If an urgent plumbing problem happens in your house, it’s unlikely that you’ll have enough time to talk to a plumber and figure out whether or not that certain person is the best professional to deal with it. Your first concern will be how to fix the issue as soon as possible. That is why you’ll hire the first plumber who’ll be free at the time and who’ll agree to take over and fix your leaky faucet, or clogged toilet, or broken water heater, etc. Moreover, such small but quite unfortunate issues may be solved pretty much by any plumber. A couple of tools, a little bit of knowledge and skills and you’re no longer flooding your entire house or taking refreshing cold showers. In fact, you may try to find some tips online and deal with them on your own. However, when you need a major plumbing job to get done, it’s necessary to make sure that it’s done qualitatively and that the result of plumber’s work will last you as long as possible. No one wants to pay twice for the same service, does he?
So, if you need to install a water heater, or if the pipe lines of your house require a major renovation or transformation, or if you want to set up new toilet, bath tub and sinks in your newly remodeled bathroom, you should do your homework and approach the process of choosing a qualified, experienced and reliable plumber very seriously. It’s especially important for those who’re looking for a professional to construct the entire plumbing system for the house and install all bathroom and kitchen appliances. Regardless of what price range you’re ready to hire a plumber in, you have to make sure that the plumber you’re going to hire is not going to screw up the job you’re entrusting him with. And here is how you’re going to do that.
How to find a good plumber
- Don’t underestimate the word of mouth. Ask people around your neighborhood, your friends and family members that live in the same town if they know someone who’s potentially able to suit your demands and perform the kind of task you need to get done. The fact is that most general contractors, including plumbers, get a good portion of their orders through the network of their previous clients. That’s why they’re trying to make sure that their customers are satisfied with the results of their performance. It will not only influence on their short-term income, but also determine the number of prospective orders they may receive through the references. People won’t recommend someone they didn’t like working with, right? Moreover, providers often offer a decent discount for those, who got in touch with them through their previous clients. However, there’s one substantial thing you have to make sure when hiring a plumber who’s already finished a plumbing project at the house of someone you know. Find out whether this particular plumber someone’s sent you to is specialized in the plumbing sphere the job your offering him is related to. You don’t want to hire a person who’s mainly engaged in plumbing appliance repair to build the pipe system in your house.
- Look for a professional online. This is probably the fastest way to find a reliable plumber. As there is a high chance that the professional your friend or neighbor has recommended to you is either too busy at the moment or can’t deal with the kind of task you’re asking him to do. Another benefit of online plumber hunting is that you’ll get a chance to compare the rates and references, the level of client support system, the performance speed, etc. without contacting each plumber. Besides, you may check the client’s ratings and reviews to see if this or that plumber does a great job or not. And, you may even post a plumbing task that needs to be done around your house to get contacted by providers who’re ready to embark upon it in the nearest future. Go to HireRush.com, create a task for a plumber and describe the details of the job and prepare to answer the plumbers’ calls. Don’t forget to mention the price range, the preferable time limits and your location. Meanwhile, you may scroll through the profiles of local plumbers and call the professionals or companies you’re interested in directly from the site.Post a task for a plumber
- Create a list of plumbers and conduct a ‘background check”. Find customer reviews of each company online to check the quality of the plumber and his work. There’re numerous websites that post customer reviews, but it’s better to use check a more reliable source like the Better Business Bureau. Remember, no one’s perfect and no one’s able to satisfy everybody. So, a few bad reviews shouldn’t be a deal breaker. But, if the majority of clients didn’t like the plumber’s services, it’s better to cross him out of the list and keep looking. Better Business Bureau is also a great place to see if there’re any pending complaints regarding the previous plumber’s jobs. If the plumber you consider hiring has a couple, you should probably refrain from contacting him not to push your luck.
- Interview the candidates personally. Make sure to ask the right questions. Be polite, but don’t let the person avoid answering your questions. Here’re the top 5 questions to ask while interviewing a plumber:
- How long have you been engaged in this industry? – Experience is not everything, but it’s definitely one of the deal breakers when it comes to serious plumbing projects. Look for a plumber who has at least 3-5 years of experience. If you’re working with a big company, make sure that you meet the person who’s going to be your plumber before signing any agreements.
- Can you give me a couple of references? Any responsible and trustworthy plumber who’s confident in the quality of his services will gladly provide you with the reviews from his previous clients. Maybe, some of them aren’t against answering a call and giving an honest review about his performance. You should make the full use of this opportunity as well.
- Do you have a license and insurance? – You should never hire a plumber without a license to perform an important project. The matter is that some states don’t require a plumber to be licensed to be able to conduct certain activities. However, most construction jobs have to be performed by a licensed plumber who has the liability insurance. Those two pieces of paper give a client a certain confidence in plumber’s professionalism and results of his work. If something goes wrong, you won’t be the person to pay extra money because of someone’s poor performance. The plumber’s insurance company will do that. But what’s exactly wrong with a great plumber who isn’t licensed? Well, his work may not pass inspection, and you’ll have little recourse because you chose to hire him despite that fact. So, ask a plumber if he has a license and insurance. Don’t take the bare “Yes” as a positive answer. Ask a plumber to take a look at the papers. He shouldn’t mind that if everything is OK with them.
- What will be the total cost of the project and what payment schedule do you accept? It’s rather important to develop the project plan and set its final cost to avoid any unexpected expenses or hidden fees. Some estimates look great on paper but only include the basic cost of materials. In the end, the cost of plumber’s services goes up and higher as a job goes on. So, make sure to set the total cost. Don’t forget to ask whether a plumber charges per hour or has a flat rate. The first option might leave you with a crazy performance fee, as a plumber might take a lot longer to finish the job. Discuss the payment schedule. It’s Ok for a plumber to ask for a deposit, as it often includes the materials cost. But, reliable plumbers will never ask for a 100% payment before they finish the job. So, set the payment system and strictly adhere to it.
- Sign a written agreement with the plumber you’ve decided to hire. Make sure that it features the points listed above. Don’t forget to include the liability issues, the execution speed and liability in case of nonperformance or poor quality performance of the job.
I sometimes really worry about the inner workings of my old home. Because of that, I have been browsing around the internet and local adds for a plumber that could really help us. I liked your tip of asking around your neighbors to see if they know anyone, that is something I have neglected to do. Thanks!
Glad you’ve found it useful. Come back to HireRush.com to find a plumber in your local area if the ‘neighbors’ tip doesn’t work out)
Every time we experience plumbing issues at our house, we always seem to have a hard time resolving the situation because we cannot seem to find a good plumber in a short amount of time. It is good to know that a key to finding a reliable plumber is the simple method of word of mouth. We will start asking around to find someone who will be there to help next time a problem presents itself.
Thanks for this helpful post on finding a reliable plumber. I really like what you said about not underestimating the word of mouth. I will have to ask around at work to see if anyone has worked with a plumber that they really like. I will hopefully be able to find a plumber soon, thanks for the help!
Asking how long the plumber has been in business is a good thing to ask. An experienced plumber will be able to work more efficiently as well as handle any issues that arise. If you have a specific issue, asking how they handle that issue would be a good way to help you decide who to go with.
That’s a great tip)
I’m looking to get a plumber. Thanks for the advice about interviewing plumbers personally so that you can find the best one. It would also be smart to get a plumbing service that is reputable and has good reviews.
I agree- the fastest way for me to find a plumber has been through the internet. I would recommend checking their qualifications and ratings, though. Also, if the price for their service seems too good to be true, it most likely is!
I really like how you point out that when trying to find a good plumber, you should underestimate the word of mouth. I need a good plumber to come fix our toilets, but I don’t know of any. However, I do know that my neighbors just had a plumber come and work on their house, so I bet they’d have some good recommendations.
Creating a list of plumbers is a great idea. That way you can start doing research on each one to find the best candidate. You can read online reviews, meet in person, contact references, and so on. That should help you to narrow it down to the best plumber for you.
Yep, that’s exactly what I was thinking. Glad you found these tips helpful.
This is some great information, and I appreciate your suggestion to get word of mouth suggestions when looking for a good plumber. I’m having some issues with my drains, and I’m worried that it’s a bigger problem than it seems, so I want to have a professional come to take care of it. I’ll definitely talk to friends and neighbors to see if they have any recommendations for me. Thanks for the great post!
I agree, it really is important to interview any potential plumber in person and it is something that a lot of people forget to do. I’m also glad that you remind your readers not to allow the plumber in question to try and avoid any of your queries. After all, the interview is meant to determine whether or not they’re right for the job and, if they’re already acting shady by dodging questions, then it’s probably best to look for a different one.
I really like what was said about getting referred to a plumber by word of mouth. I remember one time I was referred a specific plumber from a friend and it was very helpful. It was helpful because you search online and there are so many results, but when you receive a referral it narrows it down to one!
I like how you mentioned that word of mouth recommendations are valuable when finding a plumber. My drains are having some issues, and the problem is beyond my ability to fix, so I want to hire a professional. I’ll definitely ask around to see if any of my neighbors or friends have any recommendations I can look into.
Social media platform is best to find plumbers. You can check local Plumbers in your area by searching through facebook. Check their company page, see what recommendations people have posted about them and see examples of their work.
I like your suggestion of creating a list of plumbers and conducting a “background check” on them. Doing a little research is well worth your time because you’ll be able to hire the plumber you choose confidently. Going over things like reviews, experience, and the BBB will help you know if that particular plumber is a good fit for you.
That’s a good point you make about how it’s important to develop the project plan and set its final cost to avoid any unexpected expenses or hidden fees. I’ve heard that you want to make sure that you get the plumber to look at the project, in person, before getting an estimate so that it’s as accurate as possible. I’ll have to keep this great info in mind so that I’m better able to choose a reputable plumbing company.
I like how you suggested asking neighbors for recommendations when looking for a plumber. I’ve been having some problems with the drain in my downstairs bathroom, and I want to have a professional come and take a look at that. Maybe it would be a good idea to ask some people in my neighborhood for recommendations so I have a place to start my search for a plumber.
The article provides a lot of good questions to ask the plumber, but my favorite by far is how long have they been in the industry. After all, history does equal experience in a lot of cases, especially with plumbers. It is very likely that a plumber who has had more than five years of experience has seen almost every kind of plumbing problem under the sun and at least has some idea of how to fix them.
We have been dealing with a leaking faucet for way too long and I do not want to waste anymore water. It is good to know that one should ask around through word of mouth to find a good plumber. Finding a plumber who has done a great job for other people you know would be ideal. I will start talking to my friends and family about this right away.
That’s a great point; you should ask about the payment schedule the plumber provides to make sure they are within your budget. I am forcing my husband to stick to a budget because I do not want him just hiring the first plumber he finds. I’ll tell him about that tip so he can find one that we are able to afford over time with a good payment plan. Thanks!
I agree that word of mouth shouldn’t be underestimated. While reading online reviews can be helpful, if I hear about a good plumber from a friend I am way more likely to go with them over anyone else. I always ask around for a good plumber when one of my properties needs repairs.
That’s a great tip to ask about how long the plumber has been in the plumbing industry. I think that would help you find an experienced one to help you with whatever you need. I will have to try looking for that in my search! Thanks!
It’s nice that we could help!
My sink has been leaking for a week now. I’ll have to find a professional to come and fix it. I like the tip to have a plumber give you references. Thanks for the tips.
You’re mostly welcome! You can also visit our website to find the best plumber near you: https://www.hirerush.com/
I really need to hire a plumbing expert, and so I really appreciate your tip about asking for a license and insurance. I definitely think that making sure that a plumber had those two things would help protect me in the long-run.
My wife and I are looking for a new plumber to help us with some bathroom renovations, so this guide was really useful. I like that you suggest making sure the plumber is licensed and insured before hiring them. I don’t want to be liable for any accidents or damages to the home, so this sounds like a good place to start. Thanks for sharing!
I like your article a lot! I’ve been engaged in gardening for a while now, and I know that I am already competent in the line of gardening. That goes the same for plumbers. When you mentioned that it’s good to ask about how long he has been working in the industry, you’re also asking about his knowledge and expertise indirectly. I think it’s best to consider that when getting someone to work on your pipes. Thanks for the ideas!
I think online platform is the best way to find a reliable plumber who had good experience in Plumbing. Maximum times I tried to hired form online.Before hire I always checked there previous experience.
I am currently in great need of a plumber because I can’t work in the kitchen or do anything in the bathroom. All the drains and toilets are backed up since last night, and it’s causing me a lot of stress. You said that before I hire plumber, I have to be sure to check online reviews to learn about the quality of their work and know if they have satisfied customers. BBB is the first thing that came into my mind, and you also mentioned it here. That’s great. Thanks a lot! I’ll remember that.
You are welcome!
You never want to underestimate how much an interview can help when picking a plumber and it is great that the article recommends doing so. After all, you’ll want to learn as much as you can about the company’s background and experience before hiring them. In fact the article makes a pretty good suggestion about asking for references during the interview.
Thank you for your comment! Stay tuned, we’ve got a whole bunch of advice and tips ahead!
I like that you talked about how you should consider hiring a plumber who has at least 3-5 years of experience in the industry to make sure that you will be hiring a plumber who has a substantial experience in repairing plumbing issues. The faucet in our kitchen is dripping non-stop. It’s faucet also produces a weird sound whenever it produces water. It’s important for me to have our kitchen’s faucet and pipes to be checked thoroughly by an experienced plumber to ensure the efficiency of the job. I will make sure to consider all your tips for hiring a plumber.
I have never really thought about how many advantages online plumber hunting has! I have always wondered if I am getting the best guy for the job. Taking your advice of price comparison sounds like something I will do next time I need one.
Yeah, this is where everyone has to be careful. Glad you find our article useful!
It’s really important to find the right one that will do the work to save time, money and effort. In my end a recommendation from a friend or someone will also help on finding the right plumber. Awesome and helpful tips. Thanks!
My husband and I have been having some trouble with clogged pipes, and we’re looking to hire someone to help us fix this. Your article had some great tips for choosing a good plumber, and I liked how you said to compile a list of prospective plumbers and to use that to check the company our online to be able to tell if they have a good reputation, and we’ll keep this in mind when choosing the plumber best for us.
You’ve got great to tips for finding a plumber. I like how you said that most contractors get a lot of work from recommendations. It sounds like I need to try and get some word-of-mouth recommendations for our bathroom remodel.
I do like that you suggested choosing a plumber that’s been in the industry for at least 3-5 years to ensure that they are experienced enough to handle your plumbing project. What I’d like to do is to install a gas line in our plumbing system. It’s important for me to find a plumber that I can rely on for quality gas line installations, so I’ll make sure to find an expert plumber when it comes to this task.
Thank you! Stay tuned!
I like your tip to find a plumber with at least 3-5 years of experience working in the industry. There are just some things you can’t learn without experience, so that is definitely important. We are planning our home remodel, and I want to find someone that is experienced in the specific type of remodel we are doing. Maybe I’ll have a look at their portfolio to make sure they will be the best company for our needs.