45 plumbers competing in Des Moines Ia. Here's what the data shows.
Own a plumber in Des Moines Ia? See exactly where you rank โ free, in 30 seconds.
Free ยท No signup to start ยท Any business on Google Maps
45
80%
Des Moines has 45 plumber businesses competing for local customers. That's a dense market for a city this size โ meaning every service call is contested territory.
The good news for business owners: 80% of these plumbers already have a website. That means 36 of your competitors are findable online. But flip that number around โ 9 businesses (20%) are still invisible to anyone searching Google. In a market this crowded, that 20% is essentially handing work to whoever shows up first in search results.
The competitive mix includes full-service shops like The Plumbing Company and AMC Plumbing Co., niche operators like Clog Busters Drain Cleaning & Repair, and septic specialists like Bob S Septic And Porta. You're not just competing against similar businesses โ you're competing against different business models that overlap your service area.
For Des Moines plumbers, the math is simple: 45 businesses, a fixed number of households, and customers who increasingly start their search online. The businesses that invest in visibility โ website, reviews, local SEO โ will capture a disproportionate share of the market. The ones that don't will compete on price alone, which is a losing game in a saturated trade.
Same-day availability
Des Moines winters freeze pipes fast โ homeowners need a plumber who can show up today, not next Tuesday.
Drain and sewer expertise
With multiple drain-focused businesses like Clog Busters and Anytime Drain & Sewer Cleaning operating here, customers clearly value specialists over generalists for sewer and drain issues.
Septic vs. city sewer knowledge
Properties outside Des Moines city limits often rely on septic systems, and customers want to know upfront whether a plumber handles both โ Bob S Septic And Porta exists for exactly this reason.
Google reviews and ratings
With 45 plumbers to choose from, most Des Moines customers shortlist by reviews first and price second โ a 4.5-star rating is the minimum to get the call.
Transparent service area coverage
Des Moines metro sprawls into suburbs like West Des Moines and Ankeny โ customers want to know if you actually serve their ZIP code before they waste time calling.
A sample of real plumbers in this area. Want ratings, reviews, and exactly where you rank against them? Run a free report on your business.
| Business | Type |
|---|---|
| The Plumbing Company | Plumber |
| Bob S Septic And Porta | Plumber |
| Handyhawk | Plumber |
| AMC Plumbing Co. | Plumber |
| Bob's Sewerooter Service | Plumber |
| Clog Busters Drain Cleaning & Repair | Plumber |
| DDS Plumbing | Plumber |
| Anytime Drain & Sewer Cleaning | Plumber |
| Solar Consultants | Plumber |
| Capital City Boiler & Machine | Plumber |
| Mid Iowa Fountain Services | Plumber |
| Kriens Plumbing | Plumber |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Claim the drain and sewer niche
Des Moines already has dedicated drain businesses like Clog Busters and Anytime Drain & Sewer Cleaning. If you're a general plumber, don't try to out-specialize them โ instead, position yourself as the full-service alternative. If you do specialize, double down with content and reviews that prove it.
Fix your website or build one now
80% of Des Moines plumbers already have a website. If you're in the 20% without one, you're invisible to every customer who searches online โ which is most of them. Even a basic site with your services, service area, and phone number puts you ahead of those 9 competitors who have nothing.
Target the suburbs, not just Des Moines proper
With 45 plumbers concentrated in Des Moines itself, the surrounding metro โ West Des Moines, Urbandale, Ankeny โ may be less saturated. Make sure your website and Google Business Profile list every city you serve to capture customers outside the core.
Des Moines is a crowded plumbing market with 45 active businesses. General residential plumbing is oversaturated โ you're competing against established names like The Plumbing Company, AMC Plumbing Co., and DDS Plumbing for the same pool of homeowners. Drain cleaning and septic services have dedicated operators but still face pressure from generalists expanding into those niches. The biggest gap? Twenty percent of plumbers here have no website at all. Standing out requires strong Google reviews, clear service area targeting, and a web presence that most of your competitors already have.
See your exact rank against nearby competitors, what customers say about them, and where you can win.