Plumbing Contractors – What Do They Do?
A plumbing contractor has many jobs to perform, including installing, maintaining, and replacing the plumbing system in a home or business. They are also the troubleshooters to figure out what the problem is. Apart from working in houses and businesses they can also work in the industrial section. Some work in all three. A plumbing contractor may be self-employed and work alone or have employees work for them.
Plumbing Contractor Specializations
• Maintenance: They have an annual contract with the owners of multi-unit structures such as apartments, hotels, condominiums or motels. When they have plumbing problems they call the contractor to take care of them.
• Work on new construction: Some only work on new construction projects installing the new plumbing in all areas of the new business or home.
• Remodeling and Retrofit – In this field, the plumbing contractor will be the one to call to replace or upgrade plumbing systems to bring them up to code or to increase system efficiency.
services for owners
A plumbing contractor who works for residences will usually be contacted by the owner by phone and set up an appointment for them to come home, which could be in a few days unless it is an emergency. When they come to the house, they will diagnose the problem and give an estimate of the time and cost to fix the problem. Many plumbing contractors will have a flat fee to come to the house to diagnose the problem. Some may even charge mileage. If it’s a common problem, like a clogged garbage disposal, the contractor can give the owner an estimate of the cost and time to fix the problem over the phone. The contractor will provide the homeowner with a written estimate of the cost of repairs or replacement. If the owner agrees with the charges, he will sign the written estimate so that the work can be done. Charges for parts, labor, and any other charges such as mileage will be included in the estimate along with what the plumbing contractor is doing. Once the written estimate is signed, the contractor will obtain all the necessary tools and parts for the job and fix any problems.
The contractor is required to ensure that their contractor’s license is up to date along with their bond and insurance documents. 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 to perform these jobs. They also have to keep up with building codes and any changes. To become plumbing contractors, some take apprenticeship programs.