What a plumbing work order is for
Half the trouble on a plumbing call is getting in and finding things: the shutoff in a neighbor's yard, the cleanout behind a shelf, the crawl space hatch under the carpet. A work order carries what the office learned on the phone to the tech in the truck. On installs it lists the parts to load so nobody makes a supply run at nine in the morning.
What to put on a plumbing work order
- Address, contact and who will be home.
- The problem in the customer's words.
- Parts and fittings to load before leaving the shop.
- Where the main shutoff, cleanout or access hatch is, if known.
- Pets, parking, and any floors or finishes to protect.
- Tech and customer sign-off.
A worked example
The garage water heater swap from the estimate, scheduled for the morning. The tech needs the parts list and the access notes; prices are hidden on this copy.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas tank water heater, 40 gal | 1 | each | Your price |
| Thermal expansion tank | 1 | each | Your price |
| Drain pan and fittings | 1 | each | Your price |
| Vent connector and fittings | 1 | set | Your price |
| Haul away old heater | 1 | each | Your price |
Put the shutoff location, the gas valve and the garage code in site notes. The instructions ask for a photo of the finished install with the permit number on the tag.
Line items plumbers use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Service call and diagnosis | each | The trip and the first part of the visit, before any repair is agreed. |
| Water heater, tank, installed | each | Gallons, fuel type and the brand, plus whether the venting changes. |
| Expansion tank | each | Often required with a new heater on a closed system; check local code. |
| Drain cleaning, main line | each | Say where you cleaned from: a cleanout, a pulled toilet or the roof vent. |
| Camera inspection of sewer line | each | Say whether the customer gets the video. |
| Replace toilet fill valve and flapper | each | The common running-toilet fix, priced as one repair. |
| Replace faucet, customer supplied | each | Say who supplied the faucet; it changes who stands behind it. |
| Replace shutoff valve | each | Angle stops under sinks and toilets, or the main shutoff. |
| Repipe with PEX | ft | By the foot, or by fixture if that is how you price it. |
| Garbage disposal, installed | each | Horsepower and whether the old one is hauled away. |
| Sump pump, replaced | each | Include the check valve if you replace it too. |
| Wall or ceiling opening and patch | each | Say whether you patch, or leave it open for a drywall finisher. |
| Permit | each | Water heaters and repipes often need one; pass it through at cost or include it. |
| Plumbing labor | hour | Hourly labor for work you cannot price flat. |
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer, the site and the date.
- Add who is assigned, the arrival window and access.
- List the tasks and materials in the order the crew will need them.
- Put gate codes, pets and anything to protect in the site notes.
- Print it for the truck or send it to the crew's phone as a PDF.
Free tools for plumbing
- Plumbing cost estimator
- Water heater replacement cost calculator
- Plumbing labor rate calculator
- Pipe volume calculator
The same work order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.
More for plumbers: how plumbers run on Koira.