So You Want to Be a Plumber? - Beginner's Guide to Plumbing

So you want to be a plumber but don't know where to start? In this video I'm going to show you how to become a plumber!

► Thanks to Ferguson for sponsoring this video!

Thanks for watching! I'm Roger Wakefield, LEED AP, The Expert Plumber and welcome to my channel. On this channel I teach homeowners how to save money on their plumbing by doing DIY plumbing projects. I also teach plumbers and plumbing company owners how to be the best plumbers in their area and run successful plumbing businesses. My goal is teach you everything you need to know about plumbing.

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[RogerWakefield]

Like this video if you want to be a plumber!

[jd.garcia]

I'm 39 years old and I became a master plumber when I was 28 here in Texas. Never went to trade school. I just started as a helper with the company and moved my way up. Now i own a plumbing company.

[BillboSwagginns]

Was a chef for 10 years. Needed a career change. Started as a helper and now in my own truck for 2 years.

[derickcano]

After watching this video, it made me become a plumber. I’m 22 years old and I’ve done a lot of soul searching. Thank you for helping me see a positive thing in life and it is something I will pursue now moving forward.

[i-hate-handle-names]

I went the HVAC route, did a 14 month training program that cost $20k. Got a job in a commercial HVAC/R shop and made enough in my first year to pay off my entire loan that same year. I'm not union, nor has my pay ever tracked union scale, but in year 5 I was able to buy a pretty nice house on just my income alone.

Of course the other hidden benefit that's hard to put a price tag on is the job security. I never stopped working even with this crazy year, I'm pretty confident that's true for most of the trades.

[HeWhoHath]

Some plumbers go through the process of getting licensed and starting a business for other reasons. Not to make six figures, but to work 15-20 hours a week for $55, 000 a year so they can enjoy their family, go to Little League games, pursue their arts. Making $115 an hour after overhead from the time you leave the house till the time you return is not a bad gig. It’s just in how you spend your time and money.

[brandonyates]

I never wanted to be a plumber until I saw how happy you seem, working for yourself. You inspire me to consider a pursuit to become a plumber, it just seems like something that will always be needed

[taylorhicks]

My dad is a master plumber of 50+ years so naturally I picked it up and I got my master license this year and will officially be in business first of 2021 at only 25! Also love your videos!

[MarlinRoth]

I wasted my money on a college degree in religious studies and decided I don’t want to do that type of work. I have 80k in student debt and have worked for the college I graduated from for a few years in custodial, postal services, and doors/hardware repair. Next week is my last week doing my current job of doors/hardware repair and I’m moving an hour away as a single 27yr-old man to start as a plumbing apprentice open shop. The company that is hiring me seems to have their training very planned out. I’m getting an immediate $1/hr raise at this job, and then I will get $2/hr raise on top of that in 3-4 months. They have five levels of plumbing technicians that they train up, and they also pay for tech school after a year of employment.

I’m excited to learn and also to begin this new phase of life.

[jake]

I got a job as a apprentice thrown straight into the fire, sweating 2" copper getting dissed by union workers. Made a lot of mistakes, had a tough time, many leaks, but personally I feel I am further along due to that. I think I have more experience actually putting in pipe compared to a union worker with my same experience. I have a friend in the pipefitter union where I am at, and he only cuts pipe for a journeyman for him to put it in. I do make less than a union worker but I believe the experience I am getting is worth it. Hope you have a good day.

[ScubaSteve]

Mechanical Insulator - Journeyman. Joined a Union and went through their training school. Worked my way up to Business Manager of the Local

[elitevue]

I got in to the plumbing trade through my uncle in law, and he has licensed in plumbing so he’s been a great teacher and has employees who’s been working in construction for years so I then question and I learn by watching and listening those two things go a long way .

[EtherealGoSu]

Regardless of profession venue: The real money is in starting your own business. It's infinitely more difficult to succeed this way, but if you are the type to make it, the reward is massive.

[thesuperbsuperb]

Appreciate this video. I'm not in the trade but met a young kid a couple of summers back who was determined to be a plumber. He said some folks were trying to convince him otherwise, for dumb reasons. I told him I didn't know anything about plumbing, but if he's set on a career ignore the haters and do it. Hope he went for it!

[kevinkrug]

Im an HVAC tech in south Florida, i did not go to tech school, i started as a helper. It was 7 years ago now and it was the best move I could have ever made. Our tech schools down here suck, your better off starting as a helper and working your way up. Love your content and PLEASE REMEMBER AC GUYS, YOU ALWAYS SAY ELECTRICAN, AC GUYS MAKE GREAT MONEY TOO!!

[IamZyos]

I started as a helper and learned on the job from a master plumber, i never looked back i took a pay cut to start but now 8 years later im making great money with excellent benefits. My advice to anyone reading this is start at a smaller shop because you’ll work with different materials and different types of sork more letting you learn faster

[Rcoombes]

I found this very helpful, I’m coming fresh out of high school looking for a career and I was looking into pipe line but that’s out of the equation 😂. Thank you so much for accommodating my needs ! Looks like I’m gonna start as an apprentice 😎

[maeryan]

Hi I’m a journey man of 12 years. I’m really thrilled that you have discussed that not everyone needs to follow the path of a university education. When I decided to follow my dreams as a plumber I faced my adversity from my peers and lovers. Now look at me! Rolling in that dough! (No thanks to that b**** Sandra!). Keep up the awesome work and live your best life!

[samratbarat]

I know only a little of plumbing. But I have learned from Plumbers visiting my house when there was a problem with plumbing devices. Initially I watched them doing, then I asked them the name of the hand tools, then I saw and remembered the way a tool is used and saved some money for buying them. Finally when they were called for some other problems, I didn't allow them to do the work but I did. That way, I kept them hooked to me who were professionals and they kept watching what I was doing so that my follies could be corrected just in the nick of time.

Of course, I paid them their dues.

Learning Plumbing is compelling.

[mrh]

I was initially an anthropology major, then switched to media arts... I’ve accumulated about 40k in student loan debt. I’ve done various jobs since graduating, practically everything you can do in a restaurant, retail, and working some in the art world, but today I have my interview to become an apprentice plumber and learn a skill with my hands. By the way, for anyone curious about art, the environment is extremely toxic for anyone that doesn’t step in line, ‘wrong think’ aka conservatism is not tolerated.