There’s nothing more annoying than finding an issue with your pipelines. It always happens at the most inconvenient times; fixing it is complicated, and all you want is for the problem to be gone. So, the desire to call the first plumber that’s name pops up on google is understood, but it’s important to make a better choice. If you book a plumber who’s unprofessional, you may pay a higher price to fix the problem in the long run. That’s why it’s best to start by looking for a good, reliable plumber in advance and to keep their number in case of an emergency.
Here are some tips for choosing a plumber.
Availability
The first rule is to find a plumber who’s available so that if there’s an emergency, and an immediate fix is required, you know there’s someone to talk to. It’s important to find a plumber who’s available 24/7. Another important rule is the plumber’s work area. You can find the best plumber in the world, but if they are having issues coming to your neighborhood, it’s pointless. Make sure the plumber you choose can arrive easily to your address.
Services
If the problem you have is something simple like a blockage or a pipe burst, it’s more likely that any plumber can fix it. However, not all problems are that simple. Some issues are complicated and require advanced treatment and tools that not all plumbers can provide. Even if at first the problem might seem simple it could become more complex later—a decrease in water pressure can hide a leak that only intricate tools will uncover; sewage problems may require more complex treatment, etc. That’s why it is best to choose a plumber with a variety of services and a more advanced set of tools. All you need to do is ask what type of problems the plumber can fix. If the professional has a website, you can find the range of services they offer there.
Warranty
Sometimes, a problem you think has been solved could reappear—perhaps because the initial treatment was partial or the issue for which you called the plumber for was hiding a more complex problem. In such cases, you may need to call the professional again, and it’s a shame to pay twice for the same thing. That is why it’s crucial to find out if the plumber provides warranty and will agree, in advance, to return quickly to fix the problem for no extra cost, if it was to reoccur. Warranty is a kind of guarantee and a character reference that proves you’re dealing with an honest professional who’s interested in doing the best work for their clients.
This is where your responsibility comes into place as well—you must pay attention to the issue during the days after the plumber’s arrival, make sure there aren’t other problems, and contact them quickly in case you recognize a problem.
Recommendations
This may be the most important thing when it comes to choosing a plumber. So far, all the information you’ve collected arrived directly from the plumber himself or their website. You don’t know the person and you have no way to know how accurate the info really is. Of course, most professionals are honest and fair, but there’s a small number of people that shouldn’t be trusted and it results in putting too much money, time, and energy into a problem that can be easily fixed.
The best way to know you’re in good hands is to look for recommendations. Luckily, in the internet age, we can find those easily. We advise not to stop at the comment section of the Facebook page or website of the plumber, but to visit a ranking website that offers a ranking of all the professionals in your area. You can also ask a friend for a recommendation for a reliable professional. If they had a good experience with a plumber it may be your best bet.
What to Look For When Reading Recommendations
A few important details: first, you should look up info about the availability and professionalism of the plumber. Did they arrive on time? Were they late? Has the problem been handled efficiently?
Another important thing is the price—in all the ranking sites you can compare the prices of different services. A decent plumber will charge something near the average rice. Of course, you need to take into consideration that sometimes a problem seems simple, but it will be more complicated and the price will increase accordingly.
Follow all of these rules, and you’ve got yourself a plumber for life.
