Where to Start and What to Look For

Chances are if you found this article you’re in the middle of a plumbing situation or emergency and you’re looking for good plumbers to help you out of the bind you’re in… On the other hand, you may also be in a position where you’re just looking to remodel a bathroom or even add a bathroom to your existing structure. Whatever the case you’re going to need a plumber or plumbers and you don’t where to start…

Well first things first, if you’re in the middle of an emergency I strongly recommend you check out this article: How To Hire A Plumber In An Emergency which was written specifically for homeowners who find themselves in the midst of plumbing. There are certain steps you should make sure you take if you leak into your home. One of the first things you want to do in an emergency is turn off the water supply to the leak to stop any further damage from occurring to your home. Shutting off the water supply will also buy you more time, especially if it’s a holiday weekend or the middle of the night, so you can take your time and hire a good plumber during regular hours where you’ll pay regular and not “emergency” rates and save yourself a lot of money in the process. In any event, make sure to check out the above link for how to handle a plumbing emergency.

It’s important to note that there are different types of plumbers with different specialties. The same plumber that fixes a leak at your property probably won’t

be helping you add a new bathroom to your existing home. Some plumbers specialize in remodeling and addition projects and plumbers specialize in emergency repair situations. Obviously, one of the most important things you can do is decipher what type of plumber you need for your specific project.

Regardless of what type of plumber you’re looking for, there are several tips and steps you can follow to ensure that you do indeed find and hire a good plumber for your specific project. You can find our insider tips and recommendations for finding and hiring a good plumber in your area by following this link: How To Find And Hire Good Plumbers.

Different Types of Plumbers

Regardless of what type of plumber you need it is wise and recommended to look for and hire a plumber that is familiar with the type of work you need to be done. Sounds like common sense but most folks don’t realize that there are different types of plumbing specialties within the plumbing profession. For instance, some plumbers specialize in the installation of new pipes into new residential homes and plumbers specialize in the installation of new plumbing systems into commercial buildings. There are also plumbing contractors that focus on the repair of residential plumbing and plumbers that specialize in the repair of commercial building plumbing systems.

Commercial Plumbing

Commercial plumbers deal with larger commercial buildings and will typically use blueprints to guide them in their work. Commercial plumbers often deal with custom pipes and fittings that you probably won’t find at the local home improvement store. Commercial plumbers will read blueprints for new buildings and install the plumbing system per instructions. Chances are you probably won’t need commercial plumbers unless you’re involved in commercial real estate.

Residential Construction Plumbing

Plumbers that work in residential plumbing install new plumbing systems into new homes. While the blueprints are not as extensive as you would see in commercial plumbing, a new construction plumber still has to be familiar with how to read blueprints and more importantly be familiar with current local code requirements. The great thing about hiring a plumber with commercial or new residential plumbing experience is that they have experience with how plumbing systems work. These types of plumbers are familiar with “what is behind the wall” and are familiar with how plumbing systems work and that experience can be invaluable.

Service/Repair Plumbers

Most homeowners are most familiar with this type of plumber. When you have a leak or a clogged sink you will often call a service or repair plumber to solve the problem. Service and repair plumbers are experts at solving plumbing problems be they leaks or clogged sinks or toilets. Service and repair plumbers are versatile as they face a multitude of plumbing problems daily.

It should be noted that a lot of plumbers have a lot of experience in all three disciplines and that there are also many more specific specialties within the plumbing profession. For instance, some plumbers specialize in the installation of fire sprinklers and plumbers specialize in the installation and repair of natural gas lines.

As stated above it’s best to hire a plumber who has experience in the type of plumbing that your job or project requires.

What Type of License?

It’s also important to note that there are different classes of licenses in the plumbing industry. Many states award two different types of licenses and obviously, it’s a good idea to know which kind of license your plumber has because it’s an indicator of how much experience he has.

Apprenticeship

A plumbing apprenticeship is given to those who have just begun training as a plumber. Typically the only requirement is that they be of a certain age. This isn’t really a license to operate as a plumber but more of a beginning of the apprentice program. However, some states will allow an apprentice plumber to work on his own after two years under the supervision of a licensed plumber. Most states require a certain number of years of experience working as an apprentice under the supervision of a plumber with a license before you can apply for a plumbing license.

Plumbing License

A plumbing license is given to plumbers who have worked for a certain number of years as plumbing apprentices under the supervision of a licensed plumber and who passes the state exam. A state-administered test must be taken and passed to receive a plumbing license.

Master Plumbing License

Master plumbing licenses are awarded to plumbers who have held a plumbing license for a certain amount of time and who pass the state exam. A state-sanctioned test must be taken and passed for a plumber to get the master plumbing license.

Other Facts about Plumbers

• According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average yearly salary for a plumber was $49,200 in 2008
• Economists expect there to be job growth in the plumbing industry due to many of the existing workforce retiring.