Plumbing Suppliers: How to Choose, What to Avoid & More

How to Choose the Best Plumbing Suppliers

Plumbing contractors seeking the best quality and prices for plumbing supplies need to do their research to find the best fit for their company. After all, a supplier functions as a partner with plumbing businesses to deliver top-notch products and service to customers.

Follow these steps to identify the best plumbing suppliers for your company.

Step #1: Assess your needs

To assess your needs, you’ll want to consider your typical project sizes, scope, and budget. Does your plumbing company mostly perform repair and maintenance or new construction installation for commercial properties?

Identify your plumbing job requirements to determine most-used materials and plumbing tools. Consider plumbing equipment and plumbing parts such as pipes, pipe fittings, gaskets, fixtures, and drains.

Consider other materials for any specialty services you offer, such as septic services, hydronic heating, or medical gas systems.

Contractors using ServiceTitan job costing software can easily see a breakdown of materials for each job to better forecast material needs for future projects and keep current plumbing jobs on track.

Real-time job costing software also allows contractors to manage inventory, improve cash flow, and increase profit.

Step #2: Create a list of potential suppliers

Once you know your needs, you’re ready to create a list of potential suppliers. Check with your professional network to identify reputable plumbing suppliers and research online to find plumbing suppliers in your area.

Attend plumbing trade shows and expos to explore potential plumbing supply vendors. As a bonus, you’ll learn about top technologies, trends, and products to benefit your business and customers. 

Consider the supplier’s location to minimize delays and transportation costs, or whether the suppliers offer online ordering.

To streamline your ordering process, ServiceTitan plumbing software provides a centralized purchasing system to easily manage purchase orders and inventory across multiple locations. It simplifies ordering from preferred suppliers, saving contractors time and money.

Using ServiceTitan plumbing inventory software, contractors can seamlessly track inventory for requisitions, replenishments, purchase orders, work orders, and adjustments, even on the job site. Field technicians can add materials to invoices, so an inventory replenishment roster automatically updates to reflect the number of items needed in a certain location.

Contractors who optimize purchasing and inventory management increase plumbing job efficiency and productivity.

Step #3: Research each supplier

Research suppliers’ products and services through industry peers, references, and online customer reviews and ratings.

Find out which brands of plumbing parts, tools, and fixtures suppliers sell, especially if your company prefers specific brands for plumbing system installation or replacement parts.

For instance, if your company typically installs American Standard or Rheem water heaters, or Moen or Delta faucets, you’ll want to be sure you can order the parts and fixtures you need.

When it comes to tools, consider suppliers with top brands such as Bosch, DeWalt, Hitachi, Milwaukee, and Makita, among others.

Plumbing supply companies with showrooms display products such as bathroom sinks, bathtubs, shower faucets, and kitchen sinks, which can be helpful in visualizing products in new construction or remodels.

Step #4: Evaluate the suppliers’ qualities

Evaluate a supplier’s reputation, products, and customer service before and after the sale.

Contractors benefit from knowledgeable plumbing suppliers, so it’s a good idea to gauge the supplier’s experience in the plumbing field. Local plumbing suppliers should also be knowledgeable about local water supplies and codes.

Examine the supplier’s website or request product catalogs to review plumbing materials and equipment, and check on the availability of specialty plumbing materials you use in projects.

Also consider customer service ratings, how the company responds online to customer issues or complaints, and the availability of sales or customer service representatives.

Step #5: Narrow your list of suppliers

Choose suppliers who offer top quality, affordability, and the best customer support.

Contractors should compare:

• Quality and range of products and brands

• Pricing, including quantity discounts and bulk purchase rates

• Online ordering, delivery options, and lead times

• Return policies and product warranties

Contractors who evaluate suppliers and know what to avoid when seeking a plumbing supplier increase their chances of developing long-lasting business partnerships as they grow their business.

What to Avoid When Choosing a Plumbing Supplier

As you research plumbing suppliers, keep an eye out for companies offering poor customer service and shoddy products.

Potential red flags include:

• Extremely low prices: If a company offers very low prices, you may want to investigate product brands and quality.

• No warranty: Quality plumbing products and equipment include warranties. You don’t want your company to be on the hook for faulty products and poor performance.

• Pressure tactics: Avoid companies with salespeople only interested in the sale and not their customers’ needs.

• Poor customer service: Consider customer service ratings and reviews. The best plumbing supply companies provide stellar customer assistance and support.

As you research suppliers and brands, you may want to know more about plumbing manufacturers. Below, find key information about top plumbing manufacturers and their products.

Top Plumbing Manufacturers and Suppliers to Know

The top plumbing manufacturers and suppliers include:

• Ferguson Enterprises

• Fastenal

• Watts Water Technologies

• Keller Supply

• APR Supply Co.

1. Ferguson Enterprises

Ferguson Enterprises is a distributor providing expertise and products for commercial and residential plumbing, HVAC and refrigeration, infrastructure, fire, and fabrication projects.

Corporate headquarters: Wokingham, England

North American headquarters: Newport News, Virginia

Year founded: 1953

Locations: 1,750 in North America

Company facts: Ferguson has about 35,000 associates throughout the business, and approximately 36,000 suppliers manufacturing products.

Products

• Bathroom and kitchen plumbing and parts

• Water heaters

• Pipe fittings

• Pipe and tubing, such as PEX and PVC

• HVAC equipment, parts, and installation

• Air distribution and indoor air quality

• Valves, hangers, fasteners, brackets, and clamps

• Pumps, including sump pumps

• Electrical, including lighting, fans and parts

• Appliances and repair parts including range, hood and vent, garbage disposal flanges and parts, and refrigerator parts

• Tools

• Safety, cleaning and hygiene, and maintenance products

Brands

Ferguson sells an array of well-known brands. Ferguson exclusive brands include:

• Armatek™

• Avallon®

• Durastar®

• Edgestar®

• FNW®

• Koldfront®

• Landmark®

• Miseno®

• National Fire Products™

• PollardWater™

• PROFLO®

• PROSELECT

• RAPTOR®

• Signature Hardware®

• Westcraft®

2. Fastenal

Fastenal distributes industrial and construction products, including fastener, safety, and metal-cutting products.

Headquarters: Winona, Minnesota

Year founded: 1967

Locations: About 3,300 in-market locations in 25 countries

Company facts: Fastenal has 16 regional distribution centers and more than 10,000 employees. It placed No. 479 in the 2021 Fortune 500 based on its 2020 revenues.

Products

Fastenal offers an array of products, such as:

• Abrasives

• Cutting tools and metalworking

• Electrical and lighting

• Fasteners

• Fleet and automotive

• HVAC and refrigeration

• Hardware and building supplies

• Hydraulics

• Machinery

• Motors

• Plumbing and pumps

• Pneumatics

• Tools and equipment

• Welding

Brands

Fastenal exclusive brands include:

• Agent™

• Aspect®

• Blackstone® welding equipment

• Body Guard®

• Clean Choice®

• Dynaflow®

• EQUIPRITE®

• FMT

• FNL®

• Fastenal®

• Northway®

• PowerPhase®

• PROFitter®

• Regiment

• Rock River™

• Stronghold power transmission

• Talon™

• Tritan®

3. Watts Water Technologies

Watts Water Technologies provides global water solutions for residential, industrial, municipal, and commercial settings. Its products include drainage, HVAC and hot water, plumbing and flow control, and water quality and rainwater harvesting.

Headquarters: North Andover, Massachusetts

Year founded: 1874

Locations: Six worldwide

Company facts: The company has 4,600 employees and has a manufacturing facility and learning center in St. Pauls, North Carolina.

Products

• Plumbing and flow-control solutions: Fittings, valves, risers and strainers, fire protection sprinkler systems, and gas connection systems

• Water quality solutions: Conditioning, disinfection, and water filter systems

• Drainage solutions: Cleanouts, drains, fixture carriers and interceptors

• HVAC and hot water solutions: Boilers, water heating, controls, and hydronic and steam heating products

Brands

Watts’ family of brands include:

• Aerco

• Ames Fire and Waterworks

• Apex valves

• AVG Australian Valve Group

• BAR

• BLÜCHER

• Bradley

• Dormont

• Enware

• FEBCO

• HF Scientific

• Leak Defense

• Lync

• Mueller Steam Specialty

• Orion

• Powers

• PVI Industries

• Socla

• SunTouch

• Syncta

• tekmar control systems

• The Detection Group

• Valpes

• Watts

4. Keller Supply

Keller Supply is one of the largest independent plumbing wholesalers in the United States, providing plumbing, HVAC, pool and spa, and fire protection products.

Headquarters: Seattle, Washington

Year founded: 1945

Locations: More than 70 branches in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Alaska.

Company facts: The company represents more than 1,000 different manufacturers and has 501-1,000 employees.

Products

Product divisions include:

• Residential plumbing

• Commercial plumbing

• Leisure supply

• Heating and air conditioning

• Hydronics

• Fire protection

Brands

Keller Supply represents many top plumbing lines, and has distributed Kohler products since 1951. Many of its branches include Keller’s kitchen and bath showrooms, and the company is adding Kohler showcases in several of its branches.

5. APR Supply Co.

APR Supply Co. is a fourth-generation, full-service distributor of HVAC, plumbing, and hydronics products.

Headquarters: Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Year founded: 1922

Locations: The company has 42 branches, 11 Oasis kitchen and bath showrooms, and one central distribution center in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Company facts: APR Supply Co. employs 201-500 employees.

Products

Plumbing products include:

• Kitchen, bath, and laundry

• Plumbing supplies

• Stops and risers

• Water heaters and expansion tanks

• Well pumps, tanks, and supplies

• Pumps and basins

• Water treatment and filtration

• Drainage

• Plumbing OEM parts and accessories

• Commercial plumbing

• Water coolers, drinking fountains, and bubblers

• Irrigation

Brands

APR Supply Co. offers products from a variety of brands.

Now Over to You

Just as it’s important to identify the right plumbing suppliers and products for your business, it’s equally important to implement software to improve operations and profitability.

ServiceTitan plumbing software automates plumbing business operations to streamline everything from dispatching to customer invoicing. Plumbing software works in the field to increase sales, track inventory, and communicate with your techs and customers.

ServiceTitan’s best-in-class plumbing management software works to optimize every aspect of operations, so plumbing contractors can boost ticket sizes, increase revenue, and grow business.

Ready to take your plumbing business to the next level? Book a demo to see ServiceTitan features in action.