While some plumbing problems can be solved with a simple DIY job, there are times when it’s best to call a professional.
When hiring emergency plumber services, it’s essential to straighten things out to ensure that you hire a company that’s credible and professional. This helps improve the chances of their services turning out to be a success. With the following questions, you can easily find the best plumbing service.
How soon will you arrive?
When calling an emergency plumber, the first thing you’d like to know is how fast they can get to your home. Commonly, a plumbing service provider should send someone over to your place within three hours from your call. Plumbing companies that cater to emergency services can arrive even faster.
Is there anything I can do while waiting?
Next, you’d want to ask a plumber what you can do with floods or leaks while waiting. You will be asked to describe the situation to the company dispatcher and they should inform you about some measures to take and explain the process while waiting for the plumber. They may tell you to turn off the water supply to your house or to switch off any breakers if needed.
Are you available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
The availability of the plumbing service company is an essential thing to consider especially for emergency problems. Many plumbing companies have normal working operations, which means you can call them during certain hours of the day, most likely between 9 AM to 5 PM. Unfortunately, plumbing problems can occur any time of day and when this happens, you’d have to find one that’s available ‘round the clock. If the plumbing company offers 24-hour services, check out if they have a reputation for responding to calls immediately.
Are you a certified or licensed plumber?
Not all plumbing service companies may be licensed to offer such services. This question is essential for your safety and peace of mind. Thus, you need to ask them to show their license and other legal documents issued by the state. Some states even require licensed plumbers to display their license certificate. Allowing a non-certified plumber to fix your plumbing problems may just mean trouble for you later.
Are your plumbing contractors licensed?
Although many master plumbers that work with independent contractors are licensed, it doesn’t always follow that the contractors have licensed themselves. It’s important to check their credentials and licenses to make sure that you’ll only receive quality work.
Do your services come with warranties?
In finding a plumber, it’s crucial to know that the company takes full responsibility of their work by providing a warranty. Knowing that the company offers a warranty on their work is a sign that they will only provide high-quality service to their clients. While it’s not a requirement among plumbing service providers to provide a service warranty, some even provide years of warranty.
How much will the services cost?
Budget is an important consideration for most homeowners so it’s important that you know upfront what are the costs involved. However, it’s not the cost alone that you should consider. Avoid choosing a plumber simply because they provide the cheapest rates. The best thing to do is to achieve a balance between the quality of work they can provide and the price. In other words, find someone who can make sure you receive excellent services for your budget.
When should payment be made?
One of the ways plumbing service providers entice people to use their services is by offering different pricing packages. Whichever company you choose, it’s important that you understand what the cost means and when this payment is due. Avoid plumbing companies that require full upfront payment before starting any work. It’s better to pay a small part of the total cost to cover for the needed materials and pay the remaining amount after completion of the contract.
Does the cost cover everything?
Many plumbing services provide free estimates to their clients but don’t be too confident if they provide you one without checking the actual damage. It’s best for them to provide a quote after checking what repairs and materials are needed for the project. Once the plumber has already inspected the problem and has given you an amount for the project, ask if the quotation includes everything, from materials to labor. Some estimates look very affordable on paper but if you read the fine print, these costs only cover the basic materials and you’ll be surprised at how the total amount has increased after the work is done.
Who will do the project?
It’s not safe to assume that the person you talk to will be the one who will come over and do the project for you. There are cases when they’ll send over another technician to do the job. There are also times when the plumber who started the job won’t complete the job within the required time and may subcontract the rest of the job to another technician. Before signing over the dotted line, make sure that you’ll be given a technician who’s willing to fix the problem until its completion. Consistency is important in plumbing projects to know who you can refer to in case of future problems. The contract you sign should also include a complete description of the job.
Will you clean up the mess after doing the project?
This is another crucial consideration when finding a plumbing company: waste disposal. While there are many technicians who are willing to take on the project, not everyone would be happy to clean up. Find a plumbing service provider that will include this step in their services. Do take note that waste disposal services may incur a higher total cost.
Do you have references?
Good plumbers should have proof of their quality work. When the plumber is licensed, it means they’re knowledgeable about the implications of their job. If they work with quality and professionalism, their clients should be happy to vouch for their services. Check out online reviews of the plumbing company you’re planning to hire.
Final Thoughts
Not even an avid DIYer can solve all plumbing problems. There are times when you need the expertise and skills of a professional plumber. When hiring an emergency plumber, you’d want to ask some questions to ensure that the problem gets fixed sooner than later, and you’ll be assured of high-quality work.
Leave a Reply