What Does a Journeyman Plumber Do?

A journeyman plumber is an experienced professional who works on water systems for residences, businesses, and municipalities. This type of professional needs to enjoy working with his or her hands and like solving problems as well as dealing with emergency situations. Requirements to enter this career area typically include completing a four- or five-year apprenticeship, which combines classroom instruction with hands-on training. An individual who works in this field is responsible for fixing issues with water systems and ensuring that they continue to function correctly. He or she also installs systems, strives to comply with industry standards, and keeps his or her knowledge of the field current.

One major task of a journeyman plumber is to repair and maintain water systems. He or she needs to be able to work with a wide range of systems, including those used for waste and gas. Understanding how to test for problems and address them using various industry tools is critical. The professional additionally must know how to confirm that these systems are in proper working order via regular inspections.

Installing systems used to transport water represents another duty in this career area. In order to do this, a journeyman plumber needs to comprehend how to interpret blueprints and correctly follow them when putting systems together. He or she also has to be comfortable with putting together his or her own blueprint drawings using computer-aided design (CAD) software or manual tools when planning new systems in buildings or city areas.

Quality assurance constitutes a serious requirement in this industry. A professional in this vocational area has to make sure that his or her plumbing systems not only meet company standards, but also that they comply with industry regulations. As a result, a person who seeks to become a journeyman plumber must be well-versed in his or her local area’s construction-related codes.

Completing continuing education also is necessary to be successful in this field. An individual who wants to practice in this field legally must first obtain a license if required in his or her particular region. This involves passing a test that covers local industry rules, as well as procedures used to complete projects in this line of work. After receiving a license, a journeyman plumber should be willing to complete courses that teach him or her about new developments in the field, such as ways to make water systems more efficient, and comply with up-to-date regulations.