The selection of the right plumber for your home improvement or repair is a critically important decision. That’s because the wrong plumber can result in failures that cause tens of thousands of dollars of damage to your home. Or you can end up with repairs that must be redone by someone else. For those reasons and more, it’s important to know what questions to ask and what qualities to look for before hiring a plumber.
Step One: Check Out Each Plumber’s Expertise and Licensing
A fully and properly licensed plumber will be happy to show you his license. He should also be able to provide proof of liability insurance and, if it’s required where you are, his bond. A bond protects you with compensation if the work done is poor or is never completed.
Also look for a plumber with plenty of experience, especially if the job you need done is specialized, like pipe replacement for the whole house or sewer line repair. More experienced plumbers are more likely to correctly diagnose problems and provide accurate estimates. Ask your prospective plumber how long they have been working in the field and how long their business has been around. Ask them if they use subcontractors and if they do, find out about their licensing and experience.
A newer plumber will most likely be less expensive but be wary if the job you need done is complex or extensive. Save a new plumber for simple tasks like new sink installation.
Step Two: Find Out What Other People Have Said About Their Work
Next, it’s time to find out if they have happy customers. Go online and look at their reviews on Google, Yelp, Angi (formerly Angie’s List), HomeAdvisor, Nextdoor and the Better Business Bureau. Each of these services should provide either reviews or a score or grade. If there are dozens or even hundreds of reviews, scroll through them. Remember that no company pleases every person they serve but a high percentage of positive or even enthusiastic reviews will tell you a lot.
Ask the plumber for references and then call them directly. Ask the former clients about workmanship, correct diagnosis and repair of the problem, timeliness of the work, courtesy and cleanliness.
Step Three: Get Multiple Quotes for Your Plumbing Project
Don’t hire the first plumber you talk to. Get three quotes from licensed professionals before you decide. When you get quotes, make sure they are in writing and have a clear breakdown of costs, including both parts and labor. If the project is priced by the hour and not the job, ask for an estimate of the number of hours it will take.
Make your judgment based on all the data you collect, not just the cost. The lowest cost quote could result in inferior parts being used in your project or untrained helpers doing the work.
Are You New to Hiring Professionals? Don’t Worry!
If you are new to hiring plumbers or other professionals, you may not be completely comfortable asking all these questions. That’s understandable. Professionals are, in fact, used to being asked these questions.
Here’s why it’s important that you ask all these questions and any others you think of: You can save yourself plenty of headaches and money by hiring the right company the first time.
All you have to do is hear a few horror stories (like we hear sometimes when we’re on a job for a new customer) to realize that choosing the wrong plumber can be a very expensive mistake.
Rocketman Plumbing Is Ready to Answer All Your Questions!
If you need plumbing repair or installation, or even repipe of your whole house or some other complex job, call us at 505-243-1227. We’ll answer every question, show you our license, insurance, and bond and give you a written estimate. We’ve got decades of experience with plumbing in the Albuquerque area and know the types of plumbing problems New Mexico homes run into. We’ve also got plenty of testimonials you can look at. Give us a call with confidence!