Plumbing is one of the things you never want to have issues with. Plumbing issues are often emergencies, which may leave you scrambling for providers when you’re the most vulnerable. This is exactly when you’re likely to make a big mistake and hire a bad or fraudulent plumber.
This is why you have to make sure to still take the time to properly screen any plumber you’re working with, no matter how urgent the situation. Here are 4 important questions you’ll need to ask whenever you hire a plumber.
How Long Have You been in Operation?
This is one of the first questions that you should ask a plumber. You want a plumber that has been in operation for years and has a solid reputation to back it. People like Maplewood Plumbing are a great example. Maplewood Plumbing has been serving their community for over 30 years now. This not only means that they had the time to build a track record you can verify, but they’re not likely to vanish into the night if you need any follow up work done. They will also be there if their work was guaranteed and you find an issue.
Can I See Your License?
You also have to ask for a copy of their license. Being in operation is one thing, but you want to know if their documents are actually valid. You want to also check if they’re registered with any professional organization and if they’re in good standing there as well. Not working with a licensed plumber means that their work could end up not passing code. You’ll also have little recourse when working with an unlicensed plumber.
What about Insurance?
This one is also very important. Not only do you want them to be bonded and insured, but you want their employees to be covered as well. If they work with random employees who don’t have coverage, you might actually be on the hook if they end up damaging someone’s property, causing injuries, or even if they hurt themselves. So make sure that you can see documentation, and follow up with their insurance company.
What will be the Total Costs?
Estimates can get tricky, and you should take any estimate that’s given over the phone with a grain of salt. It’s pretty much impossible for a plumber to know the actual cost of a job before they can see your set up. They can’t really tell the extent of the damage either, or how much the parts needed will cost.
Another one you want to check is whether this is a flat rate. This is because some will add clauses onto the contract that will force the homeowner to pay for additional labor necessary to complete a job.
Conclusion
Hiring a plumber at the last minute can lead to serious mistakes you could end up regretting. So, make sure that you take your time, and don’t go with the first plumber that comes to your door.
