Plumber Georgetown, KY, installs, repairs, and maintains the piping, fixtures, and appliances that facilitate water, gas, and waste disposal in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. They often work from blueprints and plans to ensure plumbing systems meet building codes and regulations.
This in-demand trade offers stability and a good wage. Explore apprenticeship and college opportunities to learn more about becoming a plumber.
The plumbing system is responsible for bringing fresh water into and removing waste water from homes. It’s important for providing clean drinking water and ensuring proper sanitation. Whether in residential, commercial, or industrial buildings, plumbing systems are used for the same functions: to provide water for use and remove waste water. It can seem complicated and intimidating, but the plumbing system is largely built on simple principles of gravity and pressure.
Understanding plumbing systems is essential for plumbers to keep up with repair and maintenance work, and also to understand how to design new plumbing infrastructure for buildings and other structures. It helps them create efficient, durable and sustainable systems that meet a wide range of requirements.
For example, a commercial plumbing system typically needs to have higher water pressure than a home plumbing system. This is because more people will be using the same pipes and fixtures, so they need to be able to handle higher water usage. Additionally, commercial plumbing systems often need to have more resilient materials that can withstand frequent use and harsh conditions, like copper pipes or PVC pipes.
Similarly, the drainage system in commercial buildings must be designed to handle greater volumes of wastewater than a residential system. This ensures that waste water is removed from sinks, showers, toilets and other fixtures quickly and efficiently, without overflowing or causing flooding or damage to the building. It is also important that the drainage system be able to withstand extreme weather conditions, like heavy rainfall or snowfall.
In addition, a commercial plumbing system may also need to include backflow prevention devices to prevent contaminants from returning to the potable water supply. This is particularly important in health care facilities, where adherence to strict hygiene regulations is essential. Finally, a commercial plumbing system may require more frequent inspection and maintenance than a residential plumbing system to ensure that all pipes are functioning properly and that there are no potential leaks or clogs. This is especially true for sanitary drainage systems, which can be susceptible to blockages from food waste or other debris.
Commercial and Industrial Buildings
Plumbing systems are complex, and problems with them can be difficult to diagnose and repair. In addition, plumbers often work with dangerous materials and high-pressure systems, and they must be able to follow strict safety protocols. Because of these hazards, it is important for prospective plumbers to get the right training before beginning a career as a plumber. They can find the right education and training through a formal union or trade apprenticeship, a vocational school program, or by working as an assistant to a master plumber.
Apprentices earn while they learn, and they typically start out earning around 50 percent of a journeyman’s hourly rate. After completing their apprenticeship, they can apply for licensure in their jurisdiction. The licensing process varies from state to state, and in some cases, city governments may also have their own requirements. For example, New York City requires licensed plumbers to pass an exam and meet experience and continuing education requirements.
A skilled plumber can install and repair a wide variety of plumbing equipment, including sinks, toilets, faucets, water heaters, garbage disposals, and more. They can also troubleshoot issues with existing plumbing and make recommendations for repairs. Plumbers are also often responsible for installing piping and fixtures in new construction projects. They can work from blueprints and architectural plans to lay out the piping and install necessary fixtures.
Because plumbing problems can occur at any time, plumbers must be available to work on evenings and weekends. This can disrupt their personal lives, and it can be challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Because they often work directly with clients, plumbers must have strong customer service skills. They need to be able to explain complex issues in easy-to-understand terms and provide accurate estimates for their work. In addition, they must be reliable and punctual when arriving at a job site. If they are unable to meet these expectations, customers may choose to hire another plumber. This can lead to lost business for the plumbing company. It is therefore important for plumbers to keep up with current trends and technology in the plumbing industry.
Plumbing Equipment
As plumbing work involves working with a variety of chemicals, metals, and other materials that may pose a safety risk to plumbers, it’s important for them to understand how to handle these substances properly. This includes reading and following the instructions on the labels, as well as using personal protective equipment when necessary.
Plumbers also need to know the right tools for their jobs. For example, a plumber’s toolkit should contain safety gloves to protect hands and reduce the risks of cuts and punctures. It’s also important to include eye protection, as a plumber can be exposed to hazardous fumes and airborne contaminants while welding or soldering.
Other essential tools a plumber might use include a pipe wrench, which is a handheld device with adjustable jaws that grip and turn pipes to loosen or tighten them. A pipe cutter can be used to cut PVC or other pipes and fittings, while a PVC solvent welder allows plumbers to join pipes using heat and a chemical solvent rather than soldering. A hydro jetting machine is another piece of specialized plumbing equipment that uses high-pressure water to clear out drain pipes and sewer lines.
Plumbers should also be familiar with the basics of confined space entry, as they might need to enter a crawlspace or other small spaces to access pipes. This requires the use of a hard hat and other specialized personal protective equipment (PPE). In addition, plumbers should learn about potential hazards when working in confined spaces, such as oxygen deficiency and hydrogen sulfide buildup from the decomposition of sewage.
When it comes to residential plumbing, a plumber’s most valuable tool is likely the drain snake. Invented by Samuel Blanc in 1933, this lifesaver uses a long coiled metal cable to clear even the deepest drain clogs without damaging walls and floors. Other popular tools among plumbers include a PEX pipe expander, which widens the end of PEX tubing so that a metal fitting can be added for a leak-proof seal. Lastly, a basin wrench helps plumbers loosen nuts and bolts inside a sink or bathtub.
Plumbing Safety
There are many hazards involved in plumbing work, and without proper safety protocols in place, a plumber faces the risk of a serious or even life-threatening injury. Luckily, there are several simple ways that plumbers can protect themselves and their clients from accidents and injuries.
One of the best and simplest methods is to always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes everything from gloves to goggles, masks, and ear protection. Different jobs may require different PPE, and a good plumber analyzes each scenario before arriving at the job site to ensure they have all the necessary tools for the task at hand.
Other forms of personal protection that every plumber should adhere to include sanitizing themselves regularly and washing their hands after a job. Plumbers often deal with bio-hazards like raw sewage and rodent droppings, which can contain harmful pathogens. They also regularly come into contact with mold, which can cause infections in both the skin and lungs. Therefore, it’s important for plumbers to regularly wash their hands after handling mold and sanitize their gear after working in any damp environment.
Another important tip for plumbers is to always take regular breaks during shifts. This helps them stay energized throughout the day and avoid fatigue, which is a leading cause of workplace accidents and injuries. Taking breaks is especially helpful for extended projects that require the plumber to be on-site for prolonged periods of time.
Aside from the above tips, it’s essential for plumbing businesses to establish clear safety protocols and to train their employees on these guidelines. This will help minimize the chance of any accidents and injuries on the job, as well as protecting the reputation of the company. Additionally, many states require that a plumber have workers’ compensation insurance to cover medical costs and lost wages in the event of an accident or injury while on the job.