GSC Plumbing offers residential, repair services locally

After more than a decade working in the plumbing industry, Cole Johnston decided it was time to build something of his own.

Johnston recently launched GSC Plumbing, a new residential-focused plumbing service based in the Carrollton area. He said the business has been operating for about five months and has already kept him steadily busy.

“I tried not to have super high expectations going into it,” Johnston said. “I know it can take a while before things really start taking off. It’s been humbling to see the amount of support that I’ve had from not just friends and family, but also from local businesses.”

A member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 94 for about 13 years, Johnston said his background includes residential service work during his apprenticeship at Whistler Plumbing and Heating in Massillon, along with commercial and industrial experience in pipefitting and welding.

The idea of starting his own company had been on his mind for several years.

“I’ve always aspired to have a family owned and operated business,” he said.

Johnston and his wife, Emma, have three children, triplet sons Gentry, Sheldon and Corbin, who are 8 years old. The company name, GSC Plumbing, comes from the boys’ initials.

“I’m hoping one day, maybe if I can turn this into something they’d want to be a part of, that would be great,” he said.

For now, Johnston operates the business on his own, with his wife helping behind the scenes with bookkeeping and organization.

Johnston said faith also plays an important role in how he operates both at home and in business.

“We try to keep God at the center of everything,” he said. “Treat people fair and be honest. That’s what it’s all about.”

Johnston said most of his work so far has been residential and includes water heaters, tankless systems, water and sewer line repairs, expansion tanks for water wells, remodel projects, shower installs and repairs, leaky faucets and gas line work.

He noted that tankless water heaters require routine maintenance that some homeowners may not realize.

“A lot of people don’t know that if you have a tankless water heater installed, it should be serviced annually,” he said.

Winter weather also brought an increase in service calls.

“The cold snap definitely caused a lot of people issues with frozen lines — not just water lines, but even sewer,” Johnston said.

He believes demand in the area remains steady, especially as many homes are dealing with aging plumbing systems.

“Most places around here have pipes or a water heater or a fixture or something that’s been in there for 20 years,” he said. “At some point, everything has a shelf life.”

One of the biggest challenges, Johnston said, was taking the initial leap from steady employment to self-employment.

“You get very comfortable with the day-to-day, but to make the jump and say I’m going to leave a steady income and see if I can make this work — that was probably the hardest part,” he said.

Johnston serves Carroll County and surrounding areas, including Jefferson and Columbiana counties and parts of Stark County, generally within a 30- to 40-mile radius.

Looking ahead, he said his goal is not necessarily rapid expansion, but stability.

“For a goal, it would just be for me to be at a point where I’m providing adequately for my family,” he said. “All I’m really trying to do is serve people the best of my ability.”

GSC Plumbing can be reached by phone at 330-771-0725.