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nradovyesterday at 11:17 PM3 repliesview on HN

For basic residential plumbing work the moat is not knowledge. There are already books and YouTube videos that will teach you everything you need to know. Professional plumbers can't stop that. The real moat is that most people don't have time, don't want to buy tools, and don't want to get shit on their hands.

For new construction and commercial work the moat is a contractor's license. They don't allow LLMs to take the licensing exam yet.


Replies

trouve_searchtoday at 12:21 PM

The moat is the difference between knowledge and know-how.

You can read all the plumbing books, but you need to get your hands dirty a few times, mess it up and fix it, to get mentally comfortable and efficient with the work

spauldotoday at 12:54 AM

Yep. I can do basic plumbing, but I haven't touched it since I started making enough money to pay a plumber to do it for me. Plumbers are worth every dollar they charge if it means I don't have to spend two hours under a sink cursing at rusty bolts.

2fffyesterday at 11:39 PM

"Professional plumbers can't stop that. The real moat is that most people don't have time, don't want to buy tools, and don't want to get shit on their hands."

"don't want to buy tools, and don't want to get shit on their hands"

Thats closer to the truth. The rest of your post is fluff. Its pure economics, not rocket science.