How to Hire a Plumber

While many people are well versed at ordering dinner in a restaurant, hiring someone to cut their hair, or even buying a car, finding someone to take care of the water works in your home or business can be intimidating and downright confusing. There are a few basic things to keep in mind when hiring a plumber that go beyond just regular toilet training. 

Perhaps the best and easiest way to find a reputable plumber in your area is to ask friends and family who they recommend. If a good friend or family member has had a good experience with a water works in your area, you can be sure you will probably be just as happy with their work. Word of mouth goes a long way to promoting a person’s business, and the toilet repairman that you recommend to friends, family, co-workers and neighbors will appreciate the free advertising. However, when asking around for referrals, be sure to include what type of work that needs to be done. Simple toilet repairs are often very different than complex commercial work. 

Next, when looking for a plumber, you want to be sure they are fully qualified and accredited by whatever state or local guidelines are in place. Many states legally require that plumbers working within their jurisdiction hold an appropriate license or certification. It is important to check with your state regulatory board to see if there are any active complaints against that particular plumber’s license. You also want to be sure that the pluming company you hire is fully insured with liability insurance and worker’s compensation. Copies of these policies should be able to be made available to you prior to any contract or estimate. Lastly, check with the Better Business Bureau for potential complaints or outstanding grievances against the company you are interested in hiring. 

Once you have narrowed the local list of plumbers in your area, take the time to get a few quotes or estimates on the work for comparison. Make sure that each company provides you with a written estimate, including a list of required materials and cost estimate for each part. When moving on to the final contract, it is important to ask questions to help define the scope of the project and any additional work or parts that may come up unexpectedly or are not covered in the initial cost estimate. Don’t be afraid to ask questions at this point. The more information that is passed along early on, the fewer surprises that will pop-up later. 

Taking each of these steps into consideration should help ensure you get your water problem fixed in a reasonable amount of time for a reasonable amount of money. Flush away your plumbing worries with the confidence of an insured, licensed and certified company.