What is the difference between a plumber and a general contractor?

A plumber holds a specialty trade license (C-36 in California) covering water supply, drain-waste-vent systems, and gas lines. A general contractor manages construction projects and may subcontract plumbing work to a licensed plumber. For any stand-alone plumbing repair or installation, hire a licensed plumber directly rather than routing through a general contractor.

Can a plumber fix a slab leak?

Yes. Slab leak repair is a core plumbing service. A plumber uses acoustic listening equipment or a thermal camera to locate the leak under the concrete, then repairs it by tunneling beneath the slab, coring through it, or rerouting the line through the walls. The right method depends on pipe material, leak location, and how many leaks are present.

Do I need a permit for a water heater replacement in California?

In most California jurisdictions, yes. Water heater replacement typically requires a permit and inspection to confirm proper venting, seismic strapping, a functioning TPR valve with a discharge pipe routed to a safe location, and correct gas or electrical connections. A licensed plumber pulls the permit as part of the job; you should confirm this before work begins.

How do I know if my plumbing problem needs a plumber or a drain-cleaning company?

A drain-cleaning company is appropriate for a single slow or blocked drain. Call a licensed plumber if multiple drains are backing up at once, if the clog returns within a few weeks, if you see wet spots on floors or walls near the drain, or if sewage is backing up into the house. These symptoms point to a structural pipe problem, not a simple blockage.

What should I check before hiring a plumber in California?

Verify the contractor's license number at the California Contractors State License Board (cslb.ca.gov) before signing anything. Confirm the license is active, the classification matches the work (C-36 for plumbing, C-20 for HVAC), and there are no unresolved complaints. Also confirm they will pull any required permits and provide a written estimate before starting.

Can a plumber also handle water damage after a pipe bursts?

A plumber's scope ends at stopping the water and fixing the pipe. If water spread to walls, flooring, or cabinetry, that cleanup and repair is handled by a water damage restoration company. Some plumbing companies work alongside a restoration partner so you can make one call and have both handled without coordinating separate contractors.

What Does a Plumber Do? (And When You Actually Need to Call One)

TL;DR: A licensed plumber installs, repairs, and maintains the pipes, fixtures, and appliances that move water, waste, and gas through your home. That covers everything from a dripping faucet to a slab leak under your foundation. The work splits into five main categories: drains and sewers, water heaters, leak detection and repiping, gas lines, and fixtures. Some of that work requires a permit; all of it requires a contractor you can verify through your state licensing board.

You probably searched this because something is wrong right now, or you’re trying to figure out whether your problem is a quick fix or a real job. Either way, here’s the full picture of what plumbers actually do, how their scope differs from a handyman or a drain-only company, and which jobs in California require a permit before anyone picks up a wrench.

What jobs does a residential plumber handle?

A residential plumber handles any work involving the water supply, drain-waste-vent (DWV) system, gas distribution lines, and the fixtures and appliances connected to them. That’s a wide scope. In practice, it breaks into five categories:

Drains and sewers. Clearing a slow kitchen drain with a drum auger is the entry-level call. The same plumber can run a sewer camera down your lateral to find a root intrusion, hydro-jet a grease-packed line, or replace a collapsed section of cast-iron pipe using trenchless pipe lining or pipe bursting. See our drain cleaning service and sewer line repair pages for a breakdown of methods.

Water heaters. Plumbers diagnose and repair tank and tankless water heaters: bad heating elements, failed thermostats, corroded anode rods, faulty TPR (temperature-pressure relief) valves, and sediment-choked tanks. When repair stops making sense, they handle full replacement and code-required upgrades like seismic straps, expansion tanks, and proper venting. Our water heater repair and replacement service covers both tank and tankless units.

Leak detection and repiping. Plumbers use acoustic listening devices, thermal cameras, and pressure testing to find leaks inside walls and under slabs without tearing open your whole house. Once located, they repair the pipe or, if the supply system is failing throughout, repipe the home in copper or PEX-A. Slab leaks are a specialty call that requires both detection skill and knowledge of California’s UPC (Uniform Plumbing Code) requirements for rerouting or tunneling.

Gas lines. A licensed plumber can install, extend, and pressure-test gas distribution lines for appliances like water heaters, ranges, dryers, and outdoor grills. Gas work is serious: if you ever smell gas, leave the building immediately without flipping any switches, call 911 or SoCalGas’s 24-hour emergency line from outside, and wait for the utility to clear the scene before calling a plumber for repairs. See our dedicated gas line safety guide for the full protocol.

Fixtures and appliances. Toilets, faucets, showerheads, garbage disposals, sump pumps, water softeners, and whole-house filtration systems all fall inside a plumber’s scope. These are often the calls that homeowners try to DIY first, and then call a plumber when the supply line fitting cross-threads or the wax ring leaks.

When should you call a plumber instead of a handyman?

Call a plumber, not a handyman, any time the work touches your water supply, drain-waste-vent system, or gas lines. A handyman can swap a showerhead or replace a toilet seat. The line is crossed when the job requires cutting into supply lines, opening a drain cleanout, working on a water heater, or touching gas.

Here’s the practical difference: in California, plumbing work beyond simple fixture swaps must be performed by a contractor holding a C-36 plumbing license. You can verify any contractor’s license status and check for complaints at the California Contractors State License Board before anyone starts work. A handyman operating without a C-36 on a plumbing job is working outside their legal scope, and if something goes wrong, your homeowner’s insurance may not cover the damage.

The risk is real. An improperly seated wax ring causes slow slab damage. A supply line overtightened without a proper ferrule fails under pressure. These are not hypothetical scenarios; they’re the calls plumbers get after a handyman visit.

When should you call a plumber instead of a handyman: what does a plumber do

What is the difference between a plumber and a drain-cleaning company?

A drain-cleaning company typically does one thing: clear blockages. They run an auger or a hydro-jetter, collect payment, and leave. That’s useful for a routine slow drain, but it’s the wrong call for several situations:

Recurring clogs that come back within weeks usually mean a structural problem: root intrusion, a bellied pipe, or a collapsed section. A plumber runs a camera to find the cause.
Sewage backing up into multiple fixtures at once points to a main sewer line failure, not a local clog. That’s a plumber job.
Slow drains combined with low water pressure or wet spots on the floor suggest a leak, not a blockage. A drain company won’t find it.

A licensed plumber can do everything a drain-cleaning company does, plus diagnose and fix the underlying problem. The comparison between hydro jetting and snaking goes deeper on method selection if you want the specifics.

What plumbing work requires a permit in California?

In California, most plumbing work beyond simple repairs and fixture replacements requires a permit from your local building department. The California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) and local amendments govern what triggers a permit. Generally, you need one for:

Water heater replacement (most jurisdictions, including Kern County)
Sewer line repair or replacement
Whole-house repiping
Gas line installation or extension
Slab leak repair involving rerouting or tunneling
New fixture rough-in or relocation

Permit requirements matter for two reasons. First, inspections catch code violations before they become expensive problems. Second, unpermitted work can complicate a home sale, void a homeowner’s insurance claim, or create liability if a future failure causes damage.

Always ask your contractor whether a permit is required for your job and whether they will pull it. A contractor who suggests skipping the permit to save time is a red flag. You can check permit requirements directly with the City of Bakersfield Building Division or Kern County Building Inspection for unincorporated areas.

What does a plumber do on a service call?

A typical residential service call follows a consistent pattern regardless of the job type:

Arrival and assessment. The plumber reviews the symptom with you, then inspects the system. For a water heater call, that means checking the data plate (age and model), testing the thermostat, inspecting the anode rod port, and looking for corrosion or scale buildup. For a leak call, it means tracing the water path and checking pressure.
Diagnosis and written estimate. A reputable plumber gives you a written scope of work and price before starting. Be skeptical of verbal-only estimates. The estimate should name the repair method, the parts, and whether a permit is required.
The repair. The plumber shuts off the water or gas supply, performs the work, and tests the system before leaving. For drain work, that means a flow test. For water heater work, it means relighting the pilot or restoring power and confirming the unit reaches temperature. For leak repairs, it means a pressure hold test.
Cleanup and documentation. A professional leaves the work area clean, provides any required inspection paperwork, and explains what was done and what to watch for.

If water reached areas beyond the pipe itself during an emergency, the plumbing scope ends at the fixed pipe. For water that spread to walls, flooring, or cabinetry, our sister company ProRestoration Services handles the drying and rebuild so you don’t need to coordinate a second contractor.

What can a plumber fix that you cannot fix yourself?

Some plumbing is genuinely DIY-friendly: replacing a faucet aerator, swapping a flapper in a toilet tank, or installing a new showerhead. Most homeowners can handle those with a wrench and a YouTube video.

Here’s where DIY reliably fails:

Slab leaks. Finding a leak under a concrete foundation requires acoustic or thermal detection equipment. Accessing it requires knowing whether to tunnel, core, or reroute, and doing it wrong causes structural damage.
Water heater gas connections. Improper gas connections are a safety hazard. California requires a licensed contractor for water heater replacement in most jurisdictions, and the work must be inspected.
Main sewer line problems. Camera inspection, pipe bursting, and pipe lining require specialized equipment and training. A rental auger can clear a soft clog; it cannot fix a collapsed lateral.
Whole-house repiping. Cutting into walls, maintaining proper slope on drain lines, and passing a pressure test all require trade knowledge. PEX-A expansion fittings, for example, require a specific expansion tool and correct sizing to hold pressure long-term.
Anything involving a permit. If a permit is required, a licensed contractor must pull it. DIY permit work is illegal in California and creates real liability.

For a deeper look at which drain problems are worth attempting yourself, this comparison of chemical drain cleaners versus calling a plumber lays out the decision clearly.

All Pro Plumbing Heating and Air handles all of the above across Bakersfield and surrounding communities. If you’re not sure whether your situation needs a plumber or something more, call (661) 863-9242 and describe what you’re seeing. One call does it all.

About All Pro Plumbing Heating and Air

All Pro Plumbing Heating and Air is a plumbing and HVAC service company serving Bakersfield, CA and surrounding communities including Oildale, Rosedale, Shafter, Delano, Taft, and Tehachapi. Their technicians handle drains, sewer lines, water heaters, leak detection, slab leak repair, repiping, gas lines, heating, and air conditioning. Available 24/7 at (661) 863-9242. Before hiring any contractor, verify their license at the California Contractors State License Board.