Turning on the faucet and flushing the toilet are so simple that it's easy to forget the mazes of pipes and drainage systems that all work together to keep the plumbing running smoothly. Plumbers have a job that's integral to society and ever in demand: with all the faucets, toilets, and piping that buildings have, there's always a need for repairs. So here are the steps to take if you want to begin plumbing school and work as a plumber.
1. Understand What Your Job Will Be
The word “plumber” probably conjures images of a person hard at work under a kitchen sink or in a bathroom; however, there's much more to the career than that. While making repairs and replacements of that nature is a part of a plumber's job, this extends from water pipes to gas fixtures and drainage systems as well. Plumbers also work at large commercial buildings and factories as well as the commonly pictured domestic residence.
Repairs won't just be made under sinks either, though working in cramped spaces is certainly a part of being a plumber. Jobs may require climbing onto a roof or into an attic, as well as working during storms or harsher weather conditions. Wading through a flooding basement, making repairs during a snowstorm, or patching up burst pipes in the pouring rain are all potential scenarios for a plumber to experience and have to power through.
2. Earn a High School Diploma or Pass the GED
A high school level comprehension of math, science, reading, and writing is required for the vast majority of jobs, including a career in plumbing. A good amount of knowledge and skill in geometry, algebra, thermodynamics, biology, and basic chemistry, while not required, will make becoming a plumber easier.
A solid foundation in the maths and sciences is the most important piece of all, as both areas are important for plumbers to be competent in. Plumbers take measurements, monitor temperatures, calculate angles and areas, and work with formulas on a daily basis. Not having a grasp on math concepts or scientific ideas will make becoming a plumber a harder and longer process.
3. Be Physically Fit and Able-Bodied
Working as a plumber is a physically taxing job, and your body should be ready to handle it. Strength is needed, as are healthy joints and bones for the extended periods that may be spent kneeling, bent over, or reaching up to reach higher workspaces. Exercises that help increase back, neck, and knee strength are good to do regularly, as are basic muscle-building routines to increase arm strength and general muscle mass.
4. Consider Your Area of Specialty
There are five general categories of plumbers, and the smart choice is to know what direction you want your plumbing education and degree to take you. The five categories are pipelayers, sprinklerfitters, steamfitters, pipefitters, and general plumbers. As a basic rule, general plumbers work on a wider range of jobs while the other four types focus on a more specialized kind of work; knowing what category you fit into early on will maximize your time spent in school.
General plumbers are the people who work with and repair water, drainage, gas, and waste disposal systems in buildings, as well as perform maintenance services checks on these systems and offer services to install them. Pipefitters work with pipes meant to deal with and monitor high pressures, while steamfitters work with highly pressured gases. Sprinklerfitters are, as the name suggests, specialized in sprinkler system installation, and finally, pipelayers prepare the ground with specialized tools for sewer lines or oil pipelines.
5. Extra Classes at a Community College or a Trade School
Now, while earning a college degree or even taking classes at a nearby community college or trade school is not a required step to becoming a plumber, it's a smart idea that will help you stand out to future employers. Reinforcing subjects such as algebra, geometry, and thermodynamics, as mentioned above, will properly prepare you for working in the field. This step is extra important not to skip if you think that your high school grades could be improved.
6. Get Familiar With Business and Building Basics
Journeymen plumbers are plumbers who can legally complete plumbing jobs without working with other contractors or businesses; while this gives more freedom and the ability to pick and choose what requests are accepted, it also requires more knowledge and skills. Budgeting and building estimates need to be accurately calculated for customer interactions and business to go as smoothly as possible. Keeping track of the cost of materials, tools, and tracking inventory are also part of the job.
Knowing how to follow blueprints and use tools and materials is also a required part of the job. While learning about specialized tools will likely be part of plumbing school, a good knowledge of the basics is necessary; mastery of these skills will make learning the more niche things easier. Learning how to complete tasks that involve carpentry, plastering, basic electrical work, plastering, and ceiling repair will ensure that you're ready and prepared for the job.
7. Research Schools
As with college or any kind of secondary education, picking the right school is important to progressing your plumbing career. Looking for a school that has an education that emphasizes your chosen area of specialty is a good idea. It's also important to check out what requirements the school has of its students; depending on if extra classes or skills have been taken and learned, schools may be eager to admit you.
8. Complete an Apprenticeship
Because this step may be completed while taking classes, this is another important reason to check out the school's requirements. The timing of apprenticeships varies; some schools may want it to be completed before classes, while others may want it to be done during or afterward. Regardless of when it happens, an apprenticeship is the first time that your skills will be put to the test out on the field, while under the guidance of an experienced plumber.
Once you've completed all these steps, you're ready to head to plumbing school, primed for success, and ready to become a master plumber. Of course, once you've started your plumbing business, you'll need the right tools to keep it thriving. Get Servicebox for the fastest and most accessible software available for plumbing contractors and companies.
‍
