What Are The Duties And Responsibilities Of A Plumbing Technician?

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Even though plumbers are the first people to call when you have a blocked drain or no hot water, not many people are familiar with all the other tasks they perform. Let’s take a closer look at the duties and responsibilities of a qualified plumbing technician

What Does A Plumbing Technician Do?

A plumber’s primary responsibility is to maintain the flow of water, and the drainage of waste products, through the complex plumbing system. Qualified plumbing technicians are usually licensed to work on both residential and commercial buildings

During their apprenticeship, a plumbing technician acquires all the knowledge and skills necessary, these include:

• Knowledge of the Florida Building Codes, especially the areas relating to plumbing.
• The ability to read and interpret building:
  • Blueprints
  • Diagrams
  • Schematics
  • Written reference material.
• The practical skills and techniques that are necessary to
  • install, repair and maintain the pipes and drains of a building’s plumbing system.
  • Install and repair plumbing fittings and fixtures including water heaters, toilets, bathtubs, showers, and sinks.
  • Install and repair plumbing household appliances like dishwashers and washing machines.
• The safety and practical knowledge necessary to work with both hand and power tools.

What Are The Responsibilities And Duties Of A Plumbing Technician

A licensed and qualified plumbing technician must be able to perform the following tasks;

Install And Maintain Various Components Of The Plumbing System

A qualified plumber must know how to cut, weld, assemble, install, perform a pressure test and maintain pipes, fittings, and fixtures of all:

• Heating
• Gas
• Water supply and drainage

Determine The Source Of And Repair Plumbing Malfunctions

A plumbing technician must be able to determine the source of the plumbing malfunction and have the knowledge and expertise to repair the problem. This includes:

• Determining the cause of blocked pipes and drains and removing the blockage.
• Diagnosing and repairing faulty household plumbing appliances like dishwashers and washing machines.
• Diagnosing and repairing faulty water heaters and water softeners.

Work Alongside Project Managers And Building Supervisors

A plumbing technician needs to have the knowledge and skills necessary to work alongside project managers and supervisors in charge of the building project

Provide Accurate Cost Estimates

Plumbing technicians need to know where to source the materials needed and estimate the time it will take to perform the required task. This skill is necessary to be able to provide the client with an accurate cost estimate/quote.

Personality Traits Of A Plumbing Technician

Apart from physical dexterity, plumbing technicians need to have a variety of skills and personality traits to succeed in this profession

Practical skills learned during their apprenticeship aside, a lot of their responsibilities include dealing with different clients, troubleshooting, and problem-solving. Personality traits necessary to become a plumbing technician include:

• Being a critical thinker
• Having the ability to troubleshoot.
• Good communication skills – in both listening and speaking.
• Good interpersonal relationship skills. Plumbers need to be comfortable around all clients, supervisors, suppliers, and project managers, as they will deal with any combination of these people daily.
• Plumbers need to be patient. Sometimes things do not go as planned and plumbing technicians must have the ability to remain calm and be patient.