Looking For A Career Change? Become An Emergency Plumber | San Antonio, TX
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With job loss due to the coronavirus pandemic, many people are looking for a career change. If you’ve ever thought you’d like to be a plumber, now may be the time to take action and follow your dreams. Plumbers are highly paid and generally have good job satisfaction rates.
If you live in San Antonio, TX, and are searching for an emergency plumber, you may like to contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. The company is available for all types of plumbing work and is certified to work with gas. They can also provide a plumber to help protect your home against water damage.
Whether you want to become a plumber who’s able to work with gas fixtures, or dream of helping homeowners by becoming an emergency plumber, read on. This article will tell you everything you need to know about retraining as a plumber.
What Is a Plumber?
Plumbers are professionals who can install pipework, fixtures, and fittings that use water. They also repair pipes that carry water or gases to homes and businesses. The job of a plumber varies from day today. One day a plumber may be installing a plumbing system in a new building; the next they might be repairing sinks, toilets, or water heaters. Emergency plumbers will be available to fix severe issues such as burst pipes or leaking toilets.
The Plumbers Salary
In America, the average plumber will earn a salary of about $55,000. This figure varies from state to state, with the average starting salary being roughly $48,000. More experienced plumbers or emergency plumbers can earn up to $63,000.
Salary will depend on education, skills, and additional certificates gained, as well as the number of years experience.
How to Become a Plumber
To become a plumber, you mustn’t be scared to get your hands dirty or worried about germs. You should also have good hand-eye coordination and the ability to work as part of a team as well as independently. Plumbers must have excellent customer service skills and communication skills as you’ll have to talk to a variety of people daily.
You’ll also need to be physically able to do the job and enjoy working with your hands. Plumbers are required to work in varying temperatures. If you’ve decided that plumbing’s for you, you’ll need to study for up to four years. Let’s look at the steps involved in becoming a plumber:
Education
The first thing you should do if you’re planning to be a plumber is work hard at school. Aim to pass your high school diploma or GED. Plumbers need to have a basic knowledge of reading and writing and science and math, so study these subjects at school.
To be a plumber, you’ll need to be able to take accurate measurements, so you may like to practice measuring or study geometry. It’s a good idea to avoid getting any hits on your record. Having a record of DUI’s, failed drug tests, or reckless driving convictions may mean that you can’t train as a plumber.
Enroll in a Technical Program
After you leave school, or if you’re older and looking for a career change, you’ll need to find a technical school that will allow you to train as a plumber. Check the requirements for your state as these vary. You’ll need to put in a certain number of hours in the classroom before you can get an apprenticeship and become a licensed plumber.
Look for programs at your local community college, visit trade institutes, and ask the Professional Plumbing Association for advice. Typically a plumbing course will teach you about draining and venting, local plumbing requirements and codes, pipe measuring, and cutting, and how to install and repair water heating systems. In-class training and education will take about a year to complete.
Find an Apprenticeship
Most states require that you begin working as a plumber by getting an apprenticeship. After you’ve finished your in-class education, you’ll need to be an apprentice for between two to five years. The apprenticeship is part of the training, and you won’t be a licensed plumber until you complete your apprenticeship. Most apprentices are paid while they learn.
You may be able to start your apprenticeship while you are still at school. You can find an apprenticeship by asking your trade school or organization about where to apply. You may also like to contact local plumbing businesses to ask whether they are hiring apprentices.
Getting Your License
Once you’ve finished trade school and completed your apprenticeship, you’ll be able to get your plumbing license. To become fully qualified, you’ll have to take a test. You’ll need to do a written exam as well as a practical exam before you gain your license.
Job Prospects
Plumbing is an excellent industry to get into. Homeowners will always need plumbers and emergency plumbers. The growth for plumbing as a career is expected to be up 16% in the next decade. Thousands of new homes are being built, and businesses and homeowners are often in need of an emergency plumber.
Older homes and businesses will also need their plumbing system to be upgraded and updated. Once you’re trained as a plumber, it’s a good idea to keep developing your skills so that you remain up to date with current plumbing techniques. There are many certificates and licenses that you can gain, including the ability to work with gas. These additional certificates will help to improve your career chances.
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio, Emergency Plumber
If you live in San Antonio, TX, and are searching for an emergency plumber, you may like to contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain. The company is available for all types of plumbing work and is certified to work with gas. They can also provide an emergency plumber to help protect your home against water damage.
Contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio today to see what the team can do for you!
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