A plumber is someone you call when you have an issue with pipes, or your sink, your bathtub, or any other fixture that deals with water. Plumbers know how to gauge, inspect, as well as repair fixtures and pipes that carry water to homes and transport sewage away.
In order to become a plumber, an individual must first complete hours of assigned coursework, as well as an apprenticeship. Only after securing their plumbing license can they work as a plumber. The job prospect for becoming a plumber is extremely positive, as people require plumbing work to be done, no matter what the state of the economy. Owing to the need for plumbers and the job security it provides, getting an apprenticeship to become a plumber can be competitive.
Who is a plumber?
A plumber is a person who is called in the event there is an issue with any pipe or piping fixture in any kind of property. Although many plumbers choose to work in a certain field, such as in residential homes or commercial complexes, some choose to work across industries.
Plumbers are often self-employed, working on a project-by-project basis. But some also work for plumbing companies or may have contracts with certain kinds of businesses, hospitals, or even the military. Essentially, any building that has piping fixtures and running water may require the help of a plumber at any time.
Toilets can clog up, pipes can burst, and various other issues can happen that can require a plumber to step in. A plumber should be adept at recognizing the problems they encounter and should be able to fix the same. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, plumbers made an average salary of $56,330 in the year 2020.
To become a plumber, you’ll need to complete classroom hours and work for a certain number of hours on the field.
The responsibilities of a plumber
A plumber has many responsibilities when it comes to maintaining pipes and water fixtures. They need to be able to:
- Install and repair pipes.
- Install and repair fixtures such as bathtubs, sinks, toilets, and other bathroom fixtures.
- Know how to visually inspect fixtures and assess what could be wrong with them.
- Should there be any obstruction in the sink drain, then a plumber should be capable of removing it.
- Plumbers also need to know how to repair water fixtures that may be leaking, not working, or have other problems.
In this way, a plumber has an important role to play. They repair and maintain accessories, pipes, and piping fixtures in every building that has working toilets, sinks, as well as piping, and more.
Becoming a plumber
You don’t need to have a college degree to become a plumber, but you do need to complete your high school and get your diploma. GED scores can also be used to get into an apprenticeship as a plumber. Plumbers need to have strong mathematical, as well as reasoning skills. For this reason, doing well in these subjects in school can give you an advantage later on.
Before you can work as a plumber, you’ll need a plumbing license. This license is available only after a certain number of classroom hours have been completed and an apprenticeship has been done. Some people choose to enroll in an accredited technical college or vocational school to learn how to be a plumber. Such institutions can also help match students with master plumbers or plumbing companies in an effort to get them their fieldwork hours.
Alternatively, you can directly approach a plumbers union, or get in touch with master plumbers, to ask for an apprenticeship. Some master plumbers or plumbing companies may also be willing to sponsor your course work for you while you work as an apprentice.
You’ll need to complete 2000 hours of classwork before you have the required knowledge to pass your exam and get your plumber’s license. This process can take anywhere between two to five years. During this time, you’ll also be working as an apprentice to a master plumber or with a plumbing company. You’ll need to have two to five years of plumbing experience as an apprentice before you can be given your plumber’s license.
Once you have completed all the hours required, you’ll need to sit for an exam. After passing this exam, you’ll be provided with your plumber’s license. At this point, you’ll be a journeyman plumber. To become a master plumber, you’ll need two to five years of experience as a journeyman plumber. The exact number of years you need experience for can vary depending on the state you live in. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to check your local regulations regarding getting a plumbing license.
After completing work for a certain number of years as a journeyman plumber, you can apply for your license to be a master plumber. To get this license, you’ll need to pass an exam that showcases that you have the skills required to be a master plumber. A master plumber can take on apprentices and guide them on their road to becoming a plumber.
What skills do you need to be a plumber?
A plumber is someone who has a solid understanding of how piping and water fixtures work in different kinds of properties. You’ll need to have strong mathematical skills and may also need to be able to create and read blueprints.
You should know how to troubleshoot problems related to water fixtures and piping and should have a basic understanding of thermodynamics as well. Strong reasoning and analytical skills are also essential when it comes to finding success as a plumber.
Finally, you should be able to communicate the problem clearly to the client, as well as learn from them more about the issues they are facing. You should be able to troubleshoot for problems and understand why a plumbing fixture is acting up. You may choose to work exclusively with certain kinds of properties, such as residential homes or commercial complexes.
Plumbers can be self-employed, work as a part of plumbing companies, or through the plumbing union. They ten to have full-tone jobs and work as much as forty hours every week. Life as a plumber can be rewarding, providing you with a stable career path, even during times of economic turbulence. For this reason, working as a plumber can also be extremely competitive, with many people choosing to turn to this career option.
Conclusion
Plumbers are called in when there is an issue with a pipe or a piping fixture. They can also be called in to repair an installation such as a toilet, a bathtub, a sink, or more. Since nearly every building has piping fixtures and water access, plumbers find themselves busy with work through the week. The journey to becoming a licensed plumber can take a few years, but even apprentices earn money right from their apprenticeship phase.
If you want to be a plumber, you should consider thinking about insurance for plumbers. Plumbing insurance, such as general liability insurance for plumbers, can provide you with financial coverage in the event you get sued by a disgruntled client or encounter other career risks.
