Most people today would find it hard to comprehend a home without indoor plumbing, but a mere one hundred years ago a bathroom was not a standard feature in all homes. A hand pump in the kitchen sink and an outhouse in the backyard were more common place in that era.
Todays homes are equipped with master bathrooms outfitted with spa tubs, steam showers and saunas, as well as heated towel racks and radiant heat floors, and even the occasional fireplace or flat screen television. Plumbing requirements have transformed over the past decades from knowledge of how to fix a leak, snake a clogged drain or repair the overflowing toilet to an ability to comprehend varying degrees of science. Multi-head showers, radiant floors, anti-scald steam showers and tankless water heaters, to name just a few of the requests made these days. And those are just a small percentage of the new ‘standard’ features in bathrooms. Pipes and lines run throughout the house: bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, utility room, wet bar, appliances, outdoor spigots, outdoor lines and drains, and the list goes on and on and on.
Years ago a plumber would respond to a house call with a hand held tool box, but today they arrive in a fully outfitted van or box truck. The days of a wrench, a plunger and some elbow grease are thing of the past, now plumbing requires a computer, video equipment and several highly trained technicians.
The basics to plumbing: The ability to Install, Replace or Repair:
– Leaks: both gas and water
– Water and gas piping
– Sump pumps
– Standard water heater or tankless water heater
– Underground water and drain pipes
– Anti -scald faucets
– Toilets, sinks, faucets and fixtures
– Video inspection of sewer lines
– Correct all violations (usually found in older homes)
– Water softner
– Icemaker lines
Leaks or ruptures in lines can occur 24/7, 365 days of the year, so a plumber needs to be available day or night, weekends or holidays. Plumbers should be bonded, insured, licensed and be aware of all codes related to water and gas lines for the state they are licensed to work in. They need to be highly trained and experienced in their trade. Many spend a few years as an apprentice to a fully licensed plumber, before opening their own business. Whether the call to the customer’s home is an emergency or a pre scheduled appointment, the technician should be on time, respectful and courteous, willing to answer all questions and provide a thorough explanation of the job and the cost involved prior to any work being done. A written estimate should include all labor, parts and any guarantee on the work.
Remember, when working with water or gas lines that travel throughout the home in a complex maze of pipes and hoses, any repair, replacement shower cubicle or installation work should be handled by a trained, experienced and licensed technician, because a leak of any sort or size can cause extensive damage to the home.
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