#Living the Dream: A Day in the Life of an R&B Plumbing Technician
For those who think that plumbing is all about laying under kitchen sinks, you may be delighted and interested to get this sneak peek into a day in the life of an R&B plumbing technician. From unexpected leaks to tricky installations, every call is a new adventure. And if you’re interested in plumbing as a career, here’s the inside scoop on what it really takes!
Morning Rush: The Call to Action: Toto Toilet is Running
Today started with a call about a running Toto toilet. The technician arrived to find that the toilet tank was continuously running due to a failed fill valve. After turning the water off and removing the old fill valve, they installed a new one and tested it to ensure everything was working perfectly. While there, the customer mentioned a cracked toilet seat. Rather than adding the expense of a return visit, the technician suggested picking one up right away. They headed to the supplier, selected a new seat, and returned to complete the installation.
Mid-Morning: Tackling the Pressure: Replace Main House 3/4″ Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV)
Next, the technician faced a request to replace a main house pressure reducing valve. They turned off the water supply to the entire house, drained the system, and cut out the old PRV. Using Propress adapters, they piped in the new PRV with PEX. After turning the water back on, they conducted a thorough test to ensure there were no leaks. While discussing heating issues, the customer expressed concern about a lack of heat from the baseboard heaters. The technician noted a couple of leaky boiler drains and recommended a flush due to sediment buildup. A return visit with a heating technician was scheduled—stay tuned!
Afternoon Adventures: Uncovering the Source: Leak from Ceiling in Laundry Room
In the afternoon, a call came in about a leak from the ceiling in the laundry room. Since the kitchen was directly above, the technician had a few theories but needed to investigate. They discovered that the shutoff for the dishwasher was leaking significantly. The technician turned off the water and repiped that section, installing a new straight stop. During testing, they noted the water pressure was at an alarming 100 psi, a potential issue that needed addressing in any residential home. The investigation of one issue sometimes leads to the discovery of another. High water pressure does the same thing to pipes and fixtures that high blood pressure does to the body, so managing the water pressure for the house is definitely on the list of recommendations by this technician.
Late Afternoon: Shower Solutions: Shower Head Leaking
The day continued with a call about a leaking shower head—specifically, an American Standard model with two shower heads. The technician arrived to find that the shower body jets wouldn’t shut off. After removing the trim and turning off the water, they found the on/off cartridge for the shower jets was completely worn out. With a new cartridge from the van inventory, they made the replacement and tested the system. Everything was working properly once more!
While he was there, the customer asked the technician to look at a basement toilet that was running excessively after being flushed. This required removing the tank from the bowl to replace the failed fill valve, which they successfully completed, ensuring everything was back in working order.
Wrapping Up: A Leak Under the Sink: A Classic
The final call of the day was for a leak under the sink, because sometimes it IS a leak under the sink! The customer had attempted to clear a clogged drain but inadvertently cracked the trap in the process leaving the sink still clogged and the drain now leaking. The technician assessed the situation and determined that repiping was necessary. It took a few tries, but after using a water ram and a small flex shaft, they cleared the blocked pipe. Then they repiped the ABS and tested the system with hot water to confirm proper drainage.
More Than Just Pipes
At the end of the day, our R&B plumbing technician reflects on the variety and challenges faced. It’s more than just fixing pipes; it’s about problem-solving, customer service, and ensuring homes run smoothly. Plumbing might not always be glamorous, but it’s rewarding to know that every job makes a difference.
So, the next time you think about plumbing, remember the variety in just one day and you’ll begin to see the wealth of experience R&B brings to each job. Our skilled technicians behind the scenes are turning challenges into solutions—one call at a time!
