Your plumbing is one of the most hardworking systems in your home—providing clean water on demand while taking wastewater away as far as possible. Since it’s working behind the scenes, most homeowners don’t think much about the plumbing system until something goes terribly wrong.
Suddenly, you’ll need to find a plumber fast to handle whatever issue you’re having. In haste to do so, you can easily make mistakes when hiring a plumber, costing you time and money. This article shares four common mistakes to watch out for when hiring a plumber.
Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash
1. Not Considering Location And Availability
It never makes sense to hire a plumber outside of your location. For example, if you’re from Indianapolis, you’ll want to look for the best plumbers in Indianapolis and not those from Fort Wayne unless the specific plumbing company has a branch there.
Choosing a plumber within your local area ensures convenience and prompt service while preventing unwanted travel charges.
Aside from location, you also want to consider their service availability. In general, the most frustrating thing about plumbing issues is that they usually occur at the most inconvenient times. As such, you want to ask your plumber if they’re always available whenever you need them.
The best plumbing company offers 24-7 service and may even be available for holidays at no extra cost. So, even if you experienced an emergency plumbing issue on New Year’s Eve, a reliable plumber could visit your home and work on temporary solutions for minimal interruptions in your holiday activities.
2. Choosing An Inexperienced And Unlicensed Plumber
Experience is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a plumber. Any reputable plumber should have years of experience and a good reputation in the industry. In general, the longer they’ve been in the plumbing industry, the better chances that they offer high-quality and satisfactory work.
Aside from experience, you should also ask a plumber about their experience. Plumbing is a regulated profession in most parts of the world. In the US, most states require plumbers to have a license to work and operate.
Make sure to check with your local state to determine the licensing requirements for a plumber. That said, a person doesn’t need a college degree to be considered a professional plumber. They do, however, need to learn the trade through vocational training and apprenticeships. Then they may also need to take the necessary state exam for licensing.
By checking the necessary qualifications and experience of a plumber, you can ensure that you choose the right person for the job with the proper knowledge and skills to deal with all kinds of plumbing work you may need.
3. Going For The Cheapest Provider
Most people are always looking for ways to reduce expenses. So, if a plumbing issue occurs and DIY is not their forte, most people tend to go for the cheapest provider they can find.
However, hiring cheap means you get what you pay for. The plumber may be unlicensed to work on plumbing issues or do subpar work that would cause more damage to your system. That said, you also don’t want to hire a plumber with steep pricing compared to the average industry cost.
Instead, you need to do your research and determine the right cost range for various plumbing services. You can contact several plumbers and get an estimate, which you can compare with each other to find the best deal. Don’t forget to ask for hidden fees and costs. If possible, ask for a more detailed breakdown of the service quotation, especially if you need a comprehensive plumbing project.
4. Overlooking Insurance And Warranties
Accidents can occur anytime, and even the best plumber can make mistakes. Mistakes and accidents can be costly and problematic. As such, don’t make the mistake of hiring a plumber who doesn’t have any insurance.
A reputable plumber carrying the right insurance can protect you against liabilities. So, even if a plumber got injured while working around your property, you don’t have to worry about getting sued. Also, if the plumber caused any damage to your home, you could rest assured that you’d be compensated.
Aside from proper insurance, you also need to ask for a service warranty or guarantee. You need to protect yourself against future problems in your plumbing due to low-quality products or poor plumbing work. Any plumber who feels confident about their work will offer a guarantee and warranty, ensuring that they will return to redo or repair any issues related to their work for a specific period after the service.
Takeaway
Whether it’s to repair an emergency plumbing issue or for annual maintenance, knowing a reliable plumber gives you peace of mind and ensure that your plumbing system is in the right hand. So when hiring the best plumber, don’t fall for the above common hiring mistakes that will only cause more frustration.