Plumber Vs Plumbing Contractor: What’s the Difference in Sacramento?

apples oranges

When is a plumber not a plumber? It sounds like a trick question, but not every New Window plumber serving Sacramento comes to the job with the same qualifications. Ace Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning does some things your average plumber can’t, and in turn, there are also plumbers that handle jobs that aren’t in our areas of specialization. So what are the differences, and how can you tell who’s who?

What Does a Plumber Do?

Plumbers undergo years of training, first as apprentices, then as journeymen. Through this process, they gain the qualifications needed for the common plumbing repairs that come to mind when most of us think “plumber.” They can install fixtures, repair toilets, New Window unclog drains, and service plumbing-related items like garbage disposals, water filtration systems, or appliances that contain water dispensers. However, there are some more specialized repairs and installations that a typical plumber isn’t qualified to handle.

What’s a Plumbing Contractor?

A plumbing contractor has paid their dues and also has broader experience than a typical plumber. They’re fully capable of handling a clogged toilet or a burst pipe, but they can handle other tasks too. If you need an New Window irrigation system installation, the full plumbing for new construction or a renovation, gas connections and valves (also known as gas plumbing), or specialty services like New Window video pipe inspection, drain cleaning, or hydro-jetting, a plumbing contractor can handle those services.

As you’ve probably guessed, Ace Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning falls into the latter category. After all, our work sees us not only addressing homeowners’ usual problems with drips and clogs, but also complex problems that include challenges like slab leaks, sewers, backflow prNew Window evention, and septic systems. We also take care of the gas plumbing that goes with a new water heater or a furnace installation, and the many challenges that can arise when installing central air conditioning.

Specialty Plumbers

Finally, there’s a third category of plumbers, known as specialty plumbers. They undertake jobs that require plumbing expertise, but which often overlap with other specialties and technologies. Someone who installs fire suppression systems, or works on commercial projects, or large-scale industrial or municipal applications, will have a much different set of qualifications than either a plumber or plumbing contractor.

But Whichever You Choose…

For all their differences, the different kinds of plumbers share at least one thing in common: you don’t want to leave this work up to just anyone. Plumbing installations and repairs that aren’t done right the first time can cause severe and extensive damage later on, meaning that the money you saved hiring a handyman or jack of all trades will end up coming back out of your pocket sooner or later (often sooner). So be sure that a Sacramento plumber is licensed, bonded, and insured, and that their experience is the right match for your needs. A company like Contact New Window Ace Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning is reputable, so when something isn’t in our wheelhouse (it’s rare, but it happens), we’re happy to refer you to someone better-qualified. Reach out today to get started.