Imagine living without your toilet, faucet, or water heater. Pretty hard to picture, isn’t it? These are some of the most essential elements of our home, and if they’re not running smoothly, our whole lives can go into chaos. Luckily, the plumbers of the world help make sure these appliances are always in their best shape. But, as with any other industry, plumbers have different levels of training and expertise. Therefore, when something goes wrong in your home, you shouldn’t just call the first plumber you find on Google. If you want the best for your Stewartsville home, then you need to find the best Stewartsville plumbing services. How do you do this, exactly? Read on to find out.
1. Check Their License and Track Record
When researching local Stewartsville plumbing services, the first task is to always make sure they are licensed. Also, check and make sure they have insurance as well. Without insurance, you could be the one stuck with a large bill due to an unpleasant accident or issue. Once you know that they are licensed and insured, you’ll want to check their track record as well. You don’t want to hire a plumber who has any major complaints against them. However, don’t just read the reviews on Google. You should also check the Better Business Bureau website as well.
2. Ask Around
Maybe your neighbors just got some home repairs done. Or maybe your coworker just dealt with a flooded basement. Whatever the case, it’s always a good idea to ask around for plumber recommendations in Stewartsville. Ideally, you want to find someone who has had something repaired that you currently need to repair. This way, you can ask them about rates, how long the job took, and how the overall communication was.
3. Understand the Plumbers Services
Before you hire a plumber, you need to make sure you have a clear understanding of the plumbing services they offer. Every plumber runs things a little differently, so don’t just assume one person’s services will be the same as another’s. First of all, you should find out if the plumber works on an hourly or per-project basis. You should also inquire as to whether the plumber will charge you for any non-plumbing tasks related to the job. Also, if some plumbers need to order parts, they will charge you for the time it takes the products to reach your doorstep. You will want to find out whether or not this is apart of your plumber’s terms before hiring them.
4. Pricing
Whether you want to hire a plumber who works at an hourly rate or one who works on a per-project basis is your personal preference. However, you shouldn’t hire a plumber who can’t give you an estimate of how much things are going to cost. A detailed estimate from a Stewartsville plumber will tell you two things:
- They’ve done this job before and they have a good idea of how much it will cost and how long it will take.
- They aren’t trying to rip you off by adding a bunch of “extra” charges at the end of the project.
If a plumber can’t give you an estimate, then this is a good sign that you should look to hire elsewhere.
5. Warranty
No matter what type of plumbing services you need, all plumbers should be able to offer a warranty for their work. This warranty should include the parts as well. Most plumbers will offer a warranty for their work for about one year, so make sure to discuss the length of the warranty beforehand as well. If a plumber does not offer any sort of warranty, this is another strong sign that you should look for help somewhere else.
6. References
If a plumber has been in business for even just a few months, they should have a list of references. Of course, people are only going to give you references of those they know will put in a kind word for them. Nevertheless, checking in with references either by calling or reading online reviews is a great way to learn more about the plumber’s quality of work. Try to call at least a couple references before hiring a new business to get a good idea of who you’re hiring.
7. Inquire About Their Training
As we stated in the beginning, you are going to find a wide variety of skill levels and expertise when it comes to plumbers. While you can’t really know how good a plumber is until you hire them, you can inquire about their level of expertise beforehand. In general, there are three levels of expertise when it comes to plumbers. These are:
1. Apprentice Plumber: Generally this is someone who has undergone an apprenticeship program for several years in which they received comprehensive, on the job training. Typically this training is administered by union groups or nonunion contractors.
2. Journeyman: After an apprenticeship, many plumbers move on to become a journeyman. To receive a journeyman’s license, one must pass an exam and pay a fee.
3. Master Plumber: One first needs a certain number of years as a journeyman plumber to become a master plumber.
In addition, they typically need an associate’s degree or training at a vocational school. Like a journeyman plumber, a masters plumber must also pass an exam which typically involves both a written and practical portion.
8. Location
Last but not least, you want to make sure you only hire a plumber that has a physical address. Do not hire plumbers who can only give you a post office box number or someone who just randomly shows up at your door, as this typically means they are scammers.
Ready to Hire Plumbing Services in Stewartsville?
With these 8 tips in mind, you should be well-prepared to hire plumbing services in Stewartsville. If you are ready to hire a plumber now, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a free estimate.
