What Plumbing Work Can Be Done Without a License in Mankato, MN?

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If you've ever wanted to do your own plumbing work for your home, you may be wondering, "What plumbing work can be done without a license?" When working as an amateur, unlicensed plumber, there are a few factors to consider before you replace appliances and water lines.

How much of it is legal, and when should you hire a professional? If you want to learn more about which plumbing jobs require a license, let Babe Plumbing, one of the best plumbers in Mankato, explain everything you need to know.

What's the Difference Between a Plumbing Permit and a Plumbing License?

While it may be easy to confuse the two terms, a plumbing permit and a plumbing license are two entirely different beasts. If you have a plumbing license, you can perform work on appliances, pipes, and fixtures that need fixing in an official capacity. If you have a plumbing permit, you can take your trade further and do work on things like water and sewer lines outside of a home, fixing, adjusting, and even cutting off lines after the permit goes through.

While a plumbing permit permits you to do work on lines, a plumbing license permits you to legally perform plumbing duties at all. A plumbing permit is much different because even if you are a licensed plumber, there is still work that you're unable to do because it involves the water lines that multiple citizens use. To get a permit, you'll need to receive explicit permission from the local government to work on industrial plumbing systems. 

What Are the Licensing Requirements for a Plumber in Mankato, MN?

To become a licensed plumber in Mankato, you'll need to undergo training and have at least four years of experience as an unlicensed plumber. Doing an apprenticeship is the best way to accumulate those hours so that you can get your first license.

Once apprentices rack up the hours, they can apply for the exam and licensure, paying all the required fees to get their first journey worker plumber license. From there on, they can pursue other levels, such as a master plumber license.

What Plumbing Work Can Be Done Without a License?

While professional plumbing work requires licensure, there is plenty of work you can do on your property without any kind of license. For those of you wondering, "What plumbing work can be done without a license?" here are your answers.

Repairs

Whether you're progressing in your plumbing career or homeownership experience, you'll run into problems like leaks and replacements that require a skilled hand. You can undertake most basic maintenance jobs without a license. These include things like washer repairs, leak fixes, faucet replacements, toilet replacements, and drain cleanings. 

Since plumbing licensure requires years of experience before becoming available to apprentices, the average repair isn't license-guarded. In fact, practicing with your average leak or repair is helpful as long as it doesn't interfere with the main line. Anything involving the sewage line outside of the home requires a permit.

Licensed Plumber Assistance

If you're working with a plumber on site, helping them fix a leak or install an appliance, you don't need a license to act as a helping hand. If you're looking to improve your plumbing skills while gaining hours for an apprenticeship or license, this is a good way to do it.

During such times of assistance, you can learn and fix plumbing problems while under the proper supervision of a professional who has a license. This kind of hands-on experience can help you build the skills you need for your own plumbing jobs, as well as a license if you're pursuing one.

Pipe Installation

Normally, to work with pipework at all, you would need either a license or, in cases in which your plumbing work goes outside, a permit. However, if there is a plumber already doing the work with the proper permissions, acting as an assistant requires no such licensure or permit on your part. Working with a plumber to help with some pipe work can teach you tools of the trade, like soldering, fitting, and cutting pipes properly.

Fixture or Appliance Installation

If you're simply installing a new toilet or sink in your bathroom, you don't need to become a fully licensed plumber for the job. With the manufacturer's instructions and a little internet guidance, most amateur plumbers can make do without causing any damage to the water line or sewage systems when installing a new sink.

Getting your hands dirty with jobs like these is a great way to accumulate experience, whether you're just repairing a shower as a homeowner or looking to expand your gig work as an upstarting plumber.

When Should I Consult a Master Plumber in Mankato, MN?

When considering a plumbing job, hiring a professional is always the safest choice. While many plumbing jobs, such as some installations and minor fixes, can be easy for a non-plumber, master plumbers have the tools and experience to do the same job in less time.

If you're unsure whether a job requires a license, consulting a plumber about the work can help answer your questions. Not only can a professional help you identify your problem and what repairs it needs, but they can also teach you how to prevent problems like that from happening in the future. For your home's sake, hiring a professional is always the safest bet.

Work With Babe Plumbing To Get Your Jobs Done Right

Now that you understand the answer to the question, "What plumbing work can be done without a license?" it's time to work with Babe Plumbing. If you realize that you need a permit to replace sewer lines or need other professional plumbing work, why not call the best professionals to make that happen?

You can rely on our expert plumbers to solve your issues quickly for a competitive price. If you're ready to schedule quality plumbing service in Mankato, MN, call Babe Plumbing at (507) 481-1094 for more information.