From Broken Compressors to Plumbing Friendships: The Jose Lopez Story
In a recent podcast interview, Jose Lopez, the founder of My Plumbing Friends, shared his journey into the plumbing trade and the philosophy behind his successful business. Lopez's story is one of serendipity, mentorship, and a clear vision for building genuine connections with customers.
Lopez's entry into plumbing wasn't conventional. It began with a broken 180 CFM air compressor he couldn't fix himself. He called Mike Medsger, who not only repaired the compressor but also noticed Lopez's sandblasting work. Medsger, impressed by Lopez's industriousness, eventually offered him a job. This mentorship with Medsger, involving work on medical air and vacuum systems and running airlines for body and woodworking shops, introduced Lopez to pipefitting, a trade closely related to plumbing.
The pivotal moment for Lopez to pursue plumbing more vigorously came when he saw a water heater company's truck with an advertisement for water heater services. Earning little from sandblasting at the time, he realized the potential in plumbing. His entrepreneurial drive, present since childhood when he sold popcorn door-to-door, solidified his decision to start My Plumbing Friends.
Day one of My Plumbing Friends saw Lopez referred to a client by a friend. Lacking formal business tools, he created a handwritten quote, which the customer approved, providing enough funds to sustain the business for a week or two. Early marketing efforts included successful Facebook ads, though a foray into Google ads resulted in accidental advertising in India. Despite these initial stumbles, Lopez maintained a clear vision for his company from the start. This vision included becoming an ambassador for Oatey, a goal he achieved by January 2025 through consistent Instagram video creation.
The "Friends" aspect of My Plumbing Friends is central to its philosophy. Lopez observed that customers often formed bonds with technicians, frequently requesting the same person. He emphasizes that while it is a business, these bonds evolve into trust and comfort, leading customers to confidently choose My Plumbing Friends for their services. Instilling this approach in his team involves finding candidates who naturally possess a friendly and caring demeanor. This focus on connection often leads customers to choose My Plumbing Friends over competitors, even if they are not the cheapest option, and generates significant referrals and word-of-mouth validation.
One significant challenge Lopez faced was a bad decision to purchase a used van, which experienced multiple mechanical failures, including an engine blow-up, costing thousands in repairs. This experience taught him that "used and cheap is not always the best". A memorable customer interaction involved Lopez catching a large lizard for a customer, highlighting the unexpected ways My Plumbing Friends goes above and beyond.
Lopez envisions My Plumbing Friends continuing to achieve its mission by embracing continuous learning and actively implementing sound business practices. He is particularly excited about integrating artificial intelligence and new, unique marketing strategies into the business. His advice to aspiring service-based business owners is to "drop everything else and focus only on the business that you want... Everything else is a distraction". He also advises taking promises from others "with a grain of salt" to avoid disappointment.
Listeners interested in learning more about My Plumbing Friends can visit their website at myplumbingfriends.com. They can also follow their day-to-day activities on Instagram at @myplumbingfriends.
