Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Horner.
Hi Caleb, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My brother (Luke) and I took over MH Plumbing about two and a half years ago, but in reality, we’ve been in this business our entire lives. We grew up learning the trade from our father (Mark). He was a “do it right the first time” kind of guy, and while learning under him was tough, it gave us a foundation of quality that you just can’t teach in a classroom.
For a long time, my dad was hesitant to hand over the reins because he knew how heavy the crown of business ownership can be. At the time, we were working for a large plumbing outfit where the stress was high and the focus was often on “the upsell.” I finally told him, “The stress is going to be there either way—I’d rather be stressed building our family legacy than someone else’s.”
Since taking over, we’ve grown from a two-person shop to a team of five, including my wife (Katie) running the office and our apprentices in the field. But the biggest shift hasn’t just been the size of the team; it’s been our mission.
We are positioning MH Plumbing as a straightforward, “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” partner. In an industry known for hidden fees and complex pricing, we’ve optimized our business to be simple and reliable. Whether we are partnering with a general contractor on a large project or helping a homeowner with a repair, our goal is total transparency. No high-pressure sales, no hidden markups—just clear, honest pricing and expert work. We’ve added the vans and the technology, but we’ve kept the straightforward, handshake-integrity that my dad started the business with. We want to be the easiest call a contractor or homeowner makes all day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I’ve always believed that the hardest miles are where you learn the most about your business.
The first struggle was just the transition of taking over. My dad spent decades building MH Plumbing with a mindset of keeping it small and simple. When my brother and I took over about two and a half years ago, we wanted to modernize and grow, and that created some natural tension. Proving to him that we could keep his high standards while adding new technology and marketing was a daily battle for a while. We had to earn his trust just as much as the customers’.
The biggest test though was when a major contractor we worked with, suddenly went out of business. It was a total gut-punch. They left us with over 50,000 dollars in unpaid work, which can easily sink a family business our size. But even worse was seeing what they did to the community. We figured they left local homeowners hanging for about half a million dollars in unfinished projects and lost deposits.
Instead of just putting our heads down, we launched a project relief campaign and a GoFundMe to try and help some of those families get their homes back in order. Navigating our own loss while trying to be a lifeline for others was one of the most stressful times I’ve ever had, but it’s what defined who we are now. We aren’t just fixing leaks; we’re trying to be the reliable partner that people can actually trust when everyone else leaves them high and dry.
https://mh-plumbing.com/project-relief
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We specialize in high-efficiency systems and complex residential projects. We are the go-to guys for Navien water heaters and boilers, and we love doing full bathroom remodels, basement jobs, and kitchen renovations. We enjoy taking a space and completely reworking the guts of it to make it modern and efficient.
What really sets us apart from the big corporate plumbing outfits is that when you call us, you deal with me directly. Our contractor partners and homeowners love that they have a direct line to the owner instead of dealing with a phone tree or a random technician. We’ve built great relationships this way, especially as a partner for other contractors. We really enjoy working with organizations like Habitat for Humanity because it aligns with our goal of just being a straightforward, reliable partner that helps get the job done right.
We are also fanatical about how we treat someone’s house. We treat it like it’s ours. We show up on time, we’re respectful of the property, and we make sure the job site stays clean. We know a remodel is stressful for a family, so we try to be the easiest part of their day.
I’m most proud of the fact that we’ve built a brand based on integrity. My goal is simple: help people and don’t screw them over. We use flat rate pricing for all the big ticket items like furnaces, water heaters, and softeners so there are zero surprises. We want people to feel like they have a partner they can trust for the long haul, not just for one service call.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest piece of advice is just don’t be afraid. Troubles and stress are going to happen regardless of whether you’re running your own business or working for someone else, so don’t let the fear of it stop you from taking the leap. You’re going to have losses, but you’re also going to have wins, and you just have to remember that the whole thing is a journey.
One thing I wish I would’ve done sooner was getting a plan together for how to work on the business, not just in it. It’s easy to get buried in the day-to-day work, but you need a vision for where you’re going. Part of that is getting a great team around you who shares that vision and actually wants to be a part of the journey.
I’ve been incredibly lucky in that department. I love working side-by-side with my wife, Katie, and my brother, Luke. It takes a special family to be able to work together every day, and I’m lucky they are as invested in this as I am. Luke is a huge support for me—he stays focused in the field so that I can actually step back and work on growing the business. I also have a guy like Shane to handle the marketing, and honestly, I wish I would’ve hired him even sooner. Having people you trust to handle those different sides of the company is everything.
Lastly, don’t overlook the value of a tough mentor. Learning from my dad was definitely hard at times, but the life lessons I learned from him have been invaluable. Those old-school foundations are what allow us to be successful today. Just keep moving forward, build a solid team, and don’t let the hard days keep you from the goal.
Pricing:
- 50 Gal Bradford White Water Heater change out $2,000
- Navien Tankless Water Heater-$5000
- Rheem 95% High Efficiency Furnace change out-$ 4,300
- Rheem 95% High Efficiency Furnace and AC change out- $7,700
- Water Control, Reverse Osmosis System $800
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mh-plumbing.com/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/mhplumbinginc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mh-plumbing-incmn/
