Plumbing is one of those areas of home repair which many people think they have enough knowledge to fix any problems they may encounter. Of course, most of these people have limited experience in the real world of plumbing where there is a large variety of parts and different installations may require different variations of similar items. As a simple example, most manufactured homes and many newer apartment complexes use PVC tubing to quickly plumb the living areas while most homes still use PVC pipe or copper tubing. A small fact which all True Plumbers should know.
The art of True Plumbers has two basic aspects. The potable inlet side and the waste sewage outlet and for obvious reasons these two must be kept distinct. In typical homes, the main water inlet comes from a utility supplier which provides the plumbing up to the point of the metering system. From there the plumbing is the responsibility of the homeowner. In most cases there is a shutoff valve beside the meter but there should also be an easy access shutoff valve at the home as well. It is generally in your best interest to know where these are located as most water suppliers charge by the gallon (or other measurement) and leaking systems can quickly run up the water bill.
The sewage aspect of the True Plumbers job is often more neglected than the inlet side. Unless they have to deal with a clog, people prefer to completely forget this portion of their plumbing. This is not very good for the plumbing. When left alone, IE not cleaned regularly, sewer lines will build up waste and debris which is why smaller items will clog the sewer lines. When kept clean, sewer outlets will give many years of trouble free service.
Plumbing is not just about the pipes however, plumbers install fixtures, tubs, toilets and shower systems. They install sinks in various places and connect dishwashers as well. For homes which support gas or propane for heating and cooking, plumbers connect those installations too. Some True Plumbers work strictly in new home construction while many others prefer to handle repairs and remodels. In spite of the automation we see in so many fields, plumbing is one area where skilled hands are still required.
