Most “AI for contractors” content is fluff. Plumbers need prompts that book the next water heater or stop a missed-call lead from calling the competitor. Use ChatGPT (or any similar chat AI) with the prompts below. Swap the brackets for your city, trade name, and hours.

Guardrail: Never let ChatGPT invent prices, diagnose code issues, or claim licenses you don’t have. You fill numbers and legal facts. AI drafts the words.

1. Missed-call text-back (same day)

Speed wins plumbing leads. Paste this after you miss a call or get a voicemail.

You are a friendly, professional plumbing company owner in [city]. Write a short SMS (under 320 characters) to a homeowner who just called and we missed it. Service they mentioned: [water heater / drain / leak / unknown]. Tone: calm, helpful, not salesy. Include: apology for missing them, one clarifying question, and that we can usually get out [same day / next day]. Sign off as [first name] at [company]. Do not invent prices or guarantees.

2. Water heater estimate follow-up

You already quoted. They went quiet. This prompt drafts a clear follow-up email or text.

Write a follow-up message for a plumbing estimate we sent 3 days ago. Job: [tank / tankless] water heater replacement at a [house / condo] in [city]. Quote was sent on [date]. Options we offered: [brief: e.g. standard 40gal vs high-efficiency]. Ask if they have questions about timeline, old unit haul-away, or permit handling. Keep it under 150 words. No pressure tactics, no fake scarcity. Owner will insert the actual dollar amounts if needed — leave [PRICE] placeholders only if helpful.

3. Drain cleaning scope (plain English)

Use this before you send a written estimate so the homeowner knows what’s included.

Draft a plain-English scope of work for a residential drain cleaning job. Service: [kitchen / main sewer / shower]. Customer concern: [backup / slow drain / odor]. Include: what we will do on-site, what “cleared” means, possible next steps if the camera finds a break, and what is NOT included (e.g. excavation, repairs). Short bullet list. No medical/legal claims. No pricing.

4. Five-star Google review reply

Write a Google review reply for a 5-star review. Review text: “[paste review]”. Company: [name], plumbing in [city]. Thank them by first name if given. Mention the specific service they praised in one clause. Invite them to call again if they need anything. Under 80 words. Warm, not corporate.

5. Tough review reply (calm, not defensive)

Write a calm Google review reply for a negative review. Review text: “[paste review]”. Acknowledge the frustration without admitting legal fault. Offer to continue the conversation offline: call [phone] and ask for [name]. Do not argue facts in public. Do not blame the customer. Under 100 words.

6. Google Business Profile post (seasonal tip)

Write a Google Business Profile post for a plumbing company in [city] about [frozen pipes / water heater flush / summer supply line tips]. Include one homeowner warning sign, one next step, and a simple booking CTA. Under 170 words. Local and specific — mention [season] in [city/region]. No keyword stuffing.

How to use these without wasting time

  1. Save your company name, city, phone, and hours in a phone note. Paste them into every prompt.
  2. Run the prompt once, then edit 20% so it sounds like you.
  3. Never send AI output that invents a price or a license number.
  4. Track what converts: missed-call texts that book, review replies that get a second review, GBP posts that get calls.

What’s next

Want the full set (30 prompts across text-backs, estimates, reviews, GBP, follow-ups, and mini-SOPs)? That’s the Service Ops Prompt Pack we’re building for TradeDesk AI — built for plumbers and other local trades, not generic small business fluff.

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