Plumbers are professionals who specialize in the installation and maintenance of systems used for drinking water, sewage, and drainage. In the United States, each state and locality has its own licensing and taxing schemes for plumbers within their jurisdiction. Moreover, years of training and experience are necessary before a plumber becomes licensed. There is no federal law that regulates licensing for plumbers.

Plumbers have to work with the intricate pipes, tubes, and plumbing fixtures that transport drinking water and dispense sewage in homes and buildings. Most plumbers also repair and install water heaters and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The term plumbing is distinguished from sewage systems. Plumbing systems serve just one building, whereas a sewage system serves a group of buildings or an entire area.

Fittings are used in plumbing systems to connect various straight pipe and tubing sections together. Fittings can also be used to regulate or measure fluid flow. Pipes and fittings are often made of the same base material such as copper, steel, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC). Any material that has been deemed safe by the various plumbing, health, and building codes can be used, as long as it is compatible with other materials used in the system.

Plumbers in Indianapolis will install plumbing fixtures. Examples of such fixtures include toilets, urinals, showers, bathtubs, kitchen sinks, and humidifiers. Miscellaneous plumbing equipment includes water meters, pumps, filters, expansion ranks, and control systems. Modern technology has been utilized to make certain plumbing jobs easier to accomplish. Tiny video cameras are sometimes used to probe intricate pipes to pinpoint hidden leaks and problems.  

The five major plumbing systems and subsystems are: potable cold and hot water supplies; traps and vents; septic tanks; rainwater and subsurface drainage; and fuel gas piping. Hot water heat recycling units are growing in popularity throughout the United States, especially in residential sectors. This is because hot water heat recycling units are considered more cost-effective than conventional ones. Plumbers in Indianapolis can install, repair, and maintain these systems for homeowners and building managers.

Much of the plumbing Indianapolis homes and companies have is regulated by government agencies due to their impact on collective health and safety. Plumbers strictly adhere to building and plumbing safety codes to protect the occupants of buildings and homes from health hazards and contamination.