Hiring a plumber is never a fun task. However, if you know what you’re looking for, it also doesn’t have to be an impossible one. Although everyone has their own “perfect list” of what to look for, ultimately, it’s about finding the plumber that’s right for you. With that in mind, keep reading to learn more about choosing a plumber for your leaking pipes or other plumbing issues.
Reputation First
There are a lot of different ways that you can quickly tell what kind of status a plumber has. The most reputable plumbers (and other professionals, for that matter), for example, will readily display their licensing information and professional license number so that you can verify that they’re legally able to do the work you need.
You can also check their reputation by reading customer testimonials from other satisfied clients. Most professional websites have a dedicated section for this. If nothing else, you can look at sites like Yelp! And Google to find reviews and insight. Just remember to take everything that isn’t moderated with a grain of salt because some online reviews can be false or misleading.
“Full-Service” Service
Finding one plumber is hard enough—why would you want to hire another one, and then another, every time a different issue arises? Plumbers are generally trained and licensed in all areas of plumbing, even if they don’t advertise those services. Be sure that you choose a plumber or plumbing company that offers a full menu of plumbing solutions so that you can keep them on call for future needs.
One of the biggest things to look for is emergency service. You’ll hope that you never need it, but it could come in handy someday. Make sure that your plumber offers some type of 24-hour service (which usually incurs a premium charge). If you can find a plumber with evening and weekend availability without increased rates, that’s even better. You still need the option of emergency service in case something goes horribly amiss in the middle of the night, but having that extra availability at their regular rate can make a big difference.
Personability
You’re probably not going to become best friends with your plumber, but you do need to be able to talk to them. More importantly, they need to speak with you and let you know what’s going on. Some people think it’s okay if a contractor comes to their home, performs their work, and leaves. This is your home, though, and you need to know what’s going on. Any professional, reputable plumbing company will have technicians that readily explain their work as a part of their everyday duties.
The Bottom Line
There are so many ways you can narrow down your search for a plumber. You can check for local companies closer to your home so that you don’t pay premium fees, or choose a company based on the rates they charge for the specific service that you need. As long as you’re doing a little research to find the best person for the job, it’s easy to find what you need.