Picture This: You’re at home on an otherwise normal day when suddenly you hear a loud noise. Your keen senses lead you to the basement where you see a burst pipe with water spewing, leaving your valuables and belongings at risk of damage. Immediately you Google a local plumber or call your referral who can get out ASAP to stop the leak.
Stress takes over and you don’t have time to think about the plumber’s credentials…but what if they aren’t licensed in the state or county where you reside? Not only do you have a serious plumbing issue on your hands, but legally, the mess is potentially just beginning.
Reasonably, you want to assume that the individual or company you contact for plumbing services is genuine, but it’s always a good idea to ask them for proof before starting any work.
Plumbing license regulations vary from state to state, and in New York, it is regulated at the local level. This means each city and county has its own rules and requirements. Plumbers who want to legally work need to check the specific municipality where they plan to offer service to determine the exact licensing requirements. Acquiring a plumbing license is essential to making an honest living in this trade. States typically break it down into three main levels: apprentice, journeyman, and master plumber.
An apprentice is how any plumber would start out. You’re still learning the trade and you’ll work under experienced plumbers, helping where you can and gaining as much knowledge as possible.
After you gain plenty of experience through your apprenticeship, you become a journeyman. This is when you can work and complete jobs on your own, whether independently or through a respected company.
A master plumber reflects the highest level of licensing. Master plumbers have multiple years of experience and a deep knowledge of the trade. They can run their own businesses, oversee big projects, and manage a team of apprentice and journeyman plumbers.
“It is important to check a plumbers’ credentials to ensure that whoever you hire is fully licensed in the county you reside- don’t be afraid to ask” says Joel Tucciarone, master plumber and owner of The Plumber, Heating and Cooling in Lockport, NY.
If you rent, it is both the tenant and property owner’s responsibility to make sure your plumber is licensed in your city, town, or village. In addition, if you are doing a major sewer or drain repair/replacement that requires a permit, they need to be filed, otherwise the homeowner is equally responsible and can be fined by their building department for hiring an unlicensed contractor or having work completed without the required permits.
Our team members at The Plumber Heating and Cooling are all fully licensed journeymen who pride themselves on honesty, integrity and problem solving. They take their license on them to every job site (It fits perfectly in any wallet) and would love to show you!
