Why aren’t plumbers plumbers any more?

[OffshoreGas]

when and why did plumbers who work on heating systems decide they didn’t want to be called plumbers?

 

[Aire]

when and why did plumbers who work on heating systems decide they didn’t want to be called plumbers?

Maybe as a way to seperate gas registered plumbers from non gas registered plumbers? You do find some gas engineers are just that, great at boiler and heating installs but don't have a clue when it comes to the rest of the plumbing in the house.

 

[OffshoreGas]

Maybe so Craig,

That’s kind of my experience with competence, heating or gas engineer immediately makes me think career change cowboy. To me the craft is in pipework and installation.

 

[Last Plumber]

Maybe so Craig,

That’s kind of my experience with competence, heating or gas engineer immediately makes me think career change cowboy. To me the craft is in pipework and installation.

That is a shame!
I don't know whether to feel offence or sadness at your comment.

 

[Millsy 82]

Maybe so Craig,

That’s kind of my experience with competence, heating or gas engineer immediately makes me think career change cowboy. To me the craft is in pipework and installation.

I worked solely on heating systems the company I worked for had me down as a heating engineer. I did a 4 year apprenticeship in plumbing as well. I have never changed career but the company that I worked for only covered heating so that is why I was called a heating engineer.

I thought you were one of those that wanted to be a career change cowboys?

 

[Last Plumber]

From our point of view - we have been established a very long time and have always used the title Plumbing and Heating Engineers - We are more than competent and experienced in the design, specification, installation and commissioning of all types of Heating and Hot water systems in all manner and all sizes of building, amongst a myriad of other related services.

There may be unworthy users of the title but we originals should never be confused with them under any circumstances.

 

[Sharp Point]

but don't have a clue when it comes to the rest of the plumbing in the house.

Yes, because designing and calculating pipework for a bog basin bath and kitchen sink is rocket science compared to calculating heating, gas pipework..... oh and pump sizing.

 

[Aire]

Yes, because designing and calculating pipework for a bog basin bath and kitchen sink is rocket science compared to calculating heating, gas pipework... oh and pump sizing.

You'd be surprised, and your response is a typical gas engineer response to domestic plumbing.

 

[Sharp Point]

You'd be surprised, and your response is a typical gas engineer response to domestic plumbing.

 

[Sharp Point]

You is funny Craig

 

[Best]

I always worked on both plumbing and heating, but bulk of my work was full heating installs or heating system related work.
Reason why I always called myself a Heating Engineer is because I wasn’t going to allow cowboys to class themselves as better than me.

When a customer asks me am I heating guy/engineer, or just a plumber, I am hardly going to undersell myself.

Why should we use a lowly job description title like a plumber?
(Some people still think of a plumber as one of the least educated professions.)

 

[OffshoreGas]

I worked solely on heating systems the company I worked for had me down as a heating engineer. I did a 4 year apprenticeship in plumbing as well. I have never changed career but the company that I worked for only covered heating so that is why I was called a heating engineer.

I thought you were one of those that wanted to be a career change cowboys?

By discipline I've served and instrumentation apprenticeship, whilst working as an instrument technician I obtained a degree in electrical and control engineering going on to become a instrument/controls engineer. After 10 years designing, installing and commissioning systems in oil/gas/chemical/power industries I now largely work as a consultant/troubleshooter.

I'm in the process of setting up a pluming/heating company as the tales of woe from friends and family lead me to believe there is a big skills shortage locally. I guess you could call it being a career change cowboy but I'd happily go head to head with any gas safe "heating engineer" fixing/designing domestic heating systems.

 

[OffshoreGas]

Yes, because designing and calculating pipework for a bog basin bath and kitchen sink is rocket science compared to calculating heating, gas pipework... oh and pump sizing.

Sizing pipes based on look up tables/pumps on discharge curves is hardly rocket surgery.

Having trained people on behalf of various companies I'd be fairly confident I could teach a lay person of average intelligence to fault find the electrical/control side of a domestic heating system in one to two days.

On the other hand you could probably train a person to bend pipe and solder in a similar time but it would take them months if not years of practice to be ale to do it to a reasonable standard.

 

[Sharp Point]

Having trained people on behalf of various companies I'd be fairly confident I could teach a lay person of average intelligence to fault find the electrical/control side of a domestic heating system in one to two days.

I’m sure you could, but whilst they’re in comfortable surroundings sucking on the teachers teet and everything is fresh.... the world is there oyster. Now try doing the same after a hard days slog, in a smoke filled house and sixty four kids running about and screaming, whilst mum n dad are arguing.

And with no data to determine pin out’s on controls

 

[Sharp Point]

Sizing pipes based on look up tables/pumps on discharge curves is hardly rocket surgery.

And that’s not quite true neither, you’ve got to be able to work out the first answer to be able the twelfth. It’s not a five minute task, working out a pump size.

And that was a tongue in cheek reply, but I’m sure you get what I mean.

 

[Millsy 82]

By discipline I've served and instrumentation apprenticeship, whilst working as an instrument technician I obtained a degree in electrical and control engineering going on to become a instrument/controls engineer. After 10 years designing, installing and commissioning systems in oil/gas/chemical/power industries I now largely work as a consultant/troubleshooter.

I'm in the process of setting up a pluming/heating company as the tales of woe from friends and family lead me to believe there is a big skills shortage locally. I guess you could call it being a career change cowboy but I'd happily go head to head with any gas safe "heating engineer" fixing/designing domestic heating systems.

If your that good and that competent why are you here asking questions surely you should be building your new bus I was that will beat british gas and Pimlico.

 

[Stigster]

If your that good and that competent why are you here asking questions surely you should be building your new bus I was that will beat british gas and Pimlico.

I don't think that's fair as we never stop learning and there is nothing wrong with asking your peers a question even if you think you already know the answer.

 

[Sharp Point]

I'd happily go head to head with any gas safe "heating engineer" fixing/designing domestic heating systems.

And do you really think the trade is just about heating controls?

So you maybe a whizz with a multimeter! How do you know the fault is with the control? What experience do you have to eliminate that the fault doesn’t lay in the water side of things of a heating system.

 

[Millsy 82]

I don't think that's fair as we never stop learning and there is nothing wrong with asking your peers a question even if you think you already know the answer.

He quite obviously thinks himself better than us, he seems to think someone who calls themselves a heating engineer a career change cowboy yet he is planning to change career himself he is also asking the very same "cowboys" that he seems to think he knows more than and is already better than questions about the job that he can apparently teach someone in a day.

Not sure what part of the country he works in but round me it's a very small plumb industry and people who are quite frankly arrogant do not last very long.

 

[Stigster]

Well, since you put it like that you maybe have a valid point there. Personally I have always been rather proud to call myself a plumber. Just mentioning the fact usually results in a flurry of requests for work to be done too. I do very little plumbing work outside of my day to day job but it's nice to know it's there if I need it.

I'm certainly not ashamed to be a plumber and happily tell people who ask.

 

[OffshoreGas]

And do you really think the trade is just about heating controls?

So you maybe a whizz with a multimeter! How do you know the fault is with the control? What experience do you have to eliminate that the fault doesn’t lay in the water side of things of a heating system.

In the world outside heating systems the term controls covers everything from PCB's and controllers, to pumps, heaters/burners, actuators and valves. Heating systems are simple example of what instrument technicians routinely work on.

 

[OffshoreGas]

Well, since you put it like that you maybe have a valid point there. Personally I have always been rather proud to call myself a plumber. Just mentioning the fact usually results in a flurry of requests for work to be done too. I do very little plumbing work outside of my day to day job but it's nice to know it's there if I need it.

I'm certainly not ashamed to be a plumber and happily tell people who ask.

There are trades and there are crafts, I'd certainly say plumbing is the latter. In these days when most people cant fix a flat tire you should be proud of having a great skill like that.

 

[OffshoreGas]

He quite obviously thinks himself better than us, he seems to think someone who calls themselves a heating engineer a career change cowboy yet he is planning to change career himself he is also asking the very same "cowboys" that he seems to think he knows more than and is already better than questions about the job that he can apparently teach someone in a day.

Not sure what part of the country he works in but round me it's a very small plumb industry and people who are quite frankly arrogant do not last very long.

Where have I said I'm better than anyone? I'm simply asking why those with gas qualifications look down on those without?

 

[Millsy 82]

Well, since you put it like that you maybe have a valid point there. Personally I have always been rather proud to call myself a plumber. Just mentioning the fact usually results in a flurry of requests for work to be done too. I do very little plumbing work outside of my day to day job but it's nice to know it's there if I need it.

I'm certainly not ashamed to be a plumber and happily tell people who ask.

I am quite happy to call myself a plumber as well even though I do oil,gas and Lpg as well. I trained for 4 years on pants money and have since worked hard to make myself the best I can be.

I get what you say about always learning as that is part of the reason I'm on here to get other people's views and in turn I pass some of my knowledge on as well.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

If your that good and that competent why are you here asking questions surely you should be building your new bus I was that will beat british gas and Pimlico.

We all still ask questions