Plumbing is a craft that always comes in handy because you really don’t know when some pipes might stop working. Most people tend to pick up specific plumbing skills, and some pursue them further to become professionals. But, many wonder if plumbers can weld and, if they can, what kind of welding?
Plumbers, professional or not, can perform arc welding. This is one of the most basic types of welding that do not require too much time to master. It is a process that involves welding aluminum and alloys for plumbing pipe repair.
Many might find it hard to believe that plumbing and welding can go hand in hand. If you’re one of them, keep reading to find out more about the relationship between both skills.
Who Is a Plumber?
In different parts of the world, there are always plumbing issues that result from several conditions. These conditions could be a flood, weak pipes, wrong pipes connection, and several others. Most times, when plumbing problems occur, we start seeking a professional’s help to solve our problem.
However, not every leak requires the help of a professional. You do not need a year’s experience before you can become a plumber. All you need is a good understanding of plumbing systems and how to fix them.
In other words, a plumber is a person capable of fixing pipes and fittings of water supply systems. While some might take it up as a menial job, others go as far as enrolling with a professional to learn more about it.
Plumbing Systems
Now that you understand who a plumber is, it is essential to understand Plumbing systems. Plumbing systems cover anything that involves water supply, plumbing traps, and fixtures, building drains, vent pipes, and water equipment.
There are three types of plumbing systems. These are potable, sanitary, and stormwater systems. Each system has a unique purpose, but they all work together to supply water to a building and remove waste.
Potable Plumbing Systems
A potable water system is responsible for transporting water from local municipal water mains into a building. There is a water valve on the water main that you can use to turn off the water if necessary. A water meter is also installed to track how much water people consume within the structure.
The potable system transports clean water that you can use for drinking, cleaning, and other purposes. There are a variety of pipes and fixtures in the individual structure that it utilizes to channel water to each appliance. These pipes include straight pipes, which could be either long or short.
Sanitary Plumbing Systems
The sanitary plumbing systems are responsible for removing all waste from a structure. These include wastewater and human waste. It discharges the waste into the local sewage system.
You’ll find these systems mounted on the ceiling to evacuate gases and keep the system operating at atmospheric pressures. There are three primary types of sanitary plumbing systems that you can install.
Gravity Systems – Gravity systems are the most frequent type of sanitary system. These simply collect wastewater and transport it to the sewage network by utilizing the natural slope of the ground. These are best for areas where flooding is rare, and the water table is low.
Low-Pressure Systems — These are low-head pressure systems that can be used instead of gravity. Within the system is an interceptor tank with a chamber unit that houses a tiny electrical pump. The trash moves to the main sewage facility via small pressure lines installed below ground.
Vacuum Systems – This system, like gravity systems, works with electricity and is best for specified places. Reclaimed terrain, charged ground, seasonal places, and flat areas are examples of where you can use this system.
The sewage fittings are connected through vacuum valves using a central vacuum station. Vacuum pumps, discharge pumps, a collection chamber, and associated controls are also part of the central vacuum station.
Stormwater Systems
The primary purpose of the stormwater plumbing systems is to remove rainfall from the structure. They’re built with certain features to ensure that the water is successfully moved away. The system collects and transports water through the roof, surface, and subsoil
What Type Welding Do Plumbers Do?
Plumbing and welding are two different skills, but they merge to form pipe welding. Pipe welding, also known as pipe fabrication, is joining two pipes together. This task is usually for a pipefitter, a more advanced plumbing profession.
When a pipefitter is responsible for pipe installation and assembly, they may be requested to form the appropriate metals for the job. This may entail drawing a sketch or blueprint of the pipe installation, deciding on pipe size and type, and devising a pipe installation strategy.
A pipefitter will often undertake the first work to arrange and prepare the pipes for welding once they have created a plan. This may entail cutting, spacing, or grinding the pipes to provide smooth and consistent edges. If the pipefitter is skilled in pipe welding, he handles the welding of the pipes after cutting and prepping the joints.
Welding Techniques in Pipefitting
Below are the types of welding a pipefitter can perform.
Arc Welding
The most basic sort of welding is arc welding, sometimes known as stick welding. Pipe welders perform Arc welding with an electrode and an alternating or direct current to create an electric arc. You use different types of electrodes for various kinds of welding.
Metal Inert Gas Welding
MIG welding is the most frequent and fastest type of welding because it uses metal inert gas. In this operation, A wire feed is fed via an electrode inside a welding handgun. Mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum are best for this welding method.
Tungsten Inert Gas
TIG welding is a more advanced method of welding that uses tungsten inert gas. TIG welding creates the arc with a tungsten electrode rather than a wire electrode, as in MIG welding.
Pipefitters and pipe welders must adhere to the correct welding method for each work. Preparing a junction for arc welding, for example, differs from prepping a joint for MIG welding.
Pipe welders, in general, may possess some basic welding abilities that aid them in the installation and repair of pipes. Highly specialized welders will be best for conducting more difficult welds.