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A typical day

New construction means an early start and a rhythm: rough-in the drain and vent lines before the walls close, then the supply pipes, then fixtures at the end. Service work is different, four to seven calls a day in a van, diagnosing a leak or a dead water heater in somebody's basement, quoting it, and fixing it before you drive to the next one. Industrial work is large pipe, welding and shutdowns with long hours for a few weeks at a time.