Books and Resources to Start Strong
Starting a plumbing business requires both technical knowledge and business acumen. These books cover everything from mastering the trade to managing your first employees and handling the financial side of ownership.
Plumbing 401: Advanced Professional Practices and Techniques by Floyd M. Mix
This book goes beyond basic installations and covers troubleshooting, code compliance, and advanced techniques you’ll encounter on real jobs. It’s especially useful if you’re transitioning from apprentice to business owner, as it fills gaps in practical knowledge that formal training sometimes misses. The code sections alone save you time on inspections and callbacks.
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
Most plumbing businesses fail because they’re run like solo operations, not systems. This book teaches you how to build processes that don’t depend entirely on you showing up. For a plumbing business, this means documenting your methods, pricing consistently, and eventually training employees without losing quality.
Shop The E-Myth Revisited on Amazon →
Markup & Profit: A Contractor’s Guide by Michael Stone
Plumbing has thin margins if you don’t price correctly. This book breaks down exactly how to calculate material costs, labor time, and overhead so you actually profit instead of just staying busy. It includes specific formulas for service calls, repairs, and new installations.
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International Plumbing Code (IPC) Current Edition
Your state or local jurisdiction enforces a version of this code. You must understand it to pass inspections, avoid fines, and keep customers safe. Contractors who know the code better than inspectors gain credibility and avoid expensive rework on jobs.
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Equipment You Need
A plumbing business needs both hand tools you’ll use daily and larger equipment for specific jobs. You don’t need everything on day one, but investing in quality tools pays for itself through faster work and fewer callbacks.
Essential Hand Tools
- Adjustable wrenches and pipe wrenches: Standard sizes 8″, 10″, and 14″ for gripping and turning pipes.
- Slip-joint pliers: Your workhorse for most hand-turning tasks on fittings and valves.
- Tongue-and-groove pliers (water pump pliers): Essential for larger nuts and connections; get 10″ and 12″ sizes.
- Screwdrivers: Both Phillips and flathead in multiple sizes, plus a multi-bit handle to save pocket space.
- Torpedo level: A quality 24″ level ensures installations are straight and drains slope correctly.
- Hacksaw and reciprocating saw blades: For cutting copper, PVC, and cast iron pipe on the job.
- Flashlight and headlamp: Many repairs happen in dark crawlspaces and basements; a headlamp frees both hands.
- Tape measure: A 25′ or 30′ tape for measuring runs and marking locations.
Pipe Cutting and Assembly Tools
- Tubing cutter: For precise copper and plastic pipe cuts without burrs; get sizes for 1/2″ through 2″ pipe.
- Pipe threader (manual or power): Required if you work with galvanized steel pipe; threaders are expensive, so many plumbers rent these or outsource threading.
- Deburring tool: Removes sharp edges from cut pipe to prevent joint leaks.
- PEX crimper or clamp tool: Essential if you install PEX tubing, which is increasingly common for water supply lines.
- Soldering torch and supplies: For copper pipe work; includes torch, solder, flux, and safety gear.
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Drain Cleaning Equipment
- Hand auger (plumber’s snake): A 25-50 foot manual auger for clearing residential clogs before bringing out power equipment.
- Power auger: Motorized drum auger for tougher clogs; ranges from $300-800 used and handles most residential jobs.
- Plungers: Keep both cup plungers (for sinks) and flange plungers (for toilets) in your vehicle.
- Wet-dry vacuum: Useful for removing standing water before working on drains or clearing debris from clean-outs.
Shop augers and drain tools on Amazon →
Testing and Inspection Tools
- Water pressure gauge: Tests residential water pressure, usually 40-80 PSI; helps diagnose problems and inform customers.
- Multimeter: Useful for troubleshooting electric water heaters and sump pumps.
- Leak detection dye: Helps identify leaks in toilets and locate plumbing issues without guessing.
Safety Equipment
- Work gloves: Leather for general use, nitrile for chemical work.
- Safety glasses and face shield: Protect against splashing and debris.
- Knee pads and back support: You’ll spend hours kneeling; cheap knee pads prevent long-term injury.
- Respirator mask: For sewer gas and mold exposure in crawlspaces.
- First aid kit: Cuts and minor burns happen regularly in plumbing work.
Vehicle and Storage
- Tool bags and aprons: Multiple bags organize tools so you don’t waste time searching on job sites.
- Pipe and fitting storage: Shelving or bins to organize inventory in your truck or work vehicle.
- Work vehicle: Most plumbers use a van or pickup truck with a tool cabinet to carry equipment and parts; expect $5,000-15,000 for a reliable used vehicle.
What to Buy First vs Later
Your first purchases should enable you to take jobs immediately. You’ll build your inventory as you encounter jobs that require specialized equipment.
- Month 1: Essential hand tools (wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, level), a tape measure, flashlight, basic drain plungers, and a good tool bag. Budget $300-500.
- Month 2-3: Tubing cutter, soldering torch with supplies, hand auger, water pressure gauge, safety equipment, and a wet-dry vacuum. Budget $400-700.
- Month 4-6: Power auger if you’re getting regular drain-cleaning calls. Budget $400-800 for a quality used unit.
- Month 6+: Specialized tools based on your work—pipe threader, PEX crimpers, or specialized testing equipment. Many plumbers rent expensive tools for specific jobs rather than buying them.
- Ongoing: Your vehicle is your biggest investment. A reliable van with storage and a tool cabinet is essential by your second or third month of operation.
New vs Used Equipment
For hand tools, buy new. You’ll use them hundreds of times per year, and quality wrenches and pliers last decades. A cheap wrench rounds bolt heads and costs you time and frustration. Spending $50-80 on a good adjustable wrench instead of $15 on a poor one is money well spent.
For larger equipment like power augers and wet-dry vacuums, used is smart. A used power auger from a pawn shop, Facebook Marketplace, or equipment rental company that’s clearing inventory runs $300-600 and works identically to a new one costing $1,200. Check that it starts and runs, but don’t expect it to look pristine. Tools get beat up in this trade.
Your work vehicle should be relatively new or well-maintained. Constant tool weight, ladder racks, and job-site abuse put stress on vehicles. A used truck or van with known maintenance history and under 150,000 miles is safer than an older option. A breakdown leaves you unable to earn income and strands you on a job site.
Where to Buy
- Home Depot and Lowe’s: Good for common hand tools, PVC fittings, and supplies. Prices are competitive and you can return items easily.
- Plumbing supply houses: Local plumbing wholesalers offer better prices on bulk fittings, pipe, and specialized tools than big-box stores. They also carry trade-specific equipment.
- Grainger: Industrial supplier with a wide selection of tools, safety equipment, and testing instruments. Shipping is fast and quality is reliable.
- Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist: Best for used power equipment, older hand tools, and work vehicles. Meet in person, test equipment before buying, and walk away from deals that feel off.
- Pawn shops: Often have quality used hand tools at good prices. Check condition carefully.
- Estate sales and auctions: Older tradespeople’s estates sometimes include well-maintained vintage tools and equipment at reasonable prices.
- Equipment rental companies: When you need a specialized tool for one job, renting costs less than buying. Many rental companies sell used equipment at year-end clearance.