15 Must-Have Plumbing Apps to Grow Your Business in 2024

As a plumber, it’s important to have your plumbing business needs organized—whether that means having a handy reference guide at your fingertips or a quick and easy way to allow customers to pay for services. These days, there are plenty of plumbing apps you can use to help you when you’re out in the field dealing with equations, pipe sizing, and other plumbing needs that are great for your organization.

Best Mobile Apps for Plumbing Contractors to Boost Efficiency

Need to figure out how to join two copper pipes? There’s an app for that. Need to determine the fastest route for all of your service routes that day? Yep, there’s an app for that. Need to organize all of your invoices, customers, and technicians? You guessed it—there’s an app for all of that.

We’ve rounded up some of the best, most useful mobile plumbing apps and plumbing business software you can utilize for all aspects of your plumbing business. Check them out below.

1. Housecall Pro

Download for iOS, Android

This is the number-one rated app for home service professionals—and it’s loaded with features that backup that number-one rating. You can think of the Housecall Pro app as your business dashboard where you can control almost every aspect of your plumbing service. Create custom invoices and estimates, schedule and dispatch technicians, and accept payments via credit cards, all in the same app.

Mobile Features:

• Schedule and Dispatching: Edit your schedule from your mobile device or computer, drag-and-drop jobs to manage your work schedule, set up recurring jobs, schedule arrival windows for customers, send jobs directly to technicians, use in-app messaging with clients or employees, and attach notes and photos while out in the field.
• Customer Communication: Send timely job status updates, send text and email reminders, as well as en-route notifications.
• Online Booking: Help customers book service appointments through your website or external websites like Yelp or Facebook. Never let a missed phone call mean you missed a potential customer.
• Estimates and Payments: Create, update, and send invoices, email estimates, invoices and receipts automatically, and customize line items.
• Flat Rate Pricing: Ensure consistent and profitable plumbing flat rate pricing, easy updates to material costs, and the flexibility to import or create price books.

Plus way more! It’s the easiest way to manage your plumbing business and helps you avoid doing hours of paperwork at the end of a long week. Housecall Pro plumbing software features an intuitive, user-friendly interface so everything about your company is streamlined from your office staff, to your work orders, to technicians in the field.

Not only do the features in this service app help you keep track of your business, but they also lead to a better customer experience because you can message clients directly through the app, follow up, and send invoices. All sides of the business transaction, from dispatch to payment, are handled quickly and without delay. Don’t let miscommunication hamper your customer service rating ever again.

2. Plumbing Formulator

Download for iOS – Free

As you already know, being a plumber involves constant equations to determine the right pipe size, water flow, and other calculations. Luckily for you, Plumbing Formulator can make your life a whole lot easier. Over 120 formulas are available to use with this app, so you can be 100 percent confident that you’re getting the exact measurement you need.

Each calculation in the Plumbing Formulator app can be emailed and printed for easy reference for you or your customer’s records. You can easily select from your most-used and recent formulas to save time while you’re out in the field. In addition, there are many plumbing charts you can use and a built-in plumbing book for reference. Here are a few calculations this plumbing app can help with…

Pump formulas:

• Head feet
• Pressure
• Brake horsepower motor
• Efficiency of pump
• Brake horsepower – pump
• Water horsepower
• Velocity head
• Pipe velocity

Piping formulas:

• Area of pipe wall
• Weight of cast iron pipe
• Weight of steel pipe
• Expansion in plastic piping
• Pressure of pipe
• Pipe length changes due to temperature

Water flow formulas:

• Optimum water flower
• Volume of water flow
• Velocity of water
• Pipes total dimension
• Supply water rate

With this plumbing software for iPads or iPhones, you’ll never be stuck at a job site frantically googling equations—you have all your calculations right in the palm of your hand.

3. Copper Tube Handbook

Download for iOS – Free

This is the essential reference guide for any plumber working in copper piping systems. Using this handy plumbing app, you can determine technical data or information about different joining methods. It’s straight from the Copper Development Association and is designed with the professional plumber in mind.

You’ll never have to frantically look up copper piping information while at a job site; simply use the app to guide you toward the right answer.

4. Route4Me Route Planner

Download for iOS , Android – Free

Have you ever had a day with service calls that take you all around town, zig-zagging back and forth to opposite locations? Not only does this waste gas, but it also wastes valuable time you could have used elsewhere. Route4Me eliminates this frustration. Simply load all of your service stops into the app and the app immediately re-sequences the entire route in the right order so that you take the most efficient way possible to all of your house calls.

This plumbing app optimizes your route so you save time, money, and wear and tear on your vehicle. It’s one of the best free apps for plumbing contractors because it simplifies a process that can be incredibly frustrating.

Have a fleet of technicians you regularly dispatch? Once all of your technicians begin using this app, you’ll be able to answer more service inquiries and house calls by finding the most direct route for everyone out in the field.

5. BestEverFlatRate Guide

Website: http://www.flatrate.guide/

This isn’t quite an app; instead it’s a helpful website with specialized software that allows you to deliver options for service repairs with custom pricing flexibility.

How it works:

After a service technician comes out during a service call, he or she uses the Optionmaker within the website to look at similar scenarios and virtually build out an economical option, middle-of-the-road option, and high-end options for the repair. Each option has suggested verbiage to go along with it if the technician isn’t quite sure how to express the different choices available to the customer.

• Option Sheet Templates: Create templates based on your company’s price points.
• Custom Price Builder: Create prices in the field for unexpected scenarios and system changes.
• Information Button: Delivers technical information such as part numbers for replacement parts.
• Financing Options: Include monthly or delayed payment options.
• Import/Export Options: Import your current flat rate options right into website.

6. QuickBooks for Plumbers

Download for iOS , Android – Free Trial, Online Subscription

If you need help keeping the financial side of your plumbing business organized, look no further. There’s a reason QuickBooks is synonymous with accounting. Using the QuickBooks app, you can create invoices for customers, manage your cash flow and expenses, and see your total net profit.

Features:

• Business Trends: See your profit and loss each month, view account balances, and categorize monthly expenses.
• Create Invoices: Track invoices so you know who owes you money and who has paid.
• Track Customers and Sales: Record receipts and attach them to your expenses, review bank. transactions, add new customers.
• Online Accounting: Customize your invoices and receipts with your logo, use 80 partner apps.

Housecall Pro can easily connect your home service business to your Quickbooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. All of your service history, price list data and customer list can be synched. Learn how Housecall Pro can help your plumbing business boost revenue by 30% and start your free 14 day trial today.

7. QuickBooks for Self-Employed

Download for iOS , Android – Free

If you’re an independent contractor, it’s crucial you keep track of every single one of your business expenses for tax purposes. After all, you don’t want to miss out on valuable tax deductions because you failed to keep your receipts organized.

Features:

• Tracks Mileage: Mileage is automatically synced to your phone’s GPS but without draining the battery.
• Business Expenses: Automatically categorized.
• Expense Tracker: Manage finances, import business expenses straight from your bank account, sync bank transactions.
• Receipts: Simply take a picture and the app imports all the important financial information.
• Get Ready for Taxes: Don’t be caught off-guard by your taxes, let the app do the math so you can export Schedule C income and expenses.

8. Company Cam

Download for iOS , Android – Free, Online Subscription

If you have difficulty keeping your plumbing projects organized and well-documented, then Company Cam is an excellent solution. Designed specifically for contractors, tradespeople, as well as plumbers, the app aids in streamlining workflow, while also improving communication across teams. With the Company Cam app, you get to capture and organize job site photos, share real-time updates, and ensure everyone is on the same page.

Features:

• Photo and Video Capture: Every detail of your plumbing projects can be easily documented with unlimited cloud storage. Any photo taken is also time-stamped and geotagged, providing precise records of your work.
• Annotations: You can add text, measurements, and drawings directly to photos to clarify details and provide more context or instructions to your team.
• Galleries and Timelines: You can easily share live progress updates with a project timeline. Also, there is an option to create curated photo galleries to share with clients or subcontractors, ensuring they have access to the most relevant information.
• Project Feed: You get to stay updated with a real-time feed of all recent job photos and progress; this minimizes the need for constant check-ins with your crew.
• In-App Communication: This allows all project-related discussions to be kept in one place. You can use comments and “@” mentions to provide more details about a photo or project, ensuring everyone stays informed and aligned.

Company Cam seamlessly integrates with Housecall Pro, thereby enabling seamless management of project documentation and customer interactions. Setting it up is quite easy. You need to be active on both accounts; then on the Housecall Pro, enable the integration in the “My Apps” section. Thereafter as soon as a new customer creates a job in Housecall Pro, a corresponding project is automatically made in Company Cam.

Likewise, photos, videos, and documents any user captures in Company Cam can easily sync automatically to related jobs or estimates in Housecall Pro, making all visual documentation readily accessible.

9. Zapier

Website: https://zapier.com/ – Free, Online Subscription

If you need help automating repetitive tasks and streamlining your workflow, Zapier is the tool for you. By connecting over 6,000 web apps, Zapier allows you to build powerful automations without any coding. Using Zapier, you can automate tasks such as sending Slack notifications, updating Trello cards, and more, which saves you time and effort.

Features:

• Easy Automation: Create custom workflows, known as Zaps, without needing to code.
• Wide Integration: Connects with over 6,000 apps including Google Sheets, Slack, and Trello.
• Time-Saving Tools: Automate repetitive tasks to focus on more important work.
• Scalability: Suitable for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises.
  Flexible Pricing Plans: Offers both free and paid plans to suit various needs.

Zapier also integrates with Housecall Pro by enabling the automation of workflows between Housecall Pro and over 3,000 other applications, streamlining various business processes without the need for coding.

10. EasyMeasure

Download for iOS Android, – Free

With just its name, you are already sure about what to expect in terms of measurement. The EasyMeasure app is a simple tool to measure distances using your phone’s camera. All you need to do is to aim your device at any object, and EasyMeasure will display the distance on top of the camera image. Its intuitive 3D camera overlay grid makes it easy to use.

Features:

• User-Friendly Interface: Includes Retina Display Graphics and a 3D engine.
• Distance, Height, and Width Measurement: Can be updated to measure various dimensions.
• Share Results: Share your measurements via email, Facebook, or Twitter.
• Accurate Calibration: Calibrate your device for the most accurate results.
• Dynamic Photos: Analyze and adjust measurements after taking a photo.

11. Pipe and Fitting

Download for iOS, Android – Free

If developing precise pipe fitting calculations and project planning has always been an issue for you, look no further. The Pipe and Fitting app is a powerful tool that provides essential data for pipe dimensions, materials, and fittings. Using this app, you can streamline your installation projects with greater accuracy and efficiency.

Features:

• Pipe Dimension and Material Selection: You can access detailed information on pipe sizes and materials to ensure accurate project planning.
• Visualization Tools: It helps in viewing data in a visually pleasing and simple manner, making it easier to find the information you need quickly.
• Fitting and Flange Dimensions: You get precise measurements for fittings and flanges to aid in proper installation.
• Calculation Tools: You can perform complex calculations for pipe strength, clamp dimensions, and hanger specifications.
• Project Planning: As a user, you can plan and execute your projects with features designed to enhance precision and efficiency.

12. FleetSharp

Download for iOS, Android – Free (with purchase of FleetSharp device)

Managing a fleet of service vehicles can be challenging, but FleetSharp makes it easier. FleetSharp is designed to track your plumbing fleet in real-time, helping you make better scheduling decisions and improve efficiency.

Features:

• Instant GPS Tracking: You can get to monitor the location of every vehicle in your fleet.
• Route Optimization: It allows easy planning of efficient daily routes to save time and fuel.
• Driver Behavior Monitoring: You can easily track driver behavior to reduce excessive idling and speeding.
• Vehicle Maintenance Alerts: This is one of the great benefits of this app. It sends notifications for vehicle maintenance to prevent downtime.
• Fuel Usage Reports: Helps to quickly assess fuel levels and track mileage to manage fuel costs effectively.

13. Pipe Trades Pro

Download for iOS, Android – Free

Pipe Trades Pro is a top valuable resource for plumbers; it helps in handling complex pipe calculations. The app breaks down every difficult pipe layout and design problems, enabling you to spend less time on calculations and more time on the job that needs to be done. With the app, you get to solve issues like rolling offsets and parallel pipe cutbacks and manage conversions for weight, volume, and flow rates.

Features:

• Advanced Calculations: You can perform calculations for offsets, fitting angles, and pressure loss.
• Built-in Pipe Data: You have easy access to detailed information on various pipe materials, sizes, and types.
• Versatile Usage: It’s very ideal for pipefitters, steamfitters, and welders to handle on-site calculations efficiently.
• Unit Conversions: It helps in the conversion of metric and imperial units for building and plumbing projects.
• User-Friendly Interface: It’s very easy to learn and use, saving time and reducing errors on the job.

14. ARPlan 3D

Download for iOS , Android – Free (In-App Purchases)

With the ever-continuous development of technology, plumbers are really lucky with the development of tools like ARPlan 3D. This app leverages augmented reality (AR) technology to give you accurate measurements of rooms and objects within them. It can help plumbers by providing precise measurements of spaces and fixtures, making planning and execution more efficient. With ARPlan 3D, you can create detailed floor plans, visualize project outcomes for clients, and quickly document your work for professional presentations.

Features:

• Floor Plan Creation: Seamless generation of detailed floor plans without any hassle.
• Project Visualization: Clients get to easily see a visual representation of the completed work.
• Efficient On-site Work: It helps plumbers in providing accurate measurements and layouts quickly.
• Professional Documentation: You can capture and document your work professionally.
• Volumetric Measurements: With the ARPlan 3D, you can easily measure the capacity of basins, sinks, and other objects.

15. Bubble Level / Bubble Level for iPhone

Download for iOS, Android – Free

If as a plumber, you have difficulty getting accurate measuring angles in plumbing projects, there’s a solution for you. With Bubble Level, you can quickly determine whether a surface is horizontal or vertical, helping you achieve professional results.

Features:

• Classic Water-Level and Object Alignment: It ensures surfaces are level or plumb.
• Angle Measurement: It allows plumbers to accurately measure angles for precise installations.
• Surface Flatness: It helps you verify the flatness of any surface.
• Metal Detection: The app also detects metal objects like wires within walls to prevent drilling accidents.
• AR Ruler: You get to measure distances between objects using augmented reality.

Plumbing Apps to Take Your Business to the Next Level

As a plumber, you’re constantly on the go, making house calls to repair systems, driving to customers, and checking up on your technicians. A highly mobile professional such as yourself deserves the kind of technology that can keep up with your pace. Using a variety of plumbing apps and plumbing services software, you can save yourself time, and frustration, and keep your business operations running smoothly. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, try Housecall Pro free for 14 days, an all-in-one app that has everything you could need—except the kitchen sink.

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