One of the most appealing things about the career of a plumber is that your day-to-day schedule is often incredibly varied, meaning the work is vastly rewarding for those who like to challenge themselves. But what is a typical day in the life of a plumber like?
A day in the life of a plumber
One day you can be repairing a faulty dishwasher, the next you could be installing a brand new complex heating system. Whatever the task, problem-solving will play an essential role on a daily basis.
Given the ever-changing nature of the job, pinning down a ‘typical’ day in the life of a plumber can be difficult. However, there are a few things that apply to pretty much anyone working within the industry.
Common tasks for plumbers
The kind of work you carry out will depend largely on whether you’re working in a commercial or domestic setting.
A domestic plumber’s first call could be fixing a leaky radiator or broken appliance. Next up, you might be carrying out an inspection of a property that’s just been sold. Blocked drainage systems are a fairly regular call-out too, as are boiler repairs—should you be Gas Safe registered.
Commercial plumbers can often find themselves carrying out similar tasks, though their scope of work can expand significantly. One job, which might take days or even weeks, could be installing a multi-level water system in an office building. Another day you could be repairing underground water mains, or ensuring a sprinkler system meets the required safety standards.
People skills are essential
You’ll quickly realise that good people skills are integral to the job. Expect to spend a long time speaking to clients as you gather an understanding of the issue you’re tackling. Similarly, you’ll also often need to explain exactly what is required to fix the problem, often to people with little-to-no understanding of the skills involved.
To many, this is another of the job’s most appealing aspects. Every day you’re constantly meeting new people and these interactions can often be just as interesting as the work itself.
Early risers
Plumbers typically begin their day fairly early, in a domestic setting you may need to complete a task before the client leaves for their own job, while in a commercial setting early mornings allow you to carry out work before other employees arrive. On-call plumbers may also be needed in the middle of the night to deal with emergencies like a broken pipe that’s causing flooding.
Self-employed plumbers have considerably more command over the hours they work, and can essentially pick and choose the days they want to operate.
Organisation is key
The on-the-go nature of the job requires high levels of organisation. You’ll often be meeting multiple clients throughout the day, performing a variety of different jobs. That doesn’t just mean planning your time effectively, you also need to ensure you have the necessary tools and materials prepared to complete work on time.
Time on the road
One thing that may still come as a bit of a surprise, is how much of your time is actually taken up by travelling between locations. This means you’ll often find yourself eating lunch on the go as you commute from one client to another.
Interested in pursuing a career as a plumber? Or just want a little more information about the profession? Take a look at our in-depth range of expertly taught plumbing courses. Give us a call on 01322 280 202, request a brochure or pop into our training centre for a chat.