BSS vs City Plumbing:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, City Plumbing had more branded searches than BSS among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom. City Plumbing had about 110,000 branded searches, while BSS had 1,900. City Plumbing made up 58.7% of all plumbers merchant searches we track, and BSS accounted for 1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about plumbers merchants, City Plumbing appeared in all four answers and BSS in none.
Who do people search for more?
City Plumbing, about 58 searches for every 1 for BSS
Who does AI mention more?
City Plumbing, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
City Plumbing, the only one of the two named
Follow BSS vs City Plumbing and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top plumbers merchants in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, City Plumbing appeared in all four answers. BSS did not appear in any of the four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- City Plumbing4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
- Plumb Center4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Screwfix2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Toolstation2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Plumbase1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- PTS0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
PlumbNation0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Plumbing Superstore0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
BSS0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about plumbers merchants
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best plumbers merchant in the UK for trade prices?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Where can heating engineers in the UK buy boilers and parts quickly?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which UK plumbing suppliers deliver to site the next day?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“plumbers merchant”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“plumbing supplies”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 28, 2026.
Is BSS or City Plumbing more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for BSS and City Plumbing by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine plumbers merchant brands we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for City Plumbing, BSS. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | City Plumbing | Plumb Center | Plumbase | PTS | PlumbNation | Plumbing Superstore | BSS | Screwfix | Toolstation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 67% | 16.4% | 9% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.97% | 0.77% | 0.13% |
| Nov 2025 | 67% | 16.4% | 9% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.97% | 0.77% | 0.13% |
| Dec 2025 | 67% | 16.4% | 9% | 3.3% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.79% | 0.79% | 0.13% |
| Jan 2026 | 65.8% | 16.2% | 10.8% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.76% | 0.76% | 0.13% |
| Feb 2026 | 69.6% | 14% | 9.4% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 0.67% | 0.11% |
| Mar 2026 | 67.2% | 16.5% | 9% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.77% | 0.65% | 0.11% |
| Apr 2026 | 71.1% | 14.3% | 7.8% | 2.8% | 1.6% | 1% | 0.69% | 0.56% | 0.09% |
| May 2026 | 71.7% | 14.4% | 7.9% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 1% | 0.7% | 0.57% | 0.11% |
| Jun 2026 | 71.1% | 14.3% | 7.8% | 2.8% | 1.6% | 1% | 0.69% | 0.56% | 0.11% |
| Jul 2026 | 67.1% | 16.5% | 9% | 3.3% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.94% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 57.2% | 20.9% | 11.4% | 5.1% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.63% | 0.16% |
| Sep 2026 | 58.7% | 21.6% | 9.7% | 4.3% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1% | 0.69% | 0.11% |
How has the BSS and City Plumbing comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- City Plumbing was ahead of BSS in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BSS’s share of searches among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom moved from 0.97% to 1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.4K to 1.9K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, City Plumbing’s share of searches among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom moved from 67% to 58.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 110K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom plumbers merchants in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, City Plumbing gained share of searches among plumbers merchants in the United Kingdom, from 57.2% to 58.7%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for BSS in the United Kingdom fell 20.8% over 12 measured months, from 2.4K to 1.9K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BSS’s and City Plumbing’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
BSS
1 branded search term
- bss industrial
City Plumbing
1 branded search term
- city plumbing
Other head-to-heads among plumbers merchants
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.