My Foray Into Home Services

I have worked in the plumbing industry for 40 years. Most of that time has been in construction – everything from new homes to high-rise commercial buildings. I have owned my own business, worked as a project manager, a designer, an estimator, and a general manager. I have started commercial plumbing divisions, managed large crews of men, and taught classes in plumbing code.

Recently I took an interesting position starting a plumbing division for an HVAC and Electrical service company who wanted to add plumbing services. This article is what I learned about the growing Home Services Industry.

Many established mechanical contractors have added plumbing divisions as a way of cutting cost and allowing them to make combined bids on projects. Some plumbing contractors have moved into HVAC as well, but that is less common. HVAC is generally a much larger piece of the pie on a construction project, and mechanical contractors can often under price plumbing contractors by offering a combined bid for the Plumbing and HVAC.

Heating and Air Service providers have caught on to the same idea. They are adding plumbing and electrical services to their list in order to offer a “Whole Home” approach. And that brought me to a Heating and Air company who had already added electrical services and was ready for plumbing.

Every plumbing company offers some level of service and repair. It is part of servicing warranties and keeping existing customers happy. Some companies are all service and do very little, if any, new construction. There are some businesses who focus mainly on sewer and drain cleaning and only offer limited services beyond that. Each area – construction, remodeling, repairs, and drain cleaning – are virtually separate industries with very different business models.

In the burgeoning Home Services sector the idea is one company that can provide all of your services – a licensed and qualified handyman service. If they are already servicing your Heat and Air why not call them for plumbing and electrical?

Coming from decades in the construction industry one of the interesting things I noticed in the service industry is the emphasis on sales. Service Technicians are expected to be salesmen. Some and often all of their income is generated through commissions. If they are dispatched to a home for a toilet that will not stop running they are far more likely to recommend replacing the $250 toilet – for a hefty commission – than replacing the $15 flush valve. So the technician learns to replace fixtures not repair them.

Wages in the service industry are a good bit lower than in the construction industry as well, though with commissions the Service Tech can make a good bit more with far less experience. The average service tech has only 1-2 years experience and being a good salesman is more important than being a good plumber.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about all service plumbers. There are really good plumbers out there who dedicate their lives to providing good service. My focus here is on the trend of big service companies who are offering Whole Home Services – those who put out slick ads, post billboards, radio and TV spots. They are hiring young people with a talent for sales and teaching them to replace fixtures. They are not training the next generation of plumbers.

These new Whole Home companies are doing the same thing to small plumbing service companies that the multi-bid contractors did to small plumbing companies – freezing them out of the market. The difference is what it does to the plumbing industry. The multi-bid contractors still needed qualified plumbers to do the work. The new service conglomerates only need more salesmen.

Some of these Whole Home companies are even cross-training their techs so they only need to send one person out on a call, so it may be an electrician suggesting you replace that dripping faucet or an HVAC tech recommending a re-pipe to fix that clogged drain line. I have taught courses at the local community college, I can teach anyone how to replace a faucet – that doesn't make them a plumber.

Maybe I'm just getting old, but I remember when the plumber who came out was a seasoned veteran of the plumbing industry. He had seen it all and done most of it himself. It's kinda like the difference between the mechanic who fixes your car and the salesman who just tries to sell you a new one. Next time you need a plumber, call a plumber and not a salesman.

Chapter 4 - Fixtures : Part 1

Chapter 4 of the North Carolina Plumbing Code begins to delve into the meat of the code. Type and placement of fixtures are generally within the scope of the architect and engineer on most projects, but you will need to know this stuff for the test. Plumbers are also expected to know these regulations on the job. If the engineer doesn't get the fixture count right it is the plumber who will have their inspection failed.

Review all drawings and specifications before you start work.

It is far more expensive to go back and add/change-out fixtures at the end of the job than to catch mistakes early on. Your first step, as the plumber, should be to review the drawings and specifications for compliance with local code. The engineer may be from out of state, or even outside the US.

It is the responsibility of the local plumber to step up and say, early on, that the system will not pass local code and changes need to be made.

This chapter of the code contains information on specific minimum requirements for fixtures and facilities in different types of structures and how to calculate occupancies and expected use. If you are one toilet short the local code official may catch the discrepancy on the initial rough – or they may not. But even if isn't caught until the final inspection it will still need to be added. That could be a major headache in a finished structure.

The chapter's first sentence gives us the scope: “This chapter shall govern the materials, design and installation of plumbing fixtures, faucets and fixture fittings in accordance with the type of occupancy, and shall provide the minimum number of fixtures for various types of occupancies.”

A long sentence. Let's break it down.

In this chapter we are told what the different types of occupancy are. Chart 403.1 breaks it down into 8 different categories which are further divided into occupancy types. For each we are given total fixtures, by type, which are required, based on how many people are expected to use the structure. This is given for male and female occupancy, which can have different ratios depending on structure and occupancy type.

Notice at the bottom of the chart are a long list of notes that provide adjustments to the chart for various situations.

This is a large chart, with a lot of what-ifs. You're not expected to memorize it all. That's why you have your code book handy on the job and when you take the test. The North Carolina Plumbing Code is filled with charts such as this. But you do need to be familiar with the information and know where to find the chart.

The chart is a quick reference.

The code text explains it all and goes into greater detail. If you have noticed the notes under the chart that are underlined, and other sections of code that are underlined, these are additions North Carolina has made to the International Plumbing Code – which our code is based on. These are often the gotchas that trip up out of state engineers who know the International Code very well, but may miss some small provision that North Carolina has changed.

In previous chapters we have seen entire sections of code that have been deleted or moved. This also keeps continuity with the International Code. In the North Carolina Statute, which governs the code, the International Code was adopted with North Carolina revisions. Most of the changes are small, but some change the entire intent of the original code. In all cases the North Carolina Code is the final word.

We must also note that types and occupancies not shown on table shall be determined by the local official.

Numbers and types can also be adjusted if it is shown that the occupancy will be different than the standard assumed in the chart. So an all girl school would not require the same ratio of male to female facilities as the “education” classification on the chart. We would need many more female and far less male facilities.

Prior to delving into the number and types, we are provided with some minimum material requirements for fixtures.

Section 401.2 describes prohibited types of water closets and prohibits trough urinals. I have never encountered a prohibited water closet. Manufacturers are well aware of the International Code standards and design their products accordingly. We saw in a previous chapter that all fixtures and material must comply with various “approved” standards.

Trough urinals were popular decades ago and may still exist in some older structures. These would fall under the code pertaining to existing structures as to whether they would need to be replaced. But they are definitely not allowed in new construction.

If you have never encountered a trough urinal, they are a single trough of varying length that can be used by multiple people – usually with a constant flow of water through the trough. They were outlawed years ago due to privacy and health concerns and also for their inefficiency.

Section 402 lists materials allowed and minimum quality of those materials. Again, manufacturers work to these standards and any major manufacturer's products should meet the minimums. But this could become an issue if off market or foreign goods are used. As said before, all fixtures and materials must meet approved standards as listed by ASTM, ASME, and others. When in doubt check with the local official before installation.

In my next post we will continue in Chapter 4 and drill down into a little more detail.

Chapter 3: General Regulations

Chapter 3 lists general regulations that apply to all plumbing installations. Other chapters in the code address specific aspects of the plumbing system such as waste, vent, and water distribution, but this chapter contains common situations relevant to all installations.

Section 301 gives general requirements for installation. We are told that piping must be installed in a way that does not weaken the structural components they pass through. More specific requirements, such as size of holes that may be cut in the structure, are given elsewhere. Here we are only instructed that the installation must not cause damage to the structure during installation or subsequent use. This will come up again in sections on piping (drilling holes) and fixtures (water heater pan requirements, etc).

All fixtures having water or drains must be properly connected to the main system, which would seem to be obvious, but the code must cover all possibilities. A reference is given to standard pipe sizes and a provision against installing piping inside an elevator shaft is included. In the case of elevators, the only services allowed inside the shaft are those providing shaft drainage such as an elevator sump pump.

Section 302 covers types of waste that are damaging to the piping system. A disclaimer states the provisions are for “informational purposes” because the installer can not control what a future owner or tenant places into the system. But it should be noted that section 302.2 does prohibit drains from hazardous sources being connected to the sanitary system without provision to neutralize the hazard.

Section 303 speaks of markings and labels to show all materials used in the plumbing system meet the requirements for manufacture standards listed elsewhere in the code. These materials also must be installed by the manufacturer's recommendations.

Section 304 references the NC Building Code as it pertains to pipe penetrations. There are many references throughout the Plumbing Code to other parts of the Building Code. The North Carolina Building Code is technically one code divided into multiple parts – Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, etc. – which are all taken together as a unified whole.

We also must protect the system itself from damage and excessive wear. Pipes must be protected from corrosion, stresses, and damage from other building components. Other components of the structure must also be protected from damage caused by the installation of use of the plumbing system. Section 305 covers these factors.

Sections 306 through 309 continue the themes of proper installation and protection from damage to both the plumbing system and other components.

Section 310 and 311 presents the minimum fixture requirements and general restrictions. The tables given will be needed during the test, unless you can memorize tables. It's still a good idea to check the tables for accuracy. The code is filled with lists and tables that are valuable for the test and in everyday practice. These tables condense the code into efficient, easily referenced format.

Section 312 outlines testing and inspection requirements. This is important to understand. Failure to comply with these requirements in the field can be costly. You do not want to bust up a slab or remove walls because you failed to test or have concealed piping inspected.

Section 313 is a reference to another source – The International Energy Conservation Code. It would not hurt for you to take a look at that code, but it is something that will seldom come up. All plumbing appliances and equipment must meet this code and be certified by the manufacturer. What you need to know is that the code exists and that equipment you are installing is approved and labeled as discussed in Section 303.

Again, Section 314 references another source – the North Carolina Mechanical Code. This is a book you will want to look at along with the North Carolina Fuel Gas Code. There are many instances of linkage between the three codes. A lot of the provisions on piping in the Mechanical Code pertain to plumbing and Fuel Gas is covered under the State Plumbing License. As anyone in the trades knows the MEP trades often intersect as we have connections to each others equipment. It's a good idea to at least look over the code books of the other trades.