Home services Google Ads accounts lose 25 to 40% of their budget to irrelevant clicks. DIY homeowners looking up YouTube tutorials, job seekers searching for HVAC technician roles, and people shopping for parts they plan to install themselves all click your ads and never call. This master list gives you 200+ trade-specific negative keywords to eliminate that waste.
How to Use This List
Quick Start
- Step 1: Add Universal Negatives. Create a shared negative keyword list called "Universal Home Services Negatives" in Google Ads. Add all terms from the Universal section. Apply to every Search campaign.
- Step 2: Add Trade-Specific Negatives. Find your trade (HVAC, plumbing, roofing, electrical) and add those terms to the relevant campaigns. Skip sections for trades you do not serve.
- Step 3: Use Phrase Match. All terms below should be added as phrase match negatives unless noted otherwise. Phrase match is safer than broad match and prevents accidental blocking of good queries.
- Step 4: Review Search Terms Weekly. This list covers the most common waste. Your market will have unique irrelevant queries. Check your search terms report every Monday and add new negatives as you find them.
Universal Negatives (All Trades)
These apply to every home services business regardless of trade. Add them to a shared list and apply across all campaigns.
| Negative Keyword (Phrase Match) | Why Block It | Estimated Waste/Month |
|---|---|---|
| "free" | Freebie seekers. Exception: "free estimate" is a valid keyword, so do NOT use broad match for this. | $50 to $400 |
| "cheap" | Attracts price-shoppers who ghost on quotes and haggle on every job. | $30 to $200 |
| "class" / "course" / "training" | Trade school and certification students, not homeowners. | $40 to $300 |
| "license" / "licensing" | People researching how to get licensed, not hiring a contractor. | $20 to $150 |
| "apprentice" / "apprenticeship" | Job seekers entering the trade. | $20 to $100 |
| "salary" / "pay" / "wages" | Job market research, not service requests. | $30 to $200 |
| "school" | Trade school queries. | $15 to $100 |
| "complaints" / "lawsuit" / "sue" | Legal or complaint research, not service intent. | $10 to $60 |
| "recall" | Product recall searches, not service requests. | $10 to $40 |
| "wholesale" | Contractors looking for wholesale suppliers, not homeowners. | $15 to $80 |
| "manual" / "user guide" | Looking for equipment documentation, not service. | $10 to $50 |
| "code" / "building code" | Code compliance research, not service requests. | $10 to $60 |
| "permit" | Building permit questions, not hiring a contractor. | $10 to $50 |
DIY and Parts-Only Negatives
The biggest waste category for home services. These searchers want to fix it themselves or buy the part and install it on their own. They will never hire you.
| Negative Keyword (Phrase Match) | Why Block It |
|---|---|
| "diy" | Do-it-yourselfers. Core waste keyword for contractors. |
| "how to" | Tutorial seekers. Exception: "how to find a good plumber" could be valid, but the vast majority are DIY. |
| "how do I" | Same as "how to." Looking for instructions. |
| "tutorial" | Wants a video guide, not a professional. |
| "step by step" | DIY instructions. |
| "install myself" / "self install" | Explicitly planning DIY. |
| "parts" / "replacement parts" | Shopping for parts, not service. Exception: if you sell parts too. |
| "buy" (for service campaigns) | Shopping for equipment, not hiring a pro. Use carefully. |
| "where to buy" | Retail shopping, not service requests. |
| "home depot" / "lowes" / "menards" | Looking for retail stores, not contractors. |
| "amazon" | Shopping for parts online. |
| "ebay" | Shopping for used parts. |
| "youtube" | Looking for DIY video tutorials. |
| "video" | Looking for tutorial videos, not service providers. |
| "diagram" / "schematic" | DIY repair reference material. |
Jobs and Careers Negatives
Home services trades have massive job-seeker search volume. An "HVAC" keyword will trigger for "HVAC jobs near me" as often as "HVAC repair near me." These negatives are critical.
| Negative Keyword (Phrase Match) | Why Block It |
|---|---|
| "jobs" | The single highest-waste term for contractors. Block immediately. |
| "careers" | Career exploration. |
| "hiring" | Employment searches. |
| "resume" | Job application related. |
| "interview" | Job interview prep. |
| "employment" | Job market research. |
| "work from home" | Remote job searches (irrelevant to trades). |
| "indeed" / "glassdoor" / "ziprecruiter" | Job board traffic. |
| "union" | Trade union information, not service requests. |
| "journeyman" / "master [trade]" | Certification levels, not service requests. |
| "helper" / "assistant" | Entry-level job searches. |
| "technician job" / "[trade] job" | Explicit job searches. Add per trade. |
| "internship" | Student work experience. |
| "certification exam" | Professional certification, not service needs. |
Informational Intent Negatives
Research queries that rarely convert to service calls. These people are not ready to hire; they are gathering knowledge.
| Negative Keyword (Phrase Match) | Why Block It |
|---|---|
| "what is" | Definitional queries with zero service intent. |
| "definition" | Academic queries. |
| "wiki" / "wikipedia" | Encyclopedia lookups. |
| "reddit" | Forum discussion searches. |
| "forum" | Community discussion queries. |
| "blog" | Looking for articles, not contractors. |
| "pdf" | Looking for documents or manuals. |
| "history of" | Historical curiosity. |
| "difference between" | Can be research. Test before blocking. |
| "pros and cons" | Decision research. Can be mid-funnel. Test before blocking. |
| "average lifespan" / "how long does" | Informational. May signal future replacement need, but low immediate intent. |
| "troubleshooting" | DIY repair research. Exception: could lead to calling a pro if they cannot fix it. |
HVAC-Specific Negatives
HVAC campaigns attract heavy DIY, parts shopping, and automotive HVAC queries. These negatives separate homeowners needing service from everyone else.
| Negative Keyword (Phrase Match) | Why Block It |
|---|---|
| "car" / "auto" / "vehicle" | Automotive HVAC. A massive waste source for HVAC contractors. |
| "RV" / "motorhome" | Recreational vehicle HVAC, not residential. |
| "portable" | Portable AC unit shopping, not installed systems. |
| "window unit" / "window AC" | Retail product searches, not HVAC service. |
| "filter" / "air filter" | Homeowners buying filters at retail. Exception: if you sell filters too. |
| "thermostat" | Most are shopping for a smart thermostat, not HVAC service. |
| "capacitor" / "contactor" / "relay" | DIYers shopping for AC parts. |
| "refrigerant" / "freon" / "R-410A" | DIYers looking to buy refrigerant (illegal without license in most states). |
| "compressor" | Parts shopping. Some may need service, but most are researching or DIY. |
| "ductless" (if you don't install mini-splits) | Skip if you offer ductless systems. |
| "commercial" | Commercial HVAC queries if you only serve residential. |
| "industrial" | Industrial HVAC, not residential service. |
Plumbing-Specific Negatives
Plumbing keywords attract heavy DIY traffic because many basic plumbing tasks are genuinely doable by homeowners. Filter out the DIYers to focus on real service calls.
| Negative Keyword (Phrase Match) | Why Block It |
|---|---|
| "snake" / "drain snake" | Buying a drain snake to DIY. Exception: keep if you want the "failed DIY" callbacks. |
| "plunger" | Buying a plunger, not calling a plumber. |
| "faucet" / "faucet replacement" | Most are shopping for a faucet to install themselves. |
| "toilet" (broad, be careful) | Many toilet queries are "how to fix" or "best toilet to buy." Use phrase match carefully. |
| "pipe" / "piping" | Parts shopping. "Pipe repair" is valid, but "pipe fitting" and "PVC pipe" are DIY. |
| "PVC" / "copper pipe" / "PEX" | Plumbing supply shopping. |
| "septic" (if you don't service septic) | Septic system queries if you are not a septic company. |
| "well" / "well pump" (if you don't service wells) | Well water system queries. |
| "pool" / "pool pump" | Pool plumbing if you do not service pools. |
| "supply house" / "plumbing supply" | Wholesale plumbing supply queries. |
| "tools" | Shopping for plumbing tools, not hiring a plumber. |
| "soldering" / "brazing" | DIY pipe joining technique queries. |
Roofing-Specific Negatives
Roofing campaigns attract DIY homeowners, material shoppers, and insurance claim researchers. These negatives focus your budget on people ready to hire a roofer.
| Negative Keyword (Phrase Match) | Why Block It |
|---|---|
| "shingles" (as a product) | Buying shingles at Home Depot. Exception: "shingle repair" or "shingle replacement" is service intent. |
| "tar" / "roofing tar" / "roof cement" | DIY repair material shopping. |
| "tarp" / "roof tarp" | Emergency DIY temporary fix. |
| "tin" / "metal roofing panels" | Material shopping for DIY or barn/shed roofing. |
| "shed" / "garage" / "barn" | Non-residential roofing if you only do homes. |
| "commercial" (if residential only) | Commercial roofing queries. |
| "flat roof" (if you don't do flat roofs) | Skip if you offer flat roof services. |
| "insurance claim" / "claim denied" | Insurance process research, not hiring a roofer. Exception: if you help with claims. |
| "how to patch" | DIY patching. |
| "underlayment" / "felt paper" | Material shopping. |
| "nail gun" / "roofing nailer" | Tool shopping. |
| "calculator" / "how many squares" | DIY material calculation. |
Electrical-Specific Negatives
Electrical campaigns attract parts shoppers, automotive queries, and DIY enthusiasts. These negatives protect your budget from non-service clicks.
| Negative Keyword (Phrase Match) | Why Block It |
|---|---|
| "car" / "auto" / "vehicle" | Automotive electrical. Same issue as HVAC. |
| "boat" / "marine" | Marine electrical, not residential. |
| "wire" / "wiring" (be careful) | Many are buying wire at Home Depot. "Wiring repair" is valid. Use judgment. |
| "outlet" / "receptacle" (as product) | Buying outlets to self-install. "Outlet installation" is service intent. |
| "switch" / "dimmer" (as product) | Shopping for switches. "Switch replacement" can be service intent. |
| "breaker" / "circuit breaker" | Parts shopping in most cases. "Breaker keeps tripping" is service intent. |
| "fuse" / "fuse box" | Parts or informational queries. |
| "conduit" / "romex" / "wire gauge" | DIY electrical supply shopping. |
| "solar" (if you don't do solar) | Solar panel installation if you do not offer it. |
| "generator" (if you don't install generators) | Generator shopping or installation. |
| "LED" / "light bulb" / "lamp" | Retail lighting product searches. |
| "smart home" / "alexa" / "google home" | Smart device shopping, not electrician services. |
Implementation Guide
Setup Steps
- Create Three Shared Lists. In Google Ads, go to Tools > Shared Library > Negative Keyword Lists. Create: (1) "Universal Home Services Negatives," (2) "[Your Trade] Specific Negatives," and (3) "Jobs and DIY Negatives." Apply them to all relevant Search campaigns.
- Do NOT Apply to LSAs. Local Services Ads do not support negative keywords. These lists are for Google Search campaigns only.
- Review Search Terms Every Monday. Sort by cost descending. Any query that cost more than $20 and is clearly irrelevant should be added as a negative immediately. Build this into your weekly routine.
- Test Before Blocking "Gray Area" Terms. Some terms in this list have exceptions. Before blocking "cost," "price," or "troubleshooting," run a search terms report to see if those queries are converting for you. If they are, do not block them.
- Use Phrase Match, Not Broad Match. A broad match negative for "repair" would block "AC repair near me," which is your best keyword. Phrase match ensures you only block the exact phrase, not variations that include valuable terms.
The #1 Rule for Home Services Negatives
Never block "near me," "cost," "price," "quote," "estimate," or "emergency" queries. These are your highest-converting, highest-value keywords. Homeowners searching "emergency plumber near me" or "AC repair cost" are ready to hire. If you accidentally negate these terms, you will lose your best traffic. Always double-check your negative lists against your top-converting search terms.
Methodology & Sources
This negative keyword list is compiled from analyzing common search term report patterns across home services Google Ads accounts (HVAC, plumbing, roofing, electrical, landscaping). Terms ranked by frequency and wasted spend impact.
- Google, "About negative keywords," Google Ads Help, ongoing
- Google, "Search terms report best practices," 2024
- WordStream / LOCALiQ, "Home Services Google Ads Benchmarks," 2024
- ServiceTitan, "Contractor Marketing Guide," 2024
- Housecall Pro, "Google Ads for Home Services," 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
Most well-optimized home services accounts have 150 to 400 negative keywords. Start with the universal list (40 to 60 terms), add your trade-specific negatives, then build from your search terms report weekly. The right number depends on how many services you offer and how broad your targeting is. Companies running broad match keywords need more negatives than those using exact match.
No. "Near me" queries are some of the highest-intent searches for home services. Someone searching "plumber near me" or "AC repair near me" needs help now and is ready to call. Never add "near me" as a negative for home services campaigns. These are your bread-and-butter conversions.
Generally no. Searches like "AC repair cost" or "roof replacement price" show commercial intent. These people are researching a purchase they plan to make. Create dedicated ad groups for cost/price keywords with landing pages that address pricing transparently. The exception is "free" pricing queries, which usually indicate no willingness to pay.
Only block competitor names if you do not want to compete for their traffic. Many home services companies benefit from showing ads when someone searches for a competitor, especially with messaging like "Licensed, Insured, Same-Day Service." If you choose to block competitors, add their business names as phrase match negatives.
Check two things monthly. First, review your impression share. If it drops more than 15% after adding negatives, you may be over-blocking. Second, run a search terms report filtered by blocked queries. If you see terms you would want to bid on, remove those negatives immediately. Also check that broad match negatives are not accidentally blocking phrase match variations of good keywords.
LSAs do not support negative keywords in the traditional sense. You can only dispute bad leads after they come in. Focus your negative keyword strategy on Search campaigns. For LSAs, your main quality control is selecting the right service categories and disputing invalid leads promptly.