How to Get Your Money's Worth When Hiring a Plumber
A good plumber will save you time and money. Find the right one by asking pertinent questions, and determine whether his or her answers hold water.
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Instructions
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Ask for referrals from family, friends and co-workers.
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Call plumbing contractors and compare rates. Ask whether they charge a flat or hourly rate.
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Ask whether there are any other service charges.
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See whether you will get a written estimate after the job is assessed. Avoid hiring plumbers who refuse to do so.
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Establish that they are licensed and insured, and ask to see documentation.
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Make sure they are state-certified.
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Choose a plumber who answers the above questions to your satisfaction.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid picking a plumber on financial factors alone. An experienced, trustworthy plumber may cost more but save you money in time and workmanship.
Have the plumber explain the plumbing problem to you in simple terms.
Have the plumber show you the finished job and explain it thoroughly.
Make sure the plumber adheres to manufacturer's specifications for his or work, especially if the work is under warranty.
Make sure you get a detailed bill. Ask questions, if necessary.
Plumbers who are messy, late, rude or uncommunicative show poor work ethics. Take your business elsewhere.
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Comments
View all 6 Comments-
superplumber
Jul 01, 2009
p.s. Here's another tip for the consumer: Beware of any plumbing contractor who claims that the flat rate books are for the customer's benefit. Those books are priced for the contractor only! If that wasn't the case, why won't the plumber's show you the book? Why can't you get ahold of one? Nope, hourly rate with a written estimation of time is the best for both the customer and the contractor. Any plumber who knows what he is doing can look at a problem and give a fairly accurate estimate of how much time it will take. Sometimes things get more complicated than they look though - and that is where the communication comes in. If there is a problem inside the wall that makes the job run 2 hours longer than estimated, the plumber should be paid for that. Likewise, if it's a breeze, the customer shouldn't have to pay some arbitrary flat rate when it takes 2 hours less than the price was... -
superplumber
Jul 01, 2009
Hey Greenplumber, if your helper takes 6 hours to do something that it takes a good plumber only 2 hours to do, your helper sucks! You shouldn't be sending him out alone; that is utter incompetence! If it takes him that long, it means he doesn't know what he's doing, and shouldn't be allowed into people's homes by himself, for your own liability as well as for the customers' good.
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TheGreenPlumber
Nov 19, 2008
2) If you have some company names, check the internet for complaints about those companies. Multiple complaints without resolution? Pass. Compliments? You probably won't find many. When a client is taken care of correctly, the process is easy for them, and when the plumber leaves the home, the client goes about their business, as it should be. See if your state has a contractor's license requirement, and if so, is the license current? Are there complaints filed with this agency? Is a bond required and if so is it current? This has taken you some time to check, but it may well make you feel more at ease. When you talk to the company, ask about their warranty for repairs versus replacement (such as rebuild a faucet versus replace it with a completely new one). Ask about the name of, and experience of the person they will be sending out. Most companies charge a service call, so a
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TheGreenPlumber
Nov 19, 2008
2) If you have some company names, check the internet for complaints about those companies. Multiple complaints without resolution? Pass. Compliments? You probably won't find many. When a client is taken care of correctly, the process is easy for them, and when the plumber leaves the home, the client goes about their business, as it should be. See if your state has a contractor's license requirement, and if so, is the license current? Are there complaints filed with this agency? Is a bond required and if so is it current? This has taken you some time to check, but it may well make you feel more at ease. When you talk to the company, ask about their warranty for repairs versus replacement (such as rebuild a faucet versus replace it with a completely new one). Ask about the name of, and experience of the person they will be sending out. Most companies charge a service call, so a
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TheGreenPlumber
Nov 19, 2008
Most people don't know what to ask so they ask the hourly rate. Why not hourly? Say my best plumber will get the job done in 2 hours. However, his helper by himself would take 6 hours to figure out the problem and how to repair it. As a business owner will I make more money sending the first man or the second man? In order to make it fair to the customer, I would have to charge a different rate for each person, depending on their experience. Such as $75. / Hour for the helper, and $225. /hour for the more experienced plumber. Heres what I would recommend: 1) Ask your neighbors and friends about the plumbers that they have used. Find out the exact reasons they liked or disliked their service. Determine if those reasons are ones that would prevent or welcome them into your home. Reasons such as being late, they didn't clean up properly and so on. These very well may be i
