in April 2026.

This facility is already helping serve Southern Utah better. It hosts quarterly backflow classes, and other vendors and members are also renting the facility to train their own people.

That is exactly what this space was built to do.

It gives the industry a place where training can happen closer to home. It gives members a way to build skills without sending every employee up north. It gives contractors, vendors, and employers a practical facility to help their crews improve.

Training is easier to schedule when it does not turn into a full road trip with snacks, gas receipts, and one guy asking if you are there yet.

For Southern Utah contractors, this is a major step forward.

Looking for Southern Utah training?
View St. George Backflow Classes

Salt Lake City Location Now Includes an HVAC Lab

UPHCA has also expanded the Salt Lake City location.

The SLC facility now includes an HVAC lab, which is a major step forward for training in Utah’s mechanical trades.

HVAC classes will begin shortly, and more details will be shared when they are ready. Anyone interested in those classes should join the mailing list for updates.

This expansion helps UPHCA continue building the kind of training system Utah actually needs.

That means more opportunities in plumbing, backflow, hydronics, HVAC, and mechanical trades. It also means better support for people who want to build real careers in the industry.

Want HVAC class updates?
Join the HVAC Interest List

UPHCA Golf Tournament Is August 5

The UPHCA Golf Tournament is coming up on August 5.

There will be a morning tournament and an afternoon tournament.

Diamond and Platinum sponsors will have special codes for their tickets, so sponsors should watch for those codes and get signed up. UPHCA members are also encouraged to sign up now.

If you are planning to attend, now is the time to act.

The golf tournament is a good opportunity to bring members, sponsors, vendors, and contractors together outside the normal workday.

And yes, it is also a good opportunity to find out which contractor talks the biggest game and then immediately puts one into the weeds.

That is part of the fun.

But the real reason this event matters is simple: relationships matter. The stronger the connections inside the industry, the stronger the industry becomes.

Get your spot handled:
Register for the UPHCA Golf Tournament

Capitol Event Shows Why Contractors Need to Be in the Room

Another important update came from the recent breakfast with legislators at the Utah State Capitol.

The room was packed.

Utah legislators were there. Business owners were there. Power brokers, lobbyists, IEC, RMGA, and other industry voices were also present.

That is exactly the kind of room subcontractors need to be in.

Policies, rules, and regulations get discussed whether contractors are present or not. If subcontractors are not in the room, subcontractors are not part of the discussion.

That is the whole point.

The plumbing, HVAC, mechanical, and subcontractor industry needs to be visible. It needs to be organized. It needs to show up before decisions are already made.

UPHCA will continue working to keep Utah contractors connected to the conversations that affect their businesses.

This is one of the clearest examples of why membership matters.

One voice is not as effective as a choir of voices standing together, protecting licensing and the trade.

See why industry advocacy matters:
Read More About UPHCA Advocacy

Why This June Update Matters

This is not just a list of announcements.

It is a snapshot of what UPHCA is doing for Utah’s plumbing, HVAC, mechanical, and subcontractor community.

Continuing education keeps licenses moving.

Academy training builds the next generation of workers.

The St. George lab helps serve Southern Utah.

The HVAC lab expands future training opportunities.

The golf tournament keeps members, sponsors, vendors, and contractors connected.

Advocacy work keeps the industry visible in the rooms where decisions are made.

That is why staying involved matters.

If you are already a member, keep showing up.

If you are not a member yet, this is a good time to take a closer look at what UPHCA is doing.

Add your voice to the industry:
Join UPHCA

Final Reminders

Here are the big June reminders:

Stay involved in UPHCA.
Buy your CE classes now.
Use code EARLYBIRD2026 to get the 12-hour package for $230 instead of $249.
License renewal is due November 30, 2026.
Sign up for Academy Graduation if you need to be included.
Join the mailing list for HVAC class updates.
Sign up for the UPHCA Golf Tournament on August 5.
Keep showing up for the industry.

UPHCA works because members, contractors, apprentices, sponsors, and business owners stay involved.

Thank you for supporting UPHCA.

Stay safe. Take care of your crews. And we will see you at the next event.

Take Action

Do not wait until the deadline hits or the event fills up.

If you missed the 2026 UPHCA Conference in St. George, you probably heard about it afterward.

The packed vendor floor. The CE classes. The giveaways. The food. The golf. The ATV rides through Southern Utah. Contractors networking late into the evening instead of rushing out the door.

And honestly? That’s exactly why the conference mattered.

Because this wasn’t just another industry event with folding chairs and stale coffee.

The 2026 UPHCA Conference showed exactly why UPHCA continues to be one of the strongest forces in Utah’s plumbing and mechanical contractor industry.

St. George Was the Perfect Setting

Held at the Dixie Convention Center in March 2026, the conference brought together contractors, suppliers, apprentices, manufacturers, and industry leaders from across Utah.

And from the minute attendees arrived, the energy felt different.

Southern Utah delivered:

Warm weather
Packed events
Great scenery
Strong turnout
Serious industry conversations

It gave contractors a chance to step away from the daily grind while still investing in their businesses, crews, and future opportunities.

That combination is hard to beat.

The Vendor Floor Was Packed

One of the biggest highlights of the conference was the vendor floor.

Manufacturers, suppliers, and industry partners showed up strong.

Attendees had direct access to:

New products
Equipment demonstrations
Emerging technology
Industry conversations
Business connections
Supplier relationships

And unlike massive national expos where people get lost in the crowd, the UPHCA Conference keeps things personal.

Real conversations happened.

Contractors were able to talk directly with vendors who actually understand the Utah market and the realities of working in the trades here.

That matters.

CE Classes That Contractors Actually Wanted to Attend

A lot of CE events feel like something you “have to do.”

This didn’t feel like that.

The conference featured highly informative Continuing Education classes focused on real-world issues contractors are actually dealing with in the field.

Code updates. Industry changes. Compliance discussions. Practical information contractors can immediately apply to their work and businesses.

That’s part of what separates UPHCA from generic industry events.

The education stays connected to the realities of Utah contractors.

It Wasn’t Just Business

This is where the conference really stood out.

The 2026 conference created an environment where contractors could actually enjoy being there.

Attendees:

Played golf
Went on bike rides
Took ATV rides through Southern Utah
Played bingo
Won major prizes
Shared meals together
Built relationships outside the jobsite

That balance matters more than people realize.

Because strong industries are built through relationships—not just transactions.

And one of the biggest advantages of UPHCA is the network that forms when contractors, suppliers, apprentices, and business owners spend real time together.

That’s where opportunities happen.

The Industry Is Stronger When Contractors Stay Connected

One of the clearest takeaways from the conference was this:

Utah’s plumbing and mechanical industries are full of people who genuinely care about the future of the trades.

That showed up everywhere:

Veteran contractors helping younger workers
Manufacturers supporting local companies
Apprentices meeting future employers
Business owners sharing knowledge
Conversations about workforce development
Discussions around regulations and industry growth

The conference wasn’t just about products or CE hours.

It reinforced that UPHCA continues to play a major role in strengthening the plumbing and mechanical contractor community across Utah.

Why Events Like This Matter More Than Ever

The trades are changing quickly.

Contractors are dealing with:

Workforce shortages
Licensing changes
New technology
Increasing project complexity
Growing compliance expectations

Trying to navigate all of that alone is difficult.

That’s why organizations like UPHCA matter.

The conference creates a place where contractors can:

Stay informed
Build relationships
Learn from industry experts
Discover new opportunities
Strengthen their businesses

And honestly, the contractors who stay plugged in usually stay ahead.

2027 Is Already Building Momentum

If the 2026 conference proved anything, it’s that the UPHCA community continues to grow stronger every year.

The turnout was strong. The engagement was high. The vendor support was impressive. And the overall energy around the event made one thing clear:

People are already looking forward to 2027.

Because when contractors leave an event talking about:

the people they met,
the things they learned,
the prizes they won,
and the experiences they had…

you know the event did something right.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 UPHCA Conference wasn’t just successful because people showed up.

It was successful because it reminded everyone why staying connected to the industry matters.

Strong contractors. Strong relationships. Strong education. Strong advocacy.

That’s what UPHCA continues to build in Utah.

And if 2026 was any indication, 2027 is going to be even bigger.

👉 Learn more about UPHCA events and membership opportunities at UPHCA

[Music] the UPHCA, a pipeline podcast. [Applause] [Music]

Live Interview at USCA Conference 2025: In your opinion, how can trade schools better reach kids these days?

Interviewee 1: Well, I think um just getting early access to kids like exposure I think is really important. So, we do college and career events.

Interviewee 1: So, I think getting in the schools and teaching them at an early age is really important.

Interviewee 1: Just exposure, getting in there, teaching them, exposing to what’s out there.

Interviewer: For the kindergarteners to fifth graders, what kinds of careers or jobs do you hear them talking about the most or talking about wanting to get when they get older the most?

Interviewee 1: I think community service jobs they hear talk a lot about like firefighters and police officers talking about nurses or doctors. Um and then depending on like their parents job I do hear like I’ve seen some electricians or plumbers but I think um it’s like their everyday hero in their brain like firefighters, police officers.

What kinds of careers do you hear kids these days uh asking the most about or the most interested when they grow up?

Interviewee 1:Um recently I’ve heard a lot about cosmetology and I live in a community that is a farming community.

Interviewee 1: So how to work on agriculture and farming and like uh repairing tractors or machine work. So that’s very cool. right in the right in the area of trades.

What is the most effective messaging for trade schools that you’ve seen?

Interviewee 1:Uh presentations just getting in front of the students so they can ask questions, they can see pictures, examples, so they can start to visualize themselves moving that direction.

In your opinion, what can trade schools do better to outreach to your students?

Interviewee 1:I think just coming in maybe just talk just talking to the students like coming in for like these presentations that you’re doing because it just opens up the you know the opportunities for them. Yeah.

Interviewee 1: We’re providing like field trips where they can go if like it’s an actual physical facility or something and going there and seeing it. Um cuz like I said it just kind of brings it to life for students.

What kinds of careers do you hear your students talking about the most or or aspiring to become once they graduate the most?

Interviewee 1: I would say a majority of them are want to be some sort of business owner is a big one, but that also includes people who are wanting to do trades.

Interviewee Group: Um I have a lot right now actually that want to be electricians. Um some that are interested in doing uh construction or like even architecture, design, that kind of stuff. Um and we get a lot of cosmetology too. Yeah. In the medical field, I think it’s always big. Medical field. Yeah.

What opportunities do you have for students to explore the trades?

Interviewee 1: At my school, we really have construction and foods. Um construction and both of those continue into the high school.

In your opinion, how can these trade schools or ones like ours reach out to uh reach out to your students better?

Interviewee 1: I think our students don’t have a good understanding of all the different types of careers that are under the construction banner. And so I think coming and talking to our students and exposing them to the different types of things they can do with their hands and how to get there would be super helpful.

What is the most effective messaging for trade schools that you’ve seen?

Interviewee 1: You can make a lot more money. And you can do it while you are in high school.

Interviewee 1: So, like I always tell kids when I was a high school counselor, it could be a hobby. It could be a if whatever your future plans fall through it’s like but you will always have that certification and we will always meet people in those fields.

UPHCA: Hi everybody, welcome to the UPCHA pipeline podcast and we have a very special guest with us today, Alan Crookton who is the educational director for the UPCA Academy. Alan, thanks for joining us today.

Alan: Yeah, thanks for having me.

UPHCA: So what we want to talk to you about today is some stuff involving uh the trades and especially like getting more youth involved with the trades and why it’s important and why more kids aren’t joining the trades or looking into the trades as an option for a career path. And so, uh, in your opinion, is is there some sort of hidden bias against the trades or working in the trades?

Alan: You know, I I’m coming from a school counseling background and when I look at it, when you look at all of the teachers, all of the counselors, all of the administrators, you know, they all went to through a university path. And so a lot of times when we talk about careers, they tell their story like, “Well, my story was to go to the university and they wear their college shirts and hang their college pennants in their classrooms.” But for a kid that wants to be an electrician or a plumber or go into HBAC, they’re not going to find those programs at the university. And so I it’s a great question, but the short answer is is yes. And it’s it’s not like they’re intentionally trying to be biased. they’re just telling their story, but there’s very few people telling the trade career path story in the schools. So, that’s just something we just need to kind of be aware of.

UPHCA: We had an opportunity to talk with some uh counselors at the Utah School Counselor Association or USA and trying to figure out a way that the trades need to be more front and center with the kids. What can counselors do to tell people about the trades more?

Alan: I think the main thing is I mean when we when we talk about this going to college like after school you should go after high school you should go to college a lot of times that is interpreted go to the university and really college is anything after high school. If it’s a fourmonth labbotomy certificate, that’s college. If it’s an eightmonth salon, you know, hair salon, cosmetology, that’s college. And so, we really need to think, I mean, a university is just uh a conglomerate of colleges. you got the college of engineering, the college of education, but for the the hands-on trade schools, the skills-based learning, um, you know, it is going to college, but it just it’s not the university path. And so, I I guess for me, what I wish would be the focus of is there should be a separate career pathway that is the apprenticeship career path. And it is very different than a university path. And so it’s it’s the message is starting to get out there, but yeah, it’s it’s not one that is very familiar with a lot of students and parents.

UPHCA: Do you think that’s partly due because maybe the counselors are aware aren’t aware of what’s out there and what’s available in the geographic vicinity or do you think it’s just a maybe they just don’t know?

Alan: I mean, I think a lot of it too is just our culture. I think a lot of it even comes from the parents. I mean, I remember when I was in high school, I I found out that there was a construction class and that they actually went out and they build the portables for the schools. And I thought, well, that is cool. I mean, it’s a pretty simple structure, but they’re working under, you know, the the teacher is a general contractor, and the kids actually build those portable units. So, anytime you drive by a portable that’s outside of the school, that has been built by students. And I wanted to sign up for that class. And I remember I came home with my schedule and I showed my dad. I said, “I want to take construction.” And he said, “No, you don’t want to take construction. That’s where all the screwoffs go.” And I thought, “Oh, so if you’re not a good student and you’re kind of a screw off, you take automotive, you take construction.” And so I there is a little bit of this culture, I think, that you can’t do well in the trades and if you want to have a real career, go to college. And the research just simply does not support that. In fact, the research shows quite the opposite. No, that hands-on skill is fantastic. When I look back to how I know how to help my nephew work on his car, goes back to my days in the automotive class and how I know how to weld things. I I own a welder and weld things. Was my welding class in high school and some of the most valuable skills that I learned were in some of those trade classes and they just pass on and help you out in so much more in life.

UPHCA: What is the Academy doing for the trades?

Alan: The UPHCA stands for the Utah Plumbing and Heating Contractors Association. And so long story short, most high school kids when you ask them like, “What do you want to do when you graduate high school?” rarely does somebody say, “Well, I want to be a plumber.” And so, you know, you think about every house you drive by, every building, every structure has plumbing in it. Every person you see today will use plumbing. We all use plumbing. And so, the demand for plumbing is huge, but nobody’s going into the field. And so, the we had a bunch of plumbing contractors get together and say, “Hey, why don’t we form our own academy? Why don’t we form our own school? It’ll be industry-ledd, industrydriven, which basically means, hey, we have contractors saying, here’s what you need to learn in order to be successful in this field. And so, it’s just super applicable. Um, students are able to get in, you know, roll up their sleeves, get to work, and become a fully licensed journeyman plumber. And yeah, we have plumbers doing um you know, 18 year 18-year-old kids right out of high school doing 50 $60,000 a year on up to six figures. And so that’s really the one of the myths I’d like to debunk is if you look at the research, um those in the trades are out earning their bachelor degree peers, their bachelor degree graduates, they’re out earning them and they’re doing it with zero college debt. And so it just gives them a really good head start in life.And so I guess as far as when you think about the students, we talked a little bit about oh it’s the slacker community or they’re the ones who go into the trades, but who would benefit with more exposure to the trades? Because obviously plumbing is civilization, correct? And every house has HVAC, every house has plumbing, every house has masonry, every house has everything. The trades build everything.

UPHCA: Who would benefit the mo to the most exposure to the trades to get the professional kids that we need going?

Alan: You know, that’s a great question. I think one example I give when I visit with my students, I show a picture of like Luke Skywalker and Yoda and and I say, “This is an apprenticeship that we’re all familiar with.” Like Luke, he learned how to be a Jedi by did did he go to a school and did he did he read books? Did he write papers on how the force worked? Uh did he do you know read articles and write papers on how to fly his spaceship? No, he was out in the field doing things. And so if that kind of speaks to you and you’re more of a doer like, “Hey, I want to actually fly the X-wing and I want to use the lightsaber and I want to get out there and actually do the work.” And you have someone who’s kind of mentoring you and watching over you. That’s kind of like Obi-Wan or Yoda. That is that is an apprenticeship. So we have a lot of students. I wouldn’t even say they’re they’re screwoffs or bad students. They just don’t want to sit in a desk and read about being a Jedi. They want to go out and do the field work. And I think it’s really something that’s it’s nothing’s wrong with the student. It’s something that’s wrong with our education system. Um, I mean, maybe I’m talking a little bit too long here, but when I when I was in my master’s program, I remember learning about a demographic of student that was at highest risk for failure, and it’s the Native Americans. And when you look at it culturally, Native Americans, they grew up hunting and fishing and and and making things with their hands. And it was all this, you know, field work. And then the white men come along and they they pick them up and they put them at a desk and say, ‘You need to read this book and they say, ‘Well, I don’t learn this way. I don’t like to learn this way. And then we call them a failure. And really, that’s just a a a cultural breakdown of the system. And so we have a lot of students that are they’re sharp, they’re smart, but they’re doers. They want to they want to learn by doing. And um so I think we as a society need to adjust a little bit to say hey are are we adjusting to the demand of the economy what needs to be done.

UPHCA: And when it comes to that cost benefit uh scenario, when it comes to going into college, getting a degree, getting into debt, all those other things, and then how much money you have the potential ma making in college in that career path compared to something like the trades, um why would somebody want to look at a career in the trades?

Alan: Yeah, that’s awesome. I mean, awesome question. I had my my son, he’s in high school. He asked me this question. He said, “Dad, why is the plumber’s house next door bigger than than the attorneys, uh, that’s in in our little culac.” And I said, “Well, that’s interesting.” Uh, they’re both about the same age, you know, 26, 27. And so I I kind of broke it down with them and said, “Well, you know, here in Utah, the average tuition in the state of Utah is $15,000 a year. Some are more, some are less. And so you go away to the university and you make negative $15,000. Yeah. You might be able to wait tables or something. Um or you can go work as a apprentice and you can make about $50 to $60,000. And so just in year one on basic economics, that’s about a $85,000 difference between the university versus the apprenticeship. So, you do the math over four years, you know, your your four-year college graduate can graduate with about $60,000 in debt. That’s just averaged. And your four-year apprentice has earned $250,000. That’s a $300,000 difference at age 22. So at age 22, our journeyman plumbers are buying homes, putting down payments on homes, and just have a significant head start. Um, now I’m not saying don’t go to the university. There are some paths that, you know, if my son wanted to be a veterinarian, I’d say, man, that you have to go to the university to do that or to be an accountant or something like that. But there are a lot of highpaying good jobs that are AI proof, Amazon proof um in the in the skilled trades.

UPHCA: And you know, given all of this that we’ve discussed, why do you think the trades career path isn’t more highlighted in our schools?

Alan: Yeah. And I think it goes back to that hidden bias. I I don’t think it’s I don’t even know if the schools really recognize it. Um, you know, I spent a lot of time up in Alaska. I I we talked about this at the beginning of the show. I I grew up on a commercial salmon fish site. I grew up mending nets, fixing boats, um, you know, working 18our days, picking fish. And the Alaska community is very bluecollar. you know, they got the Alaska pipeline, they got fishing, and it’s it’s almost different than it is here on the Wasatch front where the the trades, I would say out of 10 kids who graduate high school, like six of them go into the trades and it’s just very tradeheavy that they they go to school and they learn how to weld and work on cars and and all of these hands-on things, but they also see that, man, this is a good career. And then it’s kind of funny because you’ll have the kid who’s not very mechanical and doesn’t know how to use any tools. You’ll see the teachers be like, “You know what? You might want to think of going to the university. Like, I don’t know if the trades are for you.” And so, it’s kind of flipped. Like, here in Utah, it’s it’s it’s not that way. And we’re starting to see it. I mean, everyone talks about this housing crisis here in Utah, like there’s not enough homes. Duh. That’s why prices are so high. It’s not a housing crisis. It’s a construction worker crisis. We cannot find the people enough people to build these homes fast enough. And you talk to the people in in the trades, they’re like, “Well, I’m already doing 60 hours a week. I I can’t I can’t go any faster.” Um, I talked with one guy the other day. He’s like, “I could double the size of my company if I could just find the workers.” Um, so the demand is there. It’s just yeah, there’s kind of this ignorance gap of of how well you could do in the trade.

UPHCA: Where could people learn more about choosing this as a career path?

Alan: I mean some options are there’s our website. They can go to the upca tradeschool.org and learn about our program. We offer um HVAC hydronics, which is like radiant heat. We offer the full four-level plumbing program that’s fully compatible with Department of Labor. But I’d also say another option is they could just go on to if they just Google like Utah apprenticeships. Um there’s some great information on there. If they just go to Utah apprenticeships, there are so many programs out there. It’s called apprenticeshiputah.gov and there are dozens and dozens of programs out there that businesses are willing to pay you to do. So in the the apprenticeship career path, not only do you earn while you learn, like you’re earning $20 an hour, but your schooling is paid for. And so it’s better than a scholarship. They’re not only paying for your school, but you’re getting paid to go to school. And so that’s just a couple options that they can look at.

UPHCA: And just to just to clarify, could you explain what is an apprenticeship?

Alan: I think of that Luke Skywalker analogy, you know, he learned from a mentor. Um another analogy I give is it’s kind of like a learner’s permit. when you learn to drive, um, they give you a learner’s permit. The learner’s permit would be like an apprenticeship license where they say, “Hey, we’re going to put you behind the wheel and we’re going to let you drive under one condition. You have to have somebody with a driver’s license in the car with you. Now, the driver’s license is like a journeyman’s license.” And so, that’s how we all learn to drive as we get behind the wheel. I mean, we all know that if you read books on driving and you write papers on driving, you’re not going to know how to drive. You learn to drive by driving, but it does need to be supervised. And so, you get that learner’s permit and you’re supervised by someone with a driver’s license, and they say, “Oh, don’t forget this. Don’t forget that, or you should do this, or you should do that.” That’s really how the apprenticeship works is uh you’re a able to do hands-on work. you’re paid while you’re doing that hands-on work. Um, so really the classroom becomes the job site. When you go to the job site, the construction site or whatever, that is your classroom. And um, you have to have I think you have to have 8,000 hours as an apprentice working in order to get your journeyman’s license. And so that that computes to about 3 to four years of full-time work. Um, but then after four years, you know, you get your your learner’s permit transitions into a a regular permit. You get your journeyman’s license and and you’re able to supervise other apprentices and so forth. So, that’s kind of how I explain the the apprenticeship career path.

UPHCA: Is there anything you’d like to share or tell people about before we call this episode good?

Alan: I mean, maybe one final thought. A lot of people think, “Oh man, if I go into the construction trades, it’s going to break down my body and it’s going to be so hard and when I get to be 40 or 50, I don’t want to be doing all this grunt work.” And really, that’s another myth that I would just like to dispel. We have people that they go into the trades, they work while they’re young, they get all this field experience, and just like any profession, as they get more experienced and more pay, they get into management, they get into supervisory roles, they get into sales, and uh I mean, we have a guy on our our staff who he’s like the chief safety officer of this huge company over the you know, it’s like a a nationally based company. and he’s like, “Well, I’m in charge of safety now, but I started as an HVAC technician and I’ve worked my way up to this role.” And so, there are so many other roles that branch out in the construction trades. Um, but really what the economy wants right now is a skillsbased education. And that’s really like I’d like to leave you with that is whatever program you do, you should ask yourself, what skills am I getting from this? Because employers ultimately want to know what you know how to do. Yeah, and as you get older and start to move on up after a few decades, you might end up owning your own business if that’s the route that you choose to do, too. So, you know, it’s been fantastic.

UPHCA: So, great having you with us on today and I have uh really enjoyed our conversation. Be sure to check out uh upca.net and check out the programs and and the other things that we’ve talked about today. But, um thanks again, Alan, for coming on.

Alan: Really appreciate you and uh hope you hope you have yourself a great day.

Hi everybody. Welcome to the UPHCA Pipeline Podcast. I’m your host, Eric Likenberg, and today we have with us Court Lundberg from Rare Breed Plumbing. So, go ahead and say hello, Court.

How’s it going, guys? Happy to be here. Thanks for having me. Awesome. Thank you.

I had a chance to take a look at your website and I found it fascinating the story with the bison raising the bison and stuff. Uh it’s it’s it’s a pretty cool little story. So, I don’t know if there’s anything you care to share about that kind of before we get running.

Um, yeah. So, uh, the biggest thing for me was the bison’s been incorporated in my brand since forever. Uh, I grew up on a bison farm and when we went from cows or cattle to to bison, we found out pretty quick that they are completely different animals. Um, and a full grown bison can jump 6 feet. Just standing can jump 6 feet. So any little mistake that you made, the bison would get out and uh we found out pretty quickly that once they got out, it was very hard to control and get back in. Um and so kind of that that carefulness, that double-checking your work, that extra caution um seemed like the perfect synonym for plumbing to me of, you know, one one failed crimp ring um one small mistake and it’s catastrophic disaster. And uh so we brought the bison into the brand and uh with Rare Breed and we’ve been running with that ever since.

And and that’s kind of a fascinating segue into my uh one of my first questions is what what got you into plumbing? Kind of what inspired you to move toward the profession of being a plumber?

Yeah. So honestly, I felt like my whole life was leading up to plumbing. Like when I zoom out, I uh I uh did door-to-door sales. You know, I served an LDS mission. Um and then I did door to door sales and that was paying for my college to go into engineering. And uh you know, from the mission, I loved helping people. The door to door sales, I loved the social aspect of everything. And then the engineering, I love the problem solving. And long story short, it came to a head where I would have to take out student loans in order to continue to pay for school. And that wasn’t a path that I wanted to go down. And I was less convinced at this stage of becoming an engineer than my wife was convinced of becoming a nurse, which was the path that she was going. So, I decided to uh take a small leave from school and my dad tried to convince me to go into plumbing. And I had the same stigmatisms that come with plumbing that most people probably do, right? I didn’t want I didn’t want my butt crack hanging out. I didn’t want to be doing a dirty job. I didn’t want to be dealing with the poop. And so, I kind of put up a wall. I was just like, I am not becoming a plumber. There’s no way. And uh my dad kind of harped on me a little bit and I was like, “Okay, I’ll go try it out.” So I got a part-time job plumbing and within two weeks I was like, “This this is what I was born for. I loved it. I loved you know, people call you when you’re plumbing when they need you. They really need you.” So you’re showing up and you’re you’re providing that relief. So you get that good dopamine feeling that you’re helping people. Um I got to be a detective. I got to go see a plumbing system that I didn’t know how it worked and I had to figure it out. And then you get to put in your AirPods and kind of just tinker. And so I got the social aspect, I got the engineering aspect, I got the working with my hands. And very very rarely are you actually doing the dirty jobs that kept you away. And so I just fell in love with it. And I knew, you know, this is what I’m doing for the rest of my life. And haven’t looked back since.

Awesome. Awesome. And when did you when did you know that you had to start your own company? Like how did you go from being a business owner to to from being a plumber to saying, “Hey, I got to I got to do my own thing. I got to have my own business.” Like how did you know when that period was?

Um again, it kind of just fell into my hands. Um I think every plumber deep down always has that that nagging that they want to start their own thing, right? the the trades is a is a very different commodity. All these outside influencers that want to come in and they think the trades they’re just going to dominate it, that it’s an easy business. It couldn’t be further from the truth. And the reason why is the service that we’re pedalling isn’t a service at all. It’s people. Right. I’m only as good as my plumbers are. I could be the best businessman in the world. If I can’t attract and keep and train good plumbers, I’m nothing. Right. Right. Right. And so if you’re good at what you do, you have it in the back of your mind that I could go off and do this, even though you don’t know anything about marketing or business or finance or any of that kind of stuff. And so I did have it in the back of my mind, but I didn’t know when it would happen. Um, and quite honestly, I was pretty content. I was very happy working with my master plumber, who’s a good man, uh, that I still look up to. Um, but ultimately a client came to us that was a home warranty company. Um, and if you don’t know anything about home warranties, it’s bottom of the barrel pricing, but there’s consistent work. And they came to my boss and said, “Hey, we’re having a hard time finding honest plumbers in Salt Lake uh, that are reliable. Would you open up a branch in Salt Lake?” And my master plumber said to him, “Nope, not interested.” But he turned the opportunity over to me. And so it was kind of being handed a different job. It wasn’t a business by any sense of the word, right? I I basically worked for the home warranty under my own business. Um, and I very much owned a job and one thing led to another and the customers gave us good feedback that they liked us and we ended up growing. And it turned from owning a job to starting a business when I hired my first plumber, uh, which was an apprentice, which ultimately came down to plumbing changed my life. I loved it. And it would be selfish not to pass it on to another generation. And when we decided to hire on that first plumber, then the story started to become, well, how do I make this a career for him rather than a dead-end job where he’s going to want to leave and start his own thing, which if he does, by all means. Um, I have no hard feelings, but my job now as a business owner is to make this so easy and so um comfortable for him that he’s not going to want to leave, that he’s constantly getting attention, he’s making good pay and and all that kind of stuff. And that’s when we kind of shifted uh into owning a business. And that was probably about 3 years ago.

Okay. So, Court, what prepared you to start a business? You had the knowledge, you had the expertise as far as plumbing is concerned. How did you make that transition to becoming a business owner in the knowledge and the expertise of making sure that you know a business was successful?

Um, again, I think that’s a lot of the engineer mindset in me. Um, being an entrepreneur is if you had to put a definition on entrepreneur, you’re a problem solver. no different than a good plumber. You’re a problem solver. Um because you are faced every day with tasks that you don’t know the answer to, right? How do you do payroll? How do you do taxes? How do you set up an LLC? All this kind of stuff. And so I think that that was just a life um I think that the way I was brought up on a farm of you have to solve problems. Um, I think it was a natural tendency and uh, you know, God helped us and we we beat the fiveyear mark. I I’ve seen incredible people that on paper would be better business owners than me fail within that 5year mark because also on top of everything, owning a business is a gamble. And hopefully you have to have a little bit of luck on your side. The market has to hit, marketing has to hit, everything’s got to hit just right. And we were one of the lucky ones. Very cool.

What makes what makes this such a cool industry and such a viable career path for young people who are trying to figure out where to go in life and what they’re going to do with their life?

Um. Yeah. Well, so if you ask if you pull the average school right now on what young kids want to be, um the biggest thing that people want to be right now for whatever reason is influencers. Um that’s that’s like the number one thing I hear from kids, well, I want to be a Twitch streamer, influencer, do whatever. Um and by all means, chase your dreams, but let’s have another plan as well. Um, there’s a lot of reasons why you should become a plumber. One, there’s a labor shortage, right? Um, they keep building homes. AI is not going to be replacing you. There’s job security here, especially if you’re good at what you do. Um, it’s great pay. Uh, plumbing in particularly along with electrical is a highly protected trade in the state of Utah. and thanks to the UPCA, uh, we don’t see that slowing down. Uh, plumbing and electrical are the two. Um, and then why I had more of an affinity for plumbing versus electrical is one, I one, it intuitively makes sense to me a little bit more, right? If it’s leaking, I know it’s bad. Uh, if it shocks me, I don’t want to find out about that. So, I didn’t want to deal with that. Um but then also from the outside looking in, if you look at some of the biggest companies uh that are out there, electrical is typically such a small portion because electrical is very up and down on the economy. If the economy is doing good, if you have money burning a hole in your pocket, you might be spending money on electrical. But plumbing, I mean, water created the Grand Canyon. It’s a highly destructive thing. plumbing will always whether the economy is good or bad, toilets are going to break. Um, and so I think that is the most uh economy proof. Um, I think that it’s the best trade by far, just recession proof in general. So, that’s what sold me on plumbing from the outside looking in. And that’s proven to be true uh over my career.

Awesome. And and let’s just say uh someone who is uh younger is interested in getting into it. How would they find the right company to apprenticeship for? Like what should they be looking for in a company when they choose to take on an apprenticeship?

Yeah. So this is where I might ruffle some feathers. Um I think on that same foot of being recession proof, I think service is the only way to go. Uh, personally, and that’s also my personality. I can’t go into a bunch of spec homes and do the same thing over and over again for years on end. I can’t be the gopher that’s drilling holes. Uh, service is where your brain gets worked out, too, and you’re you’re really problem solving. Um, so what I would look for and what I recommend for people is if you’re going to go into new construction, which isn’t a bad place to start, just know that that is where you’re starting. Um, but what you’re looking for and what you’re shopping for for those first four years in particular is not the best pay. Um, it’s not good work life balance. It is finding a mentor. It is. And that’s not just your boss. That’s the journeyman that they put you under. And so, you’re looking for somebody that’s a teacher at heart. Um, somebody that’s going to let you be hands-on, not somebody that tells you to go and fetch tools all the time. That’s what you will do inevitably, but you need to get your hands on the tools and you’re looking for a teacher. Um, I think that the best teachers are all over. There might be the best teacher in new construction, but I think that that there’s a lot of great ones in service, but that’s what you’re shopping for. You’re shopping for a good teacher.

Awesome. And what is something that you wish that you knew when you were starting out in your career path? Is there a piece of advice you could give to someone that might be an aha thing for them or any kind of thing that you have and that you wish you knew when you were first starting out?

Um,I think just with those stigmas, like now the stigma’s shifting the other way, uh, that plumbers do make good money, but when I first started out, you know, I started out at $12 an hour and I kind of accepted it of I love what I do. I’m going to be broke for the rest of my life. Um, that’s what I thought, right? I I wasn’t making anything. And like everything in life, your potential is limited to your ability to communicate well. Um, and what I mean by that is I I know plumbers that are far better plumbers than me, uh, or far better plumbers than many in the industry that will never be incredibly successful because they cannot communicate well. Whether that’s communicating with their hire-ups about problems that they’re having on the job or communicating with customers effectively. Um I think that communication in all aspects it will improve your marriage, it will improve your family life. Uh but in the same lane that you are learning how to plum, you need to be also focusing on your communication skills. Um and plumbing’s a sales comes down to service plumbing, right? There’s always sales and service plumbing. The difference between sales in service plumbing versus sales in a car dealership or doortodoor sales is in those things you are creating the need. Um, and what I mean by that is like that’s where certain sales tactics come in. In plumbing, you don’t have to create the need. The customer knows that they have a need. Can you be the best educator and can you be the person that they feel confident is actually going to solve their problem? Um, and so you don’t need a bunch of sleazy sales tactics. You need to be honest. You need to be clean shaven. You need to show up. And you need to be able to educate them in a way and stand with confidence that um, do you know what, Mrs. Jones, I am the best company to take care of you. Um, and this is what we’re going to be doing for you. Um, and with that, your earning potential is unlimited. you will be in high demand with every company or better on your own if you’re a great communicator. Court, one of the issues that we see in the industry right now are companies that weigh more on the side of um commission sales than they do with the actual serving the public. And I, you know, everybody needs to make their money. I’m not opposed to that, of course, but they seem to have taken the other side of commission sales. There’s just a whole bunch of commission salesmen out there. What is your what made you decide to ensure that you wanted to take a different tack to that? Um, so the biggest thing is the longevity of the company um was the biggest thing for me. So understanding the overall economy of the service-based industry right now is private equity is coming in um and they’re buying up everybody and the play is so so you get bought out on what’s called an IBIDA which is earnings before interest taxes depreciation advertisation long story short on your profit right so money is the name of the game of what your company is worth with these companies uh the big commissionbased companies and so because money is all they care about because that’s what they’re selling for. Commissions is all based on how much money you sell. Uh Rare Breed has a different philosophy of we are not building to sell in any way, shape, or form. This this is my philosophy is I’m going to work until I’m 65 anyways. I want to control where I do it. I want to enjoy doing it. So, the problem with full-based commission is one, when your back’s up against the wall and you have to pay your bills, dishonesty can creep in. Um, because if you don’t make a sale, you don’t get paid. The second problem is is when you have a big job on the line and you need help from other plumbers to go over and work there. And if there’s no hourly pay or incentive that way, if there’s straight commission, why would there be team work, right? I don’t want to be working for free or working for much less than than just uh and then, you know, I I see it all the time of it really comes down to that honesty thing. I see it all the time that we go over we do a lot of sewer liners and we’ll go over to people’s homes and they’re being pitched to 1825,000 even up to a $40,000 sewer liner and my guys will put their cameras down and say Mrs. Jones like you don’t need it. Like in no way, shape or form do you need this? Um we’re more than happy to give you a bid if that’s what you choose. But I can’t help but think that those guys on the other end might not be bad people. That’s the only way they can pay the bills. And and they’ve gotten sucked into this cycle of umthey might have been lied to by the company that that trained them um that so and so actually does need a sewer liner or they might be bad actors. But I don’t know. But I like to believe that people are inherently good whether or not that’s true.

So, so what do you see the future of the plumbing industry in the state of Utah to be? Do you see that that’s going to continue to be a strong influence in the industry having those type of commission um salespeople out there or do you think uh people will get a little bit smarter at their being a consumer and learn?

Yeah, I I think the question has two parts to the answer. One, when I first started plumbing, we didn’t even, which this this is scary to me now, and I would never recommend this, but we never gave pricing at the beginning, not because we were being sneaky or anything like that. We just didn’t even think about it. We just went in and fixed it and said, “Hey, it’s going to be $300 at the end.” And nobody ever gave any push back at all. They trusted. they just trusted. And it wasn’t until that was up in Cash Valley. And it wasn’t until I moved down to Salt Lake that I realized how defensive people were about pricing. And it’s because the plumbing model changed from being we are servants. And you know, the plumber is the uh what does it say? The protector of the health of the nation. What’s the plumber? The health of the nation. Mhm. Yeah. And it shifted from that to a plumber as a used car salesman, you know, with with wrenches. And so I think that the public is wising up to it, which makes your job harder if you are an honest plumber. Also, when it comes to private equity, um, all these companies as they sell, what they’re doing is they’re rolling up and in four or five years, they’ll sell again. And then when that happens, there’s a culture shakeup and all of these commission-based guys didn’t get taken care of like they thought they would because again, money is the end goal. And so the culture gets shaken up and they go off and they start their own thing or they go to other companies. So the question is they’re all rolling up until one of them IPOs which has become a publicly traded company and that’s a gamble of whether or not that’s even possible. Um, I think that somebody will, but I don’t know how many. I mean, look at there’s one company in particular here in Salt Lake that owns well over eight companies. And in order to do that, they cannibalized a bunch of other ones. I think that homeowners with a conscience will uh not homeowners, business owners with a conscience are going to think twice before giving something that they’ve poured so much of their heart and soul into to a company that will end up seeing their their brand be just obliterated. But that all depends on how good of business owners they are. Many of these business owners are selling out of necessity. They might be making money hand over fist, but they’re paying out all these commissions and they’re not sustainable and they’re they’re selling because they’re in massive amounts of debt and that’s their only way to continue forward. They didn’t build a sustainable model because they built only to sell. Does that make sense what I’m saying? I think that’s a little bit jumbled, but I think we’ll see what the private equity market does. Um, but I don’t know. I’m kind of focused on my race, which has nothing to do with that. I’m just trying to build the best company I can. And seeing some of those IPOs kind of come in and buy up the smaller companies and they keep the name of the original company and kind of just butcher it.

Um, if there is a plumbing company that’s out out here, um, kind of in that position, what kind of piece of advice could you give them? to have that kind of successful mindset to to fix this thing from snowballing any further than it is to fix their own plumbing company so they don’t have to sell, right? Is there do you see anything that could be done to kind of stop that flow of of businesses being turned over into these um private equity conglomerates?

Yeah. Um, I mean, first first and foremost, becoming a better business owner and knowing your numbers, making sure that you’re trending in the right way to be able to be profitable, um, is huge. And I think that the best way that you can do that is as a business owner, um, get with companies that are doing it successfully. Um, that was that was the biggest realization for me for starting out is every business owner knows without a shadow of a doubt that their company is a train wreck and they are just like they are feeling insecure, right? How could this be happening to me? I must be a terrible business owner because so and so’s got it figured out. I get comments like this all the time of because I look I have a goodlooking brand because I feel like I’m a marketer at heart and I understand the importance of a brand. Um I have a better looking brand than I would say most plumbing companies in Utah. And that’s not being braggadocious. I I genuinely feel that way. Um well people see that and they link it as, wow, you must have it all figured out. And when we sit down and we’re talking about the brass tax, dude, I got the same problems that you do. I have the exact same problems, we just aren’t open about talking about them. And dude, you feel alone and you feel scared and you’re not wanting to even, you know, peak behind the veil. But if you just talk to other business owners, most guys would say, “Yeah, this is hard.” And finding the people that are the best at what they do. Um, you know, I have one company that when I have problems with finances, I go talk to him because that’s he’s financing at heart. Like, that’s what he loves. I go get his advice. If you need help with branding and marketing, come talk to me. That’s what I love. Like, I have zero problems in that aspect. Um, but I have problems with all of the other things as everybody else does. So, so that was the big aha for me is everybody else has a train wreck as well going on under the hood. It’s how even including the biggest guys in town, they are the same. They’re having the same problems. I promise you, they’re having the same problems. Um, and just being able to speak up, people are willing to help you. Other business owners are willing to help other business owners. The UPHCA is a great example of plumbing companies coming together and collaborating rather than scarcity mentality. Because at the end of the day, there are 3.5 million people in the state of Utah. All of them have plumbing that needs that needs help, right? And if I help other people in the UPHCA, I’m not taking from their plate. If anything, if there is a plate that we’re even taking from, which I don’t believe there is, but if there is, we’re picking up everything that the private equity is dropping as we get better as locally owned companies.

That is fantastic. I could not have said that better myself. That’s we’re we’re all in this together. We’re you don’t have to fight it alone. Um but uh in order to protect our market and our customers and everything else and prevent them from uh the bad actors that are out there and without any naming any names u maybe some examples you might have seen of some bad actors uh within the industry. Is there any kind of examples you might that come to mind?

So yeah, not necessarily on on companies and I think this is where we need to be careful as locally owned companies as well. Um the like I said before apprentices need to be shopping for a teacher, right? So the inverse of that is that plumbing companies need to become great teachers. They they just do. The problem, the biggest problem with private equity is they are good teachers only in the communication realm in sales because that’s all that they care about. And so there’s a quote that uh by Steven Cvy that some people have 20 years of experience and others have one year of experience repeated 20 times. And that’s the problem that we’re running into right now within the plumbing industry is I will interview all sorts of plumbers with 20 years of experience when in reality they have one year of experience repeated 20 times. Um they can’t diagnose it correctly, they can’t fix it correctly, they’re not doing correct gas sizing as the the government and regulations are pushing us more over to tankless models. um they’re just slapping them in and and customers are having problems. And so the biggest problem I see is some of these big companies are going in. And inherently the customer believes, right or wrong, and I firmly believe it’s wrong, the customer though believes that the bigger companies are investing more into education, right? And so they, and I’ve felt this, when when you need a problem solved, you go to a bigger company because they’re probably going to know how to take care of it uh better. I’ve lost customers to this before I had my branding figured out. Um, being able to train your guys how to do the job properly and to invest in education. And it’s it’s uncomfortable. It’s uncomfortable to get your guys to go and sit down in a room for one hour and talk to them about things that maybe nine out of your 10 guys already know intimately about water softeners, about gas, about whatever, but that other one guy will walk away with more value. Training, training, training all the time. I think that’s what’s ultimately going to set us apart uh from the big guys cuz they’re not training on the actual plumbing. they are training on sales and communication only. Um, and so that’s where I feel like I have shined above the big guys when you go in and so and so’s already been there and they didn’t solve the problem and you fix it in 20 minutes and you know that’s where you get the customers for life as well. Yeah. becoming a lifelong student of your craft and trade and all that and yeah, I think you’ve got a really good thing going. Um, as far as the general consumers go and the and the general public out there who may not know how any of this works, um, what what do you think that they can look for when they’re looking for a plumber and they’re out there kind of researching it? What are some some things you can tell them to help them find the right company to avoid getting scammed so they so they don’t spend a lot of money trying to fix it and then have somebody come in and fix spend 20 minutes and fix it, you know? Um I mean the basics that they’re going to be looking for is Google reviews, right? I don’t think Google reviews lie. Um and go down to the one stars first. No company is going to be full five stars. Everybody’s trying to make mistakes, but how the company handles those mistakes will speak volumes to it. Um, and then the second thing is understanding how to use Doppel and verifying that your contractor is licensed. Not only the company that is being advertised, right? So, if you go look up Rare Breed Plumbing, you will find Rare Breed Plumbing Heating and Air. You’ll find it on Doppel. But also, when the individual contractor steps in, that’s not enough. When the individual contractor steps in and I say, “Hi, Mrs. Jones. My name’s Court Lundberg.” It’s a quick search to say Court Lundberg. And are they licensed? And if they are licensed, are they an apprentice or are they a journeyman? And have the guts to say if they’re an apprentice like, “Hey, I’ I’d feel more comfortable if a journeyman’s out here.” Um, no company’s going to say no to that that’s running a tight ship. Um, and again for the general public, a somebody should be an apprentice for a max of 8 years. And you can see when they filed to be an apprentice, a maximum of eight years. And if they have been an apprentice for 20 plus years, and they’re like, well, I’ve been doing this for 20 plus years. It’s like, or you’ve been doing this for one year, repeat it 20 times. because if you’ve really been investing in your craft, you would have licensed out by now. You would have put the time and effort into upgrading yourself. That’s that’s my personal bias on it.

Yeah, that’s great. And then um we’ve kind of hit on a lot of this uh as far as like some of your core business philosophies, but is there anything that you have to share additionally as far as core business philosophies that that can kind of help improve and improve the quality and the of our trade and craftsman in our area?

Um I think it’s very often we remember you know the good companies already have this built into them that that we’re servants right that this is a servitude job we are serving our clientele I think we also need to remember that our clientele is also our internal customers um and we have touched on that but the the companies that are want to stick around long term and that aren’t going to have a lot of churn. I don’t know about anybody listening to this, but I for one do not enjoy recruiting uh for a position that I’ve already found a good fit for. I feel like I’m going backwards. You feel like you’re a hamster spinning your will. When I’m recruiting, it’s because I’m growing. That’s what I want to do. And so to not have that churn, you need to have a business plan that has uh room for them to grow, right? Um and that might be teaching them leadership, that might be uh teaching them more things about plumbing. But I think that that knowing what that plan is and recruiting to it and making good on your internal customers, we get people all the time because they know that they’re going to be trained here. even those guys that are 20 years into it. Um, I put a lot of time and effort into finding those apprentices and saying, “Look, nobody’s ever invested in you to to uh actually get your licensing.” Um, stop doing that. Stop having the scarcity mentality of like, if I don’t get my if my guy gets licensed, he’s going to leave. Well, I’d rather have that than have him not get licensed and stay. and me have to deal with all the cleanup. Invest in your guys and train them. Um, and it’s it’s just going to work out. Just invest in your people.

And do you think that’s part of the key of having employee growth is is just investing in the employee?

Yes. they’re going to feel I mean I I challenge everybody that went off and started their own thing of like what what got them to leave and there was usually a catalyst of some sort of they feel like they had hit a ceiling. Um or they had a fallout with a boss because of something like there’s usually happy people don’t leave their jobs just to go try something. Maybe they do. The vast majority of people either something fell in their lap like it did for me. Um or they’ve hit a ceiling where they’re just like, I’m the most competent person here. I need to go off and do my own thing. Or they had a boss that threw them under the bus or wasn’t investing in them or wasn’t teaching them. Um and I think investing in in them is what’s going to keep them. And if it’s not um and I don’t want to go over too much on time, I have all the time in the world. So, but if you look at uh Goldman Sachs, Goldman Sachs is wildly revered as the largest uh investment company. The fact is that that’s just not true. They’re not the biggest in any way, shape, or form. what Goldman Sachs is, but they they look like they’re the biggest and they get very profitable jobs and all that kind of stuff. Their philosophy is really interesting to me and it’s what we’ve tried to do. Goldman Sachs is kind of a meat grinder of people and we are not. But if you go work at Goldman Sachs, you’re grinding 80 hours a week and it’s kind of your place to prove yourself. Um, well, what happens is when Goldman Sachs employees leave, they know that Goldman Sachs is very efficient at what they do. And so they go to Meil Lynch or they go to this small investment company and they get a customer that calls them and says, “Hey, can you do this?” They say, “No, I don’t, but I know somebody who can.” And they’ll refer people, previous employees will refer it over to Goldman Sachs. In plumbing, it’s the same. when your guys go start out and they land that liner job or that big boiler job or that big remodel and they’re just like, “Man, I can’t take this on.” If you were good to them and you invested in them, they’ll send it back your way all the time. Um, and so I’m not afraid of my guys leaving. I think it’s going to end up putting more money in my pocket. And if I support them, like I said, we were lucky to last the 5 years that we did. the chances of them surviving, even if they’re killers, is still pretty low. Um, and that’s not to disparrage them or anybody else. That’s just the reality of business. That business is hard and it’s not for the faint of heart. And so, if the wheels fall off that train, I still want to be there to pick them up. And you’re not going to do that by burning bridges and saying, “Oh, yeah. If you start your own thing, you’re dead to me.” No, I’ll I’ll support you however I can.

Awesome. Well, Court, I really do appreciate you taking the time to hang out with us today. It’s been uh fascinating to hear your story. Uh Court Lundird from Rare Breed Plumbing. Um thanks so much for being with us today. Uh really appreciate your time. Absolutely. Appreciate it. Yeah.

Is there anything else anybody wants to ask real quick?

I just want to you you have looked at you specialized in certain parts of the trade like give us some ideas of why you went into certain aspects and what what uh why did you specialize in certain areas?

Um yeah, I think that also goes back to what did I wish what would I have wished that I known about plumbing when I first started. Um something that people trying to get into the trades need to realize is if there is humans, if there are humans, there are plumbers in some aspect. Like you will never be out of a job plumbing. The oil fields need it. Lagoon’s hiring right now. Cruise ships need plumbing. Any third world needs plumbing. Everybody needs a plumber. And so there’s so many aspects. And this is one thing that I wish the school system would improve on is they teach code and they teach all this. I wish that when we first got into it and when I was going to school, I learned how to freeze pipes. I learned more about hydronulics. I learned more about sewer lining. I learned more about all these aspects uh pipe bursting and all these kind of things. There are a million avenues that you can go into with plumbing. Um, why Rare Breed focuses on what it does is because of the the customers that we serve. And the customers that we serve are primarily um the residents of Salt Lake, Davis, and and uh Utah County. And so it’s typical homeowners. And so we are looking for the services that offer them the best service. And that is pipelining. um on those older homes. It is general residential service. It is hydronics. Um and it’s why we’ve steered clear of things um of other things. We we don’t do a lot of commercial at as of this time. Um but as we do, we’re we’re dipping our toes into commercial right now. And the reason why we’re doing it is again because of our internal customers. I had a plumber that came to me. He’s an absolute killer. I asked him what his end up goals were and he says I really like to do this kind of work. Um well I have zero zero desire to do uh big commercial jobs personally like that doesn’t sound fun to me at all but he does and I want to keep him around. So I go and find those jobs for him and I help him build out his own department. Now he’s being invested into he feels valued. He feels more ownership into that. I feel good about it too because if we do it right, hopefully we’re making some money on it. Um, but I have a new avenue that I can attract people to of I can send apprentices over there to learn the basics and then bring them over into service uh once they have it. And so that’s kind of why we’ve focused on what we have. It’s why we haven’t really gotten into backflows yet, but we will. Um, just one step at a time. Hopefully that answered the question.

Very cool. Well, uh, Court again, I appreciate you coming on. Appreciate you having taking the time to talk with us today. But Court Lungberg from Rare Breed Plumbing, and this has been another episode of the UPCA pipeline podcast.

So, thank you for joining us today.

Hey, thanks guys.

The UPHCA Pipeline podcast.

If you need the services of Rare Breed Plumbing, you can visit their site here: https://www.callrarebreed.com/

Listen to more episodes here: https://podcast.uphca.net/

In this blog post, we want to review each point in our code of ethics and show you why our member companies are unique.

Feel free to browse our member companies and their services at UtahPlumbing.org

As a member of the Utah Plumbing & Heating Contractors Association (UPHCA) you will strive to the following code of ethical standards.

Being a member of the UPHCA sets my company apart as one that will serve our customer with integrity, competence, and objectivity.
The rest of this code of ethics will demonstrate exactly what sets a UPHCA member company apart from any other.
We will perform our work to meet technical codes or better and meet the requirements of state & federal rules and regulations.
Making sure our member companies and their employees have current licenses makes sure that the work completed is always above and beyond what the law calls for.
We will treat our employees fairly.
Treating our employees fairly doesn’t just mean providing medical, dental, and paying a living wage. It also means creating space to make mistakes and learn from them.
We will assign technical and support personnel to each job in accord with their experience, knowledge, and expertise.
This means that none of our member companies will send an inexperienced tech or apprentice to handle a job that would make a master or experienced tech quake in their boots.
We will foster training for all our employees on an ongoing basis to improve and uphold high performance standards.
The goal of any member company is to give plenty of opportunities to your team members and employees to learn and grow, to become a master tradesperson. Training the next generation of plumbers and HVAC technicians is how we pass these trades to the future.
We will perform jobs for which we are qualified by our experiences and technical competence.
Feel free to review the licenses of our member companies through https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html. Knowing how to verify a company’s licenses is integral to making sure that the contractor you hired has the experience to perform the work you need.
We will stand behind our work.
While obvious to consumers, this point eludes most non-UPHCA plumbers. Does it mean our membership completes jobs and then walks away, never to touch base to make sure you’re satisfied? No. Does it mean our membership is more interested in completing a job fast rather than well? Absolutely not.
What it does mean, is that when one of these companies gives you a quote, you can be sure your second, third, fourth, and fifth opinions will back up what you were initially quoted. It means never needing to issue a public apology because getting the work done is so much easier.
We will not provide services to a customer under terms or conditions that might damage or compromise the integrity of our trade and profession.
As one of our mission statements, we’re interested in pushing the industry forward. We aim to bring more prestige and a young workforce to the trades. It is difficult to build our industry up if we have members working to tear it down in the name of a higher profit. Therefore, we don’t associate with companies that have actively damaged the integrity of our trades.
We will not advertise our services in a deceptive manner.
The reason you won’t see many of our member companies throwing around “free” in their ads is because nothing in life is truly free, so it’s deceptive to make someone think they’ll get a service for free. Our member companies thrive in operating openly and honestly.
One of the benefits of being part of the association is the ‘Emplovee Sharing Program. I or any of my employees will not recruit or incentivize workers from member companies.
Sharing is caring. Making sure our member companies play fair with each other and share employees as needed makes sure our membership remains strong.
I will act with courtesy and professionalism in recruiting potential employees and if an applicant from a UPHCA member applies a courtesy notification will be made to that company.
Playing fair means when an employee changes employers to another member company, that member will always give a courtesy notification.

If for some reason a member of the UPHCA doesn’t hold to these standards the Board of Directors at its discretion and after careful review, can suspend or cancel the membership of the company in question.

Don’t forget to visit UtahPlumbing.org next time you need a Plumbing or Heating Contractor! Get the plumber your mother would hire!

Why Plumbing Licensing Matters in Utah

Why Utah Plumbing Licensing Matters

Clarifying the Handyman Statute

Strengthening the Maintenance Exception

Water Heater Installation and Proper Licensing in Utah

Water Conditioning Statute and S410 License Clarification

Preventing Sales Tax on Services

Giving Licensing Boards and Industry Professionals a Voice

Defending Utah Plumbing Licensing Standards

UPHCA as a Respected Industry Voice

Why This Matters for Utah Contractors

Continuing the Mission

Utah Plumbing CE Deadline 2026: Get Your 12-Hour CE Done Before 11/30/2026

Utah Plumbing CE Deadline 2026: What Contractors Need to Know

What Utah Plumber CE Hours Are For

UPHCA’s 12-Hour Video CE Package

Why Video CE Works Better for Busy Utah Contractors

Easier to Start

Better for Real Work Schedules

Less Like Busywork

Easier for Office Admins to Push

DOPL Plumbing Renewal: Why Company Owners Should Plan Early

A Practical CE Checklist for Office Admins and Assistants

1. Make a List of Employees Who Need CE

2. Confirm Who Needs the Full 12-Hour Package

3. Send the UPHCA CE Link

4. Give Them the Early Bird Code

5. Ask for Confirmation

6. Follow Up Before Renewal Season

How Much Is the UPHCA 12 Hour CE Utah Package?

Why Contractors Use UPHCA for CE

How UPHCA Supports the Next Generation of the Trade

When Should You Buy Your 2026 CE Package?

What Contractors Should Do Next

Register Before the Renewal Rush

Improved FAQ Section

What is the Utah plumbing CE deadline for 2026?

Where can I get Utah plumber CE hours?

How much is the UPHCA 12-hour CE package?

Who should take the UPHCA 12-hour CE package?

Why should plumbing and HVAC companies start CE early?

Can office admins help employees get CE handled?

Watch the UPHCA Pipeline Podcast Episode

Mountainland Supply’s Role in the Utah Trade Community

Supporting UPHCA Academy and the Next Generation

UPHCA Academy Is Expanding Into HVAC

A Supplier With Multiple Trade Verticals

Pricing Volatility and Supply Challenges

How Suppliers Help Contractors With Larger Projects

Why Contractor-Supplier Relationships Matter

How Contractors Can Connect With Mountainland Supply

Why UPHCA Membership Matters

UPHCA Advocacy and Industry Support

Conferences Still Matter

Final Takeaway

Take Action

Key Takeaways

UPHCA June Update: CE Classes, Training Expansion, Golf Tournament, and Capitol Advocacy

2026 UPHCA Conference Recap

12-Hour UPHCA Video CE Classes Are Available Now

UPHCA Academy Graduation Is Coming Up

New St. George Lab Is Open

Salt Lake City Location Now Includes an HVAC Lab

UPHCA Golf Tournament Is August 5

Capitol Event Shows Why Contractors Need to Be in the Room

Why This June Update Matters

Final Reminders

Take Action

St. George Was the Perfect Setting

The Vendor Floor Was Packed

CE Classes That Contractors Actually Wanted to Attend

It Wasn’t Just Business

The Industry Is Stronger When Contractors Stay Connected

Why Events Like This Matter More Than Ever

2027 Is Already Building Momentum

Final Thoughts

Your Cart