Many homeowners are faced with making ongoing home repairs and can be anxious about selecting the right repairmen in their area. This is especially true concerning finding the right plumber – one who is both trustworthy and reliable. A professional plumbing service understand your concerns and the importance of using quality material and performing services with high-quality standards.
But don’t hire just any plumber—hire the right plumber—a plumber who will do the job safely, correctly, and relatively affordably so the project doesn’t become an expensive disaster. Once you find the right plumber, keep their number handy—it will be worth its weight in gold the next time you encounter an urgent plumbing problem in your home.
What Makes a Good Plumber?
A good plumber needs to have several things. When interviewing potential plumbers, find out whether he or she has the following:
Licence
Australia requires working plumbers to be licensed. In addition to a license, a good plumber should have a clean complaint record. Find out whether any formal complaints have been filed against them or their company. You can visit your state’s government website to check for active licenses and complaints.
Insurance
Though you may have homeowner’s insurance that offers some level of protection, your plumber should have a Public Liability Insurance Certificate of Currency to protect both you and the plumber in the event they are injured on the job at your home.
Experience
Find out how long the plumber’s business has been in operation, and how many years of experience the person who will be doing the work has. It takes several years for most good plumbers to acquire their knowledge and skills.
References
Ask a potential plumber for references of people for whom he or she has done work. Then call those customers to find out if they were happy with the work or had complaints.
Warranty
Only work with a plumber who will guarantee his or her work and the parts for at least one year.
Social Skills & Professionalism
This one is a little tricky, but important to consider. It helps to have a plumber who can communicate clearly with you, is trustworthy, and has good work habits, such as maintaining a clean work environment, protecting your home’s floors, showing up on time, and so forth.
Quick Tip
Before you call know what your specific plumbing needs are in advance. Plumbing companies provide a wide array of installation, repair services, and ongoing maintenance services to make sure your plumbing is always performing at its peak. However, other plumbers may specialize in certain areas. Knowing what your plumbing issues are ahead of time will help you focus on the type of plumber that meets your needs.
Quotes
If it's a big job, get three quotes or bids. If there are vast differences between quotes, question each company about their quote and the price. You will learn who cares enough to give you a lot of detail, who is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about your job, and you'll start to learn the details of the work.
In Summary
When you find a good plumber, communication is still key to a successful project. Do you best to clearly communicate expectations, budget, modifications, and concerns before, during and after the project. Every project has a potential for surprises or mistakes, proper communication will help your project be as smooth as it can be. Now don’t be a drip and flush our advice down the toilet (see what we did there?), take your time and you will find the right plumber for you.