Why You Should Hire a Licensed Plumber

You've got a leak - now who do you call? This answer is a Professional Licensed Plumber.

Let's break down why hiring licensed professionals is the best option.

A professional plumber a person who is licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Below are the requirements for each license.

Plumbing Licenses

Tradesman Plumbing License (Residential work only):

• Can only perform work on a one or two-family dwelling
• Must have 4,000 hours of experience working in the plumbing trade under a Master Plumber
• Must complete 24 hours of training courses approved by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). 9 hours of residential code training, 9 hours of OSHA safety training and 6 hours of continuing education training
• Must complete and pass the Tradesman Plumbing exam which consists of a 100-question written exam and a shop exam consisting of multiple tasks that prove to the state that all plumbing blueprints can be read, proper material lists can be made, and materials can be installed according to code.  
• Must take yearly continuing education courses to maintain license in good standings

Journeyman Plumbing License (Residential or Commercial work):

• Can perform work on one or two-family dwellings as well as commercial structures
• Must have 8,000 hours of experience working in the plumbing trade under a Master Plumber
• Must complete 48 hours of training courses approved by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). 9 hours of residential code training, 9 hours of OSHA safety training and 12 hours of continuing education training plus 18 hours of commercial code training.
• Must complete and pass the Journeyman Plumbing exam which consists of a 100- question written exam and a shop exam consisting of multiple tasks that prove to the state that all plumbing blueprints can be read, proper material lists can be made, and materials can be installed according to code.  
• Must take yearly continuing education courses to maintain license in good standings

Master Plumber (Residential or Commercial work)

• Can perform work on one or two-family dwellings, commercial structures as well as directly supervise a Plumber's Apprentice or Tradesman Plumber on commercial structures
• Must hold a Journeyman Plumber license for at least 4 years
• Must complete and pass the Master Plumbing exam which consists of a 100-question written exam and complete multiple engineering and planning charts.

Responsible Master Plumber (Business Owner/Operator)

• Must currently hold a Master Plumber license
• Must carry a state minimum of $300,000 of commercial liability insurance

Now that you have an understanding of the extensive time, training and work that goes into becoming a plumber, you can better understand why hiring a licensed plumber can help ensure you get the proper diagnosis and remedy to fix all your plumbing needs.

                                 
Insurance

Beyond being proficient in plumbing, the next huge factor in deciding to hire a handyman vs a professional plumber is insurance.

Plumbing companies which must be owned or operated by a responsible master plumber must carry liability insurance. Most companies carry a minimum of $1,000,000 to ensure any accidents or damages to a home or building will be covered by insurance. Most insurance companies will not cover damages caused by the failure of equipment that was installed by a non-licensed professional.

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Permits and Inspection

As a licensed plumber, permits and inspections are required on most work performed. This ensures that all work has been installed properly and is up to current state and city code. In some cases, outside engineering reports are required to ensure the structural elements have not been compromised.  

Hiring a Professional Licensed Plumber ensures you get quality, code approved workmanship. Next time you are experiencing plumbing issues, call a reputable plumbing company.

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