Texas Public Safety Alert

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jeff Weissman Electric

Jeff Weissman Electric

Member
Location
Park City, Utah
New state law (HB-1029) exempts plumbers from needing electrical licenses. Plumbers will be allowed to do electrical work on Residential or Commerical occupancies either new or remodel without an electrical license.

CALL Governor Rick Perry (512)463-1800 ext 2
Tell him to VETO HD-1029​
 
Bad news. I've observed just as many electrical hazards created by other tradesmen as by DIY's. Plumbers and HVAC men absolutely top the list. I do support some type of limited electrical license for these guys, such as would be required to make final connections, as many areas seem to have.
 
Paying attention to proposed legislation goes a long ways to preventing this type of legislation. The well drillers & pump installars association in Nebrask tried this a few years ago. I was the only one to testify in opposition at a Unicameral committee hearing and that was all it took. Intentional or not, the proposed legislation would have made it legal for the pump installers to connect and install all pumps at whatever voltage and whatever size all the way to and including the Service Entrance. Once that point was made, the LB was dead.
 
But this doesn't exempt them from needing permits to perform the work. Proper enforcing of the codes regardless of who performs the work will help to safeguard persons and property.
 
petersonra said:
how much training do you think someone needs to hook up two or three wires to a water heater?
Click to expand...
WAIT!!!

Older non-quick recovery water heaters were often supplied by 12 gauge. I've seen plumbers change out the breaker or the fuse and re-use this cable. I've seen flying splices made in cable to get them to reach the wiring compartment in the replacement water heater. In many homes, reconnecting the water heater may necessarily involve adding a disconnect within sight, which may not have been required in the past. This is another popular corner to cut. Who needs a connector in the water heater knockout anyhow? I'm a plumber, and I don't carry those on my truck. Hey, these old green encrusted wire nuts are good enough to reuse, don't you think?

There are many ways for a non-electrician to screw up what seems like it could be a simple swap.
 
I can't see anthing good coming out of this law. Some hook-ups might be good and some bad. That means there will be plenty of bad ones. The consumer won't know until he gets shocked or he smells smoke.
 
I really haven't figured out why they need a plumber to change out an electric water heater. I stock plastic fittings and pipe nipples on my truck. O yea, sometimes they haul away the old ones that are full of white rocks. Why do they but that stuff in there? Is it for filtering the hot water?:rolleyes:
 
No offense to plumbers in general, but when a plumber does electrical work he flirts with being labelled an arsonist. I have seen some bad stuff done by plumbers. Any time my plumber friends tell me they will make the final connections on (take your pick): dishwashers, hot water heaters, garbage disposals et al, I say, "No thanks, I'll just come back...I've seen your work."

Then we have a big laugh because they are my friends.
 
mdshunk said:
WAIT!!!

Older non-quick recovery water heaters were often supplied by 12 gauge. I've seen plumbers change out the breaker or the fuse and re-use this cable. I've seen flying splices made in cable to get them to reach the wiring compartment in the replacement water heater. In many homes, reconnecting the water heater may necessarily involve adding a disconnect within sight, which may not have been required in the past. This is another popular corner to cut. Who needs a connector in the water heater knockout anyhow? I'm a plumber, and I don't carry those on my truck. Hey, these old green encrusted wire nuts are good enough to reuse, don't you think?

There are many ways for a non-electrician to screw up what seems like it could be a simple swap.
Click to expand...

I asked how much training do you think would be needed for some very simple electrical work. Are we talking ten hours, 20 hours tops? Why not have them get that training so they can do some simple things in a safe way without requiring they add $200 or more to every such job by having to call in an electrician. It is this kind of featherbedding that makes people just do it themselves, whether they know how to or not.
 
Why don't they just call an Electrician to change out a water heater to begin with, I can certainly do their job just as well as they can do mine!!! :D Then I can just go take a 15 minute plumbing class.... hots on the left, colds on the right, lets see the yucky stuff goes down hill...:D:D:D
 
Last edited:
petersonra said:
how much training do you think someone needs to hook up two or three wires to a water heater?
Click to expand...

More than some of them are getting! The plumber who came to repair our water heater a few years ago is a perfect example. One thermostat had failed. I trouble shot it myself and, not having time to chase parts, made the major mistake of calling a plumber to fix it. I supplied the make, model and serial number of the water heater and the part number of the replacement part. Naturally, when the guy shows up he doesn't have the right part, telling my wife he'll be back the next day. Then he did her a "favor" and bypassed the thermostat so she'd have hot water.

That she did. Needless to say it resulted in a functional test of the pressure relief valve, and a lot of really hot water curling up the tile on the basement floor.

And Texas is going to let them wire things?
 
Mike03a3 said:
More than some of them are getting! The plumber who came to repair our water heater a few years ago is a perfect example. One thermostat had failed. I trouble shot it myself and, not having time to chase parts, made the major mistake of calling a plumber to fix it. I supplied the make, model and serial number of the water heater and the part number of the replacement part. Naturally, when the guy shows up he doesn't have the right part, telling my wife he'll be back the next day. Then he did her a "favor" and bypassed the thermostat so she'd have hot water.

That she did. Needless to say it resulted in a functional test of the pressure relief valve, and a lot of really hot water curling up the tile on the basement floor.

And Texas is going to let them wire things?
Click to expand...

sounds to me like he wasn't much of a plumber either. there are plenty of shoddy workmen out there in every field. seems like you lucked into one.
 
I'm with stickboy on this. A water heater is 80-90% electrical. I am going to start thinking about replacing water heaters. Why not? I am looking for ways to make more profit.
 
Exactly, why do plumbers play electrician, yet we wont even try our hands at plumbing, I just dont get it... why don't our licenses cover basic plumbing repairs????
 
stickboy1375 said:
. . . we wont even try our hands at plumbing . . .
Click to expand...
I will. I've replaced a couple of dozen water heaters over the years, as well as done complete supply and drainage plumbing systems for additions which have always passed inspection. Never had a sweated (soldered) copper or glued PVC joint leak.
 
dereckbc said:
Sparkies and water don't mix.
Click to expand...
Hey, look here, fella! I have twice as many posts here as you do, so don't tell me what's what! I don't know about you, but some people here have brains enough to have more than one talent and ability!

Just kidding. :grin:

Seriously, though, I am licensed for home and commercial improvement as well as electrical. 3-4 yeras ago, we built a 400 sq.ft. master bed/bath onto a house. The only work we didn't do with our own hands was the small HVAC system and the brick/block foundation masonry.

Besides getting the plans drawn up and passed, I rented a back-hoe and dug the footing trench, leveled the delivered concrete, we did all the framing, with a cathedral ceiling with a triple 2x14 MicroLam ridge beam, sheathing, roofing, siding and trim, plumbing and wiring, insulation, drywall, trim carpentry, and painting.

The county building inspector told us it was the first time in over 25 years he ever had anyone "ace a final inspection" on the first try. We passed everything else the first time, too. I have some pix around if you'd like to see them.

So there! :smile:
 
Just do what I did get your ME/MP/GC licenses then you can pretty much do what you want too. At least here. I am working on the HVAC as well. I currently sub that out but do everything except set the units and do the final hookup.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top