You handle high-pressure jobs—let us handle the risk. With over 50 years in the industry and access to 60+ insurance carriers, Pepper, Johnstone & Company builds tailored plumber insurance plans that keep your business flowing smoothly on every job and every call.
Comprehensive Plumber Insurance
from Pepper, Johnstone & Company
Leaks, bursts, and backups are just part of the job, but uninsured risks shouldn't be. Whether you're unclogging a drain, roughing in a new build, or managing a crew of technicians, your plumbing business carries a wide range of exposures that can lead to financial loss, legal claims, or job delays.
Don’t settle for an insurance policy that’ll leave you high and dry.
At Pepper, Johnstone & Company, we understand the specific challenges plumbers face. We work with over 60 insurance companies to build custom insurance programs that protect your team, tools, trucks, and reputation. That way, you can get the job done with confidence.
Why Insurance Matters for Plumbing Contractors
From residential emergencies to large-scale commercial builds, plumbers deal with unpredictable environments and expensive systems. Water damage, property access issues, and third-party injury claims are just a few of the daily risks.
Beyond licensing and permitting requirements, the right plumber business insurance can protect you from:
- Client lawsuits after accidental water damage
- Injuries to employees on the jobsite
- Theft or damage to your expensive tools and equipment
- Vehicle collisions involving your fleet
- Employee disputes or hiring practices claims
Whether you’re a solo operator or a growing team, coverage helps you stay focused on fixing problems—not creating new ones.
Core Insurance Policies for Plumbers
Most plumbing businesses need a layered approach to coverage. Here are the essentials:
General Liability Insurance for Plumbers
Plumbing liability insurance covers third-party claims for bodily injury, property damage, legal fees, and more.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Provides medical care, wage replacement, and rehabilitation for plumbers and apprentices injured on the job—most states require it.
Commercial Property Insurance
Protects your office, permanent storage space, and business-owned contents like tools, parts, and technology.
Commercial Umbrella Insurance
Adds extra liability protection when a major claim exceeds your underlying policy limits.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Covers plumbing vans and trucks—plus any permanently attached equipment—with liability and physical damage protection.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)
Protects against legal claims like wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment.
Fiduciary Liability Insurance
Covers your business in the event of errors in managing employee benefit programs, including retirement or health plans.
Crime Insurance
Protects your business from losses due to internal theft, fraud, forgery, or dishonest acts committed by employees.
Specialized Plumbing Business Insurance
Plumbing contractors rely on specialized tools and mobile equipment and often work on active construction sites. That calls for added protection, like:
Builders’ Risk Insurance
Covers damage to plumbing installations or rough-ins during new construction, plus materials and equipment stored on job sites. This coverage generally includes protection against perils like theft, vandalism, fire, and weather damage.
Inland Marine Insurance
Standard property policies cover tools and equipment only when they’re at your permanent address. Inland marine can help you protect your tools, diagnostic gear, and mobile equipment when in transit or stored in vehicles and trailers.
Surety Bonds
Surety bonds guarantee your contractual obligations and are often required to bid or perform work for cities, states, or general contractors.
Protect More Than Just the Jobsite
Your business is about more than what happens on the job. At Pepper, Johnstone & Company, we help plumbing contractors address risks that extend off-site, including:
- Cyberattacks targeting client data or payment records
- Employee lawsuits that drain resources and reputation
- Stolen tools or vandalized vehicles parked off-hours
- Project delays due to stolen fixtures or supply chain issues
We help keep your coverage aligned with how and where you operate—no matter how much your business evolves.
Why Choose Pepper, Johnstone & Company
One-size-fits-all doesn’t work in plumbing—and it doesn’t work in insurance either. As an independent agency, Pepper, Johnstone & Company compares policies from over 60 carriers to help you find the right coverage at the right price.
We take a consultative approach, walking you through the real liabilities that a plumbing company like yours is vulnerable to. That means understanding your job mix, your team, and your risks—then building a policy that fits your needs and satisfies client and licensing requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Plumbing Contractors’ Insurance
What plumbers need to know
Most plumbers need professional liability insurance, workers’ comp, commercial auto, and inland marine insurance. Depending on your structure, you may also need builders’ risk, property, umbrella, EPLI, and surety bonds. These protect your people, equipment, reputation, and legal responsibilities.
When it comes to insurance coverage, business owners have to consider everything. That includes the costs of paying for legal defenses, replacing equipment, and even covering an injured employee’s lost wages, lost income, and medical bills. Our team can help you prepare for it all.
Yes, generally. If the damage is accidental and tied to your work. General liability coverage can mitigate costs associated with damage caused by a faulty install, burst pipe, or fitting failure. It won’t cover intentional damage or pre-existing issues. We can walk you through the specifics of your policy.
Your premium depends on your business size, revenue, claims history, vehicles, and services offered. A small shop may pay around $150–$300/month, while larger contractors pay more. We shop multiple carriers to get you competitive rates with the right protection.
Usually not. Subcontractors should carry their own insurance and name your business as an additional insured. Always collect a certificate of insurance before work begins. We can help review their coverage to make sure you’re not left exposed.
Not unless your plumbing company has inland marine or equipment coverage. Standard property insurance doesn’t typically cover gear stored in trucks or job trailers. Inland marine coverage protects tools wherever the job takes you.
Surety bonds provide a financial guarantee that you’ll fulfill your contractual obligations. Many commercial and public jobs require them. We can help you understand your bonding requirements and maintain compliance so you stay competitive on bids.
What do people think about us?
We’re trusted by contractors who keep our infrastructure moving.
on Google
I started a company in January 2019 & the team at Pepper Johnstone helped me from the beginning. We serve mid-cap to large public companies in Alabama, Colorado and Texas. And, Bryan has been critical in helping us meet and maintain the required commercial insurance policies and coverage levels. Key reasons that I've been so pleased primarily include their high level of technical competence and timely responsiveness on new or changing insurance coverage requests. They do a great job & I can highly recommend them.
— Russ L.
on Google
We are very pleased with our services that Pepper, Johnstone and Company provide for us! Both with business and personal needs, we feel like we are receiving excellent resources. We truly would not trust anyone else for our insurance needs!
— Lauren M.
on Google
Thankful for the opportunity to work with Pepper, Johnston’s and Co. They helped us add basic insurance needs for our newly formed LLC. The responsiveness, willingness to answer numerous questions, and guide us through multiple options was greatly appreciated. I’d like to especially thank Meredith Baswell of their staff who helped us through the process. I’d recommend you seek their advice and input on commercial and personal insurance options.
— Kevin G.
on Google
This is the best insurance agency hands down. We have our home, car, and business insurance through them. Julie has always gone above and beyond to help us. We wouldn’t use anyone else.
— Laura D.
on Google
Pepper Johnstone has handled my personal and business insurance needs for years. They do good work and their staff is amazing! They are independent agents so they have access to several different lines of insurance to meet the needs of their clients. I highly recommend them.
— Jeremiah H.
on Google
Pepper, Johnstone is a very professional and responsive insurance company. They were able to assist me with a full suite insurance solution very promptly and at a great value. Most importantly, I felt completely comfortable that I was being handled by true professionals. Bryan Johnstone is great at his job and I would recommend him highly to anyone who needs insurance advice for themselves or their business.
— Troy R.
Insurance Articles
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Let’s Build Your Plumber Protection Plan
Don’t let a small mistake turn into a big problem. Call Pepper, Johnstone & Company at 866-865-3499 or request a quote online. We’ll help you build the right insurance plan to protect your business, your tools, and your team.