EP290 From Apprentice to 55 Trucks: Building a Modern Plumbing Company With Max Hicks (August 2026)

Quotes from the episode:

“Business doesn't care about your emotions. You just have to solve the problem.”

“The person that's best doing the plumbing is usually not the best person selling the plumbing.”

“The biggest thing is: know where your shutoff valve is to your home.”

What does a modern plumbing company look like, and what can HVAC and building-performance professionals learn from one?

In this episode, Bill talks with Max Hicks, founder of Reliant Plumbing, about Max’s path from entering the trades at 16 to building a plumbing service company with roughly 55 trucks across four Texas markets. Max shares lessons from more than two decades in the trade, including residential new construction, commercial work, union experience, and eventually business ownership.

The conversation explores how technology has changed both plumbing and the business of running a service company. Max discusses the importance of CRM data, knowing your numbers, documenting processes, separating sales from installation when appropriate, and building systems that allow a growing company to scale. He also talks candidly about one of the industry's toughest challenges: recruiting and retaining skilled tradespeople.

On the technical side, Bill and Max discuss the evolution of plumbing tools, from modern leak-detection equipment to the widespread adoption of press fittings. Max explains how press technology has changed the skills plumbers need in the field and why his own skepticism about pressed connections faded after years of seeing them perform reliably.

They also venture into heat pump water heaters, homeowner plumbing knowledge, pinhole leaks, and the very different seasonal patterns of plumbing and HVAC. One simple homeowner lesson stands out: know where your main water shutoff is before you need it.

The episode closes where plumbing and HVAC literally meet: the condensate drain. Max explains why HVAC condensate lines can contribute to drain problems and why understanding that crossover can help both trades diagnose problems more effectively.

Website: https://reliantplumbing.com/

This episode was recorded in August 2026.