Many people don’t know the difference between hiring an individual and a company or contractor. There are many small factors that matter like training, licensing and organization that determined the quality of their work. Most of us will find an individual for our household issues but sometimes they won’t do enough. In some situations, you will need to find a reputable company for the project in order to finish it properly.
Even if you are looking to start a firm, you will need to know the differences because the clients will vary. Some agencies will work only for companies that need plumbing support. This can assure them longer deals and bigger investments so with a bit of research you can get to know a lot about this industry.
What Plumbers Do?
In most cases, they are the one who we call when we need a professional for a certain emergency in the house. They have experience in everything from burst pipes, clogged sinks and drains, toilets that overflow and many more. These are just a small part of the job and most of these can be done without proper training but some professionals will receive training from the company. They will learn to repair on install things like water filtration, shower drains, faucets, toilets, sinks, food disposals and bathtubs.
Finding one is usually done through friends or family members that know the person. This is also the best way to do it because there are many scams or they just won’t invest the effort working for someone they don’t know. They look to build a relationship with these clients and then become their number one call in these situations. You can search for the best plumbers near me online but it would be better if you knew the person.
What Contractors Do?
Because there are many projects that require many people on the spot with proper training, there are plumbing companies or contractors that exist for only these cases. Their tasks are more complex and require a certain set of skills that an ordinary plumber doesn’t have. They can work on renovating or constructing a home’s waste disposal system or install gas connections for which you may require a permit.
They work on installing any type of appliances in the house and any major changes like water conditioning, back flow prevention and gas control valves. Some businesses will call them for a consultation about the construction or renovation because they are familiar with federal building codes. They can also do the inspection of the work that was already finished and also manage any repairs if needed.
Who to Hire?
Besides doing a similar job, they don’t work on the same principle and you can expect to pay contractors upfront for the project they will work on. This is usually 10% or more depending on the company and the deal. It’s much easier to find a contractor consider that they have more employees and are exposed to more people that will review and rate them. So, if you are looking to invest in a more serious project, it’s better to find a reputable company instead of a couple of professionals.Click here to read more.
There is one important thing when you are looking for a single plumber and that is finding the specific service you need. They need to be in the industry for many years in order to become the best at any issue they come across. This is why you should describe the problem and ask them how they would handle it and how much it will cost.
Specialty Plumbers
There is a separate part of the plumbing that includes a special type of job like remodeling, fire sprinklers, water lines and pipes and natural gas installation. Because of regulations, every business needs to have fire sprinklers in their building which means that they need to have a contractor. It is a safety feature that is meant to quickly extinguish a fire before firemen arrive.
Read more: What are the Benefits of PVC Sheets?Some of them will specialize in remodeling or when a new home is constructed and needs a water pipe system with all the details including faucets, sinks and toilets. They need to make this according to the local codes which your go-to plumber won’t manage. This type of work should be utilized by a more specialized professional. There is always a blueprint they follow which they should be able to read and that takes training.
Read more: Why Should You be Buying Aluminum LaddersYou shouldn’t hire one of them for each task you have because some complex projects require more training. One of the best examples is the repair and installation of water pipes which is usually done with more than one person. They would need to understand water pressure and to calculate it. There are a lot of details that they need to take care of which can be hard for one person to accomplish.
The last specialty would be natural gas installation which includes repair or installation of water heaters, outdoor grills, stoves, fireplaces and HVAC systems. Most people will call them for water pipe issues but they can do a lot more. All of them should have proper licensing for the type of job they are doing. Read more here: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/plumber-job-description-and-duties-4107383
Training and Experience
For each one of these jobs, there is a certain training they will go through in order to get a license. If you are hiring one, check if they went through the training and are licensed to solve the problem you have. Sometimes the company will send people that are training in the field with someone who is experienced.
But, besides finishing the course, they need to build up their experience. This is one of the main issues we see on the field because they can mess things up and cause bigger damage. Always ask the agency if they are sending someone experienced so you can rely on them or at least send a couple of them to make the job easier.