If you live in an old home, you may have to deal with plumbing issues from time to time. You may have a clogged drain or a leaky faucet. Or you may need to change a pipe or install a sink. Even if you can get the small projects done on your own, you will still need the services of a professional plumber to fix the big issues. Here are a few tips to hire the right plumber.
1. License
Make sure you hire a licensed, insured and bonded plumber. Usually, their license number is visible on their vehicles and advertisement boards. Genuine and qualified plumbers are always licensed. Make sure you hire a plumber from a reputable and trust worthy contractor.
2. Experience
Don’t just hire a plumber just because he is licensed. What matters the most is the experience of the professional. Make sure you hire a professional who is experienced and skilled. An inexperienced plumber may damage your goods causing a good deal of loss.
3. Cost
A good plumber will visit your house to give you an estimate of the project cost. They won’t charge you to provide a quote. Make sure the cost includes the cost of labor, material and similar stuff.
Ideally, you should go for a fixed or flat rate for the whole project. This will save you a lot of money as the entire project will be completed and you will only pay the amount you agreed on. Even if the project takes extra time to be completed, you won’t pay any extra amount.
4. Guarantee/Warranty
The plumber should give you a guarantee for their work. The guarantee will be valid only if it is in written form. The guarantee will help you a lot in case you are not satisfied with the work performed.
5. Insurance
Make sure the professional you hire has worker’s compensation as well as liability insurance. In case of an injury, this will provide coverage for the plumber. On the other hand, if the plumber doesn’t have an insurance, you will be held responsible for related costs and medical bills.
6. Referrals
You may want to get your work done by people you know and trust. But if you don’t know a good professional, you may want to get referrals. Most plumbers will be happy to give you referrals so you can contact them to find out how satisfied they were with the work done. It’s a good idea to go with a plumber who has a lot of good feedback.
The Takeaway
So, looking for a good plumber may be an overwhelming task for you. Hiring an inexperienced plumber may result in the collapse of the whole plumbing system in your home. As a result, you will lose a great deal of money as well as your peace of mind. Therefore, we highly recommend that you invest a good deal of time before making the hiring decision. The above tips can help you make this decision a bit more easily.
