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Plumbing Associations

Water in your house is an interesting thing; we only want water in our house where it's supposed to be. We want the water to come out of the tap smoothly when we turn it on and we want it to go away equally well when we pull the drain drain plug or flush the toilet. Any malfunction in this seemingly simple process and we need to call a plumber. Finding a qualified and reliable plumber is usually done by word of mouth. But many plumbers or plumbing companies belong to a trade association where membership may imply a level of standards and qualification for membership.

Oh, the stuff found clogging pipes would amaze you and even the most experienced plumber! The more common culprits include hairballs, iron deposits, toilet paper, and children's toys. Other more "unusual-but-true" debris includes paper money, bags of narcotics, bombs, and a few small furry pets. Whatever is trapped in your household pipes requires a plumber's hand to clear it away, especially when a common household products such as Drano doesn't do the trick.

Plumbers must be licensed in most states and usually belong to the association of independent plumbers in their state. Somehow over time plumbing, heating and cooling services have been offered by the same companies and many plumbing associations cover heating and cooling as well. In many areas, especially in the cities, plumbers must belong to the local plumbers union. In those areas all major plumbing work must be done by plumbers who are union members.

The oldest plumbing association in America is the National Association of Master Plumbing, now called PHCC (Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors). Sharing technology, enforcing codes and business savvy, PHCC is where many plumbers learn their trade and find out what's happening politically from their industry's standpoint.

Another highly recognized plumbing association is the American Society of Plumbing Engineers. The ASPE Convention is the "best of the best" of plumbing conventions.

One of the biggest issues facing plumbers' job security today involves the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters National Pension Fund. The UA (United Association) is very much on top of this matter. This association is for journeymen and apprentices of the pipefitting and plumbing industry in the U.S. and Canada. In many ways, UA is the "creme-de-la-creme" when it comes to a plumber's connection with Union issues and government legislation. UA members motto is "we do it right the first time", which over 300,000 members have been adhering to over the past 100 years.

Another association is the PHCC, Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association, that was formerly known as NAPHCC, National Association of Plumbers-Heating-Cooling Contractors. PHCC is located in Washington, D.C. where it's primary function is to lobby on behalf of its members. The PHCC Auxiliary offers donations, scholarships, and sponsors events to raise money for charitable causes.

While most plumbers are busy installing pipes, fixtures and "roughing in" on construction jobs, some are out there trying to improve everyone's life with their generous contributions and volunteer efforts. So next time you think about cracking another plumber joke, stop and think about all the good they really contribute to the American way of life.

Brody Massey is the webmaster and operator of Fats Plumbing which is premier information source for plumbing related information on the internet. For comments and questions click on his archive of articles at: http://www.fatsplumbing.com/