Plumber job description: job responsibilities of a plumber, duties, skills, the Gas Safe rule and a template

Everyone knows what a plumber does until they have to write it down. Then the questions start: does the job include gas, and is the person registered for it? Boilers, or just pipework? Call-outs at night? A plumber job description that answers those questions finds the right plumber; one that says "all aspects of plumbing" finds everyone and nobody.

This article sets out the job responsibilities of a plumber as the National Careers Service and Skills England describe the trade, six duties for a job description, the skills, the Gas Safe and CSCS rules, the apprenticeship route in England and a template to adapt. The routes and registrations are for the UK; the duties travel.

Plumbers are judged job by job, and good ones are hard to replace. See how New Dynamics Goals & OKRs keep targets and progress in one place.

What is a plumber?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines a plumber as “a person whose job is to supply and connect or repair water pipes, baths, toilets, etc.”. The National Careers Service says plumbers “install and repair water and heating systems in residential households and commercial properties”.

In England the trade's apprenticeship is the plumbing and domestic heating technician, a level 3 standard of 48 months, which Skills England summarises as “Fitting and servicing domestic water, heating and drainage systems.” The three words, water, heating and drainage, are the scope of the job; heating is where gas, oil and, increasingly, heat pumps come in.

Job responsibilities of a plumber: six duties

The National Careers Service lists the day-to-day tasks. In our words, a plumber will install and repair water, heating and drainage systems; cut, shape and join pipes and fittings; service gas and oil-fired central heating systems and radiators; respond to emergency call-outs such as broken boilers or blocked drains; and fit weatherproof materials and flashings to roofs, chimneys and walls. It also flags the trade as a potential green job: installing solar hot water systems, replacing old copper piping with recyclable components, and fitting heat pumps.

Grouped for a job description, the plumber job duties are six.

1. Install. Water supply, heating and drainage systems in new builds and refurbishments: pipework, fittings, sanitaryware, cylinders, radiators and, where qualified, boilers and heat pumps.
2. Repair and maintain. Leaks, blockages, faulty valves and taps, corroded pipework; cutting, shaping and joining pipe to make good.
3. Service heating systems. Annual servicing of gas and oil-fired boilers and radiators, with the registrations the fuel requires.
4. Respond to emergencies. Broken boilers, burst pipes, blocked drains, on a call-out rota, making the property safe first.
5. Fit external weatherproofing. Flashings and weatherproof materials to roofs, chimneys and walls where the plumber's work meets the building's fabric.
6. Work to the regulations. Water regulations, building regulations, gas safety and, on site, the safety rules of the job; keep the records the regulations require.

Gas, CSCS and other requirements

The National Careers Service states the requirement that matters most: you will need to “be on the Gas Safe Register to work with domestic gas heating systems”. A plumber who is not registered can do everything except work on gas; a job description that includes boiler installation or servicing must say Gas Safe registration is required, or that the work will be done by a registered colleague.

For site work, the service says you will need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site. Other registrations apply to oil-fired systems, unvented hot water cylinders and heat pumps; list the ones your work needs, and separate those required on day one from those you will fund.

Skills to ask for

The National Careers Service lists the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools; knowledge of building and construction; thoroughness and attention to detail; maths; working well with others; initiative; working well with your hands; customer service skills; and basic computer or hand-held device use.

Two deserve emphasis. Customer service: most plumbing is done in someone's home, and the plumber is the company. Diagnosis: finding where the water is coming from before pulling the bathroom apart. Add clear record-keeping for the certificates and the job sheets.

Routes in and qualifications

The National Careers Service says you can become a plumber through a college course, an apprenticeship, working towards the role or applying directly. College courses include plumbing studies, plumbing and domestic heating, and the T Level in building services engineering for construction. The level 3 apprenticeships it names are plumbing and domestic heating technician, building services engineering craftsperson and gas engineering operative, with the low carbon heating technician apprenticeship for heat pump work, and a level 2 foundation apprenticeship in building services engineering as a starting point. Many plumbers start as a plumber's assistant or mate and train on the job. Direct application suits people with qualifications and several years' experience in related industries such as building services or heating and ventilation.

For the description: say whether you want a qualified plumber, an improver, an apprentice or a mate, and what you will train.

Working conditions to state

The National Careers Service describes work at a client's home, a client's business or a construction site, in an environment that may be cramped, and typical hours of 37 to 45 a week with evenings, weekends and bank holidays as customers demand. State the work mix (installation, service, call-outs), the area covered, the call-out rota and how it is paid, the van and tools, the driving licence, and the physical demands.

A plumber job description template

Job title: Plumber (or Plumbing and Heating Engineer)

Reports to: Contracts Manager, Service Manager or Owner

Purpose: Install, repair, service and maintain water, heating and drainage systems for our customers, safely, to the regulations and to a standard that brings them back.

Responsibilities:

• Install water, heating and drainage systems, pipework, fittings and sanitaryware to specification.
• Diagnose and repair leaks, blockages and faults; cut, shape and join pipe.
• Service and repair central heating systems and radiators (gas work by Gas Safe registered engineers only).
• Attend emergency call-outs on the rota; make the property safe first.
• Fit flashings and weatherproofing where plumbing meets the building fabric.
• Work to water and building regulations and site safety rules; complete certificates and job sheets.
• Advise customers, quote for work as required and represent the company in their homes.
• Keep the van stocked and tools in order.

Skills and experience:

• Level 3 plumbing qualification or apprenticeship, or equivalent experience.
• Gas Safe registration: required / desirable / not required (state which).
• CSCS card for site work; other registrations as listed.
• Full driving licence.
• Customer service, diagnosis, attention to detail and clear records.

Working pattern: Hours, call-out rota and pay, area covered, van provided, overtime.

Our job description template explains each section; our electrician job description shows the same structure for the neighbouring trade, and our maintenance technician job description covers the in-house building maintenance role that often includes plumbing.

Frequently asked questions

What are the job responsibilities of a plumber?

According to the National Careers Service, a plumber installs and repairs water, heating and drainage systems, cuts, shapes and joins pipes and fittings, services gas and oil-fired central heating systems and radiators, responds to emergency call-outs such as broken boilers or blocked drains, and fits weatherproof materials and flashings to roofs, chimneys and walls.

What are the duties of a plumber in a job description?

Six: install systems, repair and maintain, service heating systems, respond to emergencies, fit external weatherproofing, and work to the regulations with the records they require. Add customer advice and quoting where the plumber deals directly with customers.

Does a plumber need to be Gas Safe registered?

Only for gas work. The National Careers Service says you will need to be on the Gas Safe Register to work with domestic gas heating systems. A plumber without registration can do water, drainage and non-gas heating work; a job description including boiler work must say whether registration is required.

What qualifications does a plumber need?

In England the usual route is a level 3 apprenticeship such as plumbing and domestic heating technician, or a college course in plumbing studies followed by training on the job; many start as a plumber's mate. Gas Safe registration is needed for gas work and a CSCS card for construction sites.

What skills does a plumber need?

The National Careers Service lists the ability to use, repair and maintain tools, knowledge of building and construction, attention to detail, maths, teamwork, initiative, manual skill, customer service and basic device use. Diagnosis and clear record-keeping matter as much in practice.

What hours does a plumber work?

The National Careers Service gives 37 to 45 hours a week, with evenings, weekends and bank holidays as customers demand, at customers' homes, businesses or construction sites. A job description should state the call-out rota and how it is paid.

Your next step: state the work mix

1. Say what share of the job is installation, service and call-outs, and where.
2. State the registrations required on day one, starting with Gas Safe, and those you will fund.
3. Put the call-out rota, van and licence in writing.
4. Plan the first weeks: your systems, your certificates and a named engineer to work alongside.

For a structured start, read and download our employee onboarding guide. The guide is free to read, and the PDF uses our short download form.

Want engineers' targets, certificates and reviews in one place? Book a New Dynamics demo and bring your current job descriptions. You can also email contact@new-dynamics.com.