People often assume that a plumber and a plumbing contractor mean the same thing but that is not so. A plumber is a workman that handles minor issues in the plumbing system. This individual may or may not work for a bigger company. Some of them have the required training and licenses while others don’t.
A plumbing contractors in Miami FL on the other hand is a company or individual that handles new constructions, renovations, remodeling, and any other level of plumbing work. This person or company would usually have additional licenses and training, and may or may not work for a larger company in the industry. You may want to read more to understand the full scope of the job specifications of a plumbing contractor.
Many local companies that handle repairs and small emergencies for homeowners are most usually owned by plumbers. Some of them have the additional training and licenses required for a more advanced project while others don’t. In this article, we would help you understand when you can make do with a plumber and when you actually need a plumbing contractor.
Tasks That Plumbers Can Handle
When homeowners have a plumbing emergency, the first person they reach out to is a plumber. This because they can handle issues such as the following
- Overflowing toilets
- Clogged sinks and drains
- Burst pipes
- Installation and repairs of plumbing fixtures
Tasks That Should Strictly Be Handled By A Plumbing Contractor
There are some tasks that should be handled only by this caliber of tradespersons. And this is because they are not only trained in plumbing but also construction and allied services; this gives them an edge over plumbers. These tasks include but are not limited to the following:
- Construction or renovation of the waste disposal system in a home
- Installation of water heaters, flues, and gas connections
- Installation and repairs of water conditioning equipment
- Installation of gas control valves
- Participation in the planning of a building to ensure that the construction or renovation complies with federal and local building codes
- Final inspection at the end of a construction project to ensure that the plumbing system is in perfect condition
- Repair of the water leak and yard line
When To Hire A Plumber Or A Plumbing Contractor
From the list of tasks that we have given above, you should have an idea of the situation that a plumber can handle and the ones that require the service of a plumbing contractor.
When you are building a new home or renovating your home, you would definitely need the services of these contractors. It may be more difficult for you to get them but thankfully, your general contractor or building engineer most likely would have someone that they can trust to handle the project.
Bear in mind that these two categories of handymen do not have the same mode of operation. Plumbers may be more informal in their approach to contracts and payments while the contractors are usually more formal. So you can expect to get a tradesman to come work on your leaky faucet and then get paid after the job is done. But when it comes to home construction and renovation, you should expect a fair amount of paperwork.
You can check out this site for guidance if you want to become a plumbing contractor: https://study.com/articles/Become_a_Plumbing_Contractor_Step-by-Step_Career_Guide.html
In the next segment, we would discuss how to find the right plumbing contractor to join your team.
Tips How To Find The Right Plumbing Contractor To Join Your Team
When you are looking for the right workmen for your project, there are certain things you must bear in mind and factors you must consider. The following are tips that would help you get the right person/company:-
Area of Expertise
There are different specializations in this field but a lot of people are unaware of this. It is necessary that you find out which area the company or person you are considering to hire specializes in. in fact we recommend that you go for a company with a number of specialists especially if it is new construction.
For renovations, however, you may want to choose a workman/company that specializes in the specific area that you want to tackle.
Training and Licenses
Ensure that the company that you want to employ has the right training and licenses to handle the caliber of tasks that your project entails. Apart from having them, also make sure that they are up to date.
Equipment
This is one other aspect that must be up to date; you cannot use a company that uses obsolete pieces of equipment. They must have machinery that can handle every aspect of your project without stress. In addition to the machinery, they must also have the right manpower to handle the machinery.
Work Ethics
This encompasses a number of things and they include the following:-
- Timeliness – they must have timelines for every aspect of the projects they have carried out and they must have kept to them.
- Integrity – they must be a company that keeps its words. They should not have any hidden charges or terms that they pull out when the work is in progress.
- Great customer relations – the way they communicate with you even during initial consultations would show you how much they value their customers. A firm that does not value its customers would treat them anyhow.
Reviews
You may how wondered how you would find out these last points that we made. Well not to worry; reviews would help you have a good idea of the work ethics of the prospective contractor. You can check out reviews on Better Business Bureau (BBB) or the websites of related professional bodies.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed briefly the difference between a plumber and a plumbing contractor. We also shared tips to help you chose the right professional for your project. We, therefore, believe that this article would come in handy for your next housing project.
