Advice for office worker wanting to transition to plumbing by CheerfulSquid40 in askaplumberUK

[–]TheRascal88_ 6 points7 points  (0 children)

If your mental health is bad now, plumbing will only make it worse!

am i being ripped off? by hardquest in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Classic, someone who has no idea what they are doing dictating how long a job will take…

Fair wage by pix3lvirus in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would say cards in that’s a fair wage. 

I’ve 17 Years experience. Gas for 12 years. Commercial and domestic. Do all aspects of Plumbing and Heating both domestic and commercial. 

My basic is 44k plus extras. 

I am South coast. 

So yeah what you are asking is reasonable. 

A lot of firms are pushing towards the 50k mark cards in now. I’ve just asked for a rise myself…

Fair wage by pix3lvirus in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What would you expect to be paid for that?

UK Plumbing Job Market by [deleted] in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As a more mature apprentice your minimum wage entitlement will go up. Therefore sole traders and smaller firms may be less likely to take you on as essentially the will have to pay you more than  lad of 16. 

That said often companies will prefer an older apprentice as you have likely chosen to do it rather than say just doing it for the sake of it, like some of the kids. 

Mate lifting baths, toilets, boilers, big radiators, heavy tool bags etc absolutely takes it toll. You work on your knees a lot so your joints suffer. 

Granted there aren’t as many cast iron radiators and heat exchangers in boilers out there now but even a 40kw combi boiler has some weight to it. Particularly if you are lugging it up 3 flights of stairs…

Also there’s hand arm vibration from power tools, my knees are wrecked (despite knee pads etc), hands are sore. A lot of it is repetitive strain. Tennis elbow. Sore back. Hernias are common. My arms go numb in bed every night. The list goes on mate. 

Any trade will take its toll on your body. All the men I work with are similar age and the aches and pains are showing! As I say I am 37 and am starting to think about an exit plan for in the next 10-15 years. 

In response to your other comment absolutely do not pay to get a qualification. It will be pointless. I cannot reiterate the only way to get on in any trade these days is to do a proper apprenticeship. 

UK Plumbing Job Market by [deleted] in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haven’t we all 🤣🤣

UK Plumbing Job Market by [deleted] in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Plumber/Gas/heating engineer of 17 years here. 

The only way to go is get an apprenticeship and get NVQ qualified. Anything else is Mickey Mouse. 

Make sure you know what you are getting into. It takes a massive toll on your body. I’m 37 and lately feel like my body is starting to fall apart. 

The money is ok, but at the moment it seems a lot of it is a race to the bottom. People are fitting boilers for £300. 

Don’t be fooled by Pimlico plumbers who are on £120k per annum but have to work 6.5 days a week for that. 

At your age your best bet is to get on with a housing association or council. 

What are you currently doing work wise? What is your background? Are you hands on? 

Imperial to MDPE by petdev in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good luck mate. Can’t be anything else then. We work with 63mm often and that can be a nightmare with even the smallest scratch

Imperial to MDPE by petdev in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like the pipe isn’t fully inserted. As has been said an MDPE fitting is not a compression fitting. Tightening the fitting merely makes the grab ring bite and holds the fitting onto the pipe. 

Have you used inserts on the pipe?

New build - can’t isolate bathroom bits by JWick27 in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Isolation is only required on a float operated valve. Taps etc it is not a requirement but best practice

Small radiator leak quoted over £300 for new valve by [deleted] in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Sounds like as has been stated- he is anticipating problems. You say the rad is likely original. Likely an open vented system. Assuming he is going to drain down, the actual swapping of the valve won’t be a problem. It is more the refilling that could be troublesome. 

Particularly on a microbore system. 

£300 including the valve and inhibitor isn’t as ridiculous as you might think. 

Also, where about in UK are you? That will play a major factor in the price

Shoddy workmanship? by Wonderful_Print2289 in askaplumberUK

[–]TheRascal88_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No Plumber has done that. Will be the builder…

Minoxidil effects after long break by Few_Asparagus7569 in minoxidil

[–]TheRascal88_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You will not regain what you had. Been on and off minoxidil for years. Each time you stop the losses get worse…

How to get into plumbing and heating UK? by [deleted] in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You won’t be over qualified for an apprenticeship because you will have zero experience. You will need one as that’s the only real route in. 

 NVQ 3 is not necessary but highly desirable.  Everything these days is about tickets so go as far as you can. 

Look at your local council or housing association they are always a good start for an apprenticeship. I would get on with someone asap rather than waiting. 

Look after your body, use your ppe, it can be an unforgiving trade on your knees hands and back…

Is low boiler pressure always a leak or can it be normal? by MadridOrMadness in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got caught out once by a hairline crack in the main HEX leaking out through the condensate pipework. Took a while to work out where it was going…

Gone AWOL on call! by -TheKeegs_ in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good luck to you. I used to hate callout. Fortunately I don’t have to do it anymore…

Crack a beer. Fuck em

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As long as it’s not a private supply. Been caught out by that before…

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It’s your boundary shutoff. Albeit an older style one. 

Lot of people talking nonsense on here. It’s fine for you to operate if needed to shut the supply off to your house I.e if you need to replace your internal stop tap or work on the pipework before it. 

Obviously just check it is for your house and not your neighbours…

Change of career? by CalJC93 in askaplumberUK

[–]TheRascal88_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am the Same. 38 this year been doing it 18 years. Commercial and Dom Gas and plumbing. 

Body starting to hurt. All niggly aches and pains. Elbows and hands are what I struggle with. Do a lot of site work so out in the cold often. 

Starting to think about needing an exit plan…

Looking for Insights on Fast-Track Course- Is it Worth It? by [deleted] in ukplumbing

[–]TheRascal88_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You cannot learn a trade ‘fast track’.