Putting Small Town Tradesmen on the Map

By Katie Chappell

When opportunity knocks on your door, you welcome it with open arms and typical Southern charm; that’s the mentality Fulmer Heating & Cooling has adopted since the recent addition of their plumbing division. So, when a national YouTube-based documentary series reached out to Fulmer to feature them on their show, it was a no-brainer for owner David, and plumbing division head Mark.

American Plumbing Stories, presented by Pfister Faucets, is a short form docu-series that features plumbers across the nation, sharing the passion they have for their profession. The show teamed up with Army veteran and country music entertainer Craig Morgan to host each episode. His integrity, grit, passion, and family values echo the ideals that APS shares.

Motivated by a recent shortage of tradesmen, Pfister Director of Sales Spencer Brown took the initiative to help launch American Plumber Stories with one goal in mind, to educate the future generations on how prosperous a career in the trades has been for so many. He believes passionately in removing all stigma associated with the plumbing profession, and he is doing it one inspiring story at a time.

Accompanied by his team of videographers, Chip and Jacob, Spencer traveled to Newberry during the filming of their fourth season to shoot Episode 5, featuring none other than the team at Fulmer. Having traveled to both New York and Las Vegas this season, Spencer found the small town atmosphere a great change of pace for the crew and for his viewers, as Fulmer really embodies what APS is all about. The local business was chosen not only because of their outstanding workmanship, but for their unique team made of young professionals, with the average age being just 24 years old.

“Young men and women who enter the workforce early can learn the plumbing trade and make it a long-term career. This also allows many to establish and build their own company. The goal of American Plumber Stories is to update the perceptions of the plumber profession in a documentary-style format. We need to engage with young people, sharing an authentic look at the plumbing trade today and real plumbers’ success stories to encourage a new workforce,” says Spencer.

Through interviews with the team and time in the field, American Plumbing Stories captured the spirit of Fulmer’s Plumbing department and showed just how they are encouraging young tradesmen to join the workforce and break age-based stereotypes. Fulmer Heating & Cooling has demonstrated a willingness to invest in and train their team, which is now being recognized and shared with the world.

Check out seasons 1-3 of American Plumbing Stories on their YouTube channel and subscribe to watch the upcoming season featuring Fulmer Heating & Cooling, expected out around Labor Day. Learn more at the show’s website, AmericanPlumbingStories.com.