How to Work on Plumbing and Repair Appliances

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Fred's Appliance Academy
August 7, 2017
News

Plumbing and appliance are not necessarily the same thing. Ask any professional in either of the two fields, and they’ll be quick to point out the difference. What’s undeniable, however, is how similar the two are.

Some of these similarities are obvious. Others, such as the type of work schedule and the clients for whom you’ll perform work, are more subtle. But with the right training, you can work on plumbing and repair appliances. In other words, you’ll enhance your portfolio, grow your business, and become more successful.

The Basics of Plumbing

A plumber is any individual who has acquired specialized expertise in installing and repairing any fixtures that are connected to a building’s water supply lines. That, in turn, opens up a number of skills required to excel in this profession. According to ExploreTheTrades.org,

To be a plumber requires knowledge of building codes, an ability to read blueprints, knowledge of pipe and construction materials, and increasingly, knowledge of water-conservation techniques.

Plumbers work in both residential and commercial settings. Here, they fulfill a variety of tasks related to the above that install, maintain, and improve anything connected to water in a building.

The Basics of Appliance Repair

As its name suggests, appliance repair includes anything from installing to maintaining and repairing common household appliances. In other words, anyone with the need to repair a stove, dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine, or any other household appliance will find themselves calling an appliance repair professional.

For professionals in this industry, that requires a number of specialized skill. A knowledge of electrical theory is absolutely vital, as is an understanding of the ways individual brands differ from each other. And of course, most appliances are connected to water, requiring some plumbing skills as well.

How Plumbing and Appliance Repair Are Similar

The above two fields lay bare the most basic similarity between plumbing work and appliance repair. The latter, in fact, requires some of the exact skills that plumbers will already know. If you know how to attach water supply lines and drainage, you are on your way to installing an ice maker, dishwasher, and more.  When working on a dishwasher, you have to have a basic understanding of how a hot water heater works in the home.  If the hot water heater is not working properly, it can cause the dishwasher not to perform.  Installation issues are common in the appliance field so understanding the basics of plumbing can go a long way in having a successful career in appliance repair.

Of course, the similarities don’t end there. Most significantly, especially residential plumbers will often find themselves in similar situations as appliance repair professionals.

With the same types of clients and the same scope of jobs, they will need similar ways to market their business, approach client relations, set their schedule, and order potential replacement parts. As a result, the transition from a successful plumber to a professional who can also get started in appliance repair is relatively smooth.

How Can Plumbers Add Appliance Repair to Their Portfolio?

Of course, even despite the above similarities, it’s important to reiterate: plumbing and appliance repair are not identical. Professional plumbers often do not have the electrical skills or brand-specific knowledge necessary to immediate start repairing washing machines or dryers. As a result, additional training is necessary.  Adding appliance repair to your company portfolio will benefit your established customer base and encourage those same customers to want to work with a company they already know and trust.

Fortunately, that training can be very achievable. To assure clients of your expertise, a national certification of your appliance repair expertise may be necessary. At the same time, at least some hands-on experience with appliances is highly recommended before entering this field.

With these items in place, adding appliance repair to your portfolio and advertised skills is more smooth than you might think. Our training courses, either one week or three weeks long, give you the additional skills and prepare you for the certifications you need. Available financing, along with housing for all of our students, makes for a quick transition into this new and growing field. To learn more about our training programs, contact us.

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