A plumbing contractor has many jobs that they do, including installing, maintaining, and replacing the system of pipes in a home or business. They are also the ones that do troubleshooting to find out what the problem is. In addition to working in homes and businesses they may also work in the industrial section. Some work in all three. A plumbing contractor can be self-employed and work alone or have employees working for them.
Plumbing contractor specializations
• Maintenance-they have a yearly contract with the proprietors of multi-unit structures like apartments, hotels, condominiums, or motels. When they have plumbing problems they call the contractor to take care of them.
• Work on new construction-some just work on new construction projects installing the new plumbing to all areas of the new business or home
• Remodeling and retrofitting-in this field the plumbing contractor will be the one to call to replace or upgrade the plumbing systems to bring it up to code or to increase the efficiency of the system.
Homeowner services
A plumbing contractor who does work for residences will generally be contacted by the homeowner over the phone and set up an appointment for them to come to home, which could be in a few days unless it is an emergency. When they come to the home they will diagnose the problem and give an estimate of the time and cost to take care of the problem. Many plumbing contractors will have a set fee to come to the house to diagnose the problem. Some may even charge mileage. If it is a common problem like a garbage disposal that is clogged, the contractor can give the homeowner an estimate of the cost and time to fix the problem over the phone. The contractor will give the homeowner a written estimate of the cost for repairs or replacement. If the homeowner agrees to the charges they will sign the written estimate so the work can be done. On the estimate it will include charges for parts, labor, and any other charges like mileage along with what the plumbing contractor is doing. Once the written estimate is signed the contractor will get all the tools and parts that are needed for the job and fix the problems..
The contractor is required to make sure that their contractor’s license is up-to-date along with his bond documents and insurance. Being self-employed they will have to keep all their records and files for tax purposes. Some plumbing jobs may also require special certifications in order for them to do these jobs. They also have to keep up with the building codes and any changes. To become a plumbing contractor some take apprenticeship programs.