Plumbing Trade School

If you have a hankering to be wanted, then maybe plumbing is for you. It's one of those professions that most people can't imagine being without. And even if you think that plumbing isn't that important, one thing's for sure - when someone needs a plumber, they REALLY need a plumber! For most people, until the plumber arrives, they're left with what's likely to be a rather unpleasant problem to deal with. So if you want to feel appreciated for what you do, plumbing is a good choice.

One of the good things about plumbing as a career is the fact that it's not a job that's going to disappear overnight because of some new advance in technology. It's always going to be in demand. Most plumbers are entitled to belong to a labor union of some sort, which means that minimum wages and benefits are guaranteed, and you can be reasonably confident about what you can earn. With plumbers in short supply, it's quite possible that you can do much better than the minimums, and have reasonable job security as well.

So what do you need to do if you want to become a plumber? Well, the first step is to go to plumbing school. This usually takes 2 years, and you can attend either a community or a technical college. The usual qualification is an associate's degree in plumbing, and you may find that you have to gain this qualification in order to join the union.

At plumbing school you will be shown many different types of problems, and given instruction on how to deal with them. These include both residential and commercial property plumbing problems. Your course will start with classroom studies, together with other plumbing students, but over time you will generally end up spending time with a professional plumber as an apprentice, so that you can get some hands on experience. Often it's this real life training that will teach you the most.

If you want to train as a plumber, get in touch with your local college to see what courses they offer, or else spend some time online looking for plumbing trade schools. As a successful plumber you will always know you're wanted and appreciated!

If you want to find out more about plumbing trade schools, click over to Gordon's site at http://www.tradeschoolinfozone.com

Plumbing Online Schools A Convenient Career Path

Training through Online Plumbing Schools makes preparation for entrance into plumbing careers extremely convenient. Online programs in plumbing schools free students from concerns about commuting to attend classes and deadline pressures. Students learn at home, at a convenient pace, and can graduate in just months of study. Students in Online Plumbing Schools can anticipate textbooks, learning aids, and software to be included, and can get needed support through e-mail, telephone, and regular postal service.

Online Plumbing Schools require no previous education or experience in the field. Students need only the ability to use basic tools, to have reasonable dexterity, strong motivation to succeed, and to take genuine pleasure in working with their hands.

Online Plumbing School programs provide courses for practical and professional home study career development and Professional Certification. Students in Online Plumbing School programs learn how to identify, install, and maintain plumbing equipment, recognize problems, and troubleshoot plumbing system failures.

Online Plumbing School courses include "roughed-in" plumbing plans; types and purposes of specialized of tools; plumbing fixtures, equipment, other materials of the trade; exterior and interior plumbing pipes, fixtures, and connections; pipe laying, pipefitting, installation, and repair techniques; commercial and residential systems; sprinkler systems; and waste water treatment systems.

The job outlook is good, as plumbers are always needed in the active Construction trades. New apartment complex, tract home, commercial building developments and remodeling projects provide for exceptional opportunities to apply and develop plumbing skills.

Annual incomes for entry-level plumbers with quality education can be expected to be around $40,000. Forty-hour weeks are common, though overtime hours are often possible at increased hourly rates. Experience and specializations in plumbing, such as laying natural gas pipelines, can elevate incomes markedly.

If you are interested in learning more about Online Plumbing Schools and other types of schools, please search our site for more information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 - All Rights Reserved Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Colleges, Universities, Trade Schools, and Online Colleges at SchoolsGalore.com; your educational resource to locate schools.

 

Home Improvement Plumbing Projects

A simple project for a beginner to start with is to install a new dishwasher to stop that annoying and constant drip heard every time one walks into the kitchen. This is a not very complicated way to begin in the world of home improvement plumbing, before moving on to more difficult projects. Instructions on how to replace an old washer for a tap in the bathroom or the kitchen can be found on many websites or by visiting many how-to home stores for step by step instructions, such as the Home Depot.

Being Useful

A second project that is quite useful to a home owner, and is a simple and easy project for the amateur home improvement beginner to try is fixing a toilet that runs all continuously. This project deals with a Mansfield Fill Valve, and is an inexpensive but effective project in terms of home improvement plumbing, since no one enjoys hearing a toilet that never stops running water.

A third project for a DIY yourself plumber to warm up to more difficult projects is to hook up that ice maker on your refrigerator by installing a proper line for it. This is another fairly simple project with great rewards, who wouldn't want refreshing ice any time they want a cool drink?

Yet Another Project

Another project for the more seasoned home plumbing enthusiast is replacing a hot water heater. While this is not a terribly difficult plumbing project, it does require some basic proficiency in the art of plumbing. Again, there are many websites or do it yourself stores you can visit for helpful hints on how to replace your own hot water heater.

A final plumbing project that is sure to please the entire family is a new dishwasher. Imagine the convenience without the argument over whose turn it is to do the dishes? Install a new dishwasher for the ease of the dishes always being done while adding some value to your home. This project will be simple enough to do with the instructions that come with dishwashers, and again you can always turn to an expert online or at a do it yourself store. Just make sure the dishwasher fits before you start connecting it!

You can have fun while you learn with some easy home improvement plumbing jobs around the house, and before you know it you will be a real pro. Remember there are many more projects in home improvement plumbing that you can do, and cost can be a factor, so start small and inexpensive as you build up your experience as a home plumber.

Will King is the webmaster for Home Improvement DYI where you find many resources and other articles on just about everything related to home improvement.

Guide To Basement Bathroom Plumbing

Basement bathroom plumbing work needs considerable skill, experience and care. It is advisable to hire the services of a plumbing contractor for carrying out basement bathroom plumbing work. The existing floor needs to be busted and in the process drainpipes may also get broken if adequate safety measures are not taken up.

Basement bathroom plumbing procedure

Some concrete may need to be removed for installing basement bathroom plumbing system. The fixtures required for setting up basement bathroom plumbing - bathtub, one-piece shower unit etc. may not be easily obtainable. Special effort needs to be made to secure them.

Often, the concrete of the basement needs to be broken. Marks are made on the surface along some demarcations and the concrete is chipped away usually employing a jack hammer. The debris thus obtained has to be cleared and new plumbing pipes are well glued to the original setup. After completion the new setup has to be covered up with concrete.

Another approach to basement bathroom plumbing is installation of a plastic sump beneath the basement floor. A sewage ejector pump or lift pump is used to pump out the waste as the sump becomes full. The pumps have devices to grind solids. In case the pump fails the toilet will not be draining properly.

There may be some houses where the building drain lies below the basement level. So, no pump is needed. A plumber can help in this regard by providing various estimates of drain line locations and plumbing setup plans.

Again, there may be homes where the main drain lies at floor level. To help out in such cases you may build a false floor for the bathroom. Of course your ceiling needs to be high enough in such case. The false floor erection would ensure that the fixtures are higher than the sewer line. This will do away with the necessity of installing a sewage ejector pumping unit.

Basement bathroom plumbing - a special plumbing

Basement bathroom plumbing is a special kind of plumbing setup. Therefore, special care needs to be taken while proceeding with the installation, maintenance and repair or replacement of the basement bathroom plumbing system. If you are contemplating basement bathroom plumbing for your home then you may conveniently hire some competent plumber for helping out.

Masni Rizal Mansor provide tips and review on basement bathroom plumbing, 12 volt appliances and kitchen cabinetry.

Are Ceramic Taps For DIY Plumbing?

Not every plumbing job needs a licensed plumber. In fact there are many small jobs that can easily be handled by the do it yourself plumber. When it comes to DIY plumbing are ceramic taps an option for you to install?

Well let's start by better understanding ceramic taps. It is only in the last few years that ceramic taps have appeared on the market. And each year they become increasingly popular.

There are no washers in these taps like in the old taps systems. Rather they use two close fitting ceramic discs instead of the washers. The one disc is in a fixed position and the other turns up to 90% with the handle. These two disc are aligned in the open position.

When it comes to obvious features it's the quarter turn verses the two and half turns of the washer system that stands out. The ceramic taps don't have the washers. Instead they have the two ceramic discs. The upper disc is controlled by the tap itself while the bottom disc is in a fixed position on the base of the tap itself.

There are lots of pros to installing ceramic over rubber washers. The ceramic discs are really hard and so they withstand a lot of punishment. They are very good at withstanding the erosion from the water over time. They still wear out but it just takes a lot longer. You'll know when it's time to replace by the drip.

A ceramic top requires little effort to turn because it is such low friction. You can actually turn it on with your pinky with little problem. So if you are older, have arthritis, there is any other reason you lack hand strength a ceramic tap will be a real treat.

What you have to remember is you don't have to turn the tap as far as you do on a washer based tap. If you do you turn it on too far too fast you'll get a real blast of water.

Installation of ceramic taps is no different than installation of traditional taps. There are some basic steps to follow to remove the old and install the new.

1. Turn the water off to the sink, shower, or tub where you'll be replacing the taps. 2. Turn the hot water tank off. 3. Pop off the cold and hot water tabs on top of the taps. They are usually plastic. 4. Use a screwdriver to remove the tap handles. 5. Use a wrench to remove the faucet. 6. Go underneath the sink and disconnect both water lines and unscrew the nuts that hold the taps into place. 7. Remove the entire fixture. 8. To install new tap set it's basically the reverse procedure. Follow the directions provided with your new ceramic taps.

DIY plumbing isn't that difficult if you know what you are up against. When you understand your options you can choose the best repair and get busy.

Carl has been a professional plumber in a company he owns for more than 10 years not only is he experience in unclogging just about anything but also an expert in installing plumbing fixtures and installing new water lines. Carl will give you some helpful tips on diy plumbing when you visit http://www.alliedesolutions.com

Plumbing Tips For Around the Home

Your house has several separate plumbing systems: Sinks, toilets, washers, bath tubs, and related fixtures. Plumbing is something we use every day and which most of us know little about. Shopping for your own plumbing fixtures rather than getting them through your plumber allows you choose from a wider selection and save money.

Types of pipes for different plumbing usage may vary, from:

1.Copper

2.Plastic

3.Lead

4.Concrete

5.Steel

6.Cast iron

Water enters your house through a pipe that connects either to a municipal water line or a private well. Faucets, like all plumbing fixtures with moving parts, are apt to require more repair than non-moving fixtures. The less strain you put on your faucets, the less frequently they need repair.

Most people are familiar with plumbers, who come to their home to unclog a drain or install an appliance. When construction plumbers install piping in a house, for example, they work from blueprints or drawings that show the planned location of pipes, plumbing fixtures, and appliances.

If your plumbing fixtures drain slowly, the problem may be a clogged vent. This happens when vents are improperly located and when birds or animals deposit debris in the vent where it exits the roof.

Whatever your intended plumbing projects, the first step is to familiarize yourself with the water system in your home. At the very least it is important to know where to switch off the mains in case of an emergency.

To Know more visit: http://www.pexsupply.com/categories.asp?cID=515&brandid=

PexSupply.com is designed with the customer in mind. We have a full range of products that you can purchase in a fast and efficient manner.PexSupply.com offers high quality products from the best manufacturers in the industry.PexSupply.com provides the customer with all the information needed.

Finding a Good Plumber

Plumbers in the UK take on a wide range of tasks for in both domestic and industrial settings. In domestic settings they repair, maintain and install hot and cold water supplies, toilet fittings and waste disposal fittings. A plumber may carry out a wide range of work or may specialise in a particular area such as drain clearance, bathroom installation or gas work. Any plumber who undertakes gas work in the UK must be registered with CORGI. CORGI is the Council for Registered Gas Installers.

Over the past few years, the press has run stories about a shortage of plumbers. In 2003, the British Plumbing Employer?s Council estimated that the plumbing industry would need to recruit 29,000 new entrants over the next 5 years. This led to reports of City workers leaving their jobs in the hope of earning ?70,000 a year as a plumber. More recently, however, there are accounts of workers with plumbing experience from Eastern Europe are filling vacancies on building sites and a surplus of trainees trying to find jobs.

For the householder, this means that finding someone to deal with plumbing jobs around the house is now easier but householders still need to take care to ensure that they have found a plumber who can provide them with a quality service.

Hot Hints on Finding a Plumber

? Ask for recommendations from family and friends.
? Follow up on references if the plumber has not been personally recommended to you.
? Be very clear about the work which you want doing.
? Obtain written quotes from more than at least three firms and, if the job is clearly defined, ask for a fixed quote. If the amount of work involved is genuinely uncertain then check that hourly rates and call out fees are clear and reasonable and ask for an estimate of the time which will be taken.
? Avoid paying plumbers for labour up front before a job has been completed.
? Ask your plumber about his or her experience including experience of the type of work which you need doing. Reputable tradesmen and women will be pleased to talk about their experience.
? Check that you have an address and contact details for the plumber so you get in touch if there is a problem after the job is finished.
? If the job involves gas work, check that your plumber is registered with CORGI. Registration numbers can be checked on CORGI?s website - www.corgi-gas-safety.com. Operatives working for a registered installer will also carry a card which can be checked by a householder.

? Caroline Blatchford 2006

Is your Plumbing Business Leaking Money?

Any Plumbing business Website not linked into other websites of Industry specialists is leaking money. Any plumbing business not using an Email address in their advertising campaigns is suffering a major money break.

To date, there has not been any organization to show Plumbers how to link together with other trades and their websites. Plumbers need to advertise and market their services better and to understand how linking their websites provides the strength that the World Wide Web now demands.

All the Search Engines on the ‘net have changed their search criteria and if you aren’t linked, you simply don’t get ranked beyond the 100,000,000’nth place. And precious few people look beyond the first 10 to 20 names. People simply haven’t got the time or patience required to search so far.

Constructing Profits shows Plumbers how to advertise their services better through their website and seminars.

Because each Trade in the Building Industry has its own professional Associations, the desire to link with each other simply hasn’t been required. This requirement probably hasn’t been realized yet because everyone is too busy looking after their own people and that is as it should be.

The WWW is now a very demanding monster that is based on content and relevancy. The deciding fact for relevancy is now very much dependent on who links to whom. And this is where constructing profits can provide the relevant ‘glue’ to all the different trade associations, or to independent websites, so that relevancy is established.

We need to construct our own industry network web within the WWW.

Something else that I have found in my recent research is that many (far too many!) Plumbers in Australia don’t even list an Email address in their Yellow Pages advertisements. In today’s world this could almost be called “Business suicide”.

If you are unfamiliar with the ‘net, that is still not a reason for not having an E-mail address to take requests in a written format for a job. You don’t have to have a website to have an E-mail address but you do have to have an E-mail address if you want your business to grow.

The other advantage is to being able to take job requests in writing to protect you legally. If something goes horribly wrong with a job, and you have the job request in writing, you then have legal proof of what the job request entailed.

Many people will write an E-mail but they won’t write a letter. In fact, I would recommend every acceptance of a quote for a job is confirmed by E-mail.

Constructing profits is showing Plumbing and construction contractors how to “link up” to make more profit and spend less hours doing it.

By constructing our own network web within the WWW we gain industry relevancy in the Search Engine algorithms which translates into more jobs from our Email and Websites and more profit for our various businesses.

Constructing profits in a business is the foundation of a sustainable business.

http://www.constructingprofits.com Showing contractors how to make more money ~ working less hours!

Hiring A Plumber - What You Should Know

If there’s a water leak, repairing faucets, fixtures and pipes can be quite urgent – and may require a plumber’s immediate attention. If you discover a leak, it is best to shut the water while waiting for a plumber to arrive, to prevent further water damage. The quickest way to stop water leaking from the pipes is to shut off the water supply from the main valve, then go to the lowest point in the house and open a faucet. Gravity will force the remaining water to drain out the faucet, minimizing the water that can escape through the leak.

Ask how to prevent recurring problems

For basic plumbing services, such as leak repair or installing new fixtures or traps, you’ll pay $45 to $65 per hour, plus parts, if necessary. For weekend or night calls, you can expect to pay as much as $100 just for the call and then $75 per hour. Even at these rates it is a good idea to ask what the options are for repairs and parts, and how to prevent any problems from recurring.

Calling a plumber for an emergency job will cost you more. But remember that you’re paying for their time to drive to and from your home, picking up parts and for them being on call. For a plumber specializing in drain-clearing services, you will pay at least $70 per hour for drain lines and $125 per hour for sewer lines. For weekend or night calls, add $30 per hour. But before you take out a second mortgage, you should know that most problems can be fixed in about an hour.

Hourly rates are often calculated differently

When hiring a plumber, it seems reasonable to hire a reputable, licensed plumber with the best hourly rate. The problem arises because plumbers count hours in different ways. For example, some plumbers will have lower hourly rates but charge for their driving time, while others charge what seems like an exorbitant hourly rate, but only start the clock once they arrive at your home. Others may charge an additional fee just for showing up. These are important differences to clear up before making your decision.

Have a plumber handy

When hiring a plumber, make sure they have a valid license, if required in your state. There is usually a phone number you can call to verify that the license is current and that there are no complaints against it. Any plumber you hire should have a minimum of $500,000 liability insurance and a current worker’s compensation policy. Once you find a plumber you’re satisfied with, keep his number handy for emergencies. In an emergency, it’s better to call someone who already knows you than a complete stranger.

Stu Silverman is a home improvement advice columnist and freelance writer for http://www.Contractors.com and http://www.ContractorGuide.com You can find his articles and many others in the Utilities/HVAC/Fireplace category of ContractorGuide.com

Hiring A Plumber - What You Should Know

If there’s a water leak, repairing faucets, fixtures and pipes can be quite urgent – and may require a plumber’s immediate attention. If you discover a leak, it is best to shut the water while waiting for a plumber to arrive, to prevent further water damage. The quickest way to stop water leaking from the pipes is to shut off the water supply from the main valve, then go to the lowest point in the house and open a faucet. Gravity will force the remaining water to drain out the faucet, minimizing the water that can escape through the leak.

Ask how to prevent recurring problems

For basic plumbing services, such as leak repair or installing new fixtures or traps, you’ll pay $45 to $65 per hour, plus parts, if necessary. For weekend or night calls, you can expect to pay as much as $100 just for the call and then $75 per hour. Even at these rates it is a good idea to ask what the options are for repairs and parts, and how to prevent any problems from recurring.

Calling a plumber for an emergency job will cost you more. But remember that you’re paying for their time to drive to and from your home, picking up parts and for them being on call. For a plumber specializing in drain-clearing services, you will pay at least $70 per hour for drain lines and $125 per hour for sewer lines. For weekend or night calls, add $30 per hour. But before you take out a second mortgage, you should know that most problems can be fixed in about an hour.

Hourly rates are often calculated differently

When hiring a plumber, it seems reasonable to hire a reputable, licensed plumber with the best hourly rate. The problem arises because plumbers count hours in different ways. For example, some plumbers will have lower hourly rates but charge for their driving time, while others charge what seems like an exorbitant hourly rate, but only start the clock once they arrive at your home. Others may charge an additional fee just for showing up. These are important differences to clear up before making your decision.

Have a plumber handy

When hiring a plumber, make sure they have a valid license, if required in your state. There is usually a phone number you can call to verify that the license is current and that there are no complaints against it. Any plumber you hire should have a minimum of $500,000 liability insurance and a current worker’s compensation policy. Once you find a plumber you’re satisfied with, keep his number handy for emergencies. In an emergency, it’s better to call someone who already knows you than a complete stranger.

Stu Silverman is a home improvement advice columnist and freelance writer for http://www.Contractors.com and http://www.ContractorGuide.com You can find his articles and many others in the Utilities/HVAC/Fireplace category of ContractorGuide.com