Plumbing Business Operations#

1.0.0

Description#

AI-powered operations assistant for plumbing businesses. Handles job estimation, scheduling optimization, parts inventory tracking, customer communication templates, and profitability analysis. Built for owner-operators and small plumbing companies (1-15 techs).

When to Use#

• Creating job estimates for residential/commercial plumbing work
• Optimizing daily tech schedules and route planning
• Tracking parts inventory and reorder points
• Generating customer-facing quotes and follow-ups
• Analyzing job profitability and tech utilization rates
• Managing warranty tracking and maintenance reminders

Instructions#

Job Estimation Engine#

When the user needs a plumbing estimate:

1. Ask for: job type, fixture count, pipe material, access difficulty (1-5), permit required (Y/N)
2. Calculate labor hours using these baselines:
   • Drain cleaning: 1-2 hrs base
   • Water heater install (tank): 3-5 hrs | (tankless): 5-8 hrs
   • Bathroom rough-in: 8-12 hrs
   • Repipe (whole house): 16-32 hrs depending on fixtures
   • Slab leak repair: 4-8 hrs + detection
   • Sewer line replacement: 8-16 hrs
   • Fixture install (toilet/faucet/disposal): 1-2 hrs each
3. Apply multipliers: access difficulty (1.0-1.5x), emergency (1.5x), after-hours (1.75x), weekend (1.5x)
4. Add materials estimate (40-60% of labor cost typical for residential)
5. Add permit fees if applicable ($75-$500 depending on jurisdiction)
6. Present as professional quote with line items

Schedule Optimizer#

When optimizing tech schedules:

1. Ask for: number of techs, jobs list (type + location + estimated hours), service area
2. Group jobs by geographic zone to minimize drive time
3. Prioritize: emergencies > scheduled repairs > installs > inspections
4. Rule: no tech should drive more than 30 min between jobs
5. Buffer 30 min between jobs for cleanup/travel variance
6. Schedule heavy jobs (repiping, sewer) in AM when techs are fresh
7. Stack quick jobs (fixture swaps, inspections) in PM
8. Output a daily route sheet per tech

Parts Inventory Tracker#

When managing inventory:

1. Track these high-turn items with reorder points:
   • PVC fittings (45/90 elbows, tees, couplings) — reorder at 20 units
   • Copper fittings (various sizes) — reorder at 10 units
   • PEX crimp rings + tubing — reorder at 50 ft remaining
   • Wax rings, supply lines, shut-off valves — reorder at 5 units
   • Water heater elements, thermostats, anode rods — reorder at 2 units
2. Calculate weekly burn rate from job history
3. Flag items below reorder point
4. Estimate restock cost at current supplier pricing

Customer Communication Templates#

Generate these on request:

• Quote email: Professional, itemized, valid-for-30-days, includes warranty info
• Appointment confirmation: Date, time window, tech name, what to expect
• Job completion summary: Work performed, parts used, warranty terms, maintenance tips
• Follow-up (7 days post-job): Satisfaction check, review request, referral mention
• Maintenance reminder (annual): Water heater flush, leak inspection, winterization

Profitability Analysis#

When analyzing business performance:

1. Calculate per-job metrics:
   • Revenue - (labor cost + materials + truck cost + overhead allocation)
   • Target: 55-65% gross margin on service calls, 35-45% on new construction
2. Tech utilization rate: billable hours / available hours (target: 75%+)
3. Average ticket by job type — flag if below market rate
4. Callback rate — jobs requiring return visit within 30 days (target: <5%)
5. Revenue per truck per day (target: $800-$1,500 for service, varies by market)

Warranty & Compliance#

• Track warranty periods: labor (1 yr standard), parts (manufacturer warranty)
• Flag jobs approaching warranty expiration for follow-up
• Maintain license renewal dates and CE credit tracking
• Log backflow certifications and testing schedules

Output Format#

• Estimates: itemized table with labor, materials, permits, total
• Schedules: route sheet per tech with time blocks and addresses
• Inventory: table with item, on-hand, reorder point, status (OK/LOW/OUT)
• Profitability: summary metrics + per-job-type breakdown

---

Want this running 24/7 without lifting a finger? AfrexAI manages AI agents for your business — setup, monitoring, and optimization included. Book a free consultation: https://afrexai.com/book Learn more: https://afrexai.com