Hiring a Plumber

Hiring a plumber is very similar to purchasing a car. In both situations, it isn’t wise to go to the yellow pages, choose a dealership/plumber at random, and pay for the car/services without shopping around. As silly as that sounds, it is very common for homeowners to find a plumber that way. The best advice to offer when it comes to hiring a plumber is to do your research and find a qualified plumber who can suit your needs the best. Below are some useful suggestions to help you along with your research.

Always ask for a plumber's recommendations and referrals. Recommendations are a great way to find out a lot about a plumbers level of customer satisfaction. It’s always a good to idea to ask the people you trust, such as family and friends, for recommendations of professionals they’ve hired in the past. They will be able to tell you what kind of service they received and also what the rates were. Additional sources of referrals include contractors, real estate agents and your local plumbing supply store. When researching your plumbers and looking for referrals, be sure that you note whether or not they specialize in repairs or new construction and remodeling, as well as whether or not they do residential, commercial or both.

Traits That Define a Qualified Plumber

1. Insurance: Be sure that the potential plumber you are taking into consideration is fully insured. This means that they must have both workers’ compensation and liability insurance. You are putting yourself in serious jeopardy if you neglect to check for this information. A qualified plumber will be able to provide you with a copy of his or her insurance policy.
2. State License or Certification: Depending on what state you live in, plumbers may need to have a license or state certification in order to make their company legitimate. It is recommended that you call to verify that the license is current and check if there are any active complaints against the license.
3. Better Business Bureau: One quick way to find out if a plumber is performing quality service is to contact your local Better Business Bureau to determine if any complaints have been filed against your potential candidate.
4. Obtaining a Quote: Once you have narrowed your list of plumbers down, you should obtain a detailed quote from two or three of the ones that seemed like qualified professionals. The detailed quote should provide a written estimate that includes a materials list, payment terms and any additional concerns and agreements related to the project. Basically, the contract should spell out the extent of the project.
5. Permits: If certain permits are required to do the work that needs to be done, you will want to be sure that your plumber vouches that he will go ahead and obtain these permits.
6. Length in business/references: It is important to find out how long a plumber has been in business. Not only will this give you insight into how experienced they are, but it will also give you information on how well the company is doing. You may also wish to speak with some of their past clients at this time and find out how others felt about their services.
7. Service Guarantees: Is the work guaranteed? What happens if a plumber comes in to fix something and then minutes/hours/days after words the problem returns? It is a good idea to hire a plumber that guarantees his work.
8. Safety Commitment: Ask questions in regard to potential accidents. Find out how your plumber handles situations where injuries or property damage occur. It’s never a good idea to just assume they will handle things in a professional manner.
9. Clean Up: You want to hire a plumber that states in his contract that he assumes responsibility for the clean up after the work has been finished. You are already paying them enough money, the least they could do is clean up after them selves.
10. Pricing: It never hurts to compare prices, but it is important to note that the lowest price isn’t always the best route to take. An experienced, qualified plumber may charge a higher hourly rate, but they will always know the most cost effective way to resolve your problem on the first try! And that could save you a lot of money.

Looking For More Information On Plumbing?

Plumbing is a great way to improve the quality of life in your home. You'll want to make sure you are choosing the right plumber for your home and your budget. We offer Plumbing Service Requests from local, prescreened plumbers.