In our experience, there are four categories of plumber’s apps that are useful for plumbing businesses to improve their processes and for plumbing techs to do their jobs more efficiently.
The four categories are:
Business apps for plumbers: Apps that help plumbing businesses manage all of their day-to-day operations.
Calculator apps for plumbers: Apps that use essential formulas to quickly and accurately calculate required plumbing job measurements, conversions, and estimates.
Reference plumbing apps: Apps that help techs look up important information quickly (instead of thumbing through huge reference books).
Utility apps for plumbers: Apps that help plumbing businesses and techs to complete routine tasks that are time-consuming when done manually.
Our list begins with our own home services platform, ServiceTitan, which gives plumbers and managers access to tools to manage their whole business — whether they are on-the-go or at the office. Our all-in-one platform includes software for dispatch, scheduling, call booking, marketing and reporting. Throughout our list, we’ll also mention several other free ServiceTitan online tools that we offer to plumbing contractors.
If you think ServiceTitan could help your plumbing business, sign up for a free demo.
Business Apps for Plumbers
1. ServiceTitan®
iOS, Android – Free, Subscription Required
ServiceTitan® is the leading all-in-one software solution for the home service industry. The ServiceTitan mobile app that accompanies our software platform allows plumbers to carry out admin tasks such as invoicing and taking payments while they are with customers in the field.
Plumbing business owners can manage all aspects of their business from a tablet, on our mobile app, or from a computer back at the office.
Our plumbing contractor software helps businesses do the following:
Features for Plumbing Business Managers Back at the Office
Call Booking
ServiceTitan’s call booking software gives your customer service representatives (CSRs) all the information they need about each customer who calls to make a booking. This gives them the chance to make customers feel especially welcome because they can greet them by name, and make friendly enquiries about previous jobs that were carried out for them.
Our system provides CSRs with contact details, and the technical specifications of any previous jobs carried out for the customer who is calling, and records of the actual call made for later reference.
ServiceTitan also prompts CSRs to ask all the right questions on every call they receive before making a booking. A simple drop-down menu reminds CSRs of the essential information they need to get from each customer before assigning the most appropriate plumber to the job. This makes it easy to record key information and allows the CSR to provide a better customer experience — since they are free to focus on the conversation they are having, rather than thinking about what to type into a complicated form.
Later on, when they are out on the job, your plumbers can listen to a recording of the conversation the customer had with the CSR. This gives them all the information that the customer gave, insight into the problem they are having, and prevents the need to track down the CSR who made the booking to fill in any information that might have been missed. Managers and plumbing business owners can also listen to previous calls for quality control purposes, and to identify opportunities for further training.
Scheduling & Dispatching
Our field service software gives dispatchers easy-to-use dispatching and scheduling tools, allowing them to monitor the exact location of each of your plumbers in real-time.
Our software also carefully monitors traffic delays and other possible scheduling problems — such as jobs that take longer than the time allotted — so that time slots for customer visits can be increased, reduced, or rescheduled entirely.
Having a detailed overview of how many jobs have been completed throughout the day means you can even add additional jobs onto the end of a schedule when one of your plumbers finishes sooner than expected.
Customers receive automatic notifications by SMS and email warning them of delays so they can know when to expect your plumber to arrive. Notifications reduce the potential for no-shows, and the hassle of rescheduling visits, as each customer knows exactly when they need to be available.
Improve Marketing Performance
To help you grow your business and make more sales, ServiceTitan provides plumbing business owners with all the tools they need to run marketing campaigns, and to keep track of their success.
Every marketing campaign you launch through ServiceTitan is tracked within our system and compared to all the other campaigns you run. The types of campaigns that ServiceTitan helps you launch and manage include email marketing campaigns, social media campaigns, and direct mail campaigns.
ServiceTitan assigns a unique phone number to each of your campaigns and tracks whenever that number is used by a prospective customer. It then ranks each campaign in real-time according to the total number of calls and the actual revenue each is responsible for.
In this way, you know exactly which campaigns are working and which are not; making it easy to decide where to spend more of your marketing budget.
Employee Reporting & Performance Tracking
Plumbing managers and business owners can use the field reporting software integrated into ServiceTitan to monitor the performance of their techs, sales people, and CSRs based on a range of indicators such as:
Jobs completed
Close rate
Average sales
Bookings made
Revenue earned
Customer satisfaction scores
And more
When you identify a particular employee who is failing to reach targets, you can use the information provided by ServiceTitan to understand where they need additional training and assistance.
Additionally, ServiceTitan’s employee reporting tools give business owners the chance to offer incentive bonuses based on specific employee targets that they set.
Features for Plumbers Out in the Field
Access to Information About Each Customer & Job History
Plumbers who use ServiceTitan Mobile can see and read all the information and details your CSRs collected about the customer and job during the call booking process. Without ever having to call the CSR who took the call from the customer and made the booking, your plumbers can listen to the recording of the call, as well as having access to every other piece of information:
Name
Address
Contact details
Voice notes
Recorded calls
Previous estimates
Invoices and their status
Full job history
And more
Your plumbers arrive at every job fully informed and aware of the services previously performed and can discuss them with the customer in detail. This level of knowledge and attention to customer service gives customers additional confidence in the tech assigned to do the work.
Keep an Eye on Their Own Performance
ServiceTitan Mobile gives plumbers a view of their personal dashboard. The techs can easily see what they are doing well, what they need to do to earn bonuses, and where they need to improve.
Replace Paperwork with Digital Tools
ServiceTitan Mobile replaces a whole range of paper-based processes because all customer documents — invoices, estimates, memberships, contracts, etc. — are uploaded to the cloud. It's easy for techs (and the main office) to keep track of these important documents and access them on any device.
Draw Up Digital Estimates
Because it uses a cloud-based system, ServiceTitan lets plumbing businesses keep products and prices updated across all devices and systems. Techs are always presenting the latest products, stock availability, and prices to customers in the estimates they present because the entire pricebook is kept up to date in real-time.
Using ServiceTitan Mobile on a tablet, your plumbers can show customers high-quality images of all products, provide explainer videos, let them read detailed product information, and create accurate digital estimates on-site.
Let Customers Browse and Pay For Products on the Spot
Like most consumers, plumbing services customers are used to browsing online for products and services, making decisions based on what they see and read, and paying for purchases immediately. With ServiceTitan Mobile, your techs can replicate that level of convenience by allowing customers to navigate ServiceTitan in presentation mode, and taking check and credit card payments right away using their device’s built-in camera and a credit card swiper.
Taking payments on the spot prevents having to chase customer payments and improves the cash flow of your business.
How One Plumbing Business Uses ServiceTitan’s Metrics to Make Better Business Decisions
When Brandon Mageno, who owns Big B’s Plumbing in Murrieta, California, decided to transition the company from a commercial to a residential focus, he quickly realized using pen and paper to keep track of the company’s affairs wouldn’t be viable if he wanted to grow.
After initially trying a different software to run his plumbing business, Mageno opted for ServiceTitan instead, partly because of its superior reporting and metrics features, which allowed him to make better business decisions based on the numbers ServiceTitan gave him.
“I like the way the system functions,” says Mageno. “We’ve been able to make a lot of business decisions based on numbers instead of gut feelings. That’s been huge for us. It has really helped us move strategically versus on impulse.”
ServiceTitan helps you run all aspects of your plumbing business more efficiently. Schedule a call to find out how our software, and our mobile app for techs, can help drive the growth of your plumbing business.
» Want to grow your plumbing business? Click here to get a demo.
2. Video Conferencing Apps for Plumbers
As plumbing companies trend toward remote work and digital communication with customers, apps such as FaceTime, GoToMeeting, Skype, Zoom, and other similar video conferencing services are becoming more relevant in the plumbing industry.
“It’s been very helpful,” Mageno says. “We have weekly meetings on Monday mornings, and 1-on-1 meetings with our individual guys, so we’re able to keep up and check in with our guys remotely.”
3. ServiceTitan Service Business Valuation Calculator
Android, iOS – Free, Subscription Required
It’s not an app in the traditional sense, but if you’ve ever wondered how much your business is worth, this interactive calculator offers business operators a snapshot of their companies’ monetary value.
The site asks owners/operators to input their company’s assets, revenue, number of employees, expenses, industry and state to offer a projected valuation. You don’t need a ServiceTitan account to input your company’s information and it's completely free to calculate the value of your business.
The calculator isn’t designed to offer financial advice. Instead, it functions as a self-help tool for business owners who are looking to track their growth or are considering selling their business.
4. QuickBooks for Plumbers
Among plumbing apps that assist the business side, QuickBooks is one of the best across several service industries. From viewing net profit to tracking miles and managing financial reports and cash flow, it’s a one-stop shop in the app world.
Google Play reviewers tout the app’s real-time expense tracking and its ability to save detailed notes while your plumbers produce estimates. The app also helps techs manage payments, track sales and customers, view account balances and more.
Like most QuickBooks software, you’ll need to set up a subscription once you’ve completed a 14-day trial.
5. ServiceTitan’s Free Invoice Generator
Your plumbers can quickly and easily generate invoices from any smartphone or tablet with ServiceTitan’s free Invoice Generator.
Techs can send customers a digital invoice (by SMS or email) even before they leave for the next job, which cuts down on paperwork back at the office and streamlines the entire invoicing and payments process — by getting customers to pay immediately.
6. ServiceTitan’s Free Labor Rate Calculator
ServiceTitan’s Labor Rate Calculator helps you figure out the real cost of employing plumbers and calculates exactly how much your plumbing company should be charging customers for labor to maximize your bottom line.
Add key metrics into our free, interactive, online tool to calculate a flat-rate hourly fee that covers all of your costs, including overheads, and keeps you on track to hit profit targets.
7. ServiceTitan Field Management Software for QuickBooks
Android, iOS – Free, Subscription Required
If you’re already using QuickBooks, but also considering ServiceTitan for your business needs, consider combining the two with our integration program.
You can go paperless and see your transactions in real-time, all while keeping the processes you currently use. You don’t need to enter the same data twice; just generate your invoices and purchase orders in ServiceTitan, then export them to QuickBooks for secure, accessible accounting.
If you’re already using QuickBooks, it’s not automatically included with the ServiceTitan platform. You can link the two programs to streamline your accounting.
8. Route4Me Route Planner
Efficient travel is essential for all businesses, and plumbers with multiple jobs in the same day are no exception. Among plumbing apps, this one is a great time-saver.
This app enables users to load all service locations into the app, then it orders your stops to maximize efficiency along the way. This separates the app from other navigation services and makes it a must-have among apps for plumbers.
This app becomes even more efficient if you have several techs out in the field at once. You’ll be able to squeeze more stops into your day by utilizing this efficiency builder.
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Calculator Apps for Plumbers
9. Plumbing Formulator
iOS - Free
As a plumber, you regularly need to solve complex equations in the field, such as calculating appropriate pipe sizes, determining water flow and pressure, or maximizing pump efficiency. Plumbing Formulator© makes this process a whole lot easier with more than 120 standard formulas that you can easily check within the app.
The app also includes a number of great “quality-of-life” features — such as the ability to email and print specific formulas for easier reference. It also prominently displays your most frequently used formulas on the app for future use, and check out the handy graphical charts included to illustrate concepts in a clear manner.
With Plumbing Formulator, your techs can stop wasting time searching online for each individual solution while in the field.
10. Pipe Trades Pro
It isn’t cheap, but among apps for plumbers, this one’s perfect for pipe calculations, and it features built-in, pipe-related data. It’s a great time-saver when cutting, welding and placing pipe, which likely offsets the app cost in the long run.
The plumbing app allows plumbers to choose a pipe material and type, then calculate diameters, wall thickness, filled weight per foot, and internal area, among other measurements.
The built-in calculations for cut lengths, odd-degree fittings, parallel pipe cutbacks, and pressure loss for any pipe size, type, or distance make this a must-have among apps for plumbers.
11. Electrical Wiring Lite/Electrical Wiring Pro
Android Pro; iOS Lite; iOS Pro – All Free
Most plumbers inevitably come across basic electrical wiring or central heating work while on the job. That’s where Electrical Wiring Lite can help.
The app includes many commonly used electrical calculations such as Ohm’s Law, ground wire sizing, voltage drop, burial depth, and more. Written by a working electrician who uses the app on a daily basis, Electrical Wiring Lite provides all of the essentials and nothing more.
For complex needs, consider upgrading to the Pro version of the app, which includes more than 40 electrical calculators and tools. The calculations come preconfigured to meet the National Electrical Code standards and are updated regularly. This ensures your calculations adhere to the latest regulations.
12. ServiceTitan's Flow Rate Calculator
To calculate the flow rate of water inside a closed pipe, contractors such as plumbers, pipe fitters, and irrigation specialists must understand complicated math formulas and know how to apply them on the job. ServiceTitan’s water flow rate calculator makes determining volumetric flow rate quick and easy.
13. ServiceTitan's Pipe Volume Calculator
You need the right tools to solve complex math equations in the field, such as calculating the volume of a pipe to determine how much water it can handle. ServiceTitan’s pipe volume calculator makes a pipe calculation simple and easy.
Measure the volume of pipes based on inner diameter and length. You can also use this calculator to tally how much the volume of water in pipes weighs.
Reference Plumbing Apps for Plumbers
14. Plumbing Systems Design Tables
Android – Free
This app, designed by the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), offers a convenient reference for your plumbing techs when they’re in the field. Instead of thumbing through the 2,500-page handbook version just to find one specific table, they can access all of the data by clicking on the app.
It also comes with interactive calculators, which allows you to customize pipe materials and other design criteria, so it gives you the relevant sizing data in SI or English. All U.S. standards and major plumbing codes are supported—including the International Plumbing Code (IPC), Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), and National Standard Plumbing Code.
Please note: Only ASPE members can access the app’s full functionality.
15. Copper Tube Handbook
iOS – Free
This plumbing app from the Copper Development Association sets the standard for plumbers working with copper piping systems. The Copper Tube Handbook© contains a wealth of information and quantitative data on various types of copper tubes, joints, fittings, and joining methods. This digital handbook is detailed, yet accessible.
Currently, the app is free for the first 10,000 users, so grab it while you can.
16. Pipe and Fitting
Android – Free
When it comes to pipe fitting, sometimes clear visuals help better than a wordy reference guide. That’s where the Pipe and Fitting app blows other plumbing apps out of the water. Simply select from its comprehensive list of pipes, joints, clamps, and other parts available. The app calculates for you, with detailed specs for each part including dimensions, hardness, tensile strength, yield strength, maximum load, and more.
The app displays data visually with clearly illustrated technical diagrams, so you can see exactly how a part fits into any given plumbing system. And judging from the 100+ reviews and an average 4.3-star rating, that visual element is a major hit with users.
Utility Apps for Plumbers
17. EasyMeasure
Are you wondering how to fit an appliance into a certain space, such as moving a large boiler or water heater through a narrow doorway? The EasyMeasure© app can help. Just take a photo of the space on the app and let it calculate the dimensions, angles, area, and even distance to the object.
While it sounds like magic, the app actually works on basic trigonometric principles. It uses the camera lens height and its tilt angle to calculate the distance to the object. With that information, it then determines an object’s height and width, and hence its area.
The app even estimates how accurate it expects each particular measurement to be, so you’ll know when to use a tape measure instead.
The best thing about this app is its “dynamic photos” feature, which allows you to store photos in the app and analyze measurements after the fact. If you’ve ever left a job site and realized you forgot to take an important measurement, you’ll quickly realize the value of this feature.
18. White Light Flashlight
Android – Free
Plumbers often know this better than anyone else. It’s a huge hassle to juggle a heavy flashlight while trying to maneuver through a tight, dark space. The White Light Flashlight© app lets you illuminate those tricky areas behind pipes. Plus, it comes with adjustable brightness settings so you get the exact amount of light you need in any given situation.
Unlike many other free flashlight apps, this one does not feature any annoying ads to distract you while you’re working.
19. Bubble Level / Bubble Level for iPhone
These plumbing apps may be two different apps, but they perform the same function. Each app is able to determine the horizontal or vertical alignment of a given surface. Essentially, these plumbing apps act as a replacement for a physical bubble or spirit level by utilizing the gyroscope in your phone to calculate the tilt angle along three different axes.
While iOS devices are generally calibrated correctly, Android devices come from multiple manufacturers and might not be as reliable.
Fortunately, the Android app includes the ability to manually recalibrate your device by placing it face-up on a flat surface and pressing the SET button. There’s also a RESET button to return to the default factory calibration at any time.
ServiceTitan: An All-in-one Platform with Online and Mobile Apps to Run Your Plumbing Business
Besides the manual tools every plumber needs to have on hand for every job, you need to equip your field services team with the right smartphone and tablet apps to make it simple to do all their related admin tasks and calculations correctly and efficiently.
ServiceTitan gives your plumbing team the tools it needs for all aspects of their daily work.
To find out more about how ServiceTitan can help you manage your plumbing business, schedule a free demo here.
ServiceTitan Plumbing Software
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive plumbing business software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and achieve growth. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000+ contractors across the country.
