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Different types of plumbers and their roles

Whether you’re becoming a plumber or looking to expand your business, it’s important to know about the types of plumbers and career opportunities out there. Once you know that, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision on which best suits you.

From job stability to handy skills, being a plumber is a solid career choice once you know all the plumbing terminology and slang.

In the plumbing industry, there are several different options available that you can specialise in or offer as part of your business. However, it’s important to understand what they actually involve before making a final decision.

Perhaps you’re just starting out which is why you want to know about the types of plumber career paths? Well, what you need to know about becoming a plumber, with so many training options around, is a good place to start.

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Residential plumbers

Sometimes referred to as domestic plumbers, residential plumbers are those who focus on homes and residential properties specifically. They’re the tradespeople that homeowners turn to if they need professional help for plumbing issues.

Typical residential plumber duties could include:

  • Dealing with block toilets
  • Setting up new plumbing installations
  • Fixing water pipes
  • Install or repair domestic appliances such as showers and toilets

Commercial plumbers

A commercial plumber mainly works in commercial buildings such as offices, hotels, and shops. Typical jobs are somewhat similar to residential plumbers in that they maintain and fix plumbing problems.

However, unlike residential plumbers, they need to deal with industrial grade boilers, pipes, and sewers. This tends to be a lot more complex due to the plumbing system and building structure. There are also other regulations that must be followed.

Service and repair plumbers

As the name suggests, service and repair plumbers handle plumbing emergencies which suddenly occur. These are the types of plumbers called upon for urgent problems that need resolving as soon as possible.

Again, the plumbing problems could be similar to those dealt with by other plumbers.

This could range from fixing serious leaks to problematic clogged drains. However, service and repair plumbers are there for more immediate help.

Different types of plumbers

Speciality and services

There are some types of plumbing jobs which will require an expert in the field – aka a speciality plumber. This might be due to the nature of the work or needing to have certain training under your belt.

Examples of speciality plumbers, or speciality services you might want to consider offering as part of your business, include:

  • Gas engineers – A gas engineer is a speciality plumber who can install, service, maintain, and repair gas appliances. This may involve working with boilers, gas ranges, gas fires, and more. You can read our guide on starting out as a gas engineer for more key information for those new to the industry including how to become certified as Gas Safe
  • Pipe fitter – Pipe fitters are a type of plumber who install, fix, and maintain large-scale plastic and copper pipework, valves, and pumps. Generally speaking, this work will occur in commercial and industrial buildings
  • Sanitary plumbers – In short, sanitary plumbers are experts in dealing with a range of issues with domestic systems. This can include clogged drains, blocked toilets, sanitary tank issues, and more
  • Water supply plumbers – It may sound obvious, but water supply plumbers specialise in installing, repairing, and maintaining water supply systems. This might involve working with water tanks, bathroom tanks, kitchen tanks, and more

Plumbing business owner

Of course, another career path for those in the industry could involve setting up your own plumbing business. By doing so, you’ll be in control of your working hours, what services you offer, and how much you charge.

However, this does also come with a higher level of responsibility. Below are some examples of the tasks you’ll have to do:

  • Creating a business plan
  • Sorting out finances
  • Having the right level of insurance and carrying out risk assessments
  • Hiring staff and paying employees
  • Deciding where to focus your marketing and advertising efforts
  • Getting involved with typical plumbing duties alongside your other responsibilities

For many, the biggest draw of setting up your own business is the increased pay that you could earn as the owner of your own company. To find out the average salary for a plumbing business owner, be sure to read our guide on plumber salaries.

Building a plumbing business

Build your plumbing business with the help of Checkatrade

We know that building your own plumbing business isn’t always easy. Luckily, that’s exactly where we can come in to help.

Here are just a few reasons why you might want to become a Checkatrade member today:

  • Showcase customer reviews on your Checkatrade profile – Displaying customer reviews is a great way to capture the attention of new and potential customers. After all, it’s all about customer advocacy and homeowners will appreciate being able to see what others have to say about your business
  • Get plumbing leads – We’re the UK’s leading trade directory and homeowners trust the Checkatrade tick of approval. Plus, potential customers will be able to discover your business when searching our website. Things like this will only help to bring in those all-important plumbing leads
  • Access exclusive member benefits and discounts – Running your own business isn’t cheap but once you pass our checks, you’ll be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts on the best plumbing PPE from our partner brands. From insurance to workwear, you can get all the important stuff for less
  • Gain the trust of homeowners – As we’re the UK’s leading trade directory, homeowners trusted tradespeople with the Checkatrade tick of approval. Once you pass our checks, you’ll be able to easily build trust with potential customers

Grow your plumbing business with Checkatrade

Win more work by becoming a member

Join us today!
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