If you’ve got a plumbing emergency, such as from a burst pipe or an overflowing toilet, you need a plumber immediately. However, you can’t rush into it when choosing a plumber that can be on time, within your budget, and friendly.
How do you go about choosing someone? Should you go local or find a national company? These questions are what many homeowners ponder, often when they are in need of someone right away.
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The internet is one of the best ways to research anything you might need. Now, it’s easier to choose a plumber because you don’t have to go through the phone book or ask all of your family members for recommendations. Search engines can give you the fastest results.
Whether on your smartphone or computer, you can go to your favorite browser, such as Google Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Google now offers a three-block box, which provides you with plumbing services that are local to your home. Just type ‘plumber’ into the search engine, and you can see a variety of options near to you.
If those three options don’t fit your needs, there is a ‘more businesses’ section, which can provide you with other plumbers nearby.
Once you have a list of plumbers from your online search, it’s time to check out their reviews. Often, this is right on the website or from your search. Read through some of the top ones to get an indication of the plumber’s trustworthiness, credibility, and experience. When they have high scores, they are often better options.
Though the price can come into play, you should focus on value and their ability to get the job done. In fact, consider choosing a plumber with four or more stars.
These professionals usually have good experiences on the jobs they’ve finished. Of course, you can’t go by reviews alone. Also, read through some of the negative ones just to see what complaints there are.
Consider also the number of reviews a particular plumber has. If they only have three good reviews, they may not be established enough to have the experience you need. There may also be pictures from some of the reviewers; pay close attention to what is being shown.
Though you can get a lot of information from the internet, you should also talk to those you know. Most people need a plumber at some point, so you can see who others have used and their opinions about them.
However, if this is an emergency situation, it might not be best to call a friend or family member, as they aren’t going to get back to you soon enough. With online reviews, you get instant results with valuable information.
Call a couple of the ones you have found from your search and referrals and call them. They might want you to set up a consultation or appointment, but tell them that you’ve got questions to answer first. They should be willing to answer honestly.
Plumbers in most states have to be licensed, though each state has different requirements for licensure. If they are licensed, it shows that they are experienced and have the credentials to legally work in that state as a plumber. Generally, states require licensure because they work with gas, piping, and other systems as this also helps in choosing a plumber.
Often, each state has different sewer, water, and pipe systems. They are crucial and must be accurately worked on to ensure that the repair or new install follows all safe and best practices. Licensed plumbers know where to check for issues and repair them without further problems.
Uninsured plumbers are high-risk. They could cause major damage to your property or the area, and they aren’t responsible for the repair costs. Make sure that your plumbing contractor is bonded and insured for optimal safety and efficiency.
If they’ve got insurance, it’s a shield for your home and property in case they didn’t fix the problem or did a bad job. Consider plumbers with worker’s compensation and liability insurance. That way, if they get hurt, you aren't responsible through your insurance company. Also, liability insurance covers your property if they damage it.
Bonding means that the plumber has a surety bond. This helps if the insurance company doesn’t cover all of the property damages from their negligence. Learn other ways on how to choose a good plumber
Sometimes, plumbers charge a specific price for the type of project or may bill you by the hour. Make sure you know how the cost is determined and request a written estimate before work starts.
You may also want to ask about estimates, as many plumbers give these for free. Take advantage of this because you can find out what’s wrong and determine how much it’s going to be to fix it. It’s also a good idea to ask how long it’s going to take to repair the problem and this will help you in choosing a plumber.
Ask the plumber how much experience they have to determine if they can complete complex plumbing problems. If they have the right knowledge, they’re going to know where the issue is, how to find it, and what to do to fix it.
If your pipe has burst or the toilet is overflowing, these are emergencies. You need to know if the plumber can be there at 3 a.m. when these problems happen. When plumbers offer emergency services, they often charge a little extra, but some do not. Make sure you know all of this ahead of time before a crisis arises.
It’s often best to hire a local plumber because they care more about their reputation. This means they are going to do a good job and be on time and within budget. Plus, you can work to build a relationship with this company, meaning you’ve always got someone to turn to when there are plumbing problems.
