More than
565,500 individuals are employed in the plumbing industry. While all plumbers go through the same types of training, not all plumbers will offer the same quality of work.
Plumbing is an essential function of your home, so you need to find the right plumber to ensure that you get the highest quality services.
Do you want to learn how you can hire a plumber that meets your needs? Keep reading this plumber guide for the top questions you should ask when you call a plumber.
Are You Licensed and Insured?
One of the first things you need to ask your plumber is whether or not they are licensed and insured. This will help you find a plumber that has the right qualifications for your needs and a plumber that offers professional services.
Finding a plumber that is insured is not something you can negotiate on. If something happens in your home and your plumber causes property damage or is injured on your property, the insurance coverage will protect you financially.
Similarly, you need a licensed plumber. This proves that they went through the proper training and have the experience necessary to provide you with plumbing services. When you hire a plumber, you can ask them for proof of licensure and insurance.
How Were You Trained?
Another way you can find a plumber with the right credentials and qualifications is to learn more about the ways they were trained.
How do you
become a plumber? While you don’t need a college degree to become a plumber, you still need to do some type of apprenticeship or technical school training program.
You need to make sure that your plumber has the proper training and credentials. This way, they will have the basic skills necessary to help with all of your plumbing needs.
How Long Have You Been in Business?
To learn more about a plumber’s experience, you should also ask them how long they have been in business. When you hire a local plumber, they should have a good reputation in the community.
Plumbers that have been in business for longer also know the tricks of the trade. They may be better equipped to solve your problem than a plumber that just recently started in the industry.
Make sure your plumber has several years of experience in plumbing before you hire them.
You should also ask them for more information about the types of experience they have as plumbers. For example, do they have experience installing plumbing fixtures for homeowners? Or do they typically only do quick repairs?
What Are Your Rates?
Next, you must learn more about your plumber’s rates. Each plumber will quote you a different price for their services, so it is important that you get estimates from several different businesses.
This way, you can shop around and find a plumber with rates that fit your budget.
When you get an estimate from a plumber, you also should make sure they are giving you an estimate for the total cost. While a plumber may throw out a price for their services, they may increase the price when they arrive and inspect the problem.
You should also ask your plumber to provide you with a breakdown of their fees. How much do they charge for their labor? Do they charge a travel fee to get to your home?
Lastly, you should learn how your plumber charges for their services. Do they charge a flat rate or do they have an hourly rate?
Do You Have References?
References are essential to consider whenever you hire a contractor to work in your home. This will help you learn more about your plumber’s customer service, their quality of work, and more.
Most plumbing companies will provide references for past clients upon request. This way, you can reach out to their past clients to learn more about their experience.
Another way you can learn more about your plumber’s references is by looking at online reviews. What do their past clients have to say about their work? Were they satisfied or did they have any serious complaints?
Getting the answers to these questions can provide you with peace of mind and confidence that you will have a good experience with your plumber.
What Is Your Availability?
When you are looking for a plumber, you also need to make sure that they are available to help you with your plumbing issues.
You can ask your plumber how long it typically takes them to respond to customer calls. This is especially important if you are dealing with a plumbing emergency, as these can cause thousands of dollars or damage to your property.
If you have a less serious problem with your plumbing, you still want your system to be up and running as quickly as possible. Finding a plumber that can schedule you quickly can be a huge benefit.
Do You Have a Specialty?
While most plumbers get the same training, plumbers can have different areas of specialization.
For example, some plumbers may specialize commercial plumbing repair or installation. Others may focus on residential
plumbing services, like drain cleanings.
To get the best plumbing services for your needs, you may want to find a plumber that specializes in your specific problem.
What Plumbing Services Do You Offer?
Not only do you want to find a plumber that specializes in residential plumbing services, but you should also learn more about the specific services your plumber offers. Some of the most common plumbing services include drainage services, pipe repairs, water heater repair, and more.
Some plumbers also offer things like water heater repair,
air conditioning installation, emergency AC repair, and more!
Learning more about the additional services your plumber offers will make it easier to find a one stop service for all of your plumbing and HVAC needs.
If you are looking for an “HVAC service near me,” we can help! Elmer’s Home Services provides everything from air conditioner repair and
heater repair to plumbing services.
Do You Provide the Services Personally?
If you hire a company to provide plumbing services, you may expect that they will be the ones providing your services. However, this is not always the case. Some companies work with subcontractors and will have other people do their work for them.
While this isn’t necessarily a problem, you need to make sure the person working in your home has the right training and experience. Your plumbing company should be transparent when they use subcontractors for their labor.
You should get all of this information before the plumbing services so you can feel confident that you are in good hands.
Is The Work Guaranteed?
Dealing with plumbing issues can be very frustrating, especially when the same problems arise over and over again. To ensure that your plumbing repairs are done correctly, you should find a plumber that offers a warranty or a guarantee on their services.
If the problem persists after they complete their services, they will come back to repair the issue for free.
This way, you can feel confident that you will not be financially responsible for poor workmanship and you know that your plumber will do his job right the first time. If your plumber offers a guarantee or warranty, make sure you get all of the information in writing.
A written contract can prevent unnecessary miscommunications and will show you exactly what is covered in the warranty.
Who Cleans Up?
Plumbing repairs can be quite messy and may require a lot of work to clean it up. Because of this, you need to ask your plumber if they will be responsible for cleaning up after the job is complete!
Some plumbers will get rid of old parts and clean up your space, but this is not always the case.
You can ask your plumber if they include cleanup as part of their services. Sometimes they will do it for free and other times they will charge extra for this service. Make sure you both have clear expectations of your responsibilities before you hire a plumber.
Do You Offer 24/7 Services?
Finally, you should ask your plumber for more information about their hours. While some plumbing services can be scheduled in advance, you may also experience a
plumbing emergency at an inconvenient time.
If your emergency plumber does not offer 24/7 services, it may be difficult to get the help that you need if you experience an issue outside of typical business hours.
Finding a plumber that is flexible with their scheduling and will come in during their off-hours will allow you to get the help you need when you need it. It can also help you prevent further damage to your home and plumbing system.
Need Help Finding a Plumber in San Antonio?
When you are looking for a plumber, you need to carefully research your options to ensure you get the highest quality work possible. By asking each of these questions, you can find a reliable plumber for any of your plumbing needs!
Do you need help finding the best plumber in San Antonio? Elmer’s Home Services can help! We offer everything from plumbing services to HVAC installation, AC repair, and more.
Contact our plumbing experts today to learn more about our services and for other plumbing tips.
