Cons of a Plumber: What to Know Before You Sign Up for Training

• DATE: 3 06 25
• BY: Neel Patel

Thinking about training to be a plumber? Sure, the money’s good and you’ll always be in demand, but plumbing isn’t exactly an easy ride. People don’t usually talk about the tough parts until you’re knee-deep—sometimes literally—in a job you can’t back out of.

First off, plumbing means serious physical work. You’re not sitting at a desk all day; you’re crawling under sinks, hauling heavy tools, and squeezing into tight spaces. You’ll run into moldy pipes, old sewage, and some truly nasty smells. If you have allergies or hate getting your hands dirty, this isn’t a small thing to overlook.

Let’s not kid ourselves about the schedule either. Burst pipes don’t care that it’s your kid’s birthday or Sunday at 3 a.m. Plumbing work is often unpredictable, and clients only call when they’ve got an emergency. Expect your phone to ring at the worst times, and be ready—you can’t fix a flooded bathroom from your couch.

• Physical Strain and Health Hazards
• Unpredictable Hours and Emergency Calls
• Workplace Risks and Safety Concerns
• Emotional Pressures and Client Interactions

Physical Strain and Health Hazards

Plumbing isn’t just hard work, it can put real pressure on your body. If you ask any plumber who’s been in the game a while, you’ll hear about sore backs, aching knees, and busted shoulders. Day in, day out, plumbers are lifting heavy pipes, squatting, kneeling, and reaching into spots that don’t even seem humanly possible. Over time, that adds up to legit injuries, not just a few aches.

It’s not just the heavy lifting. Plumbing often means working in damp places, basements, crawl spaces, and outside when the weather is plain awful. You’re handling sharp tools, slippery surfaces, and sometimes even asbestos or lead pipes in old homes. No joke: a study from the CDC in 2023 found that plumbers have a 54% higher rate of musculoskeletal injury compared to office workers.

The nastier health risks? Breathing in mold, sewage fumes, or dust from old pipes. Exposure to bacteria and infectious material is just part of the job, especially if you’re working on toilets or broken sewer lines. Protective gear lowers the risk, but it doesn’t give you superpowers.

• Always wear gloves, a mask, and safety glasses—even if the job seems routine.
• Pay close attention to aches and pains; don’t just power through. Early treatment can prevent lasting damage.
• Learn how to lift heavy stuff the right way. Bend your knees, not your back. It sounds simple, but a lot of folks ignore it until it’s too late.
• Stay up to date with vaccines and check in with your doctor about anything weird, especially skin rashes or respiratory problems.

Take a look at some common physical problems plumbers face:

The plumber cons are real when it comes to your health. Good habits and safety gear make a major difference, but there’s no sugarcoating it—you’ll feel the effects if you ignore the basics. Don’t wait until your body is screaming at you to pay attention.

Unpredictable Hours and Emergency Calls

If you want a job with steady nine-to-five hours, plumbing isn't going to give you that. People usually need plumbers the most when something breaks, and those breakdowns love to happen at night, on weekends, or during holidays. It's not uncommon to get a call at 2 a.m. because a pipe has burst and is flooding someone's basement. When it comes to plumber cons, this is near the top of the list for a lot of trainees.

Most plumbing businesses advertise 24/7 emergency services, and many clients expect immediate help—especially when the problem is serious. If you’re the new guy or running your own show, you’ll be on the hook for these dreaded emergency shifts. Even established pros often can't fully ditch the emergency calls.

Being "on call" interrupts your life. Imagine planning a dinner or wanting to sleep in on Sunday, only to get a call you can’t ignore. Missed birthdays, canceled plans, and interrupted family time are real trade-offs. The constant stress of not knowing when you’ll be working next can wear people out faster than the job itself.

Here’s what some plumbers reported when surveyed about their working hours:

There’s a bit of good news: Some bigger companies use shift schedules so everyone takes a turn handling emergencies. But if you’re on your own or joining a small team, you’ll probably take most of the calls yourself—at least while you’re starting out.

If you like variety and thrive under pressure, this part of plumbing might not bother you. But if routine matters a lot to you or you don't want your free time at risk, unpredictable hours could become a dealbreaker fast. Best tip? Talk to real plumbers before you enroll in a training course. Ask them about their weekly schedule and what they wish they’d known before starting.

Workplace Risks and Safety Concerns

Ask any experienced plumber, and they'll tell you this job comes with real risks—stuff you don't see on TV. One wrong move, and you’re not just getting wet. You could get hurt in ways that put you out of work or worse.

Let’s start with the basics: slips, trips, and falls. These happen all the time, especially when floors are slippery from leaks or you’re climbing ladders to reach pipes in ceilings. Plumbers get back injuries from constantly lifting heavy equipment. A 2024 Canadian safety board report found that plumbing had one of the highest rates for workplace sprains and strains, right up there with construction workers.

Now, think about chemical exposure. Plumbers deal with all sorts of harsh stuff like drain cleaners, adhesives, and sometimes even asbestos in older buildings. Without the right gear, you can end up with burns, breathing problems, or skin rashes. Even wearing gloves and masks, accidents still happen.

One of the sneakier dangers? Working in tight spots with poor air flow. A pipe might need fixing under a house or in a small crawl space. Air can run out fast or toxic gas can build up. That’s why good plumbers always check for proper ventilation before starting—sounds simple, but it saves lives.

• Always wear your protective gear—masks, gloves, and safety goggles aren’t optional.
• Check for live wires before working anywhere near electrical outlets or pipes.
• Use a portable fan when you’re stuck in enclosed spaces.
• Wash up before eating or drinking to avoid picking up nasty bacteria.

Laws do require basic safety standards, but sometimes cheap bosses or quick jobs mean corners get cut. If you’re training for a plumbing career, know the plumbing job negatives so you can stay clear of avoidable injuries and keep money coming in—and yourself out of the ER.

Emotional Pressures and Client Interactions

Let’s be real: dealing with people all day can wear you down fast. When you’re a plumber, you aren’t just fixing pipes—you’re facing customers at their worst moments. People panic when water pours through the ceiling or a toilet overflows. They expect you to drop everything, show up instantly, and solve it all, no matter what time it is.

About 70% of plumbing calls are emergencies. That means you’re often walking into homes full of stress, anger, or even tears. Some folks will yell at you like you broke the pipe yourself, while others might hover anxiously, asking a million questions while you’re trying to work. If you don’t like being under pressure, these moments add up fast.

Plumbers also get stuck in awkward situations with payment or pricing. Homeowners can balk at the bill, claim it’s too high, or drag their feet when it’s time to pay. Sometimes it feels like you’re not just the plumber, but also a negotiator, therapist, or even the target of someone’s bad day.

Stress on the job is a real thing in this field. According to a survey by Fixr.com, over 50% of plumbers say the emotional drain from difficult customers is one of the top reasons people leave the trade. That’s higher than complaints about pay or even physical discomfort. Here’s a quick look at survey data from 2024:

If you’re thinking of this career, here are a few tips for handling the tough moments:

• Set clear expectations up front—be honest about costs, timelines, and possible complications.
• Stay calm when clients get upset. Keep things cool and professional; don’t take things personally.
• Brush up on basic communication skills. A little empathy and clarity go a long way.
• Know your worth. Clients will respect you more if you stand by your pricing and skills.

Being a plumber isn’t just about fixing leaks. The plumber cons list should always include emotional and social pressures—think about those before you start your training.