Transitioning From HVAC to Plumbing - TAP Plumbing - Travis Abaire

The Digital Toolbox Podcast

Travis Abaire, owner of TAP Plumbing and Heating, shares his journey into the plumbing industry and the challenges he faced along the way. He started as an apprentice in HVAC but transitioned to plumbing when he couldn't find an apprenticeship in HVAC. Travis emphasizes the importance of taking initiative and having pride in your work as a plumber. He also discusses the one-to-one apprentice ratio in Connecticut and the need for financial backing when starting a plumbing business. Travis and his wife work together in the business, with his wife handling bookkeeping and scheduling while Travis focuses on the physical work. In this conversation, Travis Abaire, owner of Tap Plumbing and Heating, discusses the importance of using technology in the plumbing industry. He shares his experience using software like Tradify to streamline scheduling, invoicing, and job tracking. Travis emphasizes the time-saving benefits of using software and encourages other plumbers to embrace technology. He also discusses the challenges of retaining employees and offers advice for new plumbers and those looking to start their own business.

Takeaways

• Take initiative and have pride in your work as a plumber
• Financial backing is important when starting a plumbing business
• The one-to-one apprentice ratio in Connecticut limits the number of apprentices a licensed plumber can have
• Working with your spouse in a plumbing business requires clear communication and division of responsibilities Using software in the plumbing industry can save time and streamline operations
• Technology allows for better scheduling, invoicing, and job tracking
• Embracing technology can help plumbers automate processes and improve efficiency
• Retaining employees can be challenging, but creating a positive work environment and offering competitive benefits can help
• When starting a plumbing business, it's important to have a solid client base and a game plan for growth

Sound Bites

• "Don't put profit over pride in your work."
• "I'm either going to go work for somebody else or start another company."
• "Why don't I take all the phone calls? Why don't we change the phone number on everything so when people call, they don't call your cell phone."
• "So that's the beauty of technology now, especially in home services."
• "You could break it down. It'll do job tracking for you and cost you know, it, tell you if you made money or not."
• "Yeah, definitely. Especially if they have employees, it's a time saver."
• 
  

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background

02:58
Transition from HVAC to Plumbing

07:52
Apprenticeship and Licensing

13:59
One-to-One Apprentice Ratio

22:04
Importance of Pride in Work

25:06
Working with Spouse in the Business

27:41
The Benefits of Using Technology in the Plumbing Industry

31:18
Challenges and Tips for Retaining Employees in the Plumbing Industry

34:23
Advice for New Plumbers and Business Owners

45:27
Starting a Plumbing Business: The Right Way to Do It
Keywords

plumbing, HVAC, apprenticeship, trade school, pride in work, starting a business, financial backing, one-to-one apprentice ratio, plumbing, technology, software, scheduling, invoicing, job tracking, automation, employees, business growth