Combi Question from a Level 2 Plumber...

[gas4you]

i think you are all being a bit harsh ,we all have to start some were,isn't good he got off his a**e to go to college anyway,plus we all have to pay a morgage,
you have to be lucky that some one will take you on and train you.

Well as it is said, you have to be cruel to be kind. Why paint a false rosey picture of and stressful industry

 

[2520years]

2520 wrote

bripl. As explained above, I can't get experince with a qualified person. No-one on my course has been able to get experience with a qualified person. You sound like you must be in the industry, what do you suggest?


my suggestion is get off your rear end and look,the company i work for takes on people all the time as low paid helpers.go round the plumbers merchants and ask use your brain not the keyboard,if you are as good as you say it will not be a problem.currently i have a nvq2 trainee with me who has acs in four appliances plus core who struggles with the basics of gas.not your fault i know but the sooner the trainning centres/colledges start applying the criteria correctly the better.good luck with your search keep at it and someone will help.

No-one on my course has been able to find work with a qualified person, and we've been trying for about the last six months, despite the tutors admitting we've got no chance. Your suggestion is to keep looking, fine, maybe I'll get lucky, but how do I pay the bills in the meantime? You want me to get off my backside don't you?

To be honest, I think you've over-reacted to my questions. I've done some work already, without any problems. I've fitted whole bathrooms (not necessarily like-for-like), replaced radiators, boiler pumps and other bits and bobs. I simply haven't been so near a combi before and wanted some reassurance that I wouldn't cause any problems by what I was thinking of doing. It sounds like I would have been fine.

I don't see what's wrong with not knowing much about combis when I've not done them yet.

I don't see what's wrong with checking with experienced people before committing to the job either. I've not accepted the job yet because I wanted to be sure I could do it properly (so there's no need to be frightened simond). I've got a couple of books and looked elsewhere too, but there's nothing like asking specific questions.

As has been said, I can't continue into level 3 without having done some work in the industry. So that's what I'm doing, I have no choice. If asking questions is wrong then I'm sorry.

 

[Paul Barker]

it'sworse electrical. a nvq 2 city n guilds 2330 qualified came to me for experience. It was patently obvious he didn't know one end of a screwdriver from another though he was Keen to discuss cable sizing. Sort of like a gas fitter with acs wanting to discuss medium pressure meters but couldn't solder a joint or lift a floorboard.

Anyhow I said to 2330 man.You can't contribute anything to my business infact you are a drain. I suppose you can come along for free to get the experience you clearly have non of. Not seen him since. Some people don't now a good offer.

OP try and get weekend work. I always end up finishing off work on sat. If you were local to me you could come along. Regular wor force wants time and half for saturday .

 

[corgiman]

You cant continue to NVQ3 without being employed in the industry

Experiance in the industry doesnt even come close as a requirement

sorry mate your stuffed, mebbe its time to think "mmmm maybe there isnt enough work for plumbers as there maybe too many, hence why noone seems to be biting my hand off to train me"

if there was more work than plumbers then no re trainer would have a moments problem in finding someone to take them on

hard fact to swallow is that there just isnt enough work to go round I am sorry

 

[2520years]

You cant continue to NVQ3 without being employed in the industry

Experiance in the industry doesnt even come close as a requirement

sorry mate your stuffed, mebbe its time to think "mmmm maybe there isnt enough work for plumbers as there maybe too many, hence why noone seems to be biting my hand off to train me"

if there was more work than plumbers then no re trainer would have a moments problem in finding someone to take them on

hard fact to swallow is that there just isnt enough work to go round I am sorry

corgiman, I bow to your superior experience and knowledge. I really do. But you're wrong about the amount of work out there and you're wrong about being employed in the industry. My wife's a property developer and we've dealt with lots of plumbers over the years. It's like trying to get blood out of a stone round our way. Everyone has the same problem, plumbers (and plasterers) have got so much work they let you down for fun. I've placed one small ad in the local paper, it's been there for two days and I've already given out 5 quotes for work (bathrooms and moving pipes in the main). Also, by word of mouth, I've already got two jobs booked in for this week coming. It must be different where you are. You can also go to level three as being self-employed, which I am.

No-one's biting off my hand to train me because they get grants for school-leavers, which I'm not (which I've already said). I'm more than capable of being a plumber, I'm simply unsure at this stage about combis.

 

[gas4you]

Book yourself on a manufacturers training course for combi's. The likes of Baxi seem to be handing them out free with cornflakes these days to try to get installers back to them

 

[lightning]

thats rubbish there is alot of plumbing work and gas work to be had.with all the new builds that are being built ,2520 just keep doing bathroom etc .you will find your way.
have you tried the council or companys in your area.alot of small firms {1 or 2 people fill threatened } that you will take there work away.

 

[2520years]

Book yourself on a manufacturers training course for combi's. The likes of Baxi seem to be handing them out free with cornflakes these days to try to get installers back to them

Thanks gas4u, I'll look into it. I did that with Aqualisa showers and it was really useful.

 

[2520years]

thats rubbish there is alot of plumbing work and gas work to be had.with all the new builds that are being built ,2520 just keep doing bathroom etc .you will find your way.
have you tried the council or companys in your area.alot of small firms {1 or 2 people fill threatened } that you will take there work away.

I haven't personally tried the council because a couple of others had been turned away before I got the chance. There are some small companies that do sub-contracting but they weren't willing to take anyone on. One lad got an interview because he knew someone there, but they wouldn't touch him without an NVQ.

 

[lightning]

mate when you do a bathroom take a photo of before then after the work has been done .make up a pic album of all the bits you have done then this is solid evidence that you know what you are doing.
hang in there ,or go to courses on fault finding on boilers stuff like that.

 

[2520years]

Book yourself on a manufacturers training course for combi's. The likes of Baxi seem to be handing them out free with cornflakes these days to try to get installers back to them

Thanks gas4u, I'll look into it. I did that with Aqualisa showers and it was really useful.

Found one quite close to home for £50.
http://www.baxipottertontraining.co.uk/course.php?idx=1&centre=3
It does say I should have ACS, but I'll ring them on Monday.
Cheers!

 

[2520years]

mate when you do a bathroom take a photo of before then after the work has been done .make up a pic album of all the bits you have done then this is solid evidence that you know what you are doing.
hang in there ,or go to courses on fault finding on boilers stuff like that.

Cheers lightning. You're absolutely right, I must start taking photos. I did it for one bathroom that I gutted and re-fitted, plastered and tiled too, but I wasn't on the photos.

 

[bobthebender]

Where abouts in Cheshire are you ?
I have to price for a woodburner with 28mm pipes to the cylinder + f&e tank to put in.
It won't be much experience but you are quite welcome to help out for you petrol money and £50 ?
The job is 50 miles west of Chester in mid/north wales if i get it or should say want it.

 

[EliteHeat]

I'd use an NVQ bod on an adhoc basis if one were to approach me. I wouldn't pay much but would be willing to impart all I know - that would take about 5 minutes I reckon.

My only proviso would be that it would have to be a mature student - the thought of a teenager on one of my jobs in someones house absolutely terrifies me for some reason

 

[gas4you]

My only proviso would be that it would have to be a mature student - the thought of a teenager on one of my jobs in someones house absolutely terrifies me for some reason

Been there, done that, got the T shirt, never again