A handyman can perform simple plumbing-related tasks such as installing a new faucet or adding a water filter to an existing fixture. Many states, however, have laws that make it illegal for handymen to perform more extensive plumbing work unless they have a plumbing license. Before offering even minor plumbing services to your customers, you should understand your state’s licensing rules if you’re starting a handyman business. By performing major plumbing tasks without a license, you risk invalidating a home or business’s insurance policy if the structure floods due to a flaw in your work.
What A Handyman Can’t Do?
Handymen are subject to strict regulations in almost every state. These restrictions, intended to protect consumers from unscrupulous contractors, may limit the type and scope of work that unlicensed home professionals can perform. Jacks-of-all-trades who don’t have a contractor’s license in a specialty can’t usually claim to be contractors and can’t advertise services they’re not licensed to perform. They may also refuse projects that exceed the state’s minor work exemption amount or divide a job into smaller parts that fall below the state’s insignificant work exemption amount.
Examples of Jobs That A Handyman Cannot Perform
Although the rules vary by state, most handymen are not permitted to perform the following tasks:
Home improvements
Significant plumbing repairs
Work on structural walls and foundations
HVAC installation and maintenance
Asbestos removal
Installation, maintenance, and repair of alarm systems
Rewiring and other large electrical projects
It’s critical to follow your state’s contracting rules because penalties for violations can be severe, and investigators may visit job sites in some areas to look for illegal practices.
What About Working Permits?
Many home improvement projects do not necessitate extensive specialized knowledge. For these, you only need the right tools and the ability to follow instructions, and on-the-job experience is sufficient knowledge to qualify for the job.
Other projects, however, are more complex and can pose risks to the worker or the household if mistakes are made. As a result, most states have legal guidelines on what types of work require a license.
This does not always imply a specialized license, such as that of a professional plumber or electrician. A ‘general contractor’ support is available in many states, whether by that name or another. Having such a license, on the other hand, dramatically expands the legal jobs available to your company.
Final Thoughts
A handyman cannot handle significant plumbing jobs. Generally, anything requiring extensive water line replacement is not within a handyman’s legal jurisdiction. This includes most tasks that interact with the sewer line or septic tanks. Aside from being a messy job, it can also pose a health risk to residents and workers if done incorrectly.
Some homeowners may want to save money by having a handyman install or fix plumbing, but shoddy work may cost them more. Hiring a licensed plumber for plumbing installations and repairs is usually worth the extra money. This helps you avoid overspending on a mistake.
Bueno Plumbing is a full-service plumbing company with the expertise to take care all your plumbing needs. We offer quality service, honest estimates, and prompt customer care. Contact us now for a free estimate on your next plumbing job!
