Plumbers & Heating Engineers
This quick-start guide covers everything plumbers, heating engineers, and similar tradespeople need to know about optimising their Google Business Profile. Follow this guide to get found by customers searching for plumbing and heating services in your area.
Your Setup Priorities
What to do
Focus on these elements first — they matter most for plumbers.
Step by step
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Service areas are crucial. As a mobile tradesperson, your service area settings determine where you appear in searches. Get this right first.
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Categories drive visibility. Your primary category should be "Plumber" — this is what you want to rank for most.
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Emergency availability matters. If you offer emergency callouts, make this extremely clear throughout your listing.
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Reviews build trust. For tradespeople, reviews are everything. Customers are inviting you into their homes — they need to trust you.
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Certifications add credibility. Gas Safe registration, CIPHE membership, and other certifications should be prominently mentioned.
Recommended Categories
What to do
Set these categories based on your services.
Step by step
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Primary category: Plumber — This is the main term customers search for.
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Secondary categories to consider: Heating Contractor (if you do heating), Gas Engineer (if Gas Safe registered), Drainage Service, Bathroom Remodeler, Water Heater Installation Service, Boiler Repair Service.
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Only add relevant categories. Don't add categories for services you don't actually provide.
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Heating engineers: If heating is your main focus, consider "Heating Contractor" as primary instead.
Setting Your Service Area
What to do
Define where you work so you appear in those areas.
Step by step
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Hide your home address. Most plumbers work from home. Set yourself as a service-area business and hide the address.
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List your service areas. Add the towns and areas you cover. Be realistic — don't claim areas you won't actually travel to.
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Consider travel time. Most customers expect same-day or next-day service. Only list areas you can reasonably reach quickly.
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Don't be too broad. "South West England" is too vague. List specific towns: Plymouth, Saltash, Ivybridge, Tavistock, etc.
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You can list up to 20 areas. Use them strategically for your main service region.
Services to List
What to do
Add all the services you offer to help customers find you.
Step by step
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Be comprehensive. List every service you provide. Customers often search for specific problems.
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Common plumbing services: Leak repairs, Burst pipe repair, Tap repairs & installation, Toilet repairs & installation, Bathroom installations, Kitchen plumbing, Waste disposal repair, Drain unblocking, Water tank repairs.
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Heating services: Boiler installation, Boiler repairs, Boiler servicing, Central heating installation, Radiator repairs & installation, Power flushing, Underfloor heating, Heat pump installation.
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Emergency services: Emergency plumbing, Emergency boiler repair, 24-hour callout, Same-day service.
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Add descriptions. For each service, add a brief description including the types of jobs you handle.
Photos That Work for Plumbers
What to do
Show your work and build trust through images.
Step by step
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Before and after shots. These are gold for tradespeople. Show the problem and the solution. Blocked drain to clear drain. Old boiler to new installation.
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Completed work. Newly installed bathrooms, boilers, radiators. Clean, professional-looking results.
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You at work. Photos of you working (in clean workwear) show customers you're a real person. Great for building trust.
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Your van. A sign-written van looks professional. Shows you're an established business.
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Certifications. Photo of your Gas Safe card, CIPHE certificate, or other credentials.
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Avoid: Messy work areas, photos that show customer details, low-quality phone snaps.
Getting Reviews as a Plumber
What to do
Reviews are critical for tradespeople. Here's how to get them.
Step by step
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Ask at the end of every job. "If you're happy with the work, I'd really appreciate a Google review. I'll text you a link."
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Text the link immediately. Send your review link while you're still there or within an hour of leaving. Strike while they're happy.
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Put QR code on paperwork. Your invoice or completion certificate can include a QR code for reviews.
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Mention what to include. "If you could mention it was an emergency and we got there quickly, that really helps." Guides useful review content.
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Follow up once. A polite text a few days later if they haven't reviewed: "Just a reminder about that review if you get a chance!"
Q&A to Seed
What to do
Pre-populate these common questions customers ask.
Step by step
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"Do you offer free quotes?" — Answer honestly about your quoting policy.
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"What areas do you cover?" — List your main service areas.
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"Are you available for emergencies?" — Explain your emergency callout policy.
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"Are you Gas Safe registered?" — Confirm and provide your registration number.
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"Do you work on combi boilers?" — Confirm the types of boilers you service.
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"What are your call-out charges?" — Be transparent about your pricing structure.
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"Do you guarantee your work?" — Explain your guarantee/warranty policy.
Key Attributes to Set
What to do
Enable these attributes if they apply to you.
Step by step
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Identifies as veteran-owned — If applicable, this resonates with many customers.
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Identifies as women-owned — If applicable.
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Online estimates — If you provide quotes via phone/email.
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Onsite services — You come to the customer (yes for all plumbers).
Priority Citations for Plumbers
What to do
Get listed on these directories first.
Step by step
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Gas Safe Register (if applicable) — Customers check this.
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Checkatrade — Major source of leads for tradespeople. Worth the membership fee.
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TrustATrader — Another popular trade directory.
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MyBuilder — Good for getting quoted jobs.
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Which? Trusted Traders — High trust factor if you can qualify.
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Yell, Thomson Local — General directories, still important.
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CIPHE/WaterSafe — If you're a member, ensure you're listed.