Who all does this for a living?

[SilverBack4Jack]

My dad was a plumber in the air force and always had his own business on the side after hours and on the weekends to help with family bills. I can remember coming home from school and him making me go help him. Boy did I get mad. I thank him for it now though. I worked the last 10 years for a local plumbing co. until I finally had enough of their problems and decide to quit 2 days before this past christmas. So now I run my dads company since he has had some health issues that keep him from doing it anymore. Dad has over 30 years experience and I have about 15 years.

[Reedwalker]

I am a Master Plumber. I started 10 years ago digging ditches for a large Union company. Spent 12 months doing undergounds rain, snow, shine or heat wave. Worked my way through the ranks and into a commercial crew. Got laid off shortly after I got my journeymans card. From there I got a job with a non-union commercial plumbing company. I got laid off again and went to work for a service company. A year there was enough. I now own a small company. We do it all. Currently we run service to residential and commercial customers, as well as construction/remodel. The biggest job to date we finished last August, it was a complete remodel of a four story hotel.

[phishfood]

I always wanted to be a cowboy. I finally got to be one part time. But that didn't pan out, the money REALLY sucked. So not too far from the dairy farm that I was working at as the other part time job was this plumbing place, and one day I noticed a sign that said "Plumbers and helpers wanted". That company hired me, and inside of 3 years I was a project foreman on large apartment complexes. After 8 years of that, I did new houses for about 4 years, along with a bit of light commercial and remodel. Then the housing market died 3 years ago, but there was a shortage of apartments in this area because of all of the condo conversions. So after I got laid off from the house plumbing company I was at, I went back to my first employer. Even though I have turned down foreman's positions several times, they still keep me around.

I actually really enjoy plumbing, taking something from a flat expanse of dirt and a crappy set of blueprints, all the way to dealing with the people who live there later. I liked custom homes best, as it was OK to spend the extra time needed to actually do a good job, and you often got to work with the homeowner to make their dream into a reality.

[spence]

I have been in the Plumbing Trade for almost 12 Years!I started this so I could provide a comfortable life for my wife & Family.I cannot complain even in a down economy.I would freely admit I could use more work so I am always on the look out for anything that could generate more revenue.My primary focus is on residential service,although I love the challenges of working on ground up "custom homes"& Remodels.I really love this trade the,art of Plumbing,Yeah sure people don't appreciate it most of the time,but once in a while you come across somebody who is just in awe of your ability.That is another thing that I do this for...Accolades of my clientel & peers.I am not the best, but I am amongst them.One other thing about Plumbing is alot of situations are different so it keeps things fresh & interesting,I am Proud to be a Licensed Master Plumber from the great state of Michigan!

[LiQuId]

Well, i;ve Framed, drywalled, electrical, run excavator, graders, been a maitenance person for hotells, pool tec, and one day when I lieved in a small town years ago i was aslked by a fuy at a bar if I could read a print and if I wanted a good paying job.. yup. got a 6 $ an hour rais the 3rd day and found I had a good vision and problem solving ability that ( although unknowing in code ) assisted me to figure out pipe runs. I also am fortuneate to have an Almost fully functional nemerically photographic memory, so I can at times recite mesurements from prints that Ive not looked at in days. I truely love plumbing and gasfitting, the history of it and the feeling of doing a superior job.

Pb = lead ... plumber = worker of lead. ( though I dont often work with lead nowadays )

have been plumbing for over 10 years, still loving problem solving, and still and always.... learning .

[lordofthepipes]

I was working for a carpenter when my girlfriends dad (who owned his own small plumbing shop doing remodels and additions) asked if i would help him do ground work on the weekends.after a couple of those he offered me a full time position and worked for him for the next three years.(being a carpenter helper sucked) then moved onto service plumbing for another two years till my now father in law asked if i would be his foreman.did that for another three years and got my journeyman card. had a falling out with him and started my own shop till the market crashed, the went back to the service company as one of the supervisors and now my partner and i have a service company for the last two years. all together almost 15 years and love my job.

[majakdragon]

I did it for 30 years. Actually finished my apprenticeship as a pipefitter, but at the time we hyad to pass both the Plumbing and Pipefitting test in order to graduate. Retired now and enjoying the benefits from the Local retirement plan.

[CHRISM]

"Hello Everyone",



Here is a `Brief` Synopsis of my Career:



I am a `Building Services Engineer` - with a `Master of Science` Degree in Building Services Engineering - I started my `Career` as an Apprentice Plumber - after 5 Years I `graduated` with `Distinction`- one of only 8 in the U.K. in that YEAR - from there I attended a Technical College [part-time] where I achieved a `Higher National Certificate` [plus an `Ordinary National Certificate first] in Building Services which involved Heating, Ventilating and associated Electrical Works.

I went on to engage in `Continued Professional Development`- where I took `professional courses` in `Building Services for Civil Engineering` [this enhanced my knowledge of Drainage] and further courses [and exams] in `Hot Water - High Pressure Storage and Supply` -` Electrical Services for Mechanical Engineering` and the VERY TECHNICAL `Gas Utilisation`- which covered ALL aspects of Gas Use, Safety, Installation, Testing, Inspecting and Certifying and Reporting of Dangerous Installations & Situations.

I have to take Technical Exams on Gas Safety every 5 Years - to remain a `Gas Engineer`- these are Theory AND Practical in EVERY aspect of `Gas Utilisation`- and can take approximately a WEEK to complete - AND are expensive.
Also to remain a `Registered Gas Engineer` - I have to re-register every Year and pay for a `Licence`/ I.D.Card and Certificate of registration.

I also took `Approved Code of Practice` Courses/Exams on a lot of `Associated Trades` to the Building Services Industries - too many to `list` here - but for example - Ventilation - which is `extremely important` in relation to Gas Appliances.

Throughout my Career I have also studied and passed MANY `Health and Safety` Exams - and I am qualified to undertake `Risk Assessment` on any Building Site / Work Site - for Health & Safety `Dangers`/ Risks.

When I was `Site Based` - I had current First Aid Qualifications - in case of an Accident to my employees [or anyone] , I am intending to `Refresh` these First Aid Qualifications - in order to `Remember` how to `Save Life` - or `Help` with `Serious Injuries` - if ever in a position where I could do so. Although I `THINK` that I could `Remember` what to do - and what NOT to do - from my previous `Training Courses` - I want to `Be Sure` that I keep `refreshing` that `First Aid Knowledge`.

I have also been engaged as an `Expert Witness` in many Court Cases regarding Contractual Disputes - appearing BOTH for and against Heating and Plumbing Companies - where I `Specialised` in investigating the Design and Installation of Building Services - to determine `Fault` or `Negligence`.

I have also been engaged as a `Mediator` - to settle disputes regarding similar matters - where my Qualifications and Knowledge were `respected` enough to be `accepted` by all parties to `Judge` on the matters - and my `findings` accepted to resolve the `Disputes.

For the last 30 Years of my career I have been running my own Business - Contracting in Heating, Plumbing and Gas - Design and Installation.

My previous Qualifications led me to decide to attend University to study `Building Services Engineering` - where I achieved my `Master of Science` Degree in that `subject` and the title of `Building Services Engineer`.



I have NOT written this to `Brag` - although I am `proud` of my achievements - I wanted the Plumbers and `others` on the Forum to see `Where` my advice/ information comes from - what I write IS NOT the `Opinion` of someone with a `Little Knowledge`.



I must add - although I am often involved in some `Highly Technical` Designs and Systems - I am still a PLUMBER at heart !!


Regards to All,


CHRISM

[havasu]

Very impressive resume Chrism!

[CHRISM]

"Hello Havasu",


Thank You very much for your comment - I did `Post` a slightly different version to that - much earlier in my `Membership` - for the same reason - I was feeling that some People thought that what I wrote was just the `Opinion` of someone with `Some Knowledge` of Plumbing.

I have already realised that I cannot be certain to be correct on all aspects of U.S. Plumbing - Some things are `Done Differently` in the U.S. - And I have `Misread` a Questioner`s Post - `Missing`a pertinent point - leading to Me writing suggestions that were NOT suitable for his situation - BUT - Apart from that - A `One Off` I hope - If I write Information about a subject on Plumbing - I am writing from a `Fairly Extensive Knowledge`of the Industry.

I don`t think that He even saw my Post - Although I did `Edit` one of my Posts to `Flag Up` my Error - In such a way that He could NOT have `Missed` My `Corrected Information`.

I was `Extremely Embarrassed` about that - As I consider myself a `Professional` in Plumbing [And Building Services Engineering etc.].

I will be trying to `Ensure` that I don`t `Miss` any other `Pertinent Points` on here - as that is NOT in any way `Usual` for Me - I try to be `Sure` in my `Understanding` of a Questioner`s Post - Prior to suggesting anything - and then `Meticulous` in what I write [?].


I have explained this so that People can see that although I have an `Extremely High Opinion` of my `Knowledge` and `Expertise` - I do realise that I CAN make `mistakes` - I `Missed` an Important Point on a Post.


Regards,


CHRISM.