Thursday, August 14, 2026
AI, robotics, sensors, trenchless systems and the tools changing the work.
Endless hot water, lower bills, wall-mounted minimalism — the tankless pitch is seductive and partly true. Here is the honest engineering and economics, from gas venting to cold-water sandwiches, for homeowners and the plumbers who have to advise them.
By Marcus Ojo, Technology Correspondent · · 12 min read
No digging up the driveway, they say — and sometimes that is true. A field guide to pipe bursting, CIPP lining, and the honest questions that decide whether trenchless saves your yard or just reprices the same job.
By Dana Whitfield, Senior Editor, Infrastructure · · 11 min read
A leak under a concrete slab is the most expensive plumbing problem a homeowner can ignore, because the first symptom is often a water bill, a warm floor, or a crack — not a puddle. Here is how detection, diagnosis, and repair actually work.
By Marcus Ojo, Technology Correspondent · · 11 min read
A $40 sensor under a sink can prevent a $40,000 flood — but only if it is placed, connected, and maintained correctly. A field guide to the smart water protection stack, what works, and what is still theater.
By Marcus Ojo, Technology Correspondent · · 11 min read
Hidden water lines, slab leaks and slow drips behind walls cost U.S. homeowners billions every year. Inside the residential leak-detection industry — from listening sticks to thermal imaging — and what a professional visit actually finds.
By Marcus Ojo, Technology Correspondent · · 11 min read
