Plumbing services are a lot more than just fixing some pipes in your kitchen or restroom. While many individuals can get simple jobs done, not everyone is capable of fixing the more complex issues, and more importantly, sticking to the safety protocols while doing the work.
There are various aspects to consider when looking for a plumber in your area. Let’s go through each of them in detail:
Your Plumbing Needs
The last thing you want is to hire a plumber that doesn’t specialise in your particular area.
Yes, the plumbing profession encompasses various specialisations. Plumbing companies typically specialise in one or two services. To give you an idea of what specialisations are in plumbing, they include services like repairs, installation, and maintenance. Therefore, take the time to figure out your plumbing needs or directly discuss your plumbing requirements with the plumber you plan to hire.
Also, many plumbing companies offer free consultations or quotes. Search online for local companies that claim to have extensive knowledge in the field and discuss your plumbing needs with them.
Once you have identified your plumbing needs, shortlist some locally available plumbers. Consider these aspects before you finally hire a plumber:
Plumbing Licence
Before anything else, make sure that all the local plumbers you shortlisted carry a state-issued plumbing licence to operate in your area. Besides going through a rigorous background check, licensed plumbers also have their plumbing knowledge and expertise thoroughly tested. To confirm whether they hold a licence, you may either ask the local licensing agency or simply ask the plumber for a copy of their licence. This verification will certainly give you a decent start on your plumber search.
Plumbing Experience
Licence verification is important, but it’s not the only way to hire the best plumber in your area. This is because a plumbing licence merely indicates that the person meets the basic minimum requirements to practice as a plumber. Along with the plumber’s licence, you also need to find out the work experience of the plumber you’re going to hire.
While you can rely on official agencies to verify their plumbing licences, how will you know whether a plumber is experienced or not? The most common way is to rely on referrals. Simply ask other homeowners in the area as well as real estate agents.
The best local plumbers will have probably earned a reputation for their expertise in the area. Hence, you can seek recommendations from the neighbourhood and ask about the experience of the referred plumbers.
Immediate Availability
No matter how experienced a plumber might be, if they cannot make it to your home immediately to deal with a plumbing emergency, they aren’t worth hiring. If you think about it, the plumber that’s most popular in an area will essentially be the busiest, too. Unless the plumbing company you’re hiring has plenty of plumbers, consider hiring a less popular but proficient plumber in the area who can visit you when required.
However, you may still be confronted with a situation when a professional plumber is not immediately available, requiring you to make a quick decision. In such situations, the best approach is to call your local Business Bureau and check what plumbing complaints have been filed and seek any recommendations on how to deal with the situation.
If you want to know how to choose a plumber in your area, then this blog post is a good place to start. Following these guidelines will hopefully ensure that you hire a plumber who can keep your plumbing issues at bay.
