Who all does this for a living?

[SlowDrip]

I'm not a plumber. I don't even play one on TV.

I started selling plumbing supplies when I was 16 and, with the exception of a couple of months after college, have done it ever since (I am currently 34).

I have done a lot of plumbing for family and friends but have never claimed to actually be a plumber. My knowledge comes from years of dealing with contractors, DIYers in trouble and various suppliers and manufacturers. While the average plumber may do one or two jobs a day, I have the privilege of having everyone for miles around walk their plumbing problems directly to me and then wait expectantly as I try to explain or figure out what is wrong without actually being at the job site. In some cases this makes diagnosing a forum post from an amateur a lot easier, but usually it just leads to me drinking heavily and crying myself to sleep every night. :P

I tend to lean more towards the renovation side of things, as you will notice in my posts. If someone has a basic household issue, chances are I have encountered it a couple of dozen times. That said, I won't be jumping in to help people who have well or septic issues since I really don't know a damned thing about them except for the very basics. If I don't think I know about the subject I will read and hopefully learn something from you guys who go out and get wet every day.

[CHRISM]

"Hello SlowDrip",

People like Yourself are `Invaluable` to the Plumbing Industry - The whole process of being able to speak to someone with the Knowledge and `Expertise` that You have as a `Supplier` of Plumbing Materials / Sanitary Ware / Brassware / Water Heaters etc. makes our Work much easier !!

It is a `Joy` to be able to deal with My Suppliers - Who like You have a `Vast` knowledge not only of the Products that they sell - but also of the `Application` of those Products - Three of the People that I deal with are `Ex Plumbers` [ If one can be an `Ex` Plumber ?] - So they have a `Lifetime` of knowledge of the Plumbing Industry and the `Materials`.

`Ordering` would be a `Nightmare` without People like You - The `Encyclopedic` Knowledge that `Good Suppliers` [ Plumbing & Heating Materials Sales] have DOES `Facilitate` the Ordering Process into being almost a `Pleasure` - Certainly a `Pleasure` compared to dealing with People with NO Knowledge of what they are Selling !

I speak from `Memory` - as I rarely have to do any Ordering `nowadays` - But I used to do ALL of the Ordering when My Company was in its `Infancy`, So I have dealt with `All Sorts` of Suppliers and their `Staff`.



You should be `Proud` of the `Service` that You are providing to your `Customers` - You are in every way a very Important Part of the `Plumbing Industry`.


Regards,


CHRISM.

[cjplumber]

I've been doing plumbing for 15 years my father is a plumber. I was forced to help my father on vacations, after school you name it. I used to hate plumbing, but just like they said love and hate are very close to each other. Now I love it and is what I do all day everyday I wouldn't do anything else is in my blood. My father is very proud and he knows a lot of the old school stuff, he would locate a pipe just by looking at the vents. Me I like a locator and a camera lol.

[DCPlumber]

Hi, I'm new to the forums.

I am a master plumber. I had my mid life crisis early after being in the technology/software industry for the first part of my life. I picked up and family and moved to my wife's hometown where I was hired as an apprenctice. Wisconsin requires a 5 year apprenticeship and 3 more years as a journeyman to take your master's test. I did everything as fast as I could and just short of 9 years I'm a master with a well pump installer's license too.

I work for a small company of 6 guys including the owner. I'm the service guy, but others fill in when we're busy. I love fixing stuff and I really enjoy meeting new people and solving their problems. I've become very well known in our service area and most customers will call and specify that they want me to do the work. Great job security. I work on everything from well pump installations to septic systems.

I do enjoy working hard and usually have no problem falling asleep at night. I wish I would have gotten into this field 20 years earlier.

[johnjh2o]

I have been doing plumbing work since my high school days. I went to a trade school that you had related classes one week and shop the second week. If you were interested in the building trades you spent your freshman year going through them all. (electrical, carpenter, plumbing and mason shop) After your first year you decided what trade you had the most interest in. I chose plumbing. I have had two jobs in my life. The first was a caddy when I was still in school. The second was plumbing. I got my first full time job in plumbing when I was 19. Been doing it ever since. Started my own company when I was 24. My son also went to trade school and worked with me since his graduation. He is now the owner of the company and I am retired.

John

[phishfood]

John, you don't sound very retired.

[johnjh2o]

Phishfood, I have been retired or two years. But I still enjoy sharing what I have learned. Things have changed so much since I started in the business. Just in DWV alone I have worked with lead, cast iron with leaded joints, copper waste lines, ABS and PVC. I'm sure many will say I'm a has-been. But look were I has-been.
I stay in contact with my son and some times he calls me for advice. I think he just does it to make me feel useful. But I do love being retired. Besides it was getting to hard stuff my body under sink cabinets.


John

[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

[Matt30]

Ive just always been around plumbing.

My uncle was a plumber, and from the age of 12 thru high school i always worked summers with him doing labor work, and eventually doing some small piping.

When it came time for community college, the plumbing classes were full so i took the HVAC route. Did that for 5 years or so then the work dried up, so i got a job plumbing full time. Being fluent in both has proven to be quite useful.