If the few dozen installers I had the privilege of talking to in the past year were any representation of the industry as a whole, 2025 was a busy year. Almost everyone I spoke with had projects lined up for their whole summer and fall and the phone was still ringing.

When jumping from one big project to the next, I can only imagine that certain parts of the business get put on the back burner. And though for many, the digging season may slow down as the days get shorter, it provides the perfect opportunity to shift focus and dedicate time to other parts of the business. 

Catch up

Seasonal downtime is a great time to invest in the business itself, ensuring a smooth and profitable return to the busy season. Use the winter to conduct thorough, preventive equipment maintenance and calibration on all heavy machinery, trucks and tools. Proactively replace parts or upgrade equipment now so they don’t break down during digging season. 

Dedicate time to administrative catchup, such as updating accounting and organizing records. The slower period is also ideal for staff training and certification, including safety refreshers, cross-training on new technologies or pursuing industry certifications. Luckily for you, the best educational opportunities for the industry under one roof happens every year in February.

Learning opportunities

The WWETT Show returns to the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on Feb. 16-19, 2026. There are countless reasons to attend the show, like seeing the latest equipment and technologies, obtaining essential continuing education credit, watching live demos, networking with other installers and, of course, just simply having a good time with all that downtown Indy has to offer with like minded and down-to-earth folks. For more details on the show or to register, go to wwettshow.com. 

There is also no better time to become involved with your local association. Most state or provincial wastewater associations hold conferences this time of year. Associations are a worthwhile investment providing advanced educational and professional development opportunities. They provide a platform that makes it easier to keep up regulatory changes, network with peers, meet designers and engineers and work together toward issues affecting the industry.

To learn about winter activities planned by your regional group, turn to our Associations List inside this issue, find your state or province listing and check out their websites. 

Build your team

This time of year also offers a prime opportunity to tackle staffing shortages. You may have postponed adding to your crew or found that securing high-quality technicians is a tougher challenge than anticipated. Maybe you didn’t want to rush into a hire or have the time in the middle of the busy season to train somebody new.

Take the time now to write a well-thought-out job description. Start by clearly defining what you need. Don’t just hire to fill a hole, but hire to build your future. Articulate the specific skills, experience and character traits you want in your next installer. A well-crafted description is your first step in weeding out average applicants and attracting the standout employee who will genuinely help your company grow.

Once the job has been posted, don’t hire the first person that looks good on paper, but conduct interviews, talk to multiple applicants and give the decision some thought before hiring. 

Spring prep

Winter is the time for a big-picture view, setting the course for the company’s plan for the upcoming year. Get a head start on spring jobs by using the winter to complete site evaluations if possible, engineering designs and submitting permit applications. When spring arrives, your crews will be ready to break ground immediately. 

Use the time to stock up on inventory of supplies if you have storage as well. You can also save money by negotiating bulk purchases of essential materials — pipe, tanks, aggregate — and securing favorable pricing before the spring construction boom drives up costs. 

And lastly, catch up on past issues of Onsite Installer you were too busy to read!  

Thanks for checking out this month’s issue.