As you can probably tell, it is not difficult to find a plumber. The difficult task is finding one that is worth the investment. Great plumbing service can be quite expensive, and it would be a pity to spend money on someone who is not the best at what they do. Here are some valuable tips that will help you find a high-quality plumber.
Ask For License Information
Whether you believe it or not, there are some areas that allow plumbers to operate without being licensed. If you live in one of those places, this tip would not apply to you. For the others, you should always ask for specific information when you are told that a contractor has a license.
The reality is that they may be working with an expired license or they may truly have no license at all. You should ask for their license number, full name of the business and the expiration date. Once you have this information, it is your job to call around to make sure that the information you have provided is valid.
Look For Someone With Experience
This is not a jab at people who are new to the business, but it is always a good idea to look for contractors that have a good amount of experience. Plumbing is very technical work that requires advanced knowledge, and one small mistake can turn into a huge catastrophe. If you see that a company has been in business for quite some time, that means it is very likely that they are highly skilled and qualified to help with your plumbing.
Avoid Dropdown Prices
Everyone who looks for a plumber hopes that they can find one that is not going to charge them an arm and a leg. The problem with this is that it sometimes prompts them to select someone whose prices are far cheaper than they should be. While there is nothing wrong with competitive pricing, you should be concerned if someone is charging you much less than they should.
The best way to know if they are charging too little would be to get quotes from several companies. If any of the quoted rates are far lower than the rest, you should cross them off of the list. This usually means that the contractor plans on cutting corners or using low-quality parts.
Require References
Having someone tell you that they have done great plumbing work does not mean that this is a fact. You should always require references from anyone who you plan to have working on your plumbing. Common issues people have with plumbers include terrible people skills, badly done work and trying to ask for more money than the agreed upon amount. Calling a few references will give you a good idea of whether or not the contractor you are considering is the best choice.
Written Contracts
While you might want to trust your instincts and select a candidate you have a good feeling about, this is never a good idea. Get everything in writing before allowing any work to begin. If you request a written contract and the plumber has no qualms about providing one, this is a positive sign.
Since there are so many plumber available out there, it is important for you to be very diligent when researching each candidate and making your final choice. As was mentioned earlier, it can be pretty expensive to hire someone to come out and do your plumbing work for you. The advice here will ensure that you find someone who is worth it.