Whether you have an emergency or just need someone for routine maintenance on your pipes, finding the right plumber can seem challenging. After all, the United States has around 490,000 plumbing workers employed, and you can probably find dozens of options even in a smaller town.
For the best experience, it helps to compare a few local options and ask the right questions before hiring a plumber. That way, you don’t waste your money or put your home and plumbing systems at risk.
Image by Merry Christmas
Take a look at six important questions to ask before hiring a plumber.
- What Qualifications Do Your Employees Have?
When contacting a local plumbing company, always ask about the credentials and experience the plumbers have. New plumbing companies start out all the time, but you’ll likely want established plumbers working for you.
You’ll want to make sure the employees have completed many plumbing jobs successfully. You’ll also want to make sure the plumbers completed apprenticeships and obtained state licensure.
- Does Your Plumbing Company Have Insurance?
Having plumbing work done comes with risks. After all, the plumber could make a mistake, get hurt, or damage your property.
So, you’ll want to ask the plumber questions about the insurance they carry to reduce the risk of having them working at your place. If they don’t have insurance, this means you should protect yourself and just look for another plumber.
- Do You Guarantee Your Plumbing Work?
When looking into how to hire a plumber, you might not think about the work going wrong or failing early. However, it can happen. So, you should protect yourself by seeing if there’s a guarantee on the work as well as extended warranty options.
- How Does Your Pricing Work?
Ask your plumber questions about the pricing for the job to make sure it fits your budget. You’ll want to know both how much you’ll pay and how you’ll pay. For example, some plumbers may charge hourly, while others offer flat rates by job.
- Can You Handle This Plumbing Issue?
You probably won’t have a problem with routine work needed like unclogging pipes or fixing small leaks. However, your plumber might lack certain skills or equipment for complex jobs. So, explain your needs thoroughly to ensure the plumber feels comfortable and capable with the job.
- When Can You Do the Work?
When hiring a plumber, find out their availability early in the process since you might have an urgent issue that can’t wait. That situation would warrant a plumbing company with 24/7 availability for emergencies and fast appointments. For less urgent issues, make sure the plumbing company has predictable hours and stays open most days of the week.
Hiring a Plumber Takes Patience
To save money and hassles, don’t skip asking these important questions before hiring a plumber. To get connected, you can usually submit a request online or call the plumber.
The plumber will likely answer your questions upfront, but they might want to come to visit your house as well. This can help with giving estimates for plumbing problems and plumbing maintenance tasks.
Be sure to check our other blog posts for more tips on maintaining and repairing your home.
