Plumbing Insights: A Day in the Life
In my years traveling across this country with my buddy Babe the Blue Ox, I’ve taken on many jobs. I’ve been a logger, I’ve worked on oil derricks, and I even tried my hand at inventing. Now, I’m back in Minnesota, working my favorite job yet. One of the great benefits of being a plumber is that each day’s different than the last. For those of you interested in what we do, I spoke with one of my best employees, Joe, who’s a master plumber with over 15 years of experience.
What does an average week look like?
I wake up at 5:30 a.m., and I’m usually at my first call by 7:00 a.m. I usually work alone, but since I’m a master plumber, I sometimes have an apprentice with me. In a single day, I’ll have around four or five different house calls before the end of my shift.
My busiest days are Monday and Friday. I spend Mondays fixing the failed DIY projects done over the weekend. And most people like scheduling appointments on Friday because they want a three-day weekend.
How long did it take to become a master plumber? 
I was a plumber’s apprentice for five years before I earned my license to become a journeyman.
While working as a journeyman, I took night classes for five years to become a master plumber, which means I’m fully licensed by the state of Minnesota. It’s like having a master’s degree in plumbing.
What plumbing tips do you have for the average person?
With winter settling in, you should disconnect your garden hose and shut the outside water line to keep them from freezing. When water gets caught in the pipe, the pressure can make it burst when it’s frozen or when it starts to thaw.
If your plumbing’s acting strangely—whatever season it is—reach out to a plumber. Repairs are the easiest to make when you first notice the problem.
What’s the strangest story you have from the field?
About 12 years ago, I was on a toilet repair call. The client said they heard a noise coming from the bathroom but couldn’t source it.
I arrive, and I spend the next hour looking through the bathroom. I took the toilet lid off and gave it a flush, but everything was normal. Then I heard the sound again. I put the lid back on and kept looking around. I inspected the pipes under the sink and checked the shower. Still kept hearing the sound.
Finally, I noticed an electronic hockey game sitting on the sink next to the children’s toothbrushes. It was making a ping! sound to let us know the batteries needed to be changed.
Whether you need maintenance or emergency assistance, my team of plumbers is ready whenever you need us. To make an appointment, you can find us at (612) 340-1444.
