Why Finding A Good Plumber Is So Difficult

Why is it so hard to find a decent plumber in your neighborhood? It's not an exaggeration. It can be very difficult to get honest, reliable, and reasonably priced plumbing repair. This is for a variety of reasons including a lack of experienced professionals in your area, decreased training throughout the career, and a high demand for the service. Here are five reasons why you're having problems.

1. Knowledge
Hiring a plumber who is fresh out of an apprenticeship or still learning the trade means more time and money wasted as they scratch their heads at a particularly complex problem. It takes years to master the trade, and even then the industry is always changing. There is new technology and methods that must be continually upgraded in order to remain current. In addition to understanding the changing trends, a good tradesman will also have knowledge of older and more obscure plumbing systems that may require a different repair approach.

2. Experience
Just because you've learned a trade, doesn't mean you've had the opportunity to apply all of your knowledge. Knowing facts and being able to spit out jargon is one thing, actually solving a problem is another issue altogether. A plumber who hasn't had much experience will naturally take longer because they haven't developed the proper muscle memory yet. It takes years of repetition to become fast at certain tasks. They may also have to do a little more guesswork to fix more complex problems.

3. Scarce
Many people are shocked by how expensive it can be to hire a plumber, even for a small job. The price is high because there is enough demand for these skilled tradesmen. Few people have the ability, resources, or even strength to repair a leaky pipe or broken water heater. They are completely at the mercy of the professionals, which can sometimes be few and far between. Experienced plumbing professionals are still relatively scarce, especially if you live in a smaller city with fewer options.

4. Availability
Many skilled professionals are in such demand that they can easily set their own schedule and greatly limit their availability to suit their personal life. That means they often don't work on the weekends, after 5pm, or sometimes won't even get out of bed before 10am. If they do provide any of these services, expect to pay a high premium and have few choices. If you're lucky enough to find someone who is willing to work unsociable hours or do emergency repairs for a reasonable price - don't let them go.

5. Honest
People are terrified of getting ripped off by tradesmen who overcharge for their services, and rightly so. There are enough scammers out there to give the entire plumbing profession a tarnished reputation. Skilled workers can abuse their power, especially if their clients refuse to be assertive. Finding someone honest and reliable can take some trial and error, and the best way to do it is through referrals. Ask friends, family, and neighborhoods who they use.