About Blue Planet Plumbing

Georg Efird loved the way he could make people so happy when he solved their plumbing issues. Licensed since 2001, Georg believed that he could create a company that honored his customers as much as the Blue Planet.

In 2002, Blue Planet Plumbing, LLC, was born. The name “Blue Planet” comes from the moniker often given to the Earth: it’s a blue planet because of the abundance of water on its surface. An Asheville plumber, Georg thought the name appropriate since it reflects his values.

Georg wanted Blue Planet Plumbing to become one of the most environmentally friendly plumbing companies in Western North Carolina. To reach that goal, he and his team conserve our precious natural resource by installing, repairing and maintaining the most efficient plumbing systems available. Georg and his staff of licensed plumbers and technicians work hard to maintain their reputation for fair, thorough service, while honoring their responsibility to both their clients and the blue planet.

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Our Team

He went from making $4.25 an hour in 1992 to running a successful plumbing company that earned a revenue of nearly $1 million in 2016. And he’s worked hard for every dime. Going from 90-hour weeks to hiring staff and mentoring his own son, Georg sees himself as part of the new “old generation” of plumbers who take conservation and environmentalism seriously. A Gen-Xer, he learned from the Baby Boomers and is passing the torch to Millennials.

Georg enjoys his free time with his family and his cats. He loves spending time outdoors whenever he can — gardening, trout fishing and just being out in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Cooking is another passion. To decompress, Georg gives himself up to PC gaming for about an hour a night.

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Miranda did everything but snake toilets those first dozen years before Patrick joined the team. “I did everything in the office,” she says. “But I really like doing all the reconciliation and supporting the guys in the field.”

I feel so good about how they’re changing the way people look at plumbing. We’re making an environmental impact, one house at a time.”

A husband/wife team takes effort, but Miranda says it works because the two don’t micro-manage each other. Each knows and respects the other’s expertise. She loves to see how Georg implements new strategies, and he loves it when they create good-paying jobs for their employees. Miranda appreciates the help Patrick and Corey bring to the office. And she’s really pleased with how well their plumbers listen to customers and give their best at every job. She knew they were hard workers, but it amazed her how intuitive they turned out to be.

Outside the office, Miranda is a practicing artist, with a studio in the Hatchery, which sits among the growing River Arts District community. At Studio 141, she shares space with two other artists where she paints and holds workshops. And she volunteers for Asheville Green Works whenever she can because she “loves to clean up trash.” Miranda looks forward to growing Blue Planet Plumbing more so that she can participate in more environmental groups. ““It’s a priority, personally and professionally.”

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Katti Stone

General Manager

What Katti Stone lacks in plumbing knowledge, she makes up for in people skills. And since the team she works with at Blue Planet Plumbing wants to take care of people first, she fits right in. Owner Georg Efird and his team of experienced plumbers handle all the plumbing work, so Katti doesn’t have to get her hands dirty.

As the Asheville plumbing business grows, they need a certain level of customer service, scheduling, issue-solving and bookkeeping expertise to keep things moving as smoothly as a newly installed drain pipe. Enter Katti Stone, the latest addition to the Blue Planet team. With 10 years’ experience in corporate customer service that often meant 60-hour workweeks, Katti was looking for a more laid-back atmosphere, with less stress and more of a family vibe.

“I called, and we hit it off,” says Katti, who’s training to move into office management as she learns the business. She adds her vision to the team.

I believe in working smarter, not longer. And I know I bring skills to the company that’ll help as they grow.”

Katti moved to Asheville in 2010 after vacationing here for three previous years. She loves the city’s artsy vibes and the surrounding mountains. She enjoys crafting in her spare time, anything from sewing to mixed-media art to upcycling found objects. As for Blue Planet, she foresees a happy future together. “Everyone here is so easy to get along with. I haven’t walked in on anyone in a bad mood. And as an added bonus, I love that they are so environmentally conscious.”

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Fast-forward 25 years, and Will is a well-rounded plumber who specializes in listening to customers and solving issues that lack an obvious solution. He’s grateful for the opportunity to present homeowners with options that suit their needs. It’s equally important to him that he can alert them to potential plumbing problems before they become costly disasters. It’s this proactive approach that has made him a perfect fit for Blue Planet.

Let’s face it, having a stranger in your home can be nerve-racking, so being respectful and listening builds trust.”

When he’s not troubleshooting issues for our plumbing customers, Will focuses on spending time with his wife and two daughters, shopping, eating out, and having fun with the family.

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As a dispatcher with Blue Planet, she appreciates the fun working environment and Georg’s laid-back, yet direct managerial style. She loves the daily challenge of learning new things and the camaraderie she shares with her coworkers. 

I treat every customer like a person; I listen and relate as much as possible. I’m simply here to help, and I try to make that known from the start.”

After moving to Asheville more than two years ago, Katie makes the most of the area’s nature offerings by taking frequent hikes with her wife and two dogs.

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Ten years later, he left the Air Force as a sergeant with a well-rounded, thorough understanding of plumbing. Matthew worked primarily on the plumbing systems in family housing and military dormitories during his stint in the Air Force. He even spent a considerable amount of time in Japan doing plumbing based on the metric system.

After leaving the armed services in Goldsboro, North Carolina in 2014, Matthew moved his family to Asheville and soon set his eyes on Georg Efird and Blue Planet Plumbing.

Plumbers all know each other in this area, and I decided I was going to work for Georg one day. I like his business model and I really like giving back to the planet.”

Matthew started with Blue Planet in October 2017 and appreciates the flexibility his new boss offers compared to other companies he’s worked for. “Georg has an open-door policy,” Matthew says. “I can bounce ideas off him; I feel like I have more control over each situation. They’re giving me better hours, and it feels like a family here.”

He says he treats other people’s homes like they’re his own. He’s proud of his work and proud to call the mountains of Western North Carolina home. He spends as much time outdoors that he can, hiking and fishing with his family.

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A family man with a three-year-old son, Pablo appreciates Georg’s business philosophy, which takes into account his workers’ well-being and workload. The joy Pablo brings to every job is evident in the big smile he wears whenever he greets customers, as well as his determination to solve their plumbing issues.

After the job is done, just seeing the look on the customer’s face is what I look forward to on a daily basis.”

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I love to help people get their lives back to normal when they’re in a crisis situation.”

Customer satisfaction has always been a top priority for Jayson, which makes working at Blue Planet Plumbing a perfect fit. He also shares the environmental ethos and core values of the company.

Jayson chose Asheville as the place he wanted to raise a family, and he is now the proud father of two girls and a boy, and spends time with his family when he’s not on the job.

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We would often encounter pipes leaking into the walls. I knew I wanted to become a plumber when, during these situations, I was able to bring a speedy and level-headed approach to diagnosing the issues, finding the culprit, and being able to eliminate people’s worries about what might be happening to their home.”

At Blue Planet Plumbing, he appreciates the small, tight-knit team and applauds the excellent communication, which is essential to a well-functioning team. Additionally, Arion thrives on the spontaneity of plumbing work saying, “When we come into work in the morning, we don’t always know what we’ll be getting into.” The resulting challenges — and finding the solutions — are satisfying and rewarding.

Arion grew up in the central coast of California but has lived in many locations, from the icy prairies of Saskatchewan to big cities like Toronto. He moved to Asheville early in 2020 looking for a slower life amidst a beautiful landscape. He currently lives in Hendersonville. In his free time, Arion enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, and exploring the outdoors.

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I try to treat everyone how I’d want to be treated. Or rather like how I’d want tradespeople to treat my parents or my wife if they were in my house.”

Off the job, Derek is a true family man. He is a husband to a wonderful wife and a father to five boys. He also enjoys the outdoors and serving at his church with his family.