Nothing can spoil a weekend quite like a water leak under the kitchen sink that appears at 9PM on a Saturday! That’s what so many people say when they realize they probably should have found a good plumber several months ago, when they had the time to do the necessary research rather than just searching Google results while standing in 2 inches of soapy water.
The intelligent thing to do is to find quality plumbing professionals before you have an emergency. With so many options available – and with all the horror stories about shoddy work and getting ripped off – this can feel overwhelming.
Check Licenses and Insurance
This may seem boring, but checking licenses and insurance is one way that you can evaluate quality. Licensed plumbers have undergone proper training and passed exams that demonstrate an understanding of safety codes and techniques.
Every state has different licensing criteria for plumbers, so proper certification varies depending on where a plumber is working. Some types of plumbing work require a master plumber license somewhere, and other areas just have all different types of certifications for specialties. The point is to ask if a plumber is licensed, and then check with the local authorities and see if a plumbing company authorized the plumber to work at your home.
Insurance is just as important and probably more important. When plumbing work goes bad, it can cause serious water damage. Next thing you know, you are trying to figure out why the homeowner’s insurance is not covering your claim because the plumber did not have necessary insurance, and (according to your insurance agent) if the contractor does not have insurance, you, as the homeowner, could be liable for any damages that occur while the contractor is working in your home. One of the aspects of a quality plumbing professional is they have both liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance – and they can and will also show you the documentation when you ask.
Experience Matters
Spending years in business does not always equal doing quality work, but it does indicate that the plumber is providing sufficient customer satisfaction to remain in business. Plumbing companies like Moz Plumbing that have been in business for several years also have a better chance of maintaining solid purchase relationships with suppliers, which means part availability and pricing may be more favorable.
However, experience is not a substitute for substantiation. A plumber with twenty years of performing lousy work is no better than one performing excellent work for five years. At that point, references and reviews really become important.
Many experienced homeowners find the best plumbing service and dependable business success relies solely on word-of-mouth referrals from neighbors or local businesses. Reliable service and fair pricing will almost guarantee repeat and referral business when the same plumbing service is recommended repeatedly by neighbors or local businesses. Services like Angie’s List are often able to develop solid reputations the same way – establishing trust on consistently performing solid work and not on flashy advertising.
Communication is More Important Than You Might Think
The best plumbers explain the issues without talking down to their customers or using technical jargon that is unnecessary. They answer questions patiently and provide reasonable timelines to conduct repairs.
Poor communication is often a cue for other concerns. A plumber who cannot explain what is wrong or provide an explanation for conducting repairs, probably does not have an understanding themselves. Further, anyone plumber or contractor pressured customers into expensive upgrades or rushed decisions is someone you want to avoid. In addition, quality plumbers should also provide written estimates for all significant work, and then honor that estimate, unless they uncover truly unexpected problems. They are also open and upfront about their costs and do not surprise you with charges at the end of the job.
Signs That Are Red Flags
Door-to-door plumbers are mostly always bad news. Legitimate plumbing companies do not need to go knocking on doors to find customers because they have more than enough referrals and repeat customers to keep them busy.
If estimates are extremely low that is also usually an indicator of bad things. We all love a good quote, and quality work costs money, including the labor and materials.
Another red flag is a “cash only” requirement. Professionals will accept numerous payment methods and provide proper documentation for tax and insurance purposes. Contractors who only accept cash are typically trying to avoid taxes and licensing.
Getting Quotes/Bids and Comparison
For extensive work, sometimes it is a good idea to get multiple quotes. However, comparison is not merely about lowest prices – it is about knowing what different contractors are proposing and, of course, the differences in what they are proposing.
Good professionals will take the time to deduce the problem properly, ask questions regarding the symptoms, examine the areas and provide statements based on their recommendations. Contractors who give a quote over the phone or only look at an area superficially usually fail to cover important details that change the cost to fix the problem.
The best quotes will provide an itemized breakdown of labor and material costs and refer to exactly what work will be performed. Most quality plumbers provide estimates of what the costs reflect – and can also assist homeowners in understanding what they are paying for, and what is comparable when making comparisons.
Establish Relationships for the Long-term
The purpose is not simply to identify someone to address the immediate problem, but it is to establish relationships with trustworthy professionals for potential future problems. Although a good plumber is a resource with professional advice in areas such as proper maintenance, upgrades, potential problems, etc., many quality plumbing companies offer service agreements that are service for a fee (or discounted service in lieu of a fee) that saves you serious money in the long run. A well maintained drain, water heater, and pipe, could easily save you thousands. If these things are not routinely tended to, they may fail dramatically and you could incur major losses.
Some plumbers even have a priority scheduling agreement for their regular customers. This could save you time, money, and literally and more importantly, what could be a horrible moment during a plumbing emergency! Building these relationships takes time, but it is well worth the time and effort.
Modern Technology and Methods
Good modern plumbers use modern tools and techniques that make their diagnostics more accurate, and their repairs less invasive. Some of their diagnostic equipment includes video pipe inspection equipment, electronic leak detection, and trenchless repair technology. The majority of the time it is safe to say, as with many other technology and modern methods, that the effort performed to diagnose and repair a problem that previously required excavation work, simply takes more time and cost.
This may not be accurate 100% of the time because not all plumbing work requires high-tech options or solutions, but it is also a safe assessment that if a company’s plumbing professionals are keeping up with technology and modern plumbing practices, their overall service will provide you with better service and cost-efficient repairs.
Taking time to research plumbing professionals before experiencing an issue will save you time, stress, damage, and money. Fully qualified plumbers are busy because of a validated reputation they’ve earned time and time again, for fair conditions and quality work. Sometimes it takes effort to discover these professionals, however it is worth the effort in order to not endure an awful plumbing emergency.
