Many plumbing companies focus only on break-fix calls for things like leaks and clogs.
But there are many other ways to grow your business, revenue, and increase customer satisfaction. One is water treatment services.
Water treatment is something that everybody needs, but it varies by location. Depending on where in the country you live, water has different issues. These issues take a toll on appliances such as washing machines, showers, and water heaters, and can negatively impact your health.
Depending on where you are, the water might be hard, requiring water softener installation, or it might need a water filtration system targeting nitrate. No matter the issue, water treatment systems help everything last longer and make water safer.
Why add water treatment
Many plumbers worry that adding water treatment services will lead to fewer plumbing jobs in the future. As a plumbing company, you have a duty to help your customers feel as comfortable utilizing that plumbing as possible. If you add it to your services with the mindset of benefiting your community and giving them good, safe water, the money will follow. Additionally, adding water treatment services creates opportunities for recurring revenue.
While not legally required for everyone, water treatment is highly recommended to enhance taste, odor, and reduce health risks from contaminants like lead or PFAS. It acts as a safety layer while simultaneously protecting plumbing. Therefore, while every area’s water issues are different, there is a demand for it across the country.
Water filtration systems require more recurring home visits than plumbing. When people are looking for average plumbing services, they usually pull out their phone and Google “emergency plumber near me.” On the other hand, water filtration systems require more visits to install, clean, and change filters. This creates paths for recurring revenue.
How to get started
If you are looking to add water treatment services, make sure you hire an experienced technician. Water filtration is very different from plumbing. Water filtration technicians need to know about ingredients and the value of the media. Installing, maintaining, and cleaning these systems is a delicate act that requires experience.
You can find a quality technician the same way as any other position — through referrals or a job search web site. Make sure they are licensed and have lots of experience. It only takes one great technician to get this service off the ground.
You need to be ready to invest money into the service. Thankfully, water filtration is one of the most affordable. Research the water quality in your area and invest in the right equipment, suppliers, and vendors.
It’s critical that you only reach out to local vendors and suppliers. Stay away from the big national brands. You need somebody who knows the water in your area.
Encourage your plumbers and representatives to talk to customers about water quality. Tell them the risks of the water in their area and why a filtration system might be beneficial to them. Offer to send the technician out there to test the water. This will help them conceptualize how poor the water quality is and how it’s affecting health and the home's longevity.
Due to the demand, health and home longevity it offers customers, and the opportunity for recurring revenue, water treatment is the perfect thing to add to your service list. Ensure you have a solid technician who can install and maintain these services. It may seem like a big jump, but your customers and revenue stream will thank you in the long run.
About the Author
Constantin Geambasu owns Water Rehab in Phoenix, Arizona. He’s an expert in installing and repairing water purification systems and emergency plumbing. He was also featured in the August 2025 issue of Plumber magazine.
