If you are a new homeowner or buying a second home, it’s very important to have a good relationship with a local plumber.
When you discover a leaky faucet, a clogged toilet or, a broken water heater repair, you will need to make a service call.
There are likely several local plumbing contractors in your area, but how can you make sure you hire one who has the experience to diagnose the issue, the knowledge to fix the problem, and the ethics not not overcharge.
There are a few things you can look out for that will give you the best chance of hire the right plumbing professional.
Your plumber should be licensed.
Plumbing professionals are required by every state to acquire and maintain licenses. Make sure they can show their license and that it isn’t expired. This insures that they’re up on the latest techniques, codes and safety standards.
Your plumber should be experienced.
Experience is still the best teacher. The longer they’ve been in business, the more problems they’ve solved. A local plumber with experience will also know the average age of homes in your area, the town’s sewer system, typical plumbing found in homes and places in your area that can flood.
Your plumber should have an online reputation.
You can ask for references but don’t have to. You can find a lot of previous customers on social media sites that relate to your town. Local town Facebook groups and NextDoor.com are great places to ask for recommendations or references. If you can’t find any references, or if no one has heard of the plumbing company, look elsewhere.
The cheapest estimate isn’t always the best.
It’s always good to get a few estimates. Estimates also provide a good opportunity for the contractor and the customer to get to know each other. Low estimates are not always the best deal as it could mean they are sacrificing quality to get the job.
Your plumber should be upfront and take responsibility.
On the day of, you may be surprised to see someone else roll up to perform your service. These are subcontractors and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s actually pretty common. Not everyone likes surprises, though, so your plumber should be upfront about his or her use of subcontractors, and they should tell you that they will take responsibility for the work they do. If you’d rather have the plumber personally do the work, then let him know.
Relationships take time. It may take a few visits for your contractor and you to feel comfortable with each other, but if you keep these points in mind, you will get off to a great with your plumbing professional.
