I have to admit something..... and I'm a little embarrassed...

[HappyHippyDad]

I've just signed up to a DIY plumbing taster course!

There, I've said it.

I've gone through 2 customers water heating pipes over the years and the next time (arghh, tempting fate!) I'll fix the damn thing myself!

I'm actually quite looking forward to it

 

[Squid]

Phew that's a relief at least you are not a nine bob note....... close though.

 

[MFS Electrical]

Why would anyone sign up for a course to taste plumbers?

Takes all sorts I suppose maybe his surname is Lecter

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Are you a PADI Instructor?

SSI, wish I'd done PADI though as it's more recognised.

 

[Risteard]

SSI, wish I'd done PADI though as it's more recognised.

Fair play anyway. My parents used to do a bit of diving years ago and had a friend who was a PADI instructor.

 

[Baddegg]

Fair play,fella,no such thing as "fully" qualified

I was lucky to have a mates grandad,start me off,with the plumbing staples...wiping joints,soldering,principles of hydro dynamics,including one i have used loads - gravity systems.

I fitted my first solid fuel back boiler,at fifteen years old and have just purchased me second Surefire2,and done a rake of pipe work on me own house.

The interesting fact,about plumbers,is that they were required at one time,to do ALL lead work. So lead burning (welding) chimney aprons,valleys,flashing,etc,were all part of the trade.

You sure appreciate the ease of use,of Fischer fixings and modern adhesives,if you have ever done vertical lead sidings,fixed with masonry dovetails,using lead-dots.

I would say the greatest benefit,of learning the ways of a new trade,is knowing if an individual purporting to be a professional in that trade,is on top of his job.
It also means you gain a fresh and deserved respect,for those who are good at their trade.

I have posted this one before,but here it is again...
I was on a job years back,where this "plumber" was installing a complete heating system,in a property being refurbed and extended.

There were pipes running everywhere when we landed,and i extended the hand of friendship,introduced meself,by saying "so,you
must be the plumber?...."

The dude had a proper fit...."I'm not a plumber...mate...I'm a heating engineer...." Real upset...spent the nest week sulking and practising his frosty look...

He started filling the system,and oh dear...it was like the evacuation scene,in Alien...like the wetting jets,on a dry-ski slope...all over the place...

I seen his desperate,futile panicking,and chose the opportunity to deliver this line..."What you need my friend,is a plumber!"

Ahhhhh but was the water hot peg?

 

[SparkyChick]

Good on you HHD

I had my first plumbing calamity a couple of weeks ago, put the pilot drill of my hole saw through a heating pipe

Thankfully the place is undergoing major work so it wasn't too much of a disaster. A couple of Hep2O fittings and a short length of pipe later, problem solved.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Good on you HHD

I had my first plumbing calamity a couple of weeks ago, put the pilot drill of my hole saw through a heating pipe

Thankfully the place is undergoing major work so it wasn't too much of a disaster. A couple of Hep2O fittings and a short length of pipe later, problem solved.

Did you mend it yourself SC?

 

[7029 dave]

Good for you, get your gas safe too.

 

[SparkyChick]

Did you mend it yourself SC?

Yes... cut a piece of the floor out, went down to ScrewFix and picked up some Hep2O pipe and fittings and a 22mm pipe slice and just cut the damaged section out and replaced it.

Then spent some time trying to re-pressurise the system only to find the client hadn't turned the water on fully

 

[johnduffell]

interesting about plumbers doing everything to do with lead, after all it's in the name! Nowadays roofers do the lead work on chimneys, and plumbers are using plastic...

And the main thing is good on you OP for learning a new skill, I always say the day I don't learn anything is the day I died, learning is addictive and not much is hard once you put your mind to it. Plus it's been proven to keep your "brain age" lower if you're constantly progressing in new skills. The real question is why isn't everyone doing it?

 

[Dave OCD]

Fair play anyway. My parents used to do a bit of diving years ago and had a friend who was a PADI instructor.

Did he also teach English,Welsh and Scots ?

 

[Risteard]

Did he also teach English,Welsh and Scots ?

LOL .The instructor was a female from New Zealand. My parents learned to dive when we were living in Saudi Arabia.

 

[stevels4]

Good for you, get your gas safe too.

Doing mine next week, theory papers on Monday, practical Tuesday,relax on Wednesday (hopefully),PTO Thursday and a day off on Friday.

 

[willy fixit]

Diversify and Conquer!
My Van says :- Joinery Plumbing Mechanical Electrical - I always say "Im not a plumber but I do plumbing." - As far as I know there has been no fatalities due to bad plumbing so I'm thinking I'll be fairly safe!
(Someone will, no doubt, now post the article which will undo my above statement.)

 

[telectrix]

Diversify and Conquer!
My Van says :- Joinery Plumbing Mechanical Electrical - I always say "Im not a plumber but I do plumbing." - As far as I know there has been no fatalities due to bad plumbing so I'm thinking I'll be fairly safe!
(Someone will, no doubt, now post the article which will undo my above statement.)

safe as in no fatalities from drowned customers due to bad plumbing, but wide open to a mad axeman for flooding his kitchen.