Plumbers. They are the constant everyday superheroes that we need to have in our lives. After all, we can thank them for having running water and working toilets, which keeps us from getting sick. So, forget about Batman, Superman, Iron Man, and give way to real heroes…
Being A Plumber – Why Not?
If you’re thinking of starting a plumber business – you are well on your way. This is a profession that generally has a shortage of working professionals and the demand for their services is always high. On the other hand, if you’re a plumber – you have a good chance of making good money. How to become a plumber? What their typical day look like and how much do they earn? All of this awaits you in the sequel to the story.
1. Researching The Profession
If you are considering a plumber career, you must first become familiar with the profession itself. In fact, you need to have good insight and understanding of what this profession carries with you. So, what does this profession really mean?
What Does Plumber Do?
These guys are responsible for much more than just repairing cracked pipes. Their daily schedule includes many other responsibilities:
- Installation and maintenance of water supply, drainage and heating systems
- Equipping households with appliances such as showers, bathtubs of different kinds such as Kohler tubs about which you can read on this guide, washers and dryers, etc.
- Bathroom fitting
- Responding to emergency calls, such as a water heater failure or drains blockage
- Measurements and scheduling giving estimates of time and cost
Main Qualities And Skills Needed
Being a plumber is not as simple as it sounds. It is a highly skilled profession that requires a lot of knowledge and experience. You must know many areas and answer numerous tasks such as:
- Following technical drawings or plans
- Have the math skills
- Be successful in problem-solving
- Having confidence in your abilities
- Be skillful and practical
- Knowing how to work under pressure and with tight deadlines
- Care for your customers
- Be kind and approachable
Working Day
Being a plumber is not exactly the usual job. You can work on evenings or weekends and sometimes even on public holidays or nights. Plumbers usually work some 40 hrs/ per week. But that is not the rule. If you’re a self-employed plumber, you can expect to work even more. This is quite a physically demanding job. You will work in all weather conditions as well as indoors. You will also be working on scaffolding or ladders for gutter and roof repairs. Although you usually work locally, you might be expected to travel as well. Keep all this in mind before embarking on this business.
2. Get Qualifications
The next step is getting a plumber to acquire the right training and qualifications. You can opt for vocational training, which means additional training in this field. On the other hand, you can choose to enter the profession through an apprenticeship, which allows you to learn while making money.
If you are interested in following this route, you can also read about the experiences of successful companies in this business, such as plumbersemergency.com.au, where you will become even more familiar with the experiences of people who have been involved in this profession for many years.
3. Starting On Your New Job
Now that you have become a qualified professional – you need to find a job. But how you will find one? You should first start by researching job openings in companies that are involved in this business. Also, check out the websites of private employers and specialized web pages. Keep in mind that demand is high but the competition is even greater. This means you have to be both, professional and fast – because vacancies fill up fast.
If you have had at least some work experience, you will certainly improve your chances of finding a job.
4. Career Developing
The day has finally come – you will begin your career and work to become a master plumber and an experienced and skilled craftsman. If you have the desire – you can further improve your career by qualifying in some new areas. Further education in fields such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and renewable energy technologies can also be very useful and cost-effective.
Also, you can start your own private business. However, keep in mind that it will take a great deal of financial investment, as well as time, to get things started.
Business Ideas
If you are an experienced plumber who wants to become independent and your own boss, you should open a plumbing service. If you’ve ever worked for a plumbing firm, you know for yourself that plumbing services are always in demand. And as homes are constantly aging and decaying, plumbing problems will become more common.
The only problem you will encounter is to break into that business and build a recognizable name. Once you have acquired a few satisfied clients, the recommendation will start on its own and you will soon have your hands full. But, before you definitely give up your past job, be sure to keep yourself well informed of what it takes to start your plumbing service. Make a good business plan that will determine whether you will buy a license from someone or start from scratch. A license will bring you some equipment, and maybe a truck or a van.
Unless you buy a license, the initial investment will be relatively low, as you probably already have most of the things that you need. While your clientele grows, so will the volume of your work. Therefore, you may need to hire others to work for you.
One Day In The Life Of A Plumber Service Owner
You will start your day by checking all the tasks you have scheduled for the day. You will go to the scheduled places, you will find out what the problem is and then you will start the repair. During the day, you will probably receive calls from other potential clients who need your services.
If you have other plumbers who work for you, you will assign jobs to them and check their progress periodically. You will devote some of your time to job advertising. You will do this by placing advertisements, talking to clients who are willing to recommend you, or leaving leaflets in home furnishings. At the end of the day, you will reduce your daily expenses and markets.
