How do I choose the best professional for pipe fitting?
To ensure you’re hiring the best professional for your pipe fitting project:
1. Understand the difference between a pipefitter and a plumber. Pipe fitting is sometimes confused with pipe laying and installation in homes, which can often be handled by a plumber. However, if you have a project that requires designing a complex, high-pressure piping system in a commercial or industrial setting, for example, a pipefitter might be the better choice.
Remember that plumbers typically install, repair and maintain water and sewer pipes, and some are also certified to work with natural gas. They often work on low-pressure plumbing systems in homes, but they can also work on schools, hospitals and other buildings.
On the other hand, pipefitters typically focus more on systems that transport all kinds of materials (like steam, chemicals and gas), often “work[ing] in power plants, pharmaceutical facilities, hospitals and many other commercial and industrial jobs,” according to the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry.
2. Make sure they have the required certifications in your state. Licensing requirements for pipefitters may vary by location. Before hiring someone for pipe fitting, ensure their licensing credentials are legitimate and up to date by contacting your state licensing board or visiting its website.
3. Look at their portfolio and customer reviews. You can get a sense of a pipefitter’s experience by reading customer reviews and reviewing past projects. Find out if they’ve completed similar projects to yours, how much those projects cost, how long they took and any challenges or roadblocks encountered.
4. Get several cost estimates. This can help ensure you’re not overpaying for pipe fitting services.
For more tips, visit Thumbtack’s Smart Hiring page.
How much do pipefitters charge for their services?
Reach out to local pipefitters with your project’s details to obtain cost estimates. Let them know:
The specific services you need
When you need the project completed
What type of building they’ll be working on (office building, manufacturing building, power plant, etc.)
Details about the piping system — for example, whether it’s a heating / cooling system, fuel-delivery system, etc.
Based on your answers, the pipefitter should include the cost of labor and materials for your price quote.
What does pipe fitting entail? What should I expect?
In most cases, a pipe-fitting professional will start by evaluating the space where the pipes will go, taking measurements and designing a safe piping system.
Some demolition may be required if you want the pipes hidden behind an existing wall. Otherwise, a box can typically be built around the pipes to cover them. Not every pipefitter offers these construction services, so ask in advance.
If the professional is installing pipes, they will likely cut the pipes to the proper length and then weld, solder or glue them together to create a strong, leakproof joint. The full system may include valves, tanks and pumps in addition to pipes.
Once the system is complete, a local authority will likely inspect it to ensure the work was done correctly and there are no safety concerns.
Can I do my own pipefitting, or should I hire a professional?
Unless you have the proper training and the right tools (pipe wrenches, channel locks, torpedo level, etc.), pipe fitting is usually a job you cannot easily DIY. This project often requires precision, skill and knowledge. If you get it wrong, you might have trouble with leaks, poor water pressure and other potentially serious and expensive problems.
Here are some of the many benefits of hiring a licensed pipefitter instead of attempting the job yourself:
Faster project completion. A pipefitter usually completes the job faster, simply because they have more experience.
No need to buy tools. Pipefitters typically have all the required tools and equipment, so you don’t need to purchase or rent them.
Experience helps ensure quality. A pipefitter knows what size and types of pipes and fittings to use. If you’re DIY-ing this project for the first time and use the wrong pipes and fittings, you might find yourself dealing with leaks or water pressure problems in the future.
Peace of mind. Pipefitters often offer a written warranty or guarantee on their work and materials, so if the installation was done incorrectly or if the materials have any defects, the professional will do the repairs at no extra cost. Make sure you discuss warranties and their conditions with your pipefitter before you hire them.