14 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER DO ON YOUR PLUMBING WEBSITE
A brutally honest list of the website mistakes plumbers make that drive customers away. If you're doing even 3 of these, you're losing money.
Your Website Might Be Actively Repelling Customers
I'm not gonna sugarcoat this.
After reviewing over 200 plumbing websites, we've seen some stuff. Stuff that makes us cringe. Stuff that makes homeowners hit the back button faster than you can say "leaky faucet."
And the worst part? Most plumbers don't even know they're making these mistakes.
So here are 14 things you should NEVER do on your plumbing website. If you're guilty of even 3 of these, you're leaving money on the table.
Let's go.
1. Using a Stock Photo of a Model Pretending to Be a Plumber
You know the one. Clean-shaven guy in brand new coveralls, kneeling under a spotless kitchen sink, smiling at a pipe wrench like it's his firstborn child.
Nobody believes this.
Homeowners can spot a stock photo from a mile away. And when they do, they think: "If this company can't even use real photos, what else are they faking?"
Use your own photos. Your crew. Your trucks. Your actual job sites. Even if they're taken on a phone. Real beats polished every single time. Google Business Profile is another great place to upload those real photos.
2. Hiding Your Phone Number
Your phone number should be visible within 0.5 seconds of landing on your site. Top of the page. Big. Bold. Clickable on mobile.
If someone has to scroll down, click a "Contact Us" page, and then hunt for your number... they're calling someone else.
This isn't a scavenger hunt. Make it obvious.
3. Playing Background Music
Yes, in 2025, there are still plumbing websites that auto-play music when you visit. Usually some smooth jazz or classic rock.
Just... no.
Nobody wants to hear "Eye of the Tiger" when they're looking for someone to fix their toilet.
4. Having a "Under Construction" Page
If a page isn't ready, don't publish it. Nothing screams "this business can't get their act together" like a page that says "Coming Soon!" and has been saying that since 2022.
Either build it or remove it from the menu.
5. Writing About Yourself Before Writing About the Customer
Your homepage should NOT start with "Founded in 1997 by John Smith, our company has been dedicated to providing exceptional..."
Nobody cares. Not yet.
Start with the customer's problem. Start with their pain. Then show how you solve it.
The first 3 seconds of your homepage should make a visitor think: "Yes, this is exactly what I need."
Not: "Cool story, bro."
6. Using Tiny, Unreadable Text
If someone needs reading glasses to use your website on their phone, you've lost them.
Body text should be at least 16px. Headings should be bold and obvious. Line spacing should be generous.
Your customer base is 30-65 years old. Many of them need bigger text. Give it to them.
7. No Reviews or Testimonials Anywhere
You've got a 4.8 rating on Google with 62 reviews, but your website doesn't mention a single one?
That's like having a trophy case in your office but keeping the door locked.
Put your best reviews front and center. Homepage. Service pages. Everywhere that matters.
8. A Contact Form That Asks 47 Questions
Name. Phone. Email. Brief description of the problem.
That's it. That's all you need.
Don't ask for their address, preferred appointment time, how they heard about you, their zodiac sign, and their mother's maiden name.
Every additional field reduces form submissions by 10-15%. Keep it simple.
9. No Mobile Optimization
Over 80% of plumbing searches happen on mobile devices. If your website looks terrible on a phone (tiny text, buttons too small to tap, horizontal scrolling), you're invisible to 4 out of 5 potential customers.
Not "should be" mobile-friendly. MUST be mobile-friendly. This is non-negotiable. Learn about mobile-first design for plumbers.
10. Listing Every Single Service on One Page
"We do residential plumbing, commercial plumbing, drain cleaning, sewer repair, water heater installation, water heater repair, tankless water heater installation, garbage disposal repair, faucet installation, toilet repair, toilet installation, bathtub repair, shower installation, pipe repair, repiping, slab leak detection, sump pump installation, water filtration, water softener installation..."
All on one page. In one paragraph. With no structure.
Each major service deserves its own page. Individual service pages rank better in Google AND convert better because they speak directly to someone searching for that specific service. Here's our complete guide to building service pages that convert.
11. Using Comic Sans (Or Any "Fun" Font)
Your plumbing website is not a birthday party invitation. It's a business tool.
Use clean, professional, readable fonts. Save the whimsy for your kid's school project.
12. No Clear Call to Action
Every page on your website should answer one question: "What do I want the visitor to do next?"
Call you? Fill out a form? Request an estimate?
Pick one and make it obvious. A big button. Clear language. Repeated throughout the page.
If your page just... ends... with no direction? That visitor is gone. And they're not coming back.
13. Bragging Without Proof
"Best plumber in Dallas." Says who?
"Award-winning service." What award?
"Thousands of happy customers." How many? Where are their reviews?
Every claim needs proof. Numbers. Reviews. Before-and-after photos. Certifications with logos.
If you can't back it up, don't say it. Homeowners are skeptical enough already.
14. Ignoring Your Website After Launch
Your website isn't a crockpot. You can't set it and forget it.
If your latest blog post is from 2021, your photos are 5 years old, and your "special offer" expired last March... it shows.
Google rewards fresh content. Customers trust up-to-date websites. Keep it maintained. We wrote a full guide on website maintenance tips for plumbers.
Update your portfolio quarterly. Add new reviews monthly. Post something useful every few weeks. It doesn't take much, but it makes a huge difference.
The Quick Self-Check
Pull up your website right now. On your phone.
- Can you see your phone number immediately?
- Does it load in under 3 seconds?
- Are the photos real (yours, not stock)?
- Is there a clear "Call Now" or "Get a Quote" button?
- Can you find reviews or testimonials?
- Does each major service have its own page?
If you answered "no" to even 2 of these, you've got a problem.
But here's the good news. Every single one of these problems is fixable.
And fixing them will directly result in more calls, more booked jobs, and more revenue.
Let's Fix This
We audit plumbing websites every day. We know exactly what's working, what's broken, and what's costing you money.
Get your free website audit and we'll go through your site with you. No sales pitch. Just honest feedback on what needs to change.
Or check out our packages to see what a properly built plumbing website looks like. You can also read what other plumbers say about the difference a real website makes.
P.S. Here's the thing about this list. Your competitors are making these same mistakes right now. Fix yours first, and every customer they lose becomes a customer you gain. That's how this game works. Grab your free audit and let's get started.