Digital Marketing for Plumbing & Heating Companies: What Actually Works?
If you run a plumbing or heating business, you already know how competitive the local market can be. Whether you’re offering emergency callouts, boiler installations, landlord safety checks or full heating systems, standing out online is no longer optional — it’s essential.
But digital marketing can feel like a minefield. Google Ads, SEO, social media, websites, reviews… it’s hard to know where to start, what works, and how to spend your money wisely.
At Agilita Digital, we’ve worked with tradespeople and service businesses across the UK - including plumbing and heating companies - to help them cut through the noise and generate more of the right kind of leads. So, here’s a no-nonsense look at what works when it comes to digital marketing for plumbing and heating firms.
Start with the basics: Your Website Needs to Work Hard
Let’s be honest, if your website looks outdated, loads slowly, or doesn’t clearly explain what you do, people won’t hang around.
Your website is your shop window. It's where people go to check you out, read reviews, and decide whether you’re trustworthy. Here’s what every decent plumbing and heating website should have:
Clear services list: Make it obvious what you offer — think "boiler installations", "emergency callouts", "central heating servicing", "unvented cylinders", etc.
Strong calls to action: Big buttons that say “Call Now” or “Request a Quote”. Make it easy for people to contact you.
Mobile optimisation: Most people will be on their phones. If your site’s not mobile-friendly, you’ll lose business.
Trust signals: Add logos (Gas Safe, Checkatrade, Which? Trusted Traders, etc.), Google reviews, and testimonials from real customers.
Local focus: Talk about the towns and areas you serve – this helps with local SEO too.
If you’re not happy with your current site or it doesn’t bring in leads, fix this first. No amount of SEO or ads will work if your site doesn’t convert visitors into enquiries.
Local SEO: Be Found Where It Matters
Google is still the number one place people go when their boiler breaks or they need a plumber urgently. That means showing up in the local search results, especially the map pack, is absolutely crucial.
Here’s what helps:
✅ Google Business Profile
Keep it updated with your current services, service area, opening hours and photos.
Get regular 5-star reviews from happy customers.
Post updates — even a short job recap once a fortnight helps.
✅ Location Pages
If you cover multiple towns or regions, create a page for each one. For example:
“Boiler Installation in Banbury”
“Emergency Plumbing Services in Northampton”
“Gas Engineer in Warwick”
These should be tailored with local references, FAQs, and examples of jobs in the area.
✅ On-page SEO
Make sure your main service pages include keywords people actually search for, like:
Boiler installation near me
Landlord gas safety certificates
24/7 plumber in [your town]
Emergency heating engineer
Local SEO is all about relevance and trust, so make it easy for Google to understand what you do and where you do it.
Google Ads: Fast Results, When Done Right
If you want to generate leads quickly, Google Ads is a great option, especially for high-intent services like emergency callouts or boiler replacements.
But it’s easy to waste money if it’s not set up correctly.
What works for plumbing and heating?
Targeted campaigns: Focus on services with high intent, like “boiler repair”, “emergency plumber”, or “combi boiler installation”.
Location targeting: Don’t advertise to areas you don’t serve. Be precise.
Negative keywords: Filter out time-wasters. For example, block terms like “how to fix a boiler” or “plumber salary”.
Landing pages: Send people to a specific page that matches their search — not your homepage.
We’ve run successful PPC campaigns for service businesses where leads come in for as little as £8–£15. When set up properly, it’s an incredibly cost-effective way to win new work.
Social Media: Good for Awareness, Great for Trust
You’re not going to get tons of emergency boiler leads from Instagram - let’s be real. But that doesn’t mean social media isn’t useful.
Platforms like Facebook and Instagram help build trust and recognition. People buy from businesses they feel familiar with, and this is where social media plays a role.
Here’s what to post:
Job photos (before and after)
Video tips (how to bleed a radiator, what to do if your boiler loses pressure)
Customer testimonials
Offers or seasonal updates (e.g. “Book your boiler service before winter!”)
Don’t overthink it. You don’t need to be a content wizard — just show up regularly and be human. You’ll stay top-of-mind and make people feel like they know you.
Reviews & Reputation: The Unsung Hero
Never underestimate the power of Google reviews. Potential customers check them every time. They’re often the difference between someone calling you or clicking on the next name down the list.
Ask every happy customer for a review. Make it easy:
Send a link via text or WhatsApp
Remind them at the end of the job
Incentivise politely if you need to
The more 5-star reviews you’ve got, the more trust you build with both people and Google.
So… What Actually Works?
Here’s the short version:
✅ A solid, trustworthy website that converts
✅ Google Business Profile fully optimised
✅ Local SEO and location-specific pages
✅ Google Ads with a tight, focused strategy
✅ Regular social media to build trust and awareness
✅ Positive reviews on Google and other platforms
It’s not rocket science, but it is about doing the right things consistently. That’s what gets results.
How Agilita Digital Can Help
We get it… You’re probably too busy fitting boilers and fixing leaks to worry about website bounce rates and ad click-throughs. That’s where we come in.
We specialise in practical, agile digital marketing for businesses like yours. No fluff, no jargon — just smart, effective strategies that actually deliver leads.
Whether you need help building a better website, getting found on Google, running your ads properly, or figuring out how to turn your phone into a job machine, we can help.
Want to have a quick chat about what’s working, what’s not, and how to fix it?
Let’s talk. No pressure, just an honest conversation.
