plbgbiz

I stumbled into the Plumbing Zone forum doing research more than once. Then I spend too much time being drawn into the conversations. I've never been accused of saying too little so I figured I better do an intro before chiming in. The real deciding factor for registering was seeing some com-padres from the ole PDL and the SRT.

Both of my grandfathers were plumbers. One a Master in the union and the other a Master working with OKC on water mains. The first passed a few years back and was at the time the oldest living member of the Local in OKC. The other met his end with a heart attack on the job while I was still a tot.

I remember hanging out with my dad and grandfather on jobs and at grandpa's shop. I loved all the tools and grease and dirt. But when I was in my teens, I was expected to do a lot more than just stand around and have fun with grandpa. My dad expected me to work! There must be an easier way to make money so I got into computer and accounting work.

In my early twenties I was laid off from my dream office job. I had been working as an investment accountant and computer programmer but then there was the oil bust and all of the sudden the job market was competitive and I wasn't worth as much as I thought I was. After a hard day delivering pizzas for Domino's, I was hanging out in my grandfather's shop whining about my misfortune. He told me he new of a few places where I could get a real job.

OH NO ...NOT PLUMBING AGAIN?!?! I exclaimed. "Yes, plumbing" he said. After the shock wore off and I thought about it seriously (and with some prodding from my wife) I realized it was probably not such a bad idea. The next day I sat down with the phone book and started calling shops to see if they needed help from a 1st year apprentice (greener than an ivy leaf I was). My dad and grandfather had taught me work ethic but I had retained little else.

By the time I got to the "B's in the directory, I had and interview and a job. I'm not sure how this happened, but the shop that hired me was owned and operated by a man that had served as an apprentice under my grandfather in the 40's. They managed to keep that a secret from me for 3 years. After getting my contractor's license, My wife (Donna) & I opened Water Works Plumbing about 20 years ago in OKC. I used my back and knees alot when they were new so my days as a one-man-shop were numbered. Although I love being a technician, I also love running a business so for the last several years I have been focusing on the latter. With our plumbing and bath remodel business we have 15 employees.

Nuts & Bolts: I'm a huge fan of PROFIT. If plumbing didn't pay well, this forum would be empty because we would all be gone fishing. I want the best technicians to work with and they don't come cheap. I'm a huge fan of Mr. Blau, Randy Hiltion, Bill Parr, Gene Burch, Ellen Rohr, and too many other mentors to mention. And as you might guess, I'm a flat rate advocate. I love being a plumber and the plumbing business and I especially love knowing the difference between the two.

I'd probably still be delivering pizza if it weren't for my dad, grandfather, and wife not giving up on me. I am grateful and humbled every time I think of the Masters that preceded me in this trade and the ones that still take time to teach me today. I love the plumbing industry and what it has done for my family. For some it is a job, for others a career. For me...it was destiny. Me and the New York Yankees. Were the luckiest men on earth because we get paid to do what we love.

Like I said, I've never been accused of saying too little.

TheMaster

Welcome....I look forward to the discussions that will follow.

ILPlumber

Welcome. The PDL seems like ages ago.

Tommy plumber

Welcome aboard the Plumbing Zone. PDL? SRT? Forgive my ignorance, but what are they?

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Hire a licensed master plumber.

Airgap

Now that's an intro...

I haven't typed that much since comp. class at the comm. coll.....

Welcome....

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AG..Keepin' the good water from the bad water....

Ron

Plumbing Zone welcomes you aboard.

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Stephen Hawking: If the government is covering up knowledge of Aliens, they are doing a better job of it then they do at anything else.

plbgbiz

Tommy,

PDL=Plumbers Discussion List: It is an email based forum that has been around for years started by Kathy Love and currently maintained by Bob Allen a plumber in the Houston area. When you send an email to the PDL, all members of the list receive it the same if you reply. It still has activity but not as much as in years past. Members are world wide. It is a fairly small group compared to the 1,000's of post on modern forums but the wealth of knowledge there is off the charts. IT has a few posts per week. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

SRT=Service Round Table: It is a pay for service that is worth every dime. Again, the shared wealth of knowledge from the absolute creme-o-the-crop of our industry. Lots of marketing and business help along with a huge resource of technical expertise. There are not many tenderfoots on the SRT. The members take the business of their business very serious.

Ron

You will/ or have found this site is the closest site compared to the PDL, no diy posters, no GC'ers, no handyman's, sure you get the picture, well Bill one of the other mods is a GC'er or used to be on his own, but is a licensed plumber, only those that are in the profession are on here, site is just over 2 years old, been here since day one.

Not sure, or I have not found any other online plumber only sites on the web, if there is I'm sure it is not nothing like here.

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Stephen Hawking: If the government is covering up knowledge of Aliens, they are doing a better job of it then they do at anything else.

plbgbiz

I have noticed the protective nature of the group. DIY'ers have no place in professional discussions. They will either misunderstand or get hurt...usually both.

PLUMBER_BILL

Welcome aboard !

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Bill Parr LMP
www.parrsplumbing.com

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