Usually, when you have to call a plumber it’s an emergency, and oftentimes emergencies can be a costly fix. When you encounter a plumbing problem, it’s vital to opt for a reputable and reliable plumbing service to ensure a quick and efficient resolution of the issue. And of course, you want someone that you can trust – you are letting them into your home after all!
So let’s explore some tips and guidelines to choose the right plumbing services:
Look for a Licensed and Insured Plumber
The first and foremost thing to look for when choosing a plumbing service is to ensure they are licensed and insured. Licensed plumbers have gone through necessary training and certifications to carry out their work safely and effectively with accordance to state plumbing code. In the United States, plumbing certification takes several years, many hands-on hours, testing, and apprenticeship – as with any trade.
This information can be found on the plumbing services website on a page that discloses their license and insurance credentials. You can also ask the plumbing company directly when you call them just in case you haven’t found this information online or need to save time in the case of an emergency. Lastly, you can always contact the licensing board that oversees plumbing companies and individual plumbers, as they have to register with them.
When you are looking for a professional, you want to choose the best in the field. It is the same as if you were choosing a primary care doctor or a dentist. A plumber is a specialist for the plumbing issues you might find inside and outside of your home.
Check their Experience and Expertise
Experience is important when it comes to plumbing services. A successful company is one that has been in business for several years, and is more likely to have experience handling a variety of plumbing issues. An experienced plumber can quickly identify the source of the problem and will also have the proper tools and equipment necessary to get the job quickly and efficiently.
When exploring a plumbing company’s website, look at their credentials. How long have they been in business for? Do they have customer testimonials backing up the success of their work? A reputable company will have all of this information easy to find and navigate within their site, and you can rely on Google and Yelp for more reviews as well.
Read their Reviews and Explore Referrals
When searching for a company online, you can always read reviews left by previous customers. This way you can see unbiased experiences with how their plumbing services were handled. The benefit of using Google is the transparency of customer responses, so you can use that as a guideline to choose plumbing services for a better experience. If you are part of a community Facebook group, you can outsource information from the locals in your town.
Word of mouth is important. Professional plumbers leave their business cards with their clients, so if one of your friends shares that with you, that is a fast track to a reputable company directly from someone you trust. This is a great way to filter professional plumbing companies from those who left their clients dissatisfied, saving you an unnecessary headache.
Compare Prices with Quotes
Getting quotes provides a reliable way to assess the price range for the service you need to have performed. If you compare a few different quotes for a big service, it is a good way to filter out a company that is price gouging – but be careful because unless you have researched the market value of a service, significantly low prices may not actually be a good thing. Low prices might be hiding behind a lack of expertise, expired licenses, hidden expenses, or just low quality work.
Look for a plumbing service that provides transparent pricing to avoid fees and surprises. When it comes to repairs, some things are pretty straightforward – most clogged pipes can be fixed with a standard procedure such as hydro jetting. Other services may be a little more complex, so a licensed plumber would have to inspect the problem first and then provide a quote for the required work to be done. Either way, as long as you can obtain a quote agreement for a service, you’re all set.
Availability and Response Time
Fast response is always better than a slow response. If you are calling about a plumbing issue on a Friday and the company’s next available time slot is Monday, that leaves a whole weekend where the situation can go from bad to worse. Imagine if you called an ambulance and they gave you that kind of a timeframe! Would you wait? Of course not. You would find someone who could get there as soon as possible. A reliable plumbing company should be available the same day, and the best option is one that has 24/7 availability – because emergencies cannot wait.
Quality Customer Service
Having excellent customer service is imperative to any business success, and as a customer that is exactly what you are looking for when you need guidance and solutions to your plumbing problem. If the customer service representative on the end of the line is rude and unhelpful, there is a very low chance that you would call them again.
Suppose you discover that your water heater is leaking all over the floor. This is a moment where you need guidance on what to do next. When calling a reliable plumbing services company, the customer service representative should guide you on what you can do to prevent any water damage from the leak until a plumbing professional can come in and diagnose the problem. Good quality customer service will instruct you on how to shut off the water supply to your water tank so that your property doesn’t sustain any water damage, and do so in a calm and patient manner.
Guarantees and Warranties
A reputable plumbing service should offer guarantees or warranties for their work in case something unexpected happens. This gives you peace of mind knowing that you have an extra layer of protection. Make sure to read through the terms and conditions of a guarantee or warranty before hiring a plumbing service to ensure that you have hired a company you can rely on.
At the end of the day, choosing the right plumbing service is essential for resolving plumbing issues quickly and efficiently. By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision and choose the plumbing service that meets your needs and budget while providing you with high quality work.