Does your toilet clog too often or your sink won’t drain? It’s time to hire a plumber.
But how do you know you’re hiring the right plumber? You need to get some sort of guarantee that they’re bringing in a legitimate expert.
Fortunately, you don’t need to be a plumbing expert to identify a good plumber from a bad one. Ask a plumber these following questions and you can gauge whether or not they’re the right choice for your needs:
1. Are They Licensed?
One of the most important details while finding a plumber is legitimacy. Make sure you ask if the plumbers carry a license.
Not all states require plumbers to have a license but the majority do. For the state of Alabama, they do have to carry a license before they can conduct official work. If your state requires a license and the company you called can’t present one, it’s time to look elsewhere.
2. Do They Carry Insurance?
Licensure isn’t the only legal requirement. You should also ask if the plumber carries insurance.
This protects not only the plumber in case of an accident but you as well. You don’t want to end up paying hospital bills because of a plumbing injury in your house.
3. Do They Have Experience?
This is perhaps one of the most important things to ask a plumber before hiring! Always check if they have experience in the field. You don’t want to settle for a rookie on the job.
Experienced plumbers carry the wisdom and technical know-how. They’ve been on the job for a while now and this means they know how repair and replacement tasks like the back of their hand.
They might also have better connections with parts suppliers, guaranteeing you better deals.
4. Is There a Warranty?
Before you agree to any new parts and installation, make sure you ask about their warranties. Do they even have a warranty for their repair work and new parts? If they do, ask them about the validity period for these warranties.
The worst-case scenario is hiring a plumber with no warranties to fix something only for it to break a day after. If you call them back, you’ll have to pay for everything all over again. With a warranty, you won’t have to keep repaying, especially if it was their fault they didn’t resolve the problem the first time through.
5. How Do Their Reviews Fare?
Take time to read reviews. If a plumbing agency doesn’t have reviews available on Google My Business, an official website, or social media pages then they’re either new or outright shady.
As mentioned, you’ll want to hire plumbers with experience. You can gauge their experience and skills through reviews. The more reviews they have, the longer they’ve been in the business and this builds confidence in their capabilities.
Reviews can also unveil important details normally not posted on a business site. Previous customers might write about how friendly a plumber was, about hidden fees, or if the repair work was a disaster.
These reviews can showcase if they had trouble contacting the plumber, if the plumbers ran a legit business, and if there were aftercare services.
6. How’s Their Customer Service?
Good customer service says a lot about a business. You might want to stay clear from a business that doesn’t treat their customers well on the phone. Not having any form of customer service is also a red flag — the company could be a scam and might run off as soon as they get your money.
Don’t forget to ask about long-term customer service too. If you bought a new pipe for your toilet, for example, can you still call the company six months later regarding any potential issues? Will they still help you long after they did their job?
7. What are Their Certifications?
Look beyond the required state license. Ask your potential plumbers if they carry any other accreditation or certification. Do they carry any certification from Green Plumbers or any accreditation for excellence in the field?
While most of these certifications aren’t necessary to legally work in the field, they do prove that the plumbers are good at their job. These certifications help them stand out from the crowd. Why hire one plumber when their competitors already proved they’re the better, more certified choice?
8. Are They Local?
Many don’t realize how important it is to ask a plumber if they’re from the area. If they don’t live in the local area, it could take too long for them to keep coming back for constant repairs and maintenance. They might not always be available to make a trip to your residence if they have to travel too far.
There’s also the issue with ordering parts. If the plumber isn’t from the area, they might raise prices for parts since they have to consider the additional shipping fees.
9. Do They Exist?
Yes, this is a real question you shouldn’t hesitate to ask! Always be on the lookout for scammers. Check if the plumbing agency is real and if they are a legitimate business.
How do you identify a real business from a fake? Ask for a website, a contact number, a physical address, and some reviews. Legitimate businesses won’t hesitate to give these details to you.
Even if you’re hiring a solo plumber, they should be able to provide you a contact number and a Facebook Page in case they don’t run a professional site.
Scammers won’t provide these details. They’ll try to maintain as much as animosity as they can. This ensures they can run off with your money and leave no trace behind.
10. Are They Honest About Rates?
Don’t hesitate to get frank about their rates. Gauge how transparent the plumbers are with their fees and always check for any hidden charges. If they charge extra for ordering sink parts not found in your local region, make sure they state that at the beginning of your deal.
Ask a Plumber These Questions Before Hiring!
You don’t need to be a professional plumber to know if the ones you hire know their stuff. Ask a plumber these crucial questions and you’ll know right away if they’re the real deal.
But these aren’t the only things to keep in mind. You should also learn which plumbing issues you can DIY and which ones require an expert eye. You can learn that and more by checking out our other guides right here, today!
