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Introduction to Plumbing
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So You Want To Be
A Plumber
Are you looking for on-the-job training? Do you like working with
your hands? Are you interested in working with machines? Are you disciplined and precise? Can
you visualize structures from drawings? Do you like dealing
with people? Then, being a plumber may be the career for you!
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What is the work like
Plumbers install, repair and maintain pipes and plumbing
equipment used for water distribution and waste disposal.
They are employed by construction companies, plumbing contractors
and maintenance departments, or they maybe self employed.
Plumbers work in new home building and renovation,
institutional and commercial construction sectors.
Some plumbers specialize in repair of these systems.
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The duties
Plumbers usually specialize in either residential or commercial
or institutional work.
As a plumber, your duties may include:
- Installing, repairing and maintaining domestic, commercial
or industrial plumbing systems
- Laying out for pipe connections and fixtures in walls
and floors
- Cutting openings in walls and floors to accommodate pipes
and pipe fittings
- Measuring, cutting, and installing pipes using hand and
power tools
- Joining pipes using clamps, screws, bolts, soldering,
brazing, or solvent welding pipes
- Testing pipes for leaks
- Reading and interpreting blueprints
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Work conditions
The standard work week for plumbers is 40 hours (8 hours a day, 5
days a week). As with many careers in construction, there are peak
periods that will require you to work overtime. As a repair plumber
you work shifts or may be on call at night and on weekends. The number
of additional hours you work each week depends on the construction
sector and region you work in, and will vary from one job to the
next.
As a plumber, you may work outdoors and indoors, alone or with a
other plumbers and apprentice, and other construction trades.
The work can be physically demanding you may have to stand or crouch
for long periods of time, and you may have to lift heavy materials.
As with all careers in the construction industry, safety is the
top priority. Plumbers are trained to work safely, and take special
precautions to protect themselves from injury. You may be required
to attend weekly tail gate meeting on safety.
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Success factors
Being a successful plumber requires:
- Good math skills
- Significant use of memory
- Pay attention to details
- Self motivated
- Working with others
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Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is one way of starting out in the construction
industry. It involves both classroom studies and on-the-job training
under the supervision of a license plumber.
As an apprentice, you earn while you learn and are paid by the
hour while working on the job site. Wages start at about 50% of a
journeyman’s hourly rate and increase during your apprenticeship,
until you reach the full rate.
In Texas, you must be at least 16 years old to be
an apprentice.
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General Duties of Apprentice/Helper
(Duties may change form job to job and for
different phases of plumbing)
- Roll out all power
cords.
- Assist plumber/crew
members in prepping house for installation of pipe. (Drilling
holes, cutting, notching, stud guards, or what ever else they
might need.)
- Plate strapping all
the bottom or top plates and or studs that have been notched as
per Local Codes.
- Strap all copper
(overhead copper, stub outs, vertical risers, etc.)
- Clean out all tub
boxes.
- Install vents for
waste system. *
- Install ground floor
copper.*
- Remove all plumbing
debris from job on a daily or job complete basis.
- Help pickup all
tools, cords, fittings and materials at the end of the day or
when job is complete.
- Insulate all copper
water pipes in garage, exterior walls, attic spaces or any other
unheated area as per Local Codes and common sense.
- Chip concrete where
pipes must be altered to accommodate plumbing fixtures and or
walls.
- Repair any holes made
in concrete due to chipping.
- Install brass flange
for all commodes. *
- Install and test gas
system.
- Sweep house as you
leave.
*Requires special
training and a higher skill level than a first year apprentice
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Program length
Apprenticeship training programs for plumbers; Texas requires at
least 4000 hours of on-the-job training, and a final Texas State
Plumbing examination, for a journeyman you must have
a total of 8000 hours working at the trade have a Grade 12
education, or equivalent (GED).
Completion of a plumber program at a
college or technical institute may reduce the time required to
complete your apprenticeship.
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Licensing
Licensing tells customers, employers and other workers that you
are a skilled professional.
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on January 30-2007