Hiring A Trusted Plumber
Plumbing issues can be complicated. Whether you’re facing a clogged drain, a backed-up sewer, or a faucet leak, it’s important to know that you can trust your plumber with the job. No matter how much of a rush you are in to hire a plumber, be sure to ask the following questions:
1. Have You Done This Job Before?
If your plumber hasn’t done the job before, you can’t be certain that they’re going to do a good job. In fact, they can’t even be certain that they’re going to do a good job. It’s like getting surgery, you don’t a first time surgeon performing the surgery on you. That’s why it’s so important that you get an experienced plumber that you can be sure is going to do a great job on your plumbing systems. Make sure that before the plumber picks up their tools and starts working on your home that they have experience with that specific type of project. It’s one of the only ways that you can make sure no mistakes will happen along the way.
2. Do You Have References?
Does your prospective plumber have a list of references or people that will vouch for him or her? If they don’t have references, you have no reference point for the different types of experiences that you might have working with them. A good place to find the references are review sites like Angie’s List or Yelp. If they don’t have a page on those sites, it’s best to make them produce a list of their most recent clients. If you call them up and everyone is happy with the job that they did, then you should be good to go as far as hiring them is concerned. Make sure that you ask for references when you’re thinking about hiring a plumber.
3. Are You Insured?
It seems backwards, but hiring a plumber that doesn’t have insurance can end up costing you more. Unfortunately, if an accident happens on your property and your plumber isn’t insured, the cost is your problem. Before signing a contract, ask if the plumber is insured and if any sort of warranty comes with the plumber’s work.
4. Are You Licensed?
This is a very important question. Many plumbers operate without a license and you don’t want to risk getting a job done by one of these unlicensed plumbers. Ask them to produce the paperwork so you can be sure you are working with a licensed plumber. An unlicensed plumber’s work may not pass inspection.
5. What’s the Cost of Work?
Some plumbers charge a flat rate and some charge an hourly rate. It’s important to know what type of bill your plumber plans to hand you. Ask for a quote before you agree to working with the prospective plumber you’re visiting with. This will help you prepare for the cost of the service. Take it one step further and ask the plumber to sign a contract. The contract should cover things like what’s the fixed price, what happens if the job runs long, and what will happen if they break something.
Hiring A Plumber in Long Beach
Keep all of these important questions in mind when you’re hiring a plumber. Whether you need toilet repair, valve repair, or drain cleaning, you want to make sure you get someone who knows what they’re doing.
