Plumber insurance

$41.67

$41.67

Courtney Hayes

Courtney Hayes

Why Do I Need Plumber Insurance?

As a plumber, you keep homes and businesses running smoothly. The right combination of insurance policies works the same way—helping protect your livelihood from accidents, stolen tools, or jobsite injuries.

What Type of Plumber Insurance Do I Need?

What Does Plumber Insurance Cover?

General Liability

You’re replacing a kitchen faucet and a connection isn’t seated properly, causing water to soak an expensive rug before you can isolate the line. A general liability policy could help cover the damage and other third-party claims.

Even the most skilled plumbers can face disputes over completed work. Say you install a new shower system, but a small leak behind the wall goes unnoticed and causes hidden water damage over time. Adding a contractor’s errors and omissions endorsement to your general liability policy could help cover the cost to correct faulty work  and protect you against a negligence claim.

You’ve been awarded a contract for a multi-unit plumbing installation, but the property owner requests proof the job will be finished as promised. That’s where a surety bond comes in. It’s a financial guarantee that protects your client if you can’t meet your contractual obligations. If the job isn’t finished or doesn’t meet agreed-upon standards, the bond can compensate the customer for their losses.

BOP

After a weekend storm, you find several inches of water on the storage area floor—damaging pipe threaders, fittings, and key paperwork. A business owner’s policy (BOP) typically bundles general liability, commercial property protection, and business interruption coverage to help pay for repairs, equipment replacement, and lost income—so you can get back quickly to serving clients.

Loading...
A mobile device displaying insurance prices from carriers

Plumber insurance is a collection of separate policies that can help protect your business, your gear, and your livelihood.

Most states require workers’ compensation if you have employees, and liability insurance is often a prerequisite for professional licensing. We recommend double-checking your local and state regulations to stay compliant.

Even if you don’t have employees, many general contractors and commercial clients require solo plumbers to carry their own workers’ compensation policy to step onto a jobsite. Additionally, because personal health insurance policies typically exclude work-related injuries, a solo policy can help cover your medical bills if you’re injured on the job.

General liability insurance is designed to help cover resulting damage you cause to someone else’s property. Whether the break happens while you’re on the job or the damage is discovered after you’ve finished, your policy can help pay for repairs to floors, walls, or personal belongings. Though it typically does not cover the cost to replace the broken pipe itself.

Potentially, yes—and this is where your general liability policy’s completed operations coverage comes in. If damage from your work shows up after you’ve left the job site, completed operations coverage can help cover the resulting property damage claim. The policy may also help with legal fees incurred when defending against those claims.

Your tools are the heart of your business, but a standard business owner’s policy typically only protects them while they’re at your main shop. Because your work takes you on the road, inland marine insurance—often called contractors’ tools and equipment coverage—is there to help protect your gear while it’s in your van or at a job site.

The cost for your insurance coverage is usually determined by several factors, such as:

  • The type of work you do
  • Where your business is located
  • Your annual revenue
  • The types of policies and limits you choose

Other factors may also include your claims history and how long you’ve been in business.

Generally, yes. Commercial and industrial projects typically carry higher premiums because the liability exposure is greater—larger properties, more complex systems, and the potential for significantly higher water damage claims.

If you’re thinking of buying plumber liability insurance, we recommend having the following information on hand when using our plumber insurance calculator:

  • The state where you do business
  • Your type of business or trade
  • Your annual revenue estimates 

This information can make it easier to get a quote from one of our insurers.

COIs for most insurance policies are available as soon as you purchase your policy. Once available, Simply Business provides instant digital certificate of insurance access through your online account any time of day. So if a general contractor needs proof of coverage before you start work on Monday morning, you can pull your COI and send it over in minutes.

A cell phone displaying different small business insurance quotes for your business.
A cell phone displaying instant proof of small business insurance.
Courtney Hayes

Courtney Hayes

Courtney Hayes is a freelance writer with expertise in small business and commercial insurance. She has written for brands including Simply Business and Travelers, translating complex financial and risk-management concepts into clear, actionable guidance for entrepreneurs. Her extensive portfolio spans trade-specific risks, state insurance requirements, and coverage decisions that help small business owners protect and grow their businesses.

Page last updated: