Olli Insurance

Plumber insurance

A plumber typically needs general liability insurance, because plumbing work carries real water-damage risk. One failed fitting can ruin floors, drywall, and everything below. General contractors and property managers usually require proof of coverage before you're allowed on site, and workers comp typically joins the certificate once you have employees.

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Plumber working under a kitchen sink in a client's home

What insurance does a plumber need?

There's no one-size answer. The right mix depends on how you work, who you work for, and what your contracts ask for. These are the coverages a plumber typically looks at first:

General liability

The core policy for plumbers. It handles third-party property damage and injuries, including completed operations, with the $1,000,000 per-occurrence limit GCs typically request.

Workers' compensation

Once you have employees, job-site injuries like a helper's wrenched back or a burn are handled here, and GCs often want it on your certificate.

Commercial auto

Your van full of tools and fittings is a work vehicle, and personal auto policies often exclude business use.

Coverage always depends on your specific situation. The fastest way to see what fits is to get a quote and review your options.

What does it protect against?

The risks that matter aren't abstract. They're the everyday accidents of the work. A few scenarios that turn into real claims:

A fitting fails and floods the house

A supply line you installed lets go overnight and water runs through the kitchen into the finished basement. Flooring, drywall, cabinets: the homeowner's claim lands on your business, and water damage claims are among the most expensive a trade can face.

A soldering job scorches more than the pipe

Heat from a torch chars a joist or ignites insulation inside a wall cavity. Even a small fire caught early means repairs, smoke damage, and a property owner who expects your policy to pay for it.

Someone trips over your equipment

A homeowner steps around your drain machine in a hallway and falls. Third-party injuries on the job, whether it's a client, a tenant, or another sub, are the classic general liability claim.

A repair fails weeks after you leave

The water heater connection you finished last month starts leaking and damages the unit below. Completed-operations claims arrive after the job is done, which is why coverage that includes completed operations matters for trades.

Certificates of insurance

Plumbers get asked for a certificate of insurance constantly: general contractors collect one from every sub before work starts, property managers require one from every vendor in their buildings, and many homeowners now ask before larger jobs. The request is usually general liability at specific limits, with a workers comp line if you have a crew. Olli's general liability policies include instant certificates, so proof is ready the moment your policy is.

New to certificates? Start with our guide to the certificate of insurance: what's on one, who asks for it, and how to provide yours.

Common questions

What insurance does a plumber need to work for a GC?

General contractors typically require general liability with a $1,000,000 per-occurrence limit, shown on a certificate of insurance, before you're cleared for the site. If you have employees, most also want a workers comp line on the certificate. The exact limits live in the subcontract, so read the insurance clause before you bid.

Does general liability cover water damage I cause?

Third-party property damage arising from your operations is the core of what general liability is designed to cover. For plumbers, water damage to a client's property is the most common way that happens. Every policy has terms and exclusions, so review what a quote actually includes for your work.

Am I covered for a leak that shows up after the job?

That's what products and completed operations liability addresses: claims from work you've already finished. It's a standard part of Olli's general liability coverage, and it matters for plumbers because plumbing failures often surface weeks or months after the invoice is paid.

Do I need workers comp if it's just me?

Workers comp exists to cover employee injuries, so a true solo operation often doesn't carry it. Many GC contracts still ask about it, though, and the answer changes the day you hire a helper. When you quote your coverage, be accurate about your crew so your certificate matches reality.

Is my work van covered by my personal auto policy?

Often not. Personal auto policies frequently exclude business use, which is exactly what driving to jobs with tools and materials is. Commercial auto coverage is built for vehicles used in business operations, including liability and physical damage.

How do I show proof of insurance for a job?

You provide a certificate of insurance, a one-page summary of your active coverage, to the GC, property manager, or client. With Olli, general liability comes with instant certificates: once your policy is active, you download proof from your account in minutes.

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