The Story Behind Plumb Pro+: Built on Integrity, Fueled by Passion

From Humble Beginnings

Plumb Pro+—originally just Plumb Pro—was something I knew I wanted to build long before it ever became real. I started plumbing at 17, simply because I needed a job. That job, with a small company in Blythewood, SC, didn’t pay much, but the people there were the best teachers I could’ve asked for.

In 2005, I moved to Charleston and worked for a local plumbing company for five years. That experience laid the groundwork for what would become Plumb Pro+.

The Garage Days

In June 2010, Plumb Pro+ was born in the garage of my Summerville home. Our first logo was hand-drawn on a piece of paper—and it’s still part of our branding today. Our slogan back then was “No More Angry Pockets,” and we drove a $1,500 van that broke down more often than not. I questioned myself constantly, but we kept going, always doing right by our customers.

By March 2012, we had our first office and two new trucks. That’s when we shifted to strictly service work. Before that, we were 50% construction and 50% service—just trying to keep the lights on.

Finding Our Why

Eventually, I realized why I kept pushing through the hard times. There were two reasons:

1. Solving Problems: I genuinely enjoy fixing issues in people’s homes. I developed a knack for diagnosing and resolving problems others couldn’t. That became my niche. But even more rewarding was seeing the satisfaction on a customer’s face when their issue was resolved—or at least clearly understood with a path forward.
2. Training the Next Generation: I love teaching new people in the trade. With fewer folks entering plumbing and HVAC, we take pride in training those who start with zero experience. Watching that “light bulb moment” when they grasp the craft—and later realize they’ve built a career they never imagined—is incredibly fulfilling.

Above all, we teach integrity. Not because our team doesn’t already have it, but because it’s the foundation of everything we do.

Why Plumb Pro+ Exists

Plumb Pro+ is built on integrity. We own our mistakes. We never hide problems. We never upsell something a customer doesn’t need. That’s our promise.

Growth Through Values

In a world where private equity firms are buying up small businesses across the Lowcountry, we’ve grown by staying true to our values:

• Always doing the right thing for our customers
• Owning and fixing our mistakes
• Keeping prices as low as possible
• Investing in our team—whether seasoned pros or complete newcomers

With 40 employees and 30,000 customers, I’m proud of what we’ve built. And we’re just getting started.

Thanks for being part of the journey.

— John Owner, Plumb Pro+