Plumbers

Plumbers are tradespeople who install, repair, and maintain piping systems that supply potable water and remove wastewater, as well as gas distribution systems in buildings. They work in residential, commercial, and industrial settings, and may be involved in new construction, remodeling, or emergency repairs. Typical duties include installing or replacing pipes and fittings, fixtures such as sinks, toilets, and showers, water heaters, and drainage and vent systems; designing and testing piping layouts; performing leak detection; and installing backflow prevention devices and gas lines where permitted by code. They may also handle trenching, excavation, and deep piping in some projects, and coordinate with other trades and building inspectors.

Plumbers use a variety of materials and tools, including copper, PVC, CPVC, PEX, and cast iron pipes, threading and soldering equipment, pipe wrenches, pipe cutters, tubing benders, solder and flux, drain snakes, hydro-jetters, and inspection cameras. They must be able to read blueprints and building plans, and follow local plumbing codes and standards.

Training and licensing: Most plumbers enter through a formal apprenticeship or technical program, lasting several years and combining classroom instruction with on-the-job training. After completing the program, many jurisdictions require licensing or certification, and some offer journeyman status and union membership. Ongoing education is common to keep up with code changes and new materials and technology. Safety considerations include awareness of gas leaks, sewer gases, confined spaces, and work in potentially hazardous environments.

Plumbers are distinct from pipefitters, who typically work on larger-scale piping systems in industrial settings. The term plumber derives from historical work with lead pipes (plumbum).