As the third Friday of September rolls around, that means it’s time to celebrate National Tradesmen Day! Founded in 2011, National Tradesmen Day recognizes and honors the vital contributions of tradespeople across industries. This year, it falls on September 20th, and there’s no better time to honor the skilled professionals who keep our homes and communities running smoothly — especially those whose hard work is often overlooked.
At Frontdoor, we’ll take any excuse to shine a spotlight on the incredible skills and dedication of our home repair and maintenance Experts. Today, we're excited to introduce you to Eddie Linares, our video chat plumbing Expert with over 25 years of experience. We sat down with Eddie for National Tradesmen Day to get his insights on the plumbing trade and what keeps him passionate about his work.
Q: Tell us about your background and what inspired you to pursue a career as a Plumber.
A: I began my plumbing career back in 1998 working for a family friend who owned a plumbing company. I was 22 and my son had just been born so it was also very much out of necessity, little did I know it would be one of the best decisions I would ever make.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your field?
A: I am a completionist, so I enjoy seeing a project through from beginning to end, working on new construction and going from laying groundwork all the way to installing the fixtures gives a great sense of accomplishment.
Q: What notable or challenging projects have you worked on, and how did you overcome them?
A: Early on in my career I was working for a company, and we were tasked with installing the plumbing for a large indoor sports facility. This included weight rooms, several large pools, a cafeteria and large batteries of fixtures for the bathrooms. Having worked mostly in service at the time, there was a bit of a learning curve in having to familiarize myself with the various schematics to make sure everything went where it needed to go.
Q: What role do you think tradesmen and women will play in the future of home maintenance and repair?
A: I think tradespeople will play a crucial role in the future of home maintenance and repair, with their roles evolving due to technological advancements and changing homeowner needs.
Q: How do you stay updated on the latest industry trends and innovations?
A: Nowadays it is very easy to stay up to date on industry trends and code updates via online courses, manufacturers websites, and social media platforms.
Q: What is a common misconception or mistakes people make with their plumbing?
A: Not being as proactive as they should be when it comes to maintenance.
Q: Have any Video Chats stood out so far while working for Frontdoor?
A: I had a call with one member that lasted almost 4 hours. I helped her change the emergency water shutoff valves for her bathroom vanity and replace the faucet. She did great and completed the job with no leaks.
Q: What is your customer service mindset when joining a Video Chat?
A: My mindset has always been to share as much information with the customer as possible in layman’s terms, so they know why something is happening, and what is going to take place to fix the issue.
Q: Do you have any examples of how technology can impact how we take care of our homes?
A: Frontdoor is a great example of how technology can help you take care of your home. Who wouldn’t want access to five different trades in your back pocket to help you with any home issue that may arise?
Q: Can you share some of your top plumbing maintenance tips?
A: Periodically check under your sinks for any potential leaks from drain or water pipes, don’t use “drop in’ toilet cleaners, especially the blue ones, and flushable wipes are not actually flushable, they don’t break down like toilet paper does and can potentially cause a clog.
Q: What is your favorite Frontdoor feature?
A: Being able to add clickable links in the notes to parts that the member may need to complete the job.
Q: What is your favorite thing about working at Frontdoor?
A: Helping our members feel empowered to take on a job that they thought they couldn’t tackle themselves.
Q: Beyond professional life, what are some of your hobbies?
A: I am a car guy so I go to a lot of auto shows, I enjoy photography, I collect Anime figures, big concert goer, and my wife and I are also Disney annual passholders so we go to the parks a lot to check out the new food and go on the rides.
Q: What is your favorite home gadget?
A: Recently bought an air fryer and it is a game changer.
Q: What is your all-time favorite book, TV show, or movie?
A: That is a broad question, but I guess I’ll go with movie, and I have to say The Wedding Singer, it’s one of those films I can watch over and over and never get tired of, it takes place in the 80’s which Is when I grew up so I guess it resonates with me, I just find it really funny and also the soundtrack has some great hits from that time.
Q: Tell us about your family and pets you may have. How do they contribute to your work-life balance?
A: My wife Meg and I moved to Florida from New Jersey with our dog Steve a little over 2 years ago, it’s been amazing living here. Meg also works from home so being able to see her throughout the day really helps with the work life balance, and Steve is usually laying next to my desk on his bed.
Q: What is your favorite season and what do you enjoy doing during that time of the year?
A: In NJ my favorite season was Autumn and I really enjoyed going hiking on some of the trails near where we lived. Living in Florida it’s pretty much just always hot, although it does “cool down” around October, we still enjoy going out on trails only now we have to watch out for alligators instead of squirrels.
Q: What is one item on your bucket list that you’re determined to accomplish?
A: A dream of mine has always been to visit Japan, I find the culture fascinating and would love to experience it firsthand.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering a career in the trades?
A: My advice to someone considering a career in the trades would be to start at the apprentice level with hands-on experience, attend trade school to acquire any relevant certifications, develop good customer skills, and stay updated on the latest trends in your particular field.
Expert help at your fingertips
Need a hand? Download the Frontdoor app today and get instant advice from home maintenance expert Eddie Linares and other pros— whenever, wherever!
Keep the National Tradesmen Day love going by learning more about our other experts over at our Meet the Experts section. And remember, when you find yourself in a home maintenance pinch, help from a dedicated expert like Eddie is only a video chat away.
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