Where Can I Buy Plumbing Uniforms?
Outfitting your team with uniforms is more than just providing them with plumber T-shirts. Uniforms are not only personal protective gear, but also signal industry expertise and reflect your brand.
This article explains the function and purpose of plumbing uniforms, what to look for when choosing apparel, and some of the best places to purchase high-quality work uniforms.
The right tools on the job are crucial for dominating your market, including business management software like ServiceTitan.
Keep reading to learn how to outfit your technicians and back office for growth.
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What is the Purpose of Wearing Plumbing Uniforms?
Technicians in the plumbing industry need to wear uniforms for several essential reasons. Workwear protects technicians on the job, conveys expertise to customers, and builds brand identity in your market.
You demonstrate your commitment to their safety and comfort by providing your team with high-quality gear. Investing in uniforms pays dividends across your organization by being a tax-deductible business expense and attracting top talent in your market.
Protection
Plumbing is physically challenging and hazardous, sometimes requiring plumbers to crawl into tight spaces.
The right uniform and gear can protect technicians in the field when encountering challenging projects and keep them comfortable throughout their workday. Personal protective equipment should include:
Knee pads: protect the knee joint when plumbers crawl on rough surfaces or kneel to complete some work.
Hi-vis safety vests: ensure technicians are visible on high-traffic job sites and in dark crawl spaces to prevent accidents.
Respirators and dust masks: provide plumbers with OSHA-rated protection against sewer gasses, asbestos particles, and other dangerous airborne contaminants
High-quality, comfortable PPE ensures technicians in the field are protected against the hazards of the job, reducing instances of on-the-job injury.
Professionalism
Your plumbers in the field are the closest contact customers will have with your brand. What they wear is critical to your first impression with new clients.
High-quality clothing with embroidered or screen-printed logos and brand name signals the professionalism of your team.
ServiceTitan business management software is another tool for providing superb customer experiences. It offers features for enhanced communications, such as:
Sending appointment reminders and introductory tech bios over SMS so customers know who will be working on their property.
Two-way SMS messaging for customers to confirm or reschedule appointments or ask questions before visits. Build trust with fast responses from your team.
Live GPS tracking so customers can anticipate technician arrival time or see real-time issues such as traffic and delays.
Plumbers can bring ServiceTitan software with them to every job with the Field Service App, transforming a tablet or mobile device into a valuable tool with features including:
Office-to-field syncing for customer details, service records, and CSR notes for each appointment to personalize and elevate service
Automatic triggering for required documents to eliminate paperwork errors and overlooked details.
Property specifics allow plumbers to identify service opportunities, build estimates in the field, and highlight product value to customers with videos and pictures.
Combining quality uniforms and advanced office-to-field software helps your technicians project a professional image to customers.
Branding and awareness
Marketing may not be your favorite aspect of being a business owner, but brand awareness is critical to growing your organization. It’s easy to spread your business name by putting your logo, business name, and slogan on your technicians’ shirts, hoodies, and work vans and trucks.
ServiceTitan has its partners’ backs when it comes to the overall marketing of their business as well, with Marketing Pro features that include:
Marketing Scorecard that ranks campaigns by the revenue they generate rather than call volume to give accurate insights into ROI.
Heat maps to see revenue generated by geographic area to guide ad spend in the future.
Automation for multi-channel campaigns, including email, direct mail, and digital ads, to amplify reach while improving efficiency.
ServiceTItan is a partner to plumbers in all aspects of their business, from marketing to scheduling and invoicing.
Providing your team with the right tools in the office and the field enables them to deliver exceptional customer experiences at every job, from comprehensive business management software to quality uniforms.
What Does a Plumber Wear to Work?
Plumbers need more than short-sleeve tee shirts with the company name on them. Every uniform item should be based on function, quality, and comfort. Take head-to-toe performance into consideration when selecting apparel for your team.
Jackets and shirts
Being a plumber requires jumping into any situation to get the job done, whether hot or humid or cold or dirty. Provide technicians with long-sleeve work shirts and T-shirts so they have daily uniforms regardless of the weather.
Jackets, sweatshirts, and hoodies should all be made from rip-stop fabric.
They should also be stain-resistant, easy to launder, and quick-dry, so using them all week without spending hours soaking and scrubbing stains is easy.
Work pants
Technicians need protection against the elements and the moisture they encounter on damp job sites. Durable, high-quality work pants ensure your team stays comfortable even on the most challenging days.
Consider bibbed overalls or coveralls for added protection and to provide more pockets for tools.
Work shoes and boots
The proper work boots can protect your team against falls, sprains, and even broken bones. Footwear must be slip-resistant and steel-toe in case of falling tools and materials.
The best quality work boots are also shock-resistant and nail-proof, so they're safe no matter what the job site throws at your technicians.
Headgear and hard hats
Hard hats are a critical part of PPE on the job site (and required by most insurance companies). Including them in the plumber’s uniform ensures your technicians are equipped for every job site.
Not only do hard hats protect against falling materials, but they also ensure plumbers are visible on the job site, preventing accidents.
Gloves
A plumber’s hands go through a lot on the job site. Gloves can help keep them safe and dry. One pair of gloves won’t meet all the needs of every job on the schedule, so outfit your team with a variety of gloves for their toolbox:
Kevlar, cut-resistant gloves: when cutting materials or working in tight spaces, these will help prevent injuries.
Drain-cleaning mitts: to protect skin against cuts and burns when working with sewer cables.
PVC-coated waterproof gloves: in addition to dirt, sharp edges, and water, plumbers also have to deal with caustic chemicals that these gloves can help protect them against
Lightweight and insulated nitrile-coated gloves: to improve technician grip when working with tools or other equipment in the summer and winter months.
What to Look for in Plumbing Uniforms
You want your team to look good in their uniforms, but performance is more important than style when you work in the trades. Here are some things to look for in plumbing uniforms to ensure your company’s workwear delivers on all fronts.
The weight you give the following considerations depends on your market and the types of jobs on your schedule.
Material
The ideal material for work clothes varies depending on the season and the job you’re called out to do. Keep in mind the following properties when choosing a uniform:
Cotton: lightweight and breathable, but also highly absorbent and can take a long time to dry—not ideal for damp work environments, but preferable in hot and humid conditions.
Polyester and nylon: synthetic fibers are water-resistant, stain-resistant, and durable. They’re quick to dry and rugged enough to stand up to daily use but can melt to the skin in the case of a flash fire.
Denim and canvas: both are highly durable and abrasive-resistant—such as Carhartt or Dickies workwear—and can withstand frequent industrial washing. However, they both lack stretch and can be hot and uncomfortable.
Flame-resistant and high-vis: these materials should always be an option so plumbers are prepared for every job site, including construction, heavy traffic, and welding applications.
Your uniform will likely be a combination of these materials to ensure team members are always prepared for the jobs on their route.
Size
You should offer all uniform items in a range of men's and women's sizes. Having well-fitting gear that is easy to move in is essential for snag resistance, keeping morale high, and ensuring compliance when wearing their uniform daily.
Adjustable features let technicians tailor the fit of their gear so they look professional and feel comfortable on the job site.
Color
Besides high-vis clothing that needs to be bright, uniform colors are essential to branding. Eye-catching workwear might seem like a great way to get noticed in the field, but remember that lighter colors may get dirty faster and show more stains.
Consider using dark neutral colors, such as:
Black
Dark gray
Navy blue
Forest green
Many companies specializing in clothing for the trades (electricians, HVAC, and plumbing) offer customization options, such as screenprint, heat transfer, sublimation, and embroidery. Adding your company logo in a bright or bold color is easy and affordable.
You can still be eye-catching without showing every stain your technicians encounter.
Durability
Even the toughest plumber clothing and PPE will wear out over time and need to be replaced. Getting the most value for your money means savvy choices when establishing the uniform by choosing the right brand and material for different applications.
Cotton will wear out faster than other materials.
Providing a single type of PPE for multiple applications will wear it out faster.
Providing a full range of gear for specialized applications will keep your plumbers safe and comfortable while extending the lifespan of your work wear.
Purchasing uniforms from manufacturers specializing in gear for the trades ensures they will live up to the most challenging job sites.
Where Can I Buy Plumbing Uniforms?
Finding a great workwear manufacturer for company uniforms makes it easy to outfit technicians with high-quality gear. Here are some of the most reliable brands of uniforms for plumbing businesses.
PlumbersStock
PlumbersStock is an online retailer that provides homeowners and plumbing companies with parts, equipment, and workwear for the trades. They offer a range of PPE and clothing, including:
Safety glasses
Heated jackets and hand warmers
Work boots and gloves
It’s a great online site to pick up parts, tools, and the PPE essentials your team needs.
RedKap
RedKap has been a workwear manufacturer for over 100 years and offers customizable uniforms for both men and women.
You can shop by industry to find clothing suited for the jobs your technicians' jobs, along with clothing appropriate for the back office, such as polo shirts.
Business owners can use the website to design custom shirts, overalls, and more, choosing between embroidery designs and locations, plus optional logos and American flags.
MASCOT
MASCOT is a workwear provider offering a wide range of products for all needs, including women’s clothing, waterproof gear, high-vis clothing, and more.
Business owners can shop in a variety of ways by:
Clothing items (they carry everything from jackets and trousers to footwear and underwear)
Fabric type
Industry
Customization options
MASCOT prides itself on being a company that operates responsibly, minimizing the environmental impact of workwear, including using recycled materials and increasing durability.
Local shops
There are advantages to shopping locally, such as comparing different manufacturers side by side, seeing sizing options, and evaluating the comfort of items.
Shopping locally keeps money in your community, and you may be able to work out discounts and partnerships with other small business owners.
Quality uniforms and PPE are just one of the ways that you can make it easier for your team to deliver exceptional customer experiences. Providing them with ServiceTitan software makes it easy to take control of your future with streamlined operations housed in a single platform.
Give Your Team the Tools to Succeed, Like ServiceTitan Software.
Plumbing uniforms keep your technicians comfortable and safe in the field. By shopping at trusted manufacturers and considering everything from material to color, you can provide team members protection and a professional image while increasing your brand awareness in your market.
When you’re ready to level up your business with branded uniforms, take it further with business management software from ServiceTitan.
It gives your team tools in the back office and the field to run all aspects of your business—no hassle from logging in and out of multiple platforms. Schedule a demo to see how ServiceTitan serves the trades.
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.
