Rock Stars of Plumbing
JL Phelps & Associates Plumbing and Mechanical LLC keeps customers worry free
Joshua Phelps, Responsible Master Plumber and Owner of JL Phelps & Associates Plumbing & Mechanical LLC (JL Phelps), takes his job very seriously. “What we do as plumbers protects the health of the nation. We at JL Phelps are dedicated to this profession and to being the best we can be.”
The Austin-based company provides plumbing services to commercial, residential and industrial customers throughout the greater Austin area. “We do everything from plumbing on multimillion-dollar projects for the United States National Guard to the new Starbucks on your neighborhood corner,” Joshua says.
One of the firm’s specialty service offerings helps to protect potable water supplies from contamination and pollution. “A backflow preventer keeps water flowing in one direction, preventing the unintended contamination of drinking water from backflow. We install, service and maintain backflow prevention systems, and as licensed specialists in cross-connection control and backflow prevention, we are certified to inspect and test backflow assemblies,” he says. “What we do not only keeps commercial clients in compliance with state and local backflow testing regulations, but also helps ensure the safety of our drinking water.”
The company protects water and captures water, according to Joshua. JL Phelps is a licensed rainwater harvesting contractor. “We install and service rainwater tanks that capture, store and convert rainwater into potable water,” he says, adding that the process is much more sophisticated than capturing water under a rainspout. “Our systems remove contaminants, making the water safe for drinking, cooking and bathing.” He adds that rainwater harvesting is a growth area for the company. “In Texas, our aquifers are being depleted and our potable water supply is at risk. These systems capture rainwater, thereby, reducing reliance on our aquifers.”
Medical Plumbing Is Serious Business
JL Phelps enjoys taking on complex projects that require precision work, and for Joshua, medical plumbing provides these challenges. “We are certified in medical gas piping. Medical professionals rely on us to install high-end plumbing systems that convey or involve oxygen, nitrous oxide, high-pressure nitrogen, medical compressed air and medical vacuum systems,” he says.
Joshua explains that staying on top of code changes is paramount. “You’re dealing with people’s lives here. When you go in for surgery, a medical gas plumber hooked up that anesthesia machine. If there’s a change in an oxygen regulation or other code, I need to know that.”
He adds that though the state of Texas only mandates eight hours a year of continuing education for plumbers, he takes many hours in excess of that number. “I do 32 hours of continuing education in backflow prevention, eight hours of medical gas piping and another eight hours of continuing education for my plumbing license. It’s essential to spend that time keeping on top of changes in the industry.”
Joshua appreciates when medical professionals take an interest in his work. “For Cove Family Dental, we installed all of the medical gas piping for its new clinic in Copperas Cove. This included all of the hard piping for the oxygen and nitrous, as well as plumbing for the medical water and air,” he says. “I enjoyed explaining to the dentist what we were doing with the oxygen and why I use nitrogen RF14 to purge all the joints. He could see for himself the care we take in installation and feel confident that at the end of the day the plumbing will pass state inspection.”
Right the First Time
Though Joshua is backed by a team of 11 master plumbers, journeymen and apprentices, the owner takes the word “responsible” in his state designation as a responsible master plumber to heart. “I am responsible for ensuring all codes are followed, and I take that very seriously.” Joshua reviews all blueprints—some in excess of 300 pages—line by line. “If something’s not on a blueprint that should be, I’m going to find that issue before the project ever breaks ground. Customers appreciate that level of detail and dedication.”
Customers also appreciate that very rarely do systems installed by JL Phelps require follow-up service calls. “We do it right the first time,” Joshua says. “We are prompt and professional, and we take pride in providing code-worthy, clean, neat plumbing systems that work efficiently and properly.”
The company is a favorite of local clients. “We have maintained an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau for more than 20 years. We may not be the least expensive company out there, but we do quality work and can be trusted,” he says.
From the Military to First Responders
JL Phelps has the trust of commercial customers, as well as the government. The company recently completed a large-scale plumbing project for the Texas Army National Guard at the Temple Readiness Center. “We did the plumbing for 27 showers in both the men’s and women’s barracks, a commercial-grade kitchen, restrooms and drinking fountains and installed trench and floor drains and all sanitary plumbing. The project took 18 months and spanned 200,000 square feet,” Joshua says.
Before setting foot on the military base, all employees underwent extensive background checks. “Customers can trust us knowing that the government has performed extensive vetting of our team,” he adds.
Joshua appreciates working for the military and on civic projects. The company was the plumber of choice for an $8.5 million project for Fire Station No. 5 in Cedar Park. “We installed all the apparatus needed to wash the fire trucks; the domestic water system, including the plumbing and piping to the barracks and showers; all underground piping; the backflow prevention system; and plumbing for the kitchen,” he says. “We felt a sense of pride in being selected to provide this service for these first responders in our community.”
From Ditch Digger to Business Owner
Joshua got his start in the industry right out of high school. “I started out digging ditches as an apprentice,” he says. Within two years, Joshua began riding alongside a journeyman, assisting with commercial plumbing projects, and by his mid-20s, Joshua had obtained his journeyman license and was managing his own crew.
In 1998, several years after obtaining his master plumber license, Joshua formed JL Phelps and began providing plumbing services to residential customers. In just two years, the company landed a contract with a homebuilder for plumbing services on 25 new houses. “After that, we got into light commercial work and small tenant finish-outs and progressed from there.”
Education and Awareness
According to Joshua, no one on his team is there for just a paycheck. “Everyone here is working every day to become better at what they do.”
And Joshua puts his employees through their paces, working side by side to provide hands-on training. “How do they learn if you don’t show them?” he asks. “Every day I’m working out in the field with them. They know I’ll jump in a ditch and work right alongside them digging out pea gravel.
“Every single one of my guys knows how to install a plumbing system from the ground up—from running a line from the city main all the way to the faucet,” he says. “I take an average guy and turn him into a rock star.” Joshua invests in his employees, funding licensing costs and continuing education training. “One of my journeymen recently wanted to become licensed in medical gas plumbing. I paid for the four-month training. I never want to hold anyone back. It’s important to let people progress.”
He also makes sure employees have the tools they need to stay safe. “We often work at heights and in active construction zones. I make sure employees are correctly wearing their harnesses, tying off and wearing their safety glasses,” he says. “We meet every week to talk about a safety topic. The only way to prevent injuries is through education and awareness.”
And when the team is off the clock, Joshua expresses his appreciation for all their hard work with offshore fishing outings and trips to NASCAR races for employees and their families. “It’s good to get out and enjoy each other’s company.”
A Fantastic Living
In addition to sponsoring a local boys’ football team and a girls’ track team, Joshua seizes opportunities to talk to high school students about the trade. “I want young people to know that this profession is a great deal more than unclogging toilets. The work we do helps to keep communities safe. Plus, it can be very lucrative.”
Joshua emphasizes, however, that no bit of success comes without a lot of hard work. “At the end of a project, our customers are happy with our work and worry free. We want to make sure our clients have the best plumbing systems offered on planet Earth, and that’s what we strive for each and every day.”