Plumbing issues are common obstacles for most homeowners. This may include clogged drains, running toilets, dripping faucets, low water pressure, or leaky pipes. Plumbing problems can cause indoor flooding or affect the water quality, resulting in health effects like chronic diseases or gastrointestinal illnesses.
In addition to that, plumbing problems are costly. Research reveals that small leaks waste around 10,000 gallons of water per year. But for those homeowners who tend to these issues early on, they save up to 10% of their monthly bill.
So, if you find yourself in this situation, you must look for a plumber in your area. They can help you fix all the water issues in your plumbing system. Yet with all the available plumbers, how can you distinguish the reliable ones from the fraudulent ones?
Here’s a five-item list of things to consider as you select a plumber:
- Experience And References
When looking for a plumber, finding someone with experience working with your type of plumbing problem is essential. There are many types of plumbers, from commercial to service and repair to residential, sanitary, and water supply.
Since you own a home, you’ll want to look for one specializing in residential plumbing. This means the plumber you’re looking for should have enough experience performing pipe system installations and repairs.
Aside from that, you should check their references as well to see what their previous clients think of their services. You can read reviews on TrustIndex and other sites or ask the plumber for references from previous customers. That way, you can assess how well they perform their duties.
- Licensing And Certification
Plumbers must be able to show certification and licenses before they’re considered legal to operate.
For instance, in Australia, an accredited training institute requires an aspiring plumbing contractor to complete a four-year apprenticeship before obtaining a Certificate III in Plumbing.
However, to become a licensed plumber, they must expand their plumbing skills. They must take a Certificate IV in Plumbing And Services course to apply for drainage and gas fitting licenses.
Overall, looking for these licenses is necessary as it protects your home from unqualified workers who might cause damage to your plumbing system. So, if a plumber isn’t showing you these essential documents, it only means they don’t have the skills to operate your system. Alternatively, if they can, you can trust your property’s plumbing issues, as they know how to handle them.
- Proof Of Insurance
Plumbers need plumbing liability coverage as it protects their operations from unforeseen events. This may include property damage, accidents, and other job-related injuries. For instance, they might accidentally cause costly damage to your home. If a plumber has insurance, it covers the repair expenses so that it won’t lead to a lawsuit.
Yet if the plumber doesn’t have this type of coverage, they won’t be able to pay for these damages. These instances might cause severe flooding or even start a fire. In other words, an unreliable plumber can put your family under safety threats. They might even run away if they don’t want to be held accountable for those repair costs and lawsuits.
Indeed, you must look for proof of insurance in a plumber as it protects both parties.
- Availability And Communication
Sometimes you’ll deal with plumbing emergencies at the most inconvenient hours.
For example, you started experiencing sudden water shutdown or your bathroom faucet starts dripping at midnight. And since this issue can be costly if left unattended for hours, you must be able to fix it as soon as possible. If you don’t, you’ll wake up in a flooded bathroom, which could cause severe damage to the flooring.
With this in mind, it’s essential to look at the availability of a plumber. Although these instances are rare, you’ll want a plumbing expert who offers 24/7 availability. That way, they can fix the issue immediately rather than delay it another day. This might help improve the quality of your floor and reduce water bills.
- Cleanup Inclusion
Many plumbers don’t take accountability for the mess they make once they finish their jobs. For instance, they used drain cleaners to clear tough clogs. This leaves their clients with empty boxes and old parts lying around the floor, which might lead to accidents. Picture this: your child might trip over a pipe wrench or cut themselves on a sharp piece of metal.
Thus, before outsourcing a plumber, consider if they’re willing to clean up. This means they dispose of any tools and trash that they use after fixing your plumbing system. This prevents it from happening in your house while keeping it sanitary.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the success of a plumbing repair lies in the plumber’s reliability. Thus, it’s essential to ensure that you hire a reliable plumber who can get the job done without any hassles or delays.
Some of the things you may consider include their list of references to check their reputation. This includes reading online reviews about the plumber or validating their experience. In addition, they must be able to show you verified certifications to ensure that they have the expertise in operating your plumbing system. Additionally, the plumber must carry insurance so that they have funds to pay for repairs in case of accidental property damage.
After checking these considerations, it’s easier to know whether a plumber is reliable. From there, you can select from your pool of options to help you fix your plumbing system and make it work for you again.