plumber
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plumber
A tradesperson who installs and repairs water, gas, and wastewater pipes as well as the related sanitary facilities.
Wir mussten einen Klempner rufen, weil der Abfluss verstopft war.
We had to call a plumber because the drain was clogged.
Although there are two meanings, 'Klempner' (plumber) today almost always refers to the tradesperson who works on water installations. The context then revolves around the bathroom, kitchen, heating, or pipes. The older meaning for roofing work has become rare.
Der Wasserhahn in der Küche tropft, ich muss einen Klempner anrufen.
The faucet in the kitchen is dripping; I need to call a plumber.
You 'ruft' (call) or 'holt' (get) a plumber when, for example, 'der Abfluss verstopft ist' (the drain is clogged), 'der Wasserhahn tropft' (the faucet is dripping), or 'ein Rohr gebrochen ist' (a pipe has burst).
Wegen des Rohrbruchs im Keller haben wir sofort den Klempner gerufen.
Because of the burst pipe in the basement, we called the plumber immediately.
In Austria, the term 'Klempner' (plumber) is not commonly used for a water installer. There, the word 'Installateur' (installer/plumber) is used almost exclusively.
In Wien habe ich einen Installateur für die neue Heizung gesucht.
In Vienna, I looked for an installer for the new heating system.
roofer
'der Dachdecker' and 'der Klempner' can be confused because both are tradespeople, and regionally 'Klempner' can also have to do with sheet metal on roofs. In everyday usage today, however, 'Klempner' usually means someone who repairs water pipes, drains, or sanitary facilities. A 'Dachdecker', by contrast, works on the roof itself, for example on tiles, sealing, and repairs. If you mean the roof and its covering, you say 'Dachdecker'. If a pipe, a sink, or the heating system and pipes are involved, 'Klempner' is more natural.
In der Küche tropft das Rohr, deshalb kommt heute der Klempner.
The pipe in the kitchen is dripping, so the plumber is coming today.
Für das undichte Dach ruft Lukas einen Dachdecker an.
Lukas calls a roofer about the leaky roof.