Cyber Risk in the Trades? Yes—and Here's Why HVAC & Plumbing Businesses Should Care

“We don’t do tech—we fix pipes and units!”

True—but even plumbers and HVAC pros can get hacked. And if you think cyber insurance is only for banks and big corporations, it’s time for a digital reality check.

Because whether you’re taking online payments, using scheduling software, or emailing customer estimates, you’re handling sensitive information—and that makes you a target.

Let’s talk about the cyber risks you probably haven’t thought about—and how to keep your business from going down the digital drain.

If you:

• Store customer names, addresses, and payment info
• Use invoicing or scheduling software
• Have your techs clock in via app
• Email quotes, blueprints, or service reports
• Use GPS tracking in work vehicles

…then you’ve got cyber exposure. Welcome to the club.

Now imagine a hacker gains access to your system and sends out fake invoices with their payment info. Or locks your files until you pay a ransom. Or steals your client data and triggers a legal nightmare.

• Phishing attacks: You or your office manager clicks one bad link, and boom—your system’s compromised.
• Ransomware: Your customer data is frozen until you pay up.
• Payment fraud: Fake billing scams or compromised online payment portals.
• Device theft: A stolen laptop or smartphone with access to client files.
• Employee error: Yes, even Carl in the shop can accidentally invite malware into your system.

Cyber liability policies typically cover:

• • Data breach response and client notification
  • Legal defense costs
  • Ransom payments
  • Business interruption from a cyberattack
  • PR and reputation management (because angry Facebook comments are a real thing)

Even a small breach can cost tens of thousands—between customer notification, system repair, legal help, and lost revenue. And don’t count on your general liability policy to bail you out; cyber events are usually excluded.

Plus, customers (especially commercial clients) are starting to require proof of cyber coverage in vendor agreements.

1. Train your team on phishing and password hygiene. (No, “1234” isn’t a password.)
2. Use secure software with two-factor authentication.
3. Back up your data regularly and store it securely.
4. Talk to your agent about a cyber liability policy tailored to your size and tech use.

You may not be in the tech business—but you do rely on tech. And when things go wrong online, the damage is just as real as a flooded crawlspace.

Cyber risk is the 21st-century leak hiding behind your digital drywall.  Let’s patch it before it becomes a flood.