life begins at 40

Discussion in 'Plumbers' Talk' started by jon68, Jan 10, 2007.

  1. jon68

    jon68 New Member

    Hi
    Need your advice, coming up to 40 and in a dead end job working shifts. Looking to becoming a plumber i've seen courses where you go on a training course for 4 weeks, but i want to know what causes the problems not just how to fix them. You do not become a plumber in 4 weeks so is there a c&g course i can do, it would be best if i could do it online,due to work commitments.
     
  2. M.I.G.

    M.I.G. New Member

    you become a plumber by years of on the job experience

    not by doing an online C&G course!
     
  3. Water Systems

    Water Systems New Member

    you become a plumber by years of on the job
    experience

    not by doing an online C&G course!

    Self taught plumbers are useless - they have an idiot as a teacher. You need the theory behind it.
     
  4. Water Systems

    Water Systems New Member

    Hi
    Need your advice, coming up to 40 and in a dead end
    job working shifts. Looking to becoming a plumber
    i've seen courses where you go on a training course
    for 4 weeks, but i want to know what causes the
    problems not just how to fix them. You do not become
    a plumber in 4 weeks so is there a c&g course i can
    do, it would be best if i could do it online,due to
    work commitments.


    Outsiders put heating and gas into the plumbers field - it is not their field. Plumbing is drains centric. They have different courses and qualifications. Decide on what you want to be.
     
  5. jon68

    jon68 New Member

    Do have some experience but lack the qualifications.
     
  6. jon68

    jon68 New Member

    Thanks watersystems for the constructive criticism
     
  7. Planet Niton

    Planet Niton Member

    Not everyone on this board is anti-plumbing courses:

    major leaky

    Posts: 43
    Registered: Dec 14, 2006
    Re: apologies I've been such a wankr
    Posted: Jan 9, 2007 8:33 PM Reply

    I was just wondering where Captain Leaky (Plumbing the Depths) has been. I've been too busy myself to post on here, the new business is booming! Only a few minor leaks and fires to sort out, but loads of business.

    I will be taking on an apprentice soon. Preferably Course trained, so they will know what they are doing!
     
  8. Dick Puller

    Dick Puller New Member

    Jon, am so pleased you are trying to find direction in your life.

    Now, have you a wheel brace?? When you finish your graveyard shift tonight stacking shelves in Asda, nick one of their 'George' suits, you'll need that also. Another essential is £6k for your mickey mouse course, that may mean committing armed robbery - I hear the Royal Bank of Scotland is doing rather well.

    I hope that's of some help, please don't hesitate in asking me for further advice, in fact there's a large back catalogue of information on this forum, if you care to look.
     
  9. Ian1968

    Ian1968 New Member

    Hi Jon I too am working shift work and have done some courses so I have an understanding of what is going on(c&g, partL and water regs). Although I did have some DIY experience such as fitting bathroom suites , kitchens , cylinders and rads I soon found that I still did not know enough. So I have started working with an established plummber and have made a trade he gets cheap labour and learn new skills. Its working for me and I've learnt so much in the short time that I have worked with him that you could not from any course although i did find the courses very worth while too.Hope this helps it works for me.
     
  10. golfer

    golfer New Member

    Don't do a course,they are a rip off.I have spent a fortune on mine and most of it i already knew or do not need.Fortunately i have plenty of work and good local contacts that have helped advised and taught me.You can't beat practical experiance and i never take on a job beyond my capabilities.Good luck with your new career
     
  11. ally1957

    ally1957 New Member

    Hi
    Need your advice, coming up to 40 and in a dead end
    job working shifts. Looking to becoming a plumber
    i've seen courses where you go on a training course
    for 4 weeks, but i want to know what causes the
    problems not just how to fix them. You do not become
    a plumber in 4 weeks so is there a c&g course i can
    do, it would be best if i could do it online,due to
    work commitments.
    Think about this. With the shortage of plumbers in the UK why can so many of them spend so much time on here
    Seeking sensible advise on here was your first mistake as the majority of plumbers on this forum are mainly here to inflate their own egos and sense of self importance, occassionally answering the most mundane simple repetitive questions put to them with hours of waffle and drivel.If I hear about another faulty divertor valve causing hot water problems I'll eat my neighbours puszy.
    Why don't you become something better anyway Jon. ?????
    ??
     
  12. My advice would be to spend your daytime free with an experienced plumber for 2-3 years to get training and doing some paid work for him as you get better.

    You dont bother to say what you do now or your earnings.

    Plumbers usually earn between £15k and £30k so compare that with your current earnings.

    If you want to earn a lot then go and do private security work in Iraq thats about £1000-£2000 per week!

    Tony
     
  13. plummit

    plummit New Member

    Outsiders put heating and gas into the plumbers field - it is not their field. Plumbing is drains centric. They have different courses and qualifications. Decide on what you want to be.

    I think that water systems generic outlook on life, doesn't allow for learning or adopting new skills.

    In my humble opinion, a plumber should be able to undertake all associated tasks, ie heating, gas, drainage and pipework, and lead work.
    I appreciate that people specialise in certain fields,
    but a boiler breakdown engineer, that has only been trained in that aspect of plumbing, makes a right f%ck up of a job on the pipework (in my experience).
    Water system is not right, you can excell in more than one field.
    If he feels this is a little out of his range, then so be it.
     
  14. Dreadnaught Heating

    Dreadnaught Heating New Member

    Plumbers usually earn between £15k and £30k so
    compare that with your current earnings.

    If you want to earn a lot then go and do private
    security work in Iraq thats about £1000-£2000 per
    week!

    Tony

    Or, become the next Becks and earn $1,000,000 per week in LA.

    Seriously, getting a placement with a plumber is about as likely as becoming that next Becks, as the industry continues to become 'one man band' centric - like myself, we have neither the time or resources to take on trainees,this WILL KILL THE TRADE of course, though my own son has no interest in becoming a plumber, too many saturdays spent chopping off wall tiles in bathrooms, practising bending pipe/soldering joins, while dad has his head under the sink so he cannot 'help' or see just what is going on to keep his interest. And as for the implications of becoming an Employer these days.............

    Patrick
     
  15. Patrick, you are just the sort of person, without a son to train, who should be willing to help the next ( and last ) generation to get trained. It will be free to you and will give you extra hands.

    You remind me of that muppet in the Archers ( BBC R4 ) a couple of days ago when offered free help to fit loft insulation by Bert replied:-

    ""I cannot accept your help, I am a one man band and want to stay that way !
     
  16. Ian1968

    Ian1968 New Member

    Maybe a good idea is as other people have said is to go out with an experienced plumber (i got my placmant on my second call)so there are plumbers out there who will help you out. Find out if you don't mind the long hours under floor boards etc before you spend any money on courses.You never know you might even find you hate it and that would be a waste of money.
     
  17. It depends on the person!

    Some people can take things apart, rebuild them, have practical skills and find it easy. I have been soldering and making compression joints for 30 years. It all started when my parents house needed therapy and they could not afford it. A rising main, header tank and a few bits later, all was fine, I was 15.

    OK, a few mistakes here and there on my own properties, a few refurbishments and moves later, I have now done most things.

    Including heating and boilers for myself - all tested properly!

    Some people haven't got a clue when it come to practical things. There is no point in teaching these people, let them become lawyers, estate agents or Asda workers.

    If people have got a clue, then learn. Courses only tell you what you can find out any way. It depends on your learning style. I did a course 8 years ago, about £100 I think, for the theory to NVQ 2 and 3. It was very good, tutor marked. It taught me those things I had not learned, design, sizing, H&S, oil, gas, regs etc.

    I would not pay several thousand for it though!

    If you really want to be a plumber:

    By books (Practical Plumbing - Smith & Curry, Plumbing - Heating and Gas Installations Treloar) and Read them, do the exercises! Also check regulations and the law - E.g. WRAS Water Regs Guide.

    Spend time in your garage - I do every evening, and have done for the last 5 years, sad, but I take every valve apart, connect up pipes and fittings, mess with pumps, see how tight a fitting has to be, learn the difference between mapp and prop. Make a mess, try capping a mains pipe at full pressure, in the dark! Blow up plastic pipe, bend it see the difference it makes. Buy, borrow or rent tools - and play with them! Every tme you replace something, a tap, rad valve, WC siphon etc, dismantle it, rebuild, add dirt, see the affect. Play with silicon, and silicon grease, mm nice. Do things like pick up a bag of scraps from the plumbers merchants, and identify them all.

    Plumbing is easy - a few nuts and bolts, the odd olive, a bit of pipe, melt a bit of solder, flux here and there - Until you introduce water and it goes WRONG! That is where the course cowboys and DIYers will fail, and the Trade served will probably survive. But they are so arrogant and lazy they do a cr ap job anyway! They also continue to perpetuate all the mistakes and bad working pratcices that they have been taught!

    Anyway, that was my longest and most serious post on this forum to date. There are a lot of sad people here who should not be. There are some helpful people who know what they are talking about, and some helpful people who do not know what they are talking about - possibly dangerous - don't just take advice, but UNDERSTAND it!

    I plumb in my spare time. I don't advertise, I have PLI, and only take on jobs that I can do. Business is building at a pace I can manage, and I really enjoy it!

    In summary - if you've got it (practical and mental skills), and you enjoy it, then do it! If you haven't, and you just want to be a plumber because it pays loads, and sounds good, then forget it!
     
  18. Ian1968

    Ian1968 New Member

    good post leaky
     
  19. Planet Niton

    Planet Niton Member

    I'm sure this post will be very useful for many! Happy Plumbing!
     
  20. Dick Puller

    Dick Puller New Member

    Well said 'major leaky'.
     

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