Being a homeowner can be a great way to tap into your industrious do-it-yourself skills. Pretty soon, you’ll be fixing almost everything around the house, earning yourself the title of Mr. or Ms. Fix-It.
But what do you do when the toilet’s backed up? What about when your water pressure is so low that you can’t even take a good shower? And when your pipes groan whenever someone turns on a faucet? You’ll probably have no other choice but to hire a professional plumber.
A plumbing system is sometimes too complex to fix without professional help. Without the help of a good plumber, you risk creating water damage issues in your home or being without clean water for long periods.
Finding a reasonable, reliable, and reputable plumber is vital to keeping your plumbing system or water-using appliances in good working condition. Before you commit to just any plumber, here are a few excellent tips on how to find a certified and credible plumber for your plumbing needs.
First of all, what type of plumber do you need?
Before you begin searching for a good plumber, you first need to figure out what kind of plumber you need. Keep in mind that not all plumbers specialize in the same type of projects. Some do service calls, like unclogging a toilet, while others prefer to install new plumbing, such as in a remodeling job. Furthermore, plumbers in almost every U.S. state require a specialty license. They also have different designations based on their levels of experience.
For instance, master plumbers and journeyman plumbers are the most experienced plumbers. Generally, the master plumber owns the business while the journeyman works in it. An apprentice plumber, however, is usually the one training with a union or nonunion contractor organization to develop their plumbing skills. Therefore, you must know what type of plumber to look for to work on your specific project.
What are the attributes of a good plumber?
As we mentioned earlier, plumbers vary by their specialty and experience. However, most good plumbers share some noticeable attributes. When interviewing a potential plumber, find out if they possess the following:
- License and Insurance: Hiring a plumber who has proper licensing and insurance protects both you and the plumber’s business from any unfortunate incidents on the job site. Of course, you don’t want to land in a situation where you are solely liable for an injury on the job site, and the plumber doesn’t have the right insurance. Therefore, you must ensure that the plumber has at least $500,000 in liability insurance as well as an updated workman’s compensation policy. Also, ask for the insurance certificates and contact the agency to confirm that they are enforcing the policies.
- Warranty: The plumber should know what the manufacturer’s warranty is on anything they install and should reinforce it with an additional workmanship warranty.
- References: Positive feedback about the plumber’s or plumbing company’s work history with various clients will set them apart and give you more confidence in their work. Ask them for referees from recent projects and contact the referees one by one until you are satisfied. Ask questions like: What kind of problem did Plumber A do for you? Did Plumber A communicate as expected? Did Plumber A get the job done correctly and on time? Would you hire Plumber A again? The answers to these questions will give you a good idea if you are working with a professional that will truly value your business.
- Experience: Find out how long the plumbing business has been in operation, and how many years of experience the tradesman has. It usually takes several years for most good plumbers to acquire expert knowledge and skills.
- Social skills: Try to find a plumber who can communicate clearly with you, one who is trustworthy, and has good work habits. Also, observe whether or not they were polite on the phone and in-person, or if they respected your home space by parking in the proper place or taking off their shoes before entering your house. If they pay attention to these minute details in your initial interactions, you can rest assured that they’ll carry through the work you hire them to do.
Best places to look for good plumbers
Finding a good plumber is not always a quick Google search away. The companies that pop up on the first page of the search results aren’t always the best. Some of them are good digital marketers than good plumbers – not saying there aren’t a few exceptions.
One of the best ways to find a good plumber is to get a personal referral from a family member or friend that you trust. They’ve likely had a great experience with or know someone who has had plumbing work done recently and was happy with the plumber. Ask for the plumber’s contact information and reach out to them.
Online referral sites like HomeAdvisor can also be valuable. Besides, print ads or TV ads can make you aware of plumbers in your area. Still, those sources aren’t a reliable measure of good plumbers or contractors.
If you want to discover great local plumbers in your area, Credible Plumbers is your best bet. It’s a robust platform that brings quality plumbers and community members together. It’s a place where some of the best plumbers go to expand their businesses and connect with great clients like yourself. There, you can find and connect with licensed and insured plumbers in your area who also have unmatched experience in installing water filtration systems.
The Wrap Up
Finding a good plumber is a smart move for any homeowner. A good plumber knows the importance of proper licensing and insurance, warranty, experience, references, soft skills, and any other attribute that makes them a professional in their niche.
If a good plumber is what you’re looking for, look no further than Credible Plumbers. Because you deserve the best.