I’ve been a plumber since I left school at 15 and I’m coming up to 73 and still plumbing. I’ve never touched gas and never wanted to and I’ve done ok without it.
ive had similar and had to use 2 flexi"s one 15mm compression end onto a half inch so that its like a sweeping bend and doesn't kink . Certainly not ideal but the pies were buried into the wall so the easiest and cheapest option for the customer!!
I problem earned the same or more when I just did plumbing... found out when I did my gas that it's a race to the bottom and people offering a boiler service for £30.. my minimum charge doing plumbing was £65 and none of the stress or worry or cost of overheads!..
Definitely a race to bottom sometimes, my builder is a prime example, some of the prices that people expect to pay and people actually will go for the leads
Hi there great content. I've been doing Plumbing for 20yrs and gas safe for 10 and in my opinion, being gas safe has opened up so much more work for me, even plumbing jobs, full houses 3 bathrooms etc. I have lost these in the past due to not being able to do the whole job inc boiler. Its pretty rare to find someone who will re washer a tap, unblock a sink one day and fit a boiler the next so the work is always there for me now.
Hi mate, I was a bit old for gas once I got my plumbing qualification. But as you say it is a lot of classroom time and responsibility, you should charge more for gas than plumbing. I bought as electric pipe freezer kit to save draining down , saves time and on gravity fed it saves airlock potential. Not cheap but it’s paid for itself over and over. Worth looking at. Top vid again !cheers
qaulified as a gas engineer in 83 left brittish gas in the 90s been doing plumbing ever since absolutely love plumbing no stress at all my apprentice son is at a disadvantage though as he needs gas to finish his apprenticeship but im glad giving up gas as my work is more varied
Plumbing and Heating/Gas both cause headache. You cant get away from it. But there are such a shortage of good heating repair engineers. Plenty of people can fit boilers, but when it comes to service and repair its a completely different skill set.
You get more stress with gas, boiler breakdowns etc, and there is always something in the back of your mind saying did remember to tighten the test nipple up, did I forget to put the analyser test point back etc, things that could potentially kill someone, not quite the same with water, plus you don’t have to re sit ex,as every five years and have inspections of your work, but it takes longer on a job to earn good money plumbing than it does doing a landlords check for instance.
I gave up gas work after 30+ years and dont regret it one bit. Most of my work is now commercial and large domestic plumbing which i really enjoy. I work as a subbie for an up and coming mechanical and electrical that pay above average rates , so its a winner for me.
The most English beginning of the video one could imagine. Two opposite elements - fire and ice, yet somehow enchanted in two separate taps. One to peel your cooked skin off and one to give you frostbites. I'd change that hot water flexi hose as well. Those rudimentary jobs are fairly nice, but I'm always a bit disappointed that people need my service to do such easy thing. Twenty years ago they'd have done it by themselves. There no one line of work in plumbing. One day you do this, the other day you do gas and from time to time a leaking gutter needs repairing.
It is a shame most don’t have a go at there own repairs nowadays, that’s 1 aspect I will teach my sons is basic DIY and to have a go at something, even if they don’t go into the trade I still want them to be able to at least fix a tap and hang a shelf without calling me to do it 😂👍
Great video, and thanks for showing what you do, instead of telling everything your going to do, and then showing it done like a couple of TH-cam plumbers
Just subscribed, great videos. I’m a trace and access/ leak detection technician. I’m on a 10 day intensive practical plumbing course in Bradford starting next week, so I can start to offer permanent repairs on leaks etc. love this type of content - shame there isn’t a T&A version. All the best.
I did both the C and G plumbing then ACOPS. Spent years on price installing for bigger companies. Also worked on some major projects such as Meadowhall, Heathrow, and World Student Game flats. So I have a strong background. I set up on my own in 2006, it's been an up-and-down ride. I focused on plumbing callouts for a bit, and expanded to renovations this year, 3 major projects this year. Although just had a major leak on a project due to a Polyplumb fitting failure on a cold main. It's pissed me off. A few more years and I'm done. You can earn some decent money but the job itself can be a struggle at times. I've had enough of both the gas and the plumbing side.
Thanks for the content always informative, and yes keep up the gas as good gas engineers who take pride in their work are hard to come by and from the way you talk and what you have shown in your videos, I truly believe you are one don't give up the gas work bud the industry needs people like yourself.
Tappex kit has saved me a few times especially the knuckles when you can’t get straight on. I’m loving doing the gas course and portfolio is filling with break downs. Like you I love the challenge. Must admit though every job I’ve done on gas so far I’m played back in my mind a hundred times. Even though I’ve got a gas safe card holder looking over my shoulder. Great content mate. Thanks for uploading. 👍
Boiler Breakdowns am the best to be honest, real sense of job satisfaction when you get in there and fix it so I don’t think I could ever give that up, tappex kit I really rate saved me a few times! Thanks Paul appreciate the support as always mate
I'm the opposite I started with Plumbing & got sick of it . Normally don't use a tool to take off those taps, twist the tap back & forth . Then just hold the nut by hand 90% of time it comes out. You needed a longer flexi, but if you didn't have 1 is what it is.
Definitely worth keeping your gas. A good breakdown engineer will be far more profitable than any plumber. With the current climate customers are not interested in replacing boilers so repairs are key right now
I know lads that have had gas then just moved to plumbing, each to there own I suppose I do enjoy plumbing and gas just when you get a run of good plumbing jobs makes the gas look stressful 😅👍
Nice few jobs there. 👍 That sink was awkward. My bathroom basin needs new taps im putting it off as its gonna be a pig. Angle valves and hardpiped soldered right up behind the pedestal and the basins in a corner next to toilet. 😂
They are phasing out NVQ Level 2. Soon you can't be just a plumber without gas, it will be a requirement. Its a 4 year course with your end point assessment at the end. You have a few chances to pass your final gas exam and if you fail you essentially lose 4 years.
The answer is you can earn more money repairing and servicing boiler but any Manuel work will take its toll on you and working for yourself means long hours and every thinks down to you to sort out
The flex pipe that was showing was getting to you. Could you not have angled the elbow compression fitting more towards the middle of the sink so the flex pipe could of been hidden better ?
I tried it the other way and it kinked, really didn’t like it but customer didn’t even notice when she walked in, I pointed it out and she said absolutely fine….but yeah still ain’t happy now 😅
Enjoying your widens mate. Just one thing, on the replacement lock shield valve replacement i might be wrong but think you put the PTFE on the wrong way round ?
Just subscribed and enjoy your videos. Why not ask people what they think about what direction you should put PTEE on threads. ? I'm sure you'll get a debate ? Cheers mate 👍
mate....gas becoming more common over here ( NI )...not gas registered so days are filled with general plumbing and oil fired central heating....dont know how I could fit gas jobs in even if I did become gas registered
If you start thinking like that your start loosing your confidence i normally have a little check list once i have done a job before i put the water on or when iv finished working on a boile .its like open flued boiler i go to loads that have been condemned and thers nothing wrong with them ther just scared to work on them
You don’t have to to be honest if it’s looks ok and new valve fits fine then it won’t cause an issue, sometimes when they have paint on them or look worn it’s better to replace as gives a better finish
Not much to be honest mate, went into it straight from going 8 years of breakdowns, soon pick it up thou 👍 before that I did maybe 1-2 years when I was 18 first job plumbing
Keep ya gas card mate. Youve done the hard work to get it. Yes it costs to keep it, but just go by the book and youll be fine. Keep up the great content bulldog 👍
Has any walked away from Gas and just done plumbing? Let me know in the comments 🙌👍
Stick with the Gas Safe as it pays for itself with a couple of cooker installations
Thinking about the same thing. Bathrooms sell themselves
I’ve been a plumber since I left school at 15 and I’m coming up to 73 and still plumbing. I’ve never touched gas and never wanted to and I’ve done ok without it.
Looked like you wrapped ptfe round way on that rad tail
ive had similar and had to use 2 flexi"s one 15mm compression end onto a half inch so that its like a sweeping bend and doesn't kink . Certainly not ideal but the pies were buried into the wall so the easiest and cheapest option for the customer!!
I problem earned the same or more when I just did plumbing... found out when I did my gas that it's a race to the bottom and people offering a boiler service for £30.. my minimum charge doing plumbing was £65 and none of the stress or worry or cost of overheads!..
Definitely a race to bottom sometimes, my builder is a prime example, some of the prices that people expect to pay and people actually will go for the leads
Hi there great content. I've been doing Plumbing for 20yrs and gas safe for 10 and in my opinion, being gas safe has opened up so much more work for me, even plumbing jobs, full houses 3 bathrooms etc. I have lost these in the past due to not being able to do the whole job inc boiler. Its pretty rare to find someone who will re washer a tap, unblock a sink one day and fit a boiler the next so the work is always there for me now.
That’s very true mate, think once customers know you can do the lot they keep you for a long time doing work 👍
Hi mate, I was a bit old for gas once I got my plumbing qualification. But as you say it is a lot of classroom time and responsibility, you should charge more for gas than plumbing.
I bought as electric pipe freezer kit to save draining down , saves time and on gravity fed it saves airlock potential. Not cheap but it’s paid for itself over and over. Worth looking at.
Top vid again !cheers
Cheers mate, they am expensive them freezing kits but I can see the benefits they bring to the job must save a lot of time 👍
qaulified as a gas engineer in 83 left brittish gas in the 90s been doing plumbing ever since absolutely love plumbing no stress at all my apprentice son is at a disadvantage though as he needs gas to finish his apprenticeship but im glad giving up gas as my work is more varied
You’re a legend mate your videos are good❤ keep going.
Thanks mate 👍
Plumbing and Heating/Gas both cause headache. You cant get away from it. But there are such a shortage of good heating repair engineers. Plenty of people can fit boilers, but when it comes to service and repair its a completely different skill set.
Absolutely true mate, plenty of combi slingers by me throwing them in because they can’t figure out what’s wrong with the boiler
You get more stress with gas, boiler breakdowns etc, and there is always something in the back of your mind saying did remember to tighten the test nipple up, did I forget to put the analyser test point back etc, things that could potentially kill someone, not quite the same with water, plus you don’t have to re sit ex,as every five years and have inspections of your work, but it takes longer on a job to earn good money plumbing than it does doing a landlords check for instance.
I gave up gas work after 30+ years and dont regret it one bit. Most of my work is now commercial and large domestic plumbing which i really enjoy. I work as a subbie for an up and coming mechanical and electrical that pay above average rates , so its a winner for me.
I would have used a flexible copper tap connector. Those braided hoses are a flood waiting to happen.
I bought that tap kit and didnt like it one bit ,its sat in my lockup for last 2 years and ive not missed it
I’ve known people do exactly the same mate, think the kit is like marmite
I stopped doing gas this year after 20 years of first being corgi and then gas safe registered. I now only do plumbing. Less money but less stressful.
Sometimes got to weigh up what’s better for you, gas can be very stressful sometimes
The most English beginning of the video one could imagine. Two opposite elements - fire and ice, yet somehow enchanted in two separate taps. One to peel your cooked skin off and one to give you frostbites.
I'd change that hot water flexi hose as well.
Those rudimentary jobs are fairly nice, but I'm always a bit disappointed that people need my service to do such easy thing. Twenty years ago they'd have done it by themselves.
There no one line of work in plumbing. One day you do this, the other day you do gas and from time to time a leaking gutter needs repairing.
It is a shame most don’t have a go at there own repairs nowadays, that’s 1 aspect I will teach my sons is basic DIY and to have a go at something, even if they don’t go into the trade I still want them to be able to at least fix a tap and hang a shelf without calling me to do it 😂👍
Great video, and thanks for showing what you do, instead of telling everything your going to do, and then showing it done like a couple of TH-cam plumbers
Thanks mate, might be some bad camera work and audio sometimes but think it’s good to show people how it’s done 👍
Just subscribed, great videos. I’m a trace and access/ leak detection technician. I’m on a 10 day intensive practical plumbing course in Bradford starting next week, so I can start to offer permanent repairs on leaks etc. love this type of content - shame there isn’t a T&A version. All the best.
Thanks mate appreciate it 👍 best of luck with course, hope it goes well for you 🙌
I did both the C and G plumbing then ACOPS. Spent years on price installing for bigger companies. Also worked on some major projects such as Meadowhall, Heathrow, and World Student Game flats. So I have a strong background. I set up on my own in 2006, it's been an up-and-down ride. I focused on plumbing callouts for a bit, and expanded to renovations this year, 3 major projects this year. Although just had a major leak on a project due to a Polyplumb fitting failure on a cold main. It's pissed me off. A few more years and I'm done. You can earn some decent money but the job itself can be a struggle at times. I've had enough of both the gas and the plumbing side.
Thanks for the content always informative, and yes keep up the gas as good gas engineers who take pride in their work are hard to come by and from the way you talk and what you have shown in your videos, I truly believe you are one don't give up the gas work bud the industry needs people like yourself.
Thanks Phill appreciate the support mate 🙌👍
Tappex kit has saved me a few times especially the knuckles when you can’t get straight on.
I’m loving doing the gas course and portfolio is filling with break downs. Like you I love the challenge. Must admit though every job I’ve done on gas so far I’m played back in my mind a hundred times. Even though I’ve got a gas safe card holder looking over my shoulder.
Great content mate. Thanks for uploading. 👍
4 Boiler's left for me on the portfolio
Boiler Breakdowns am the best to be honest, real sense of job satisfaction when you get in there and fix it so I don’t think I could ever give that up, tappex kit I really rate saved me a few times! Thanks Paul appreciate the support as always mate
@@bang234 good luck mate, end is near 👊👍
Boiler breakdowns is what I'm looking to move towards, gotta get that fault finding game on, and that job satisfaction @@bluebulldog_uk
Just finished my L3 gas apprenticeship and I get it sometimes that little voice in your head questioning whether you put the flue cap back on or not😂
I'm the opposite I started with Plumbing & got sick of it . Normally don't use a tool to take off those taps, twist the tap back & forth . Then just hold the nut by hand 90% of time it comes out. You needed a longer flexi, but if you didn't have 1 is what it is.
Longer or shorter would of been better I was in between which was annoying 😂
🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵 Great video 🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵 your a good gas engineer i say that gas is gold in your hand and plumbing is silver and you have them both 🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵
Nice job, good content and you explain what you’re doing very well. Like the spanner’s you have for the rad valves etc. Good man
Thanks Rob, appreciate the support 👍
Definitely worth keeping your gas. A good breakdown engineer will be far more profitable than any plumber. With the current climate customers are not interested in replacing boilers so repairs are key right now
Was saying the same thing in September time, people won’t look to replace at moment so breakdown work will be a lot more common this winter 👍
Definitely I earn more repairing and servicing
my brother only does plumbing, he does great he does toilets sinks tub and basin installs no gas of any kind
I know lads that have had gas then just moved to plumbing, each to there own I suppose I do enjoy plumbing and gas just when you get a run of good plumbing jobs makes the gas look stressful 😅👍
Hi, how about fitting an elbow under the tap, then you can lose the excess flexi length under the basin
Nice few jobs there. 👍 That sink was awkward. My bathroom basin needs new taps im putting it off as its gonna be a pig. Angle valves and hardpiped soldered right up behind the pedestal and the basins in a corner next to toilet. 😂
Don’t worry mate I’ve been fitting a new sink and vanity unit in my utility and downstairs toilet for about 6 months now, keep putting it off 😂😂
They are phasing out NVQ Level 2. Soon you can't be just a plumber without gas, it will be a requirement. Its a 4 year course with your end point assessment at the end. You have a few chances to pass your final gas exam and if you fail you essentially lose 4 years.
I remember speaking about this not long ago, that’s mad you can’t just go to college to be a plumber
Good video pal, my ptfe wraps have gone up too …
Good job PTFE is cheap 😂👍
In this situation I tend to use a 500mm flexible hose and hide it behind the pedistal
I need to stock the shorter and longer flexes I think would of helped here but best I could do for free at the time 👍
The answer is you can earn more money repairing and servicing boiler but any Manuel work will take its toll on you and working for yourself means long hours and every thinks down to you to sort out
Viva do 150mm flexible connectors if you don't know already, may help in these circumstances
Going to get some on van cheers mate would have helped on this one 👍
Excellent upload.
Thank you 👍👍
A Whitney Houston= It’s not right but it’s ok.
That’s the one 😂👍
Awesome congratulations 🥳
I’ve just started doing plumbing at college and the course involves air source heat pumps so I won’t be touching gas. Just
Plumbing and that
Won’t see a end to gas boilers for years so might be worth getting some experience in them, ASHP will be a good qualification to have 🙌👍
I'm 38 and gas boilers will see me out
@@edwardwilson7485 I’m 31 im hoping plumbing and Ashp keep me busy enough
You will have to get someone in gas safe to cap the boiler off you removing to fit the hp then😀
@@paulsmith2931 all priced in the quote 🤣🤣
The flex pipe that was showing was getting to you. Could you not have angled the elbow compression fitting more towards the middle of the sink so the flex pipe could of been hidden better ?
I tried it the other way and it kinked, really didn’t like it but customer didn’t even notice when she walked in, I pointed it out and she said absolutely fine….but yeah still ain’t happy now 😅
I am the 160th to like your video. All the best.
Enjoying your widens mate.
Just one thing, on the replacement lock shield valve replacement i might be wrong but think you put the PTFE on the wrong way round ?
Thanks mate 👍 don’t know mate I know it didn’t leak 😂😂🙌
Just subscribed and enjoy your videos.
Why not ask people what they think about what direction you should put PTEE on threads. ? I'm sure you'll get a debate ?
Cheers mate 👍
Cheap olive puller is well worth the investment.
I got one somewhere in van to be honest and a olive cutter, silly season = messy van, tools here there and everywhere some days 😅
mate....gas becoming more common over here ( NI )...not gas registered so days are filled with general plumbing and oil fired central heating....dont know how I could fit gas jobs in even if I did become gas registered
Good your busy mate 👍
If you start thinking like that your start loosing your confidence i normally have a little check list once i have done a job before i put the water on or when iv finished working on a boile .its like open flued boiler i go to loads that have been condemned and thers nothing wrong with them ther just scared to work on them
I have a lot of work from people “of a certain age”.
If it stands still for more than 10 mins it gets multiple coats of gloss 😂🤣😂
That’s the problem flexes on the taps garbage
Ive seen unvented cylinders that could kill people 😂😂
😂 very true
Gas Service and breakdown engineer for 30 years . The stress is why we're paid the big bucks 😂😂...not
Anyone else hear the smoke alarm battery running out. ? I disconnect them… so annoying
Was very annoying while working 😂👍
Just done a boiler swap this afternoon 3 hours £1500 profit , think I will stick with the gas.
City plumbing do short flexi’s solves that problem.
I fitted a toilet and basin yesterday. 4 hours work but £2300 profit
I changed a tap washer, £4500, didn't even take my shoes off
@delboy6384 that's expensive you in London ?
Nope, North East, had to add an extra which was sizeable as I had to go to the van for a washer and back up the stairs.
@@chrisgray5903Give over😂
Those back nuts can be a right pigs bladder
That hot side was in really tight!
When you were changing the lockshield. Is it customary to change that spigot/peg that goes inside the rad?
It’s called the tail and he did change it👍🏻
@smburr1 thank you. Do you have to change it each time you change TRV or lockshield? (Providing that the compression nut fits the new valve)
You don’t have to to be honest if it’s looks ok and new valve fits fine then it won’t cause an issue, sometimes when they have paint on them or look worn it’s better to replace as gives a better finish
Hi mate, did you have any just plumbing experience before going out in your own ? I assume you was on SnR at British gas and not in the install side ?
Not much to be honest mate, went into it straight from going 8 years of breakdowns, soon pick it up thou 👍 before that I did maybe 1-2 years when I was 18 first job plumbing
Your gas charges should be higher. I’ll at the other rates in your area if you can
Maybe but it is very competitive where I am, in the back of my head I should charge more and I might be underselling myself
If only people kept the paperwork for their appliances
Only met a handful of customers that keep paperwork would make i Iife easier 😅
Keep ya gas card mate. Youve done the hard work to get it. Yes it costs to keep it, but just go by the book and youll be fine. Keep up the great content bulldog 👍
Cheers mate appreciate the support 🙌👍
Great video Luke i must invest in a tapex kit 👌 i can have a wold guess at the age of the occupants by the paint on the pipes 🙈
It’s a really good kit I’ve loved it sped up my tap changed definitely, yes paint gives it away 😂😂
I make a living just out of plumbing
Must say that’s the first time I’ve seen anyone use anything other than the sockets and extensions. To me it’s not worth £170
Few others say they don’t rate the tappex kit but honestly I’ve got on with it since day 1, really like it 👍
Charge more when it comes to gas
I should really to be honest
@@bluebulldog_uk 💯
Get your self some lock tight ptfe your never usethat again it lasts for ages