UK Reflections on Transitioning from Plumbing to Electrical Work

[LmarshallSparks]

After working as a plumber and gas engineer for nearly 12 years, I decided two years ago to retrain as an electrician. It’s been a challenging but rewarding journey, and I’m on track to be fully qualified by May/June 2025. Along the way, I’ve come to really appreciate the differences between the two trades and the level of professionalism within the electrical industry.

One thing that’s stood out to me since I started working alongside electricians is how much more organized they are compared to plumbers. Whether it’s stock management, diary planning, or van organisation, electricians, on average, seem to operate on a whole different level.

I’ve spent a long time wondering why this might be, but as I’ve started taking on minor works myself, I think I’ve figured it out. The electrical trade is so competitive—if you miss a call or don’t respond quickly enough, there’s a good chance another spark will step in and get the job. On the other hand, plumbers in my area can go months without answering their phone and still be in demand.

It’s this constant need to stay ahead of the game that seems to drive electricians to be so efficient and well-prepared. It’s something I’ve come to respect massively and something I’m working hard to adopt as I make the switch to this new and exciting career.

I would love to hear any other thoughts on the matter?

 

[James]

You seem to have had some good fortune when it comes to working with organised electricians.

Like any trade, there are the good, the bad and the ugly.

I am somewhere in the middle.
Never going to model for any fashion brand!
Technical knowledge is fairly high

However my idea of stock management is buy everything in box quantities
Need 1 socket, buy a box of 5
After a while, all these extra bits rattle round the back of the van.
When the rattles get quiet I need to buy more stock!!

 

[littlespark]

Differences between the two trades?
Plumbers have a brush…..

And van organisation? You’ve not seen my van.

 

[Jock from the north]

After working as a plumber and gas engineer for nearly 12 years, I decided two years ago to retrain as an electrician. It’s been a challenging but rewarding journey, and I’m on track to be fully qualified by May/June 2025. Along the way, I’ve come to really appreciate the differences between the two trades and the level of professionalism within the electrical industry.

One thing that’s stood out to me since I started working alongside electricians is how much more organized they are compared to plumbers. Whether it’s stock management, diary planning, or van organisation, electricians, on average, seem to operate on a whole different level.

I’ve spent a long time wondering why this might be, but as I’ve started taking on minor works myself, I think I’ve figured it out. The electrical trade is so competitive—if you miss a call or don’t respond quickly enough, there’s a good chance another spark will step in and get the job. On the other hand, plumbers in my area can go months without answering their phone and still be in demand.

It’s this constant need to stay ahead of the game that seems to drive electricians to be so efficient and well-prepared. It’s something I’ve come to respect massively and something I’m working hard to adopt as I make the switch to this new and exciting career.

I would love to hear any other thoughts on the matter?

I have found the opposite. Plumbers seem to always have material in the van where as sparkys are constantly running to wholesaler.i guess it depends on person/persons

 

[Jock from the north]

Differences between the two trades?
Plumbers have a brush…..

And van organisation? You’ve not seen my van.

I think the very worst that can happen to a plumber is a leak ,taking gas out of equation .sparkys can't leave a job thinking well it will be allright and I'll be long gone if it goes t##t up .you just have to miss a busbar on your rcbo and your in trouble.its never happened to me.you can always feel the difference between tightening up to a soft copper busbar and nothing .I use my phone to check as appose to a mirror if down low .this is as far as I know of course .crabtree starbreaker if wasn't so expensive is the ticket .i also use a kettle to go round rings just to put load thru sockets at least.cooker takes care of it self ,all this with my ear to busbar .not sure what my inspector would say if I followed this routine, prob commit me lol

 

[LmarshallSparks]

You seem to have had some good fortune when it comes to working with organised electricians.

Like any trade, there are the good, the bad and the ugly.

I am somewhere in the middle.
Never going to model for any fashion brand!
Technical knowledge is fairly high

However my idea of stock management is buy everything in box quantities
Need 1 socket, buy a box of 5
After a while, all these extra bits rattle round the back of the van.
When the rattles get quiet I need to buy more stock!!

Interesting, as multiple others are saying it seems that, it might be more down to the electricians I’ve been helping rather than electricians as a trade!

 

[LmarshallSparks]

I think the very worst that can happen to a plumber is a leak ,taking gas out of equation .sparkys can't leave a job thinking well it will be allright and I'll be long gone if it goes t##t up .you just have to miss a busbar on your rcbo and your in trouble.its never happened to me.you can always feel the difference between tightening up to a soft copper busbar and nothing .I use my phone to check as appose to a mirror if down low .this is as far as I know of course .crabtree starbreaker if wasn't so expensive is the ticket .i also use a kettle to go round rings just to put load thru sockets at least.cooker takes care of it self ,all this with my ear to busbar .not sure what my inspector would say if I followed this routine, prob commit me lol

I get your point, but unfortunately, it’s quite the same when it comes to plumbing. Hot water can scald a customer, radiators can overheat, and systems can airlock—leaving elderly customers freezing in the middle of winter. Then there’s leaks. A leak in a basement? Not the end of the world. But a leak three stories up? Or worse, above a child’s bed? Like any tradesperson, you’ll see the risks associated with your own trade, but rarely those of others. And as you mentioned, that’s before we even touch on gas!

 

[westward10]

I have found the opposite. Plumbers seem to always have material in the van where as sparkys are constantly running to wholesaler.i guess it depends on person/persons

They only need a few odd sizes of plastic pipe and some glue.

 

[LmarshallSparks]

They only need a few odd sizes of plastic pipe and some glue.

If only that was the case!

 

[Jock from the north]

I get your point, but unfortunately, it’s quite the same when it comes to plumbing. Hot water can scald a customer, radiators can overheat, and systems can airlock—leaving elderly customers freezing in the middle of winter. Then there’s leaks. A leak in a basement? Not the end of the world. But a leak three stories up? Or worse, above a child’s bed? Like any tradesperson, you’ll see the risks associated with your own trade, but rarely those of others. And as you mentioned, that’s before we even touch on gas!

I get your point.but regardless of the cause of fire ,if there's a fatality the first thing the hse will look for is a test sheet ,even though most fires are caused by human negligence or a faulty appliance .it's sad but unfortunately a reality

 

[mainline]

They only need a few odd sizes of plastic pipe and some glue.

Push fit pipes, so no need for glue.

 

[brianmoooore]

Small bore waste pipe is still largely joined using glue, or, more accurately, welded, using a solvent. Get under a kitchen sink unit for a while with a tin of that stuff and you come out as high as a kite.

 

[mainline]

Small bore waste pipe is still largely joined using glue, or, more accurately, welded, using a solvent. Get under a kitchen sink unit for a while with a tin of that stuff and you come out as high as a kite.

So that's their excuse

 

[littlespark]

Push fit pipes, so no need for glue.

push fit pipes and push fit connectors..... theres really no difference between the two