Aj Robles: American Plumber Stories
How did you get started in the plumbing trade?
I started in the warehouse at a nationwide company pulling hvac, electrical, and plumbing parts. After leaving UH after one semester I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I never even heard of the trades when I was in highschool. I had a teacher that always poked fun at being a plumber. He would say “Plumbing starts at $10 per hour!” As in he was demeaning plumbers and it was lowskill labor. Boy was he wrong. About 6 months in working the warehouse I decided to become a plumbing apprentice and it changed my life.
What do you like most about your work as a plumber?
Being a plumber is one of the most satisfying careers out there. You work with your hands but also your brain. It’s not just using a plunger, glueing some pipe together, it’s much more than that. I mainly have residential service experience but I won’t be delving into other plumbing fields due to the fact that I solve normal peoples plumbing issues and leave them with the issue resolved and establish a relationship. Plumbing is not just about THE PLUMBING, it’s about the customer experience and the process on which you do said plumbing.
What advice do you have for the younger generation entering the plumbing trade?
Simple. Get in. Try it out for a summer or two.If I even had a glimpse into the plumbing field I would’ve done it in a heartbeat. I could’ve been a master plumber now. I’m still aiming to be one before 30 though! Another big aspect in trying to reach the younger generations is CULTURE AROUND PLUMBING. If you ask a random person what first comes to mind about plumbers is usually “unclog a toilet with a plunger” or “buttcrack”. If we can change the perception of what plumbing is and how it’s NOT A DEMEANING career maybe more would enter the trade.
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