This is the update list. Keep adding stuff guys...
Before you attempt to repair anything, do good by your customer and let them know if it is
cheaper for them to replace rather than repair. You can spend several hours jacking with a
toilet. In the end, you repaired it....put it back together...tested it...found another
problem...over and over. Use your brain. If you can't fix it in less than 30-minutes, it's
probably going to be cheaper for the customer and easier for you to replace the damn thing.
Kitchen sinks that are beaten up underneath...don't spend an hour trying to install clips. A
BRAND NEW economy 2-bowl ss sink only costs $30. So your choice is A: caulk that jacked
up sink down to the counter and be done with it. B: Fight with your customers jacked-up
kitchen sink for an hour trying to make something work that is not going to work. C: Pick up a
new sink, slap it in and be done with it. This is the merry-go-round you can scratch your head
about on every job you visit. Please - DON'T BE STOOPID. If you're working inside the
house, about 85-90% of your jobs will justify (rip and replace).
LOOK FOR PROBLEMS: One of your biggest expenses is travelling from one job to the
next. Again, DON'T BE STOOPID. While you're at the job, do your customer the courtesy
inspecting their plumbing at every fixture. Point out problems. They'll probably have you fix
them. You make more money and save some drive time. Tell your guys in the field that you'll
PAY THEM 25% NET on up-sales and it's not a bother. At 25% NET, it's worth their time to
inspect the house. Give your customer a written record of problems you found. NEVER give
them anything in writing telling them that anything looked like it was working well. Otherwise,
they'll call YOU complaining that your plumber told them everything was fine...and NOW,
there is a problem and the customer wants an explanation.
DO NOT EVER warrant drain cleaning work. Once it is clean, your job is done. If they have a
low spot under slab, they are going to have repeat problems (not your fault). I had one
customer who would cook spaghetti and dump it into her kitchen sink. About every other
week, there was a call to come clear that kitchen sink. First, we made the mistake of doing
warranty work on drain cleaning (the good ol' days). Second, we made the mistake of doing
warrenty work on drain cleaning. Third, we made the miserably stoopid mistake of warranting
our drain cleaning work. DO NOT EVER warrant your drain cleaning work. You have no
control of what these people are going to dump down that drain after you leave.
Truck List:
Toilets:
6 Fluidmaster Kits
6 Water Closet Supply Tubes
12 Angle Stops/Sweat
6 Angle Stops, threaded
6 straight stops
12 escutcheon plates
6 Wax Seals
12 packs toilet bolts
6 packs tank/bowl bolts
2 universal tank/bowl seals You need the American standard kind and the other kind.
2 universal fill tubes
12 flappers
Lavatories/Sinks:
1 Rebuild Kit (esp. Delta parts kit)
20 Supply Tubes
10 Trap/Tubular Assemblies
6 Tailpiece assemblies
2 end-outlet wastes
2 center-outlet wastes
2 long extender tubes
2 double end tailpieces
2 Fernco trap adapters
2 sprayer kits (ks) thread type
2 sprayer kits (ks) quick connect type
6 Basket Strainers (ks)
1 Entire Kitchen Sink with valve included I pick them up at the salvage yard for $10 each (valve included). Find one with a
Delta Valve. Don't waste your time fighting with an old cast iron sink. Yank it and plop this
back into it's place. ONLY for rental property customers. Don't carry this old used sink up to
your customer's million-dollar home. Basically, don't be a moron.
2 Lavatory Faucets (complete)
2 Kitchen Faucets w/sprayer (complete)
1 Badger 5 Garbage Disposal
Outside:
4 Hose Bibbs
6 Vacuum Breakers for Hose Bibb
Water Heater:
6 thermocouplers
6 heating elements
4 thermostats
2 T&P Valves
1 Thermal Expansion Tank
1 50-Gallon Electric Water Heater
1 50-Gallon Gas Water Heater
Tub/Shower:
3 Diverter Spouts (tub)
3 Shower Heads
Copper:
50 Tees (both 3/4 & 1/2)
50 Ells (both 3/4 & 1/2)
50 Couplings (both 3/4 & 1/2)
12 Copper/Pex Adapters (both 3/4 & 1/2)
20' Copper Pipe (both 3/4 & 1/2)
Pex:
50 Tees (both 3/4 & 1/2)
50 Ells (both 3/4 & 1/2)
50 Couplings (both 3/4 & 1/2)
12 Qwest/Pex Adapters (both 3/4 & 1/2)
20' Pex Pipe (both 3/4 & 1/2)
100 Crimp Rings (both 3/4 & 1/2)
2 Tubes White Caulk (water soluable)
2 Tubes White Silicone
2 Tubes Clear Silicone
1 Roll Duct Tape (pref. black)
1 Roll 100' metal pipe strap
12 Rolls Teflon Tape
2 Bottles Pipe Dope
2 Bottles Flux
2 Rolls Solder
1 Roll Sanding Cloth
2 Bottles Glug or Thrift drain cleaner
2 3" Brass Cleanout Caps
1 4" Brass Cleanout Cap
2 3" PVC Cleanout Caps
1 4" PVC Cleanout Cap
36' R6.5 Pipe Insulation (for both 3/4 and 1/2)
18 Compression Couplings (for both 3/4 and 1/2) In the winter months, use compression couplings to quickly fix leaks. Winter freeze-ups are a race. The more customers you rescue, the more money you make!
Misc.
100 plastic ferrules (3/8)
100 brass ferrules (3/8)
20 extra compression nuts for stop valves
6 3/8 x 3/8 compression coupling
6 1/4" sweat coupling
1 short roll (about 30 feet) of 3/8" tubing (both copper and poly)
20' Dishwasher hose
3 Dishwasher tailpiece adapters
1 Box, hose clamps
3 Bags (sink clips for kitchen sink)
Tools:
2 1½" Pump ball (for testing)
2 2" Pump ball (for testing)
2 3" Pump ball (for testing)
2 4" Pump ball (for testing)
1 Bicycle Pump (for pump ball)
1 Pressure Gauge with hose threads (to test house pressure at hose bibb)
1 3/4 Pex Crimper
1 1/2 Pex Crimper
1 Pipe Cutter for plastic pipe (not the ratcheting type from Home Depot)
1 Pipe Cutter (micro)
1 Pipe Cutter (small)
1 Pipe Cutter (medium)
1 Pipe Cutter (large)
1 Reciprocating Saw (lots of blades for both metal and wood)
1 Grinder
1 Large Hole Hawg Drill (lots of bits for different holes)
1 Portable Drill (Dewalt rechargeable) (lots of bits for diffent cuts, etc)
1 Volt meter (get a good one like Fluke)
1 Digital Manometer (if you work on water heaters)
1 Hammer
1 6-Way screwdriver
1 LONG screwdriver (esp. for tank bolts)
1 Small Size channel locks
1 Medium Size channel locks
1 Large Size channel locks
1 Small Size Pipe Wrench
1 Medium Size Pipe Wrench
1 Large Size Pipe Wrench
1 Extra Large Pipe Wrench if you work on larger pipes
1 Chain cutter (for cast iron)
1 Chop saw with cast-iron blade
1 Pipe Threader (manual) (3/4 and 1/2 bits minimum) Note: if you work on larger pipes, you'll need a power threader
1 Bottle thread cutting oil
1 Set Phillips screwdrivers (misc. sizes)
1 Set Flat screwdrivers (misc. sizes)
1 Set Metric & Standard Allen Wrenches
2 Drop Cords (100-feet)
1 Drop Cord (12-feet)
1 6' Fiberglass Ladder
1 Small "stinger" shop vac
12 Shop Towels (you'll use these more than anything on your truck)
1 Box of surgical booties so you don't track mud
1 Pair safety glasses (don't buy goggles, they steam up)
1 Safety harness (if you do commercial work)
1 Electric Cable Hoist (110-volt) to hoist water heaters into attic area
1 Closet Auger
1 Strap wrench (not the rubber-strap type)
This is NOT a complete list. The above items will reduce your trips to the supply house if you
keep these items stocked on your truck.