Important Questions for Your Plumber

January 28, 2011

Anyone whose had a bad experience with a plumber or other service provider will tell you that finding a trustworthy, reliable service company is worth all the time and effort it takes. When you invite someone into your home, you not only want to feel comfortable having them there, but you want to know that they will do the job they were hired for, for the price that was agreed upon, and within the time frame that was expected. Here are some important questions you should ask a plumber before deciding to hire:

• Know upfront what the prices are, but don’t forget the cheapest plumber isn’t always the best. Ask about regular fees as well as emergency rates. Knowing ahead of time what you will be charged will lessen your stress, especially when dealing with an emergency situation.
• Make sure the plumber has experience with your particular job. If you hire an inexperienced plumber you may have to hire another plumber to fix the job the first plumber attempted to do. Also, some plumbers may only handle emergency calls and some may be more experienced in renovation and installations. You want to make sure you hire a plumber that fits your particular needs.
• Always confirm that the company is owned/operating with the proper license, insurance and state-certifications. You can request copies of each of these upfront. For insurance, make sure they carry at least $500,000 minimum liability insurance and have workman’s compensation. This will protect you in the event of injury.
• Get a written estimate. A written estimate eliminates being surprised with a huge bill at the end of the job.
• Seek reviews or ratings. Check out your local Better Business Bureau and look online at sites such as Insider Pages and City Search to see what others are saying about a particular service provider.

Asking these questions ahead of time will ensure that you have a plumber who fits your needs. And having a name and number of a trusted service provider on file before an emergency hits - in the middle of the night or when you’re trying to leave for work - will give you peace of mind. Investigate ahead of time and you’ll be saving time, money and the headaches that occur from hiring an incompetent plumber.