Choosing the right plumber for your plumbing needs may not sound like much of a task, but there are some important things that you should know before you hire a plumber. This will ensure that you don’t go on to hire the wrong person for the job. So let’s start off with the basics here.
Who Is a Good Plumber?
There are a number of things that are almost must-haves for a “good” plumbing professional. Let’s go over all of those below, one by one.
License
The majority of states in the US (44 of them) require a plumber to hold a professional plumbing license. You can either ask for it upfront or you can check up on the state government’s website to see if there is a list of active licenses. A license serves as the basic way to establish the credentials of the professional.
Another important thing that it can check is if there are any complaints against a plumber; too many of those and their license could get revoked or suspended.
Insurance
Insurance is not to be taken lightly. Although you may have home insurance that protects you against some damages, but who is going to pay if the plumber damages a line and ends up flooding the house? Or what about any injury that the plumber may sustain while working inside your home?
You will be liable to pay and then will have to go through the court procedures for reimbursements. Therefore, ensure that the professional you’re hiring has at least $500,000 worth of insurance and a workman’s compensation to guard you both against any untoward accidents.
Experience
Experience is a primary determinant in establishing the efficiency of a plumber. It takes years of experience for plumbers to gain the necessary skills and knowledge in their craft. So you should know if the plumber you’re hiring is an apprentice or a master plumber.
Emergency Services
A good professional for you is one who can provide you with timely services. You know very well how plumbing issues do not follow the 9 to 5 schedule or the American holiday calendar; they can befall you on a weekend holiday and in the middle of the night. When choosing a plumbing service, go for the one that provides emergency services.
References
References build up the profile of a plumber. Ask the professional for references of previous clients and check with them to ascertain the plumber’s claims. Remember, a company’s website and the reviews there will only tell you so much. If you truly want to know how good a plumber is, ask their previous clients.
Warranty
The warranty that a plumber provides is almost like a second insurance policy. This is to ensure that if a plumber’s work is not up to par or comes undone, then you will not have to pay for any additional work. Also, if a plumber is buying the parts that will be installed in your home, then there should be a warranty on those parts, too. This is all to protect you in case a part turns out to be faulty, or if the work is not of the highest quality.
Social Skills
Last but not least; the social skills of a plumber make up one of the factors that you should consider when hiring one. It’s important that they are able to effectively communicate, have good work habits, maintain cleanliness and treat your property with respect.
How to Find a Good Plumber?
Now that we’ve established all the qualities that make up decent plumbing professional, it naturally brings us to the next important question: how to find one?
There are a number of resources that you can use to find yourself a decent plumbing professional for your needs. Let’s go over some of the most popular ones.
Personal Referrals
A personal referral is hands down the best way to source a plumber. Ask around in your area; your neighbors, friends or relatives may all be able to help you in this regard. Real estate agents and local contractors can also point you to the right person.
Online Referral Services
Online referrals have shot up in popularity as the internet takes up a greater role in our lives.
There are sites such as Home Advisor or Angie’s List that are quite popular for this very purpose. Furthermore, they will also be able to connect you with a network of plumbing professionals that have been vetted after user reviews. All you will need to do is to enter some basic information such as the zip code and the nature of the services that you require, and you will be getting calls from the professionals in no time.
A Few More Things to Consider
So you’re all set to hire a plumbing professional now that you know how to find them. Wait, don’t hire one just yet. There are a few questions you must ask the professional you’re hiring to make sure that you make the right choices from this point on.
What Is the Estimated Total Cost of Fixing Your Plumbing Issue?
You should be careful, in fact, skeptical, about the quotes that you received over the call. The right plumbers don’t usually do that until they’ve analyzed the plumbing issue thoroughly. Only then are they able to provide a figure for the cost of repairs.
Professional plumbers almost always include the cost of the parts that will be required to do the job. But feel free to ask and clarify before you hire them.
Who Will Be Doing the Work?
There are times when the plumbers might use helpers or subcontractors. This necessitates that you ensure their credentials, experience, insurance, etc. before you let them into your property.
Is the Rate Fixed or Hourly?
Do clarify whether the rate is fixed or charged on a per hour basis; you don’t want any surprises in the end. If they work on an hourly basis, try to get an estimate of the costs by asking them about their earlier experience on a similar job and how long it took them.
Well, now you’re well equipped with the knowledge to hire the right professional for your plumbing needs. So, are you ready to hire a plumber? You can conveniently acquire our dedicated plumbing services to take care of all your plumbing needs.