Standard safety inspection, product development inspection, and teaching are the three types of plumbing inspector jobs. Plumbing inspectors are all licensed plumbers who have gone through additional training to become inspectors. From government safety agencies to construction, this role can be found in a variety of industries.
The job of safety inspector is the most common of all the plumbing inspector jobs. The inspection’s goal is to make sure that the work was done correctly and that there are no loose connections or overloaded pipes. The most common employer for these positions is municipal government. Every state has laws governing the types of plumbing work that must be inspected as well as the inspector’s responsibilities. Typically, these jobs are focused on either residential or commercial property.
Jobs as a plumbing inspector can also be found in product development and manufacturing firms. For any new product that transports liquid from one location to another, the designers require the inspector to review the design and model. This is a very common occurrence in the manufacturing industry. It could be related to cooling systems for large production machines or other systems, rather than building plumbing. He or she is in charge of assessing the new design’s safety, efficiency, and potential cost savings.
Plumbing inspectors can also teach courses to plumbers and other skilled trades at local community or technical colleges. Many craftsmen complete an adult education certificate program in order to become effective instructors. Learning the most effective methods for teaching adults can be extremely beneficial when making this career change.
Problem solving, holding people accountable for their work product, and working independently are among the things that people who work as plumbing inspectors enjoy the most. The number of positions available varies by industry and company size. While plumbing inspectors can usually find management positions within a safety agency, there are very few management positions available in industry.
Most plumbing inspectors have a limited number of opportunities for advancement. All skills are transferable to other areas of plumbing inspection, regardless of the industry in which they were learned. Many people change industries in order to increase their salary and level of responsibility. Government jobs are generally secure, but they do not pay as well as private sector jobs.
Plumbing inspectors work with their hands, are typically mechanically inclined, and have an excellent eye for detail, blueprint reading skills, and spatial abilities. Because of the high level of skill and expertise required, most positions in this field are well compensated. Maintaining high safety standards and ensuring compliance is a critical task. Some inspectors identify legal flaws or loopholes and collaborate with law enforcement officials and other experts to address them.