Serious Dangers From Faulty Plumbing: Death, disease and property damage.

Did you know that in order to obtain a California Plumber's License, the licensee must pass two rigorous, supervised, closed book exams, have a minimum of four years of related, verifiable work history, pass a background check and fulfill a minimum financial capital requirement?

Why? Because improperly installed plumbing can cause property damage, illness, and, in some cases, even death. Here are just a few of the dangers your licensed plumber is trained to prevent:

• One serious health problem caused by inexperienced plumbers stems from micro-organisms - either bacteria or viruses that can lead to diarrheal diseases or chemicals which can lead to more serious health risks like uncontrolled cell growth or IQ reduction. According to Dr. Jamie Bartram, formerly with the World Health Organization, these contaminants can enter the water supply through plumbing errors like back-siphonage and plumbing cross connections.

• Another health risk from improperly installed or defective plumbing is scald burns. According to the latest available statistics from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the United States Fire Administration (part of FEMA), hot tap water scald burns cause more deaths and hospitalizations than any other hot liquid burns.

• A deadly health problem cause by unskilled plumbing is carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that you cannot smell or see. This gas is produced as a common by-product of burning fossil fuels. Most properly installed and safely vented gas appliances (ie: hot water heaters, furnaces, gas ranges) produce very little carbon monoxide, but improper venting can cause carbon monoxide production to increase to dangerous, even deadly levels. In fact, carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common cause of harm and death due to poisoning worldwide!

• Hydrogen sulfide gas, also known as sewer gas, is caused by the bacterial breakdown of organic material such as human waste. Low-level exposure can make you sick and high-level exposure can cause death. In addition to that, it is also flammable which increases risk of explosions and fires. In the home, most exposure is caused by faulty plumbing - improper venting, dry traps and poor safety practices during repairs and remodeling will allow sewer gas to enter a home.

• In addition to serious health risks, improperly installed plumbing can lead to expensive home damage. Improper connections between copper and iron pipe, for example, will eventually cause a chemical reaction that will rot pipes, leading to leaks, water and structural damage, flooding, mold, and rot. Statistics from State Farm Company state that destruction caused by broken pipes alone over the past decade cost the industry $4.2 billion!

There is a reason why most insurance policies require you to use licensed plumbers for all plumbing related repairs!

In order to obtain a California Plumber's License, the applicant must demonstrate competence through rigorous proctored testing and verifiable work history.

The reason is because improperly installed plumbing can cause property damage, illness, and, in some cases, even death.

Here's how to verify a license:

Follow this link to the California State Contractors Licensing Board (CSLB) to verify bonding and standing:

http://www.cslb.ca.gov/

1. Click the 'Online Services' tab
2. Select the first option which reads: Check a Contractor License or Home Improvement Salesman
3. Click the 'License Number' button
4. Enter the license number you wish to verify. It should be six digits in length.