Monday, June 20, 2011

Skills Necessary to Become a Plumber

By Len Wallacher


So, you are wondering if you may wish to train as a plumber. Before you begin researching plumber training, you have to know what this trade may require you to do, the tasks you will have to perform and the skills you've got to have. What jobs does a plumber have? The job description of a plumber will require installing, fixing and maintaining plumbing systems. For instance, you might need to deal with cold water, heat, steam, sewage and drainage systems. These might be commercial, industrial and domestic plumbing systems.

You will get to look at tanks, pipes, valves, joints, heaters, commodes, sinks and pumps to find out what's malfunctioning or broken, so that you can fix or exchange them all as necessary. You will need to be able to read drawings, blueprints and schemes to figure out how the system is laid out, plus to find out locations of pipe connections and other fixtures. The trade must include working with a selection of specialist plumbing tools, like pipe cutters, threading disks, reamers and so on.

You've got to know that you may end up working in bad lighting, cramped spaces, dirty spaces, big heights, toxic materials (for example, acid), and you might end up drenched in hot and cold water on many occasions. Also, as well as the physical skills you will need in order to do the job, you will also have to memorise the legal aspects of plumbing; you'll need to study safety procedures, and to make sure that your work answers all the necessary legal regulations. What other skills might you need to have to turn into a good plumber?

The job description of a plumber will certainly require a mix of intelligence and physical skill. Your hands will get dirty, and you must be comfortable with that. A head for heights will also be necessary, as will the capacity to lift and carry heavy things. You have to be able to get yourself into tiny spaces and do your job there, for example, in tiny cupboards, under sinks and behind washing machines. You'll need to be able to use lots of tools safely and properly, so being good with your hands in general is a must for each future plumber. In addition, you have to have a great skill and initiative to solve problems: seriously, it will come in useful when you're stuffed under a tub with icy water gushing in your face. You've got to be rather flexible, as there are a great many plumbing systems you'll need to learn. A good judgement and a mind that is open to creative solutions will also be good for your reputation.

Above all, you'll have to have good working habits, be completely honest and highly professional, because your reputation with clients will make or break your plumbing career. To conclude, plumbing is a very skilled trade, and your plumbing training is going to take lots of hard effort. However, it can also be highly rewarding and lucrative, because skilled tradesmen are always rare. Everybody needs a plumber, don't they?




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment