What New Plumbers Need to Stock Up On: The Essential Van Checklist

Starting out as a licensed plumber is exciting - but it's also the moment you realise just how much gear you actually need to carry. Turn up to a job without the right fitting, valve or consumable, and you're either racing to the nearest supplier or telling a customer you'll be back tomorrow. Neither is a great look when you're trying to build a reputation.

Whether you've just finished your apprenticeship, gone out on your own, or started a new plumbing business, this guide covers exactly what to stock your van with - from core fittings to the small consumables that always seem to run out at the worst possible time.

1. Core Pipe and Fitting Systems

Every plumber's van needs a solid base of pipe and fittings across the major systems you'll come across on residential and commercial jobs.

• Copper press fittings and coils/pipe - still the go-to for hot and cold water reticulation on most renovation and new-build jobs. Press fittings save huge amounts of time compared to soldering, so stock a range of elbows, tees and couplings in common sizes.
• PEX pipe and fittings - flexible, fast to install, and increasingly the preferred choice for new water reticulation. Keep a coil or two on hand plus a spread of push-fit fittings.
• PVC pipe and fittings - essential for drainage, waste and vent (DWV) work. You'll use these on almost every job, so it pays to carry more of this than anything else.
• Poly fittings - handy for rural, agricultural and rainwater tank connections.
• Pressure pipe and fittings - for mains water connections and irrigation work.

2. Tapware, Valves and Brassware

These are the fittings customers actually see, so quality and finish matter just as much as function.

• Tapware - mixers, sink taps and wall tops in a few popular finishes (chrome is still the standard, but keep an eye on matte black requests).
• Valves - isolation valves, ball valves and pressure-limiting valves. You'll go through these fast on both new work and repairs.
• Brassware - fittings, adaptors and unions that quietly hold half your jobs together.
• Hot water valve kits and hot water spares - for servicing and replacing hot water units, one of the most common callout jobs you'll get in your first year.
• Spare parts for toilets and taps - washers, cartridges, cistern internals and inlet valves. Cheap to stock, and they'll save you a return trip more often than anything else on this list.

3. Drainage and Waste Essentials

• Traps and adaptors - bottle traps, floor waste and adaptors for kitchen and bathroom renovations.
• Repair clamps - a genuine lifesaver for emergency callouts where you need a quick, reliable fix on a burst or damaged pipe.
• Rubber repair couplings - for joining mismatched pipe materials or diameters, common in older homes.
• Recycled/civil fittings - if you're picking up any subdivision, civil or stormwater work.

4. Fixings, Consumables and Small Parts

It's easy to over-invest in big-ticket fittings and forget the small stuff - but running out of consumables mid-job is one of the most common (and most avoidable) hold-ups for new plumbers.

• Consumables - thread sealant, silicone, flux, tape and lubricants. Buy these in bulk; you'll get through them fast.
• Fixings and fasteners - screws, brackets and anchors for mounting everything from brackets to fixtures.
• Pipe brackets - for clipping and supporting pipework to spec.
• Cover plates - a small finishing touch that makes a big difference to how tidy a job looks.
• Flexible hoses - braided connector hoses for taps, mixers, toilets and appliances. Keep a good spread of lengths.
• Lagging and insulation - for hot water pipe runs, especially on new installs where insulation is often required for compliance.
• Gas accessories - if you're licensed for gas work, these are non-negotiable van stock.
• Filtration - water filtration fittings and cartridges are an increasingly common upsell on residential jobs.

5. Tools and Equipment

• Tools beyond the basics from your apprenticeship - this is where you'll build out your press tool, pipe cutters, and specialty tools as your job types diversify.
• Drilling and cutting - hole saws, cutting discs and drill bits suited to pipe and fixture installation.
• Pumps and rainwater - if you're picking up rainwater tank or pump servicing work, it's worth having core spares on hand rather than sourcing them job-by-job.

6. Don't Overlook Genuine Spares

If you're servicing established homes, you'll come across Caroma genuine spare parts regularly. Caroma is one of the most widely installed brands in Australian homes, so keeping a few common spares on hand (rather than special-ordering them mid-job) will save you time and keep customers happy.

7. The Easiest Way to Start: A Plumber's Kit

If you're setting up your van for the first time, don't try to buy every category individually - it's slow and easy to miss things. Beyond Plumbing Supplies puts together ready-made plumbers kits that bundle the fittings and consumables new plumbers need most, so you can stock up in one order and fill in the gaps as you go.

Final Word

You don't need to stock every product in the catalogue in your first month. Start with the categories above, buy in the quantities that match the jobs you're actually quoting, and build out from there. The plumbers who run the tightest vans aren't the ones who bought everything upfront - they're the ones who stocked smart and kept restocking easy.

Ready to set your van up properly? Browse the full range or register for trade pricing today.