Plumbing is a skilled trade of working with pipes for use with water, drainage and natural gas. Generally speaking, a plumber is the person who installs and maintains piping and its systems, equipment associated with plumbing fittings, piping and its fixtures, and apparatus used for upkeep and usage of water and its equipment. The specifics of a plumber's vocation are varied, and one must be educated in the area of plumbing to fully understand what is required.

Plumbers have various responsibilities when engaging in the act of plumbing. Installation of commercial, housing and industrial plumbing works as well as maintaining installed systems and their fixtures, including locating connections, and any mechanics including fixtures that are hidden from plain view. Interpreting blueprints and written specifications for construction or repair of plumbing layout and waste systems are also part of the plumber's work.

Plumbers also perform duties such as cutting and bending pipes, utilize power tools, possess the capability of communicating effectively with co workers and clients, making accurate estimates for pricing of jobs, planning and recording instructions for planned work of a difficult and complex nature, and repair of systems that have been previously set up.