How to Go About Hiring A Plumber

Unless planning a remodeling or construction project, most residential plumbing needs are «emergencies.» A drain is backed up, a toilet will not turn off, a disposal is not functioning, or a pipe is leaking. If you do not already have a great plumber, you’ll need to take steps to find the right person for the job (unless it’s a 3 am emergency). Below you’ll find several tips for hiring the best plumber for your money.

1) Locate a listing with a local address.

A plumber with only a toll free listing or no address might not be a local company.

2) Look for a qualified plumber.

Qualified plumbers are almost always licensed with the state. You can usually check the license status of a plumber and sometimes look at their complaint record. If not, you can check the Better Business Bureau. The plumber may or may not belong to a union, depending on where you live.

3) Make sure the plumber is insured.

As with any worker you allow in your home, make sure the plumber provides you with a copy of their insurance. You do not want to be on the hook for any worker injured on your property or for damages they might cause.

4) Request an estimate.

When you contact plumbers, tell them you want an estimate. Some plumbers charge for estimates: try to find one that does not. Review the estimates carefully and determine exactly what you are going to be paying for and what is not included, how long the project will take and the date of completion.

5) Ask for specific plans.

Have them show you whenever possible exactly what they will be doing. Plumbing can often run into work beyond the scope of an original diagnosis, so ask for the hourly rate for any work not described. For instance a small copper pipe leak near a hot water heater might reveal the hot water heater is bad. Or when one leak is repaired another one is discovered or created. Make sure any work not expressed in writing will require your written approval.

6) Get more information.

Ask every plumber how long they’ve been on the job, if the total cost includes the final clean up, and what guarantees are there with their work or the installed parts. Ask about the name brands of the particular parts the plumber will be working with. There are many alternative materials available today. For example CPVC is a great replacement for copper. This chlorinated polyvinyl chloride material has some definite advantages over copper pipe. These pipes and fittings do not scale and corrode which eliminates failure and the material does not promote condensation which can cause damage to walls and contents.

7) You should also ask what experience the plumber has had with your particular problem and inquire about any permits that might be required for your project and if the plumber will be responsible for applying for them.

8) Some repairs require the removal of drywall or other structure material to access the area and make the repair. While most plumbers will not be fixing these issues, make sure you know exactly what they will be doing to get to your problem so you will know what else might need repair.

9) Make sure the plumber is going to clean up and mess made by the repair. While they might not replace tiles that had to be removed or patch drywall, they should leave the area clean.

Keep in mind, the lowest estimate may not necessarily be the right one for you. This person will be in your home so make sure you feel comfortable about them. Consider how they answered your questions and how much experience they have, and their references. Skilled plumbers who are familiar with working with the public should take the time to discuss the issue, how they intend to repair it, and their overall estimate. If the plumber has an attitude and does not want to explain things, you should move on to the next one.