The Difference Between A Master Plumber And Other Plumbing Professionals
You have likely heard that when you have a particularly sensitive plumbing issue, you need to hire a master plumber. However, most people don’t know what makes a master plumber a master or why it is important to call them over anyone else.
The first thing to understand when answering this question is the different roles of plumbers. Everyone started out at the stage of Apprentice, most progress onward to be Journeymen, but only a few go on to become Master level plumbers.
These three levels represent different stages of skill, knowledge, and training. Depending on the country or state, the amount of time spent in each stage is different, but they must be completed in order, and it isn’t possible to skip any steps.
An apprentice will usually come into the job with little to no experience. They may know how to do different jobs based on what they have learned in a trade school or through learning, but they won’t have the experience to back up their knowledge. For this reason, they must work with someone who is either a journeyman or a master.
The terms of the apprenticeship program will vary depending on the union that they are under, the business that employs them, or the regulations of the area that they work within. However, they will usually spend at least two years to 5 years working under someone with a higher rank.
Once someone has gained enough experience to be considered a journeyman, they can begin working on their own. They will, of course, need to be licensed and will need to keep any certifications that they need up to date.
However, they will not need to work under the supervision of someone else, and they will not have any problems working on most plumbing issues. There will usually be a local code and general knowledge test that they must pass to get their license.
Once a person has worked at this level for at least another four years, the journeyman can apply to become a master. This step is not necessary, and most people won’t progress onward as it isn’t a requirement for most jobs.
However, anyone who does want to become a master will need to pass a comprehensive exam that covers state codes, local codes, extensive plumbing knowledge, and specialty plumbing experience as well. Anyone who passes this test will then be award the rank of master.
A master plumber will be able to not only install pipes and plumbing systems but will also be able to draw up the plans to do so. They will be able to completely re-do systems that have become too old and will be able to make structural improvements as well.
They will be able to work on government projects and work together with building professionals to come up with new systems for businesses and multi-family homes.
The master will also be able to prove, via an endorsement, that they have a specialty. There is no limit to the number of endorsements that they can receive, but they will need to prove that they have both the experience and knowledge necessary to earn them and will have to pay for a certification test.
Getting to the rank of master plumber means that the person you are hiring is more than qualified to work on your home or business. They can work with any piping; they understand all of the codes for the area that they are working in, they can draw up plans, alter existing systems, and have certifications that prove they are knowledgeable in different fields.
This means that they have the ability to tackle any project head-on, saving you time and money while getting rid of many different unnecessary risks.