Whats Next

When you’re a professional plumber, making a mistake can cost your reputation, not to mention your customers’ homes, dearly, so it is important you do everything you can to avoid those common errors that can spell disaster. 

In order to do that, let’s look at some common mistakes plumbers make, so you can hopefully avoid them in your working life.

1. Ignoring the Almighty Pressure Washer

First off, let’s give a big shoutout to pressure washing equipment, which is, as you should know, not just for cleaning driveways or graffiti off walls. No, dear friends, it’s also a pipeline’s best buddy. When faced with the Herculean task of clearing out years of sludge and grime from sewer lines, the pressure washer steps in like a hero. So, don’t ignore this powerhouse tool. Embrace it, cherish it, and for heaven’s sake, use it—because nobody likes a comeback story starring last year’s grease.

2. Skipping the Double-Check

Here’s a scene: You finish a job, pack up, and give a confident nod to your work—only to get a call hours later about a leak. The culprit? A connection you forgot to tighten. Always double-check your work. The five minutes you save by rushing off to your next appointment can cost you hours of return work and buckets of reputation points.

3. Tool Mismanagement

Raise your hand if you’ve ever used a screwdriver as a chisel. It’s okay, this is a safe space. But let’s be real: using tools for purposes they weren’t intended for is like using a loaf of bread as a doorstop—it might work temporarily, but it’s not a great idea. Respect your tools, and they’ll respect you back (and maybe save you from a mid-job meltdown).

4. The ‘Eyeball It’ Method

Precision in measurements is not just a fancy concept—it’s a cornerstone of good plumbing. “Eyeballing” pipe cuts or fixture alignments can lead to jobs that look more like abstract art than professional work. Always use the right measuring tools because, unlike horseshoes and hand grenades, close enough just doesn’t cut it in plumbing.

5. Forgetting Customer Service Skills

Remember, folks, plumbing isn’t just about pipes; it’s about people. The gruff, silent type might work for movie cowboys, but in the plumbing world, communication is key. Don’t just fix and flee. Explain what went wrong, what you did to fix it, and how it can be prevented in the future. A little chat can turn a customer into a repeat customer.

6. Neglecting Continuing Education

Plumbing technology evolves faster than many of us realize. If you’re still relying on techniques you learned decades ago, you might be missing out on easier, more efficient methods that could save your back and your bottom line. Keep up with the times and invest in ongoing education. It’ll keep you sharp and possibly introduce you to new gadgets and gizmos in the industry.

7. Underestimating the Cleanup

Last but not least, leaving a work site looking like a crime scene is a big no-no. A clean work area not only shows professionalism but also prevents those pesky “you left a mess” calls. Plus, who doesn’t love the sight of a spotless space post-job? It’s almost as satisfying as popping bubble wrap.

Keep these tips in mind, and not only will your pipes be flowing smoothly, but so will your business.

It’s really important to create the perfect website for your business, but what was perfect one year might not immediately be perfect the next year. Overall, running a business, especially a plumbing-oriented business, is the farthest thing from easy. Your days are packed between unclogging drains, fixing leaks, and installing new systems. With all that hustle, letting your business website fall by the wayside is easy. 

But you have to keep in mind that your website is your digital storefront, and just like any physical storefront, it needs regular upkeep and occasional updates. But when exactly is the best time to refresh your website? Well, here are some of the telltale signs that your business website could use an upgrade.

Your Website Looks Outdated

Needless to say, first impressions matter, especially online. If your website looks like it was designed in the early 2000s, it’s probably time for an update. Actually when it comes to any industry, landscaping, HVAC, you name it, it’s important to have an updated website. It can really help to look into HVAC web design, plumbing design, and basically any web design for the home services profession (ideally not a template).

Anyways, trends in web design change rapidly, and what looked modern five years ago might now seem ancient. Just think about it—would you trust a business with a rusty, old sign out front? The same principle applies to your website. An outdated design can give potential customers the impression that your services are behind the times, too.

It’s Not Mobile-Friendly

Nowadays, a huge chunk of web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your website isn’t optimized for smartphones and tablets, you’re missing out on a lot of potential business. Actually, this isn’t even SEO-friendly either; while yes technically this doesn’t penalize you, it does mean more clicks. Why is this important? Well, the mobile-friendly site adjusts seamlessly to different screen sizes, which ensures that visitors have a smooth experience whether they’re on a desktop, tablet, or phone. 

If customers have to pinch and zoom to read your content or struggle to click tiny links, they’re likely to bounce off your site and head to a competitor’s. Google also favors mobile-friendly websites in search rankings, so an update could boost your visibility.

Slow Load Times

Needless to say, patience is not a virtue most web users possess. If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, you’re losing potential customers. Again, this isn’t SEO-friendly, and it can hurt your rankings! It’s so important to understand that people expect fast, responsive websites, and if yours is dragging its feet, they’ll quickly move on. 

But that’s not all. You also have to keep in mind that there are various reasons why a site might be slow, from large image files to outdated code. Overall, a website update can address these issues, speeding up load times and keeping visitors engaged.

High Bounce Rates

So, do you look into your Google Analytics? If you notice that visitors are landing on your site but leaving almost immediately, this is a high bounce rate. It’s a clear indicator that something is off. Maybe your content isn’t engaging, or perhaps your site is difficult to navigate. Either way, a high bounce rate means that people aren’t finding what they’re looking for. 

So, this is why you need to look into updating your website, overall, an updated design, better content, and improved navigation can all help keep visitors on your site longer, increasing the chances they’ll contact you for your services.

Poor Search Engine Rankings

Alright, so SEO was mentioned a lot, but it definitely needs to be mentioned again. So, you can technically have a great website but still not show up in results. Websites that don’t show up basically don’t even exist. You can’t expect to get a lot of customers online if your website’s SEO is bad; with all of that said, if your website isn’t ranking well, it might be due to outdated SEO practices. Google’s algorithms change frequently, and techniques that worked a few years ago might not cut it today. Updating your site with current SEO best practices can improve your search rankings, making it easier for potential customers to find you.

Your Content Is Stale

Hands down, it’s so important to understand that content is king in the digital world. If the information on your website is outdated or sparse, it can hurt your credibility. Are you still showcasing projects from five years ago? Is your team page missing new hires? Updating your website gives you a chance to refresh your content, highlight recent projects, and show off any new services you offer.

Like it or not, there needs to be updates, and yes, you need to have regular content, you don’t have to go all out, but you need to keep it updated as this massively helps. Overall, regularly updated content keeps visitors informed and helps with SEO, as search engines favor fresh, relevant content.

It’s Difficult to Update

So, right above it was mentioned how important it is to update your content, because your website needs updated and it helps customers. But is that all? Well overall it needs to be updated, but what if it feels too hard to update?

Well, if making simple updates to your website feels like pulling teeth, it’s time for a change. It’s super important to keep in mind that maybe you need a whole new platform, maybe something that’s user-friendly (like WordPress or Wix). Sometimes the ease can be enough to make you want to make regular updates. 

Your Competitors Have Better Websites

Last, but by all means, this is far from the least, so, it’s really going to help to just take a look at your competitors’ websites. Are they more attractive, easier to navigate, or better optimized for mobile? If so, it’s time to step up your game. Again, you don’t want anything outdated, so it’s not good for you. It’s up to you whether to DIY your website or hire a professional, but it helps massively to make your website look as professional (if not better) than your competitors. 

Advancements in technology, sustainability, and accessibility have been driving constant change in various industries, and plumbing is no different. What previously seemed to be a norm, plumbing experts are now substituting it with more efficient and advanced technology, especially in regard to plumbing appliances and fixtures. Let’s look at some trends that are already shaping the plumbing industry and what to expect in the future.

Increase in Online Subcontractor Scheduling

Most reputable plumbing companies like Grable Plumbing Services are catching up with technology by enabling potential clients to request free estimates and schedule consultations effortlessly on a website.

Plumbing experts are increasingly adopting the use of project management software, which enables them to monitor their plumbers’ productivity and performance while reducing downtime. There is also the use of digital apps that enhance effective communication and collaboration in real-time among plumbers, especially when not physically present at the site.

Adoption of Tankless Water Heaters

There is a rising number of commercial and residential property owners installing tankless water heaters. The water heaters only work on demand, enabling you to save a notable amount of money and energy. Besides that, tankless water heaters occupy less space compared to traditional water heaters and feature an extended lifespan than the conventional counterparts.

Use of Better Materials

Manufacturers are now using better materials to develop plumbing pipes and fixtures. PEX piping is a newer plumbing material that continues to gain popularity due to its flexibility, durability, and affordability compared to traditional copper piping.

In addition, PEX piping has the ability to resist corrosion and scale buildup, which mostly happens with copper pipes. It also withstands freezing temperatures and higher pressures, improving its lifespan. If you are a cautious property owner, you can add better insulation to your plumbing pipes to protect them from freezing during winter. It is also a perfect way to maintain hot water temperatures for longer periods.

The Rise in Automation and Sensors

The plumbing landscape is immensely changing, thanks to the increased adoption of smart automation and sensors. This has become more popular in residential homes. For instance, homeowners are installing sensor-activated toilets to enable automatic flushing and faucets that automatically turn on and off.

There are also showerheads capable of tracking your water usage and leak-detecting sensors. All these go a long way in helping you to save water and energy. Currently, you can find automatic toilets and faucets even in commercial applications.

Increased Awareness About Greywater Plumbing

Like many property owners who have become more environmentally conscious, you might be looking for ways to lower your environmental footprint and conserve water. The best way to do this is through setting up a greywater plumbing system.

The average American family consumes more than 300 gallons of water each day at home, with the largest share being consumed by toilets, showers, and faucets. By establishing proper greywater systems, you can recycle greywater from sinks and showers and use it to water plants or flush toilets.

Superior Water Filtration Systems  

Filtration systems enable the cleansing of potable water to remove subtle elements like chlorine and magnesium. Many water filtration systems have been using reverse osmosis as a major component of the process.

Ultraviolet light and activated carbon stand out as the future of water filtration. While the former focuses on filtering smaller particles, the latter effectively gets rid of viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

Technology plays a crucial role in what you should expect in plumbing moving forward. Nothing is set in stone, and all these trends will keep changing as new discoveries are made. The best thing to do is to stay informed and keep track of the latest trends to make the best plumbing decisions for your business or home.

If there’s one certainty about the plumbing trade, it’s that it will be around for quite some time. Everyone needs plumbing utilities in their household, and the trade is impervious to AI interference and automation, at least for the foreseeable future.

That said, this doesn’t mean challenges can’t make their way into your otherwise stellar operational planning. As plumbing services tend to service and maintain many difference clients over the course of their tenure in a community, they can be present for most future forecasted projects as well as emergency callouts – in other words they see properties at all sides of the maintenance lifecycle.

For this reason, it’s important for plumbing firms to be ready, present, and capable of dealing with issues as and when they arrive. In this post, then, we hope to discuss how to limit downtime in your plumbing business to help you prepare for the best possible future.

Inventory Management

It’s essential to keep close watch over your tools and categorize your equipment appropriately. Strong and easily-readable storage containers for pipes, u-bends, fixtures, and any other materials you need to carry from your warehouse or storage space must be in great condition, clean, and available for install, especially if you run emergency jobs. Stock rotation can also help you avoid installing outdated or damaged materials that will ultimately make a fantastic job much harder to deal with, or waiting on supplies that may be delayed.

Continual Employee Training

It’s difficult to experience the harsh surprise that everything in your service is ticking over well, but for a particular impromptu job, you haven’t the staff with the right authorization to attend to the client. That’s why it’s always important to integrate regular staff training into your development schedule, be that taking certification courses or adopting new installation standards. It will help you avoid suffering labor shortages or not being able to respond to an emergency situation, and it will also lower staff turnover over time. This will keep your organization the agile, robust enterprise it has the chance to be. There’s a certain confidence and pride that comes from this, and of course, your clients will appreciate your availability too.

Robust Equipment

Robust equipment is essential to invest in, from the toolboxes and secure locks you have in your van overnight, to the welding machines you might use to work on parts back at the workshop for use in your practiced trade. Of course, using equipment rated for more time than your own personal warranty guarantees can help you remain secure in the job you’re doing and how long your labor will last. This means you can better advertise your capability to a range of clients, including those with the most high-end needs. Remember, it’s always best to opt for better equipment that can be repaired and used for years than cheaper items that betray your craft and skill.

With this advice, you’ll be certain to limit downtime within your plumbing business at the healthiest possible level.