Taking care of a home properly is not always as simple as some people may envision, especially when they purchase their first piece of property. Once the papers are signed and the property has been turned over, the owner will have a vast amount of information that they will need to learn to remain in compliance with the laws, rules and guidelines that govern property ownership. In fact, there are specific legislation that applies to Washington Property Owners, as it relates to topics like plumbing regulations. That said, here’s some key information that these property owners should become familiar with before they start any kind of large or complicated plumbing project.

DIY Plumbing Projects – Covered Under Chapter 18.106 RCW

Provisions for do it yourself plumbing projects are on the books, however, these allowances must be adhered to closely, as it is written in the regulations. Based on these regs, the owner of the property can solicit the help of family members, friends, neighbors as well as other acquaintances to get the work done. However, before these people sign up to help, it is important to note that they cannot be compensated for the work that they do. On the other hand, if the person that has agreed to assist in completing this project is a professional that will need to be paid for their services, they must have the proper certification that meets the state’s requirements. For instance, this person must be a registered contractor or employed under a registered contractor who has been certified as a journeyman plumber.

Installations of plumbing – Covered Under Chapter 18.27 RW

Even though the property owner has a right to determine who can install new plumbing, they are also limited in who they can hire to perform these services. Due to the nature of this kind of work and the ultimate implications in its safety and other factors, these installations must be performed by those who have met the state’s requirements. Typically speaking, the owner of the property must hire a contractor who is already registered with the Department of Labor & Industries. Meaning soliciting assistance from a novice or someone who does not have the certification that has been noted, would place the person out of compliance with the State’s rules.

Gas piping work – Requires a Seattle Gas Piping Mechanic License

It is not uncommon for a property owner to look for a host of different ways to save money when they need to complete various kinds of home improvement and maintenance projects around their property. Saving money is a good idea, however, the amounts saved cannot be done at risks of violating the state’s guidelines. For instance, if a property owner is in the process of installing their own gas piping without the assistance of a certified contractor, they cannot start and complete the job themselves unless they hold a Seattle Gas Piping Mechanic License.

Applying for Plumbing and Gas Piping Permits and What Washington Property Owners Should Know About Plumbing Regulations

In some cases, property owners can be quite resourceful so they prefer and want to do their own plumbing and gas piping installations themselves. Fortunately, the regulations do make provisions for these situations by allowing general contractors, specialty contractors and property owners to apply for a plumbing and gas piping permits.

Once an individual buys their own home, they are automatically called property owners. As a property owner, they may have a lot of things around their home that will need to be done including taking care of any plumbing or gas issues that arise. Before addressing these types of jobs, it is important that property owners in Washington become familiar with their State’s regulations since they address who they can hire to do this kind of work. These regulations are relatively comprehensive in what is allowed because it covers situations like when family and friends can help out legally and when certified professionals must be hired to complete these jobs.