Everyone knows that the economy isn't great these days, and we're all scrambling to secure employment that is steady and relatively immune to overall economic conditions. While many people have lost their jobs, a lot of those jobs are more attractive positions, and not the day to day work that still needs to be done. If you're looking for a job with great security that will always be required, you should think about training in a less attractive position like plumbing. If you're interested in pursuing plumbing training, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Most people pursue their plumbing training through an apprenticeship program, wherein they work under the wing of an experienced and licensed plumber. To get set up in a position like this, contact your local plumbing union and inquire about getting started training. Before you start, know that you are making a significant time commitment- your apprenticeship will most likely last four or five years. While it's a long period of time to work, you should keep in mind the benefits - that construction companies and individuals employ many plumbers every year, and that it's one of the highest paid construction jobs you can learn.
Once you've made the commitment and have some experience working the field as an apprentice, you'll realize that you'll probably want to specialize in one of the many plumbing fields. While most plumbers can complete most jobs that they are asked to work, and all plumbers can handle house calls, there are still a lot of specially trained disciplines to take into consideration.
Pipefitting
is a subset of plumbing that involves working with high and low pressure piping for more commercial and large scale jobs - like central air conditioning and heating, large factories, and some power plants. Pipefitters are needed not only to repair these systems, but also to maintain and install them, and in some cases they help plan the piping as well. This job branches out further, with those who specialize in steam work or complex sprinkler systems.
On the more heavy-labor side of things, many plumbers have experience in pipe laying. This involves planning and carving out trenches and ditches that you would then lay down large scale piping systems for. Pipe layers create systems for sewers, water lines, drainage, and gas lines, among other. You'll need plumbing training in a wide variety of materials if you pursue this avenue.
Finally, you could always train to be a fairly traditional plumber who primarily works in residences. This specialization would primarily revolve around working on just a few things - installing and maintaining appliances such as heaters, working with toilets and sinks and other fixtures, and working with more complex water systems within houses. Instead of working with large pipes, traditional plumbing training will prepare you to work with smaller systems and lines.
Regardless of which avenue you decide to pursue, just know that you have a lot of training ahead of you before you'll be ready to work on your own. While it is labor intensive and a long road to master, plumbing is one of the most stable and most rewarding jobs you can pursue.
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