How to Find the Right Plumber for the Job
- Written by News Co
You never need to hire a plumber until something goes wrong with your plumbing. It is a great idea to find a plumber that you can rely on before issues happen. When you have a good plumbing contractor on your side you can have any plumbing problems taken care of, whether it is for your home or your business, correctly and promptly.
The issue that arises is that people tend to look for a plumber when an emergency happens. When you are experiencing an emergency, you do not have the time to research plumbers and find the one who is best suited to work on your issue. Working against the clock means that you may hire a plumbing company that is less than honest because they will take any job that comes along.
You may have experience with home renovations and repairs, but certain projects require a qualified professional that has experience with completing jobs quickly while ensuring that they are done correctly. Plumbing issues are often more complicated than what can be seen by a cursory examination. A professional plumber can deal with plumbing related issues, big and small.
What do you need to know about hiring a plumber? There is a certain process that you should go through and it is important to follow that process whether you are experiencing an emergency or you are just looking for a plumber to do a few plumbing related items at home or in your commercial property. When you follow a specific process, it will lower your chances of hiring the wrong person/company for the job and ensuring that you get the right plumber for your plumbing work.
Interviews
When you are looking for a plumber it is important to interview some of them. This will ensure that you access a plumber that has skills and is effective and efficient. Through your interviews and research, you should be able to discover much about your chosen candidates including their prices, reputation, education and experience.
Skillsets and Experience
You want to know that the plumber that you are considering has the capability to handle every type of plumbing work that you will have for them to complete. You should also find out if they are only capable of small plumbing jobs or if they can take on larger, more complex projects, repairs and installations. Plumbers that are insured as contractors require plenty of experience on a variety of different jobs. Some companies have their own crews and teams while others hire contractors to complete your repairs or project. You want to confirm that all the team members on the crew are experienced enough to complete your plumbing job professionally and on schedule.
Request an Estimate
Many plumbing companies will charge you an hourly rate for their work and that is why people often make a mistake by hiring the plumber who has the lowest hourly rate. While this may seem like it should be a significant cost savings, the result is often a higher cost at the end. You should request estimates from several plumbing companies to compare all the moving parts such as rates, labour costs, material costs and estimate time to complete the work.
Some plumbing companies will charge you a flat rate for certain plumbing jobs. This can work out to be far less expensive than going with the contractor that charges by the hour. No matter the fee that a plumber charges, a written estimate is the best way to compare the rates and find the best and most experienced professional for your work. Choose a plumber that offers a competitive price and does not charge too many extra costs.
Referrals from People you Know
Everyone has friends and family that have hired a good plumbing company. Check in with friends, coworkers, family and anyone you know who owns a rental property. Real estate professionals are a great source of information for referrals too. An online search will return results with reviews for local companies. Read all the reviews, both good and bad – every company has both, but when the good outweigh the bad, you know the company is genuine. Customers that provide feedback on jobs that have been completed by a certain plumber are a good reference. If you obtain a referral from someone who has worked with a plumber or company then you can probably trust that source. Never be afraid to ask for references. A good solid plumbing company should be able to offer you names and contact information from customers who are satisfied with the work product they were provided. Check with your local Better Business Bureau to ensure that the plumber you choose does not have outstanding complaints filed against them.
Warranty
A plumber who is a solid professional and offers top quality work should be able to provide you with a warrant on the work that they complete. The common warranty that most contractors offer is 90 days although, depending on the job, the time frame might be many years. If no warranty is offered, you may decide against hiring that company or individual. A professional will offer to repair issues that occur from mistakes that they make.
Insured and Licensed Contractor
When you decide to hire a plumber, you should confirm that they are insured and have the proper licensing. Licensed plumbers have the professional training to back up their work whether it is for your home or your business. They have had to attend a certain amount of school to be able to obtain their certifications. Insurance is something that should be in place if an issue arises out of a repair or project. Any injury or accident should be covered off by the plumbing company insurance, not your business or homeowner insurance. As for the plumbing company’s licensing information when you are making your inquiries. A professional should be licensed and bonded with proper insurance. This will ensure that the work completed for you is done correctly and that you will be able to file a claim if necessary, through homeowner insurance.
Scott Morrison
