Finding a reputable plumber should not be too difficult these days. You can depend on the internet to give you a list of companies near you and you can sashay over there and give them the once-over. You can also ask for referrals from people that have hired plumbers.
The question is, what qualities should you be looking for? You can be presented with a number of companies, but how do you pick the best amongst them? You might be surprised to learn that obvious details like the size of the company matter very little here. You could have a humongous conglomerate that has been around for ages but find that the quality of services they provide is wanting.
It is therefore the quality of a company that might be difficult to judge. Facing a plumbing disaster in your home is stressful enough. Finding a plumber who will handle the disaster satisfactorily can be added stress.
What you need to do:
To get even remotely close to deciding which company is the best in your area, you need to:
- Make use of your network
You have family, friends and neighbours that own homes and have therefore hired a plumber or a plumbing company. Most likely, not all of them used the same company. This is a good thing because you can compare those presented to you.
One way you can get close here is by noting the most referred company. If a company has many referrals, that speaks volumes about their skill and professionalism. You will find that many people look for more just skill when considering a plumber. Approachability and reliability rank high up there with skill.
In addition, you could visit their website and check their rating.
- Are they licensed?
If a company is not licenced, you can stop right there because you should not even consider working with it. If they are caught in the middle of fixing your plumbing, you will not like the experience. So, move on swiftly to the next plumber on your list
That is, of course, if licensing is a requirement in your area. If it is not and they look good, go right ahead. It is important to first check what the requirements are before you engage anyone. That way, you will save yourself unnecessary headaches.
- Run an online check
This one is very fast. All you have to do is type what you are looking for and include your area of search, for instance plumber San Diego and voila! You have a whole list to go through!
You will need to check the ratings here. The higher the rating, the better the company may be. Also, check the number of clients that have rated the company, as well as clients’ comments. Most clients can be very honest and if they were dissatisfied with any area of service, they will mention it and state what the issue was. They will also name the plumber(s) they liked best and recommend them.
- Know your needs
Are you looking for someone to run a check on your plumbing, to do repairs or to install plumbing? Plumbing companies offer various services and you will need to be clear about what service you need. Some specialize in two or three services while many offer all services. You can call a few companies that offer the services you need and compare, then settle on the one you like best. Always be sure to explain clearly what you need.
Here is a list of the services you expect from a comprehensive company:
A comprehensive plumbing company is one that offers all the services you need under one roof. It is one thing to need a service and quite another to hop from one company to another searching for the service you need. If you can find all under one roof, great!
- Maintenance and inspection
Preventive maintenance ensures that you never have to worry about plumbing emergencies in your home. It is important to have an experienced plumber come over once in a while to check if everything is okay. They could discover something that needs a tweak and save you untold agony.
You could make arrangements for an annual inspection with your local plumbers. They will make sure they make any adjustments if need be and note time bombs before they explode
- Water heater maintenance
Nobody wants the water heater going bonkers on them in winter. Just reading that probably gives you palpitations. This disaster can be averted if you get your water heater touched up regularly. Just because you cannot see it does not mean all is running smoothly all the time. Have a plumber check it out and give you the assurance that all is well.
Having your water heater checked and maintained regularly could also save you quite a bit of cash. Repairing a damaged water is a very expensive undertaking that you should ensure never needs to happen. A complete crumbling of the water heater is impossible with proper and regular maintenance.
- Leaks
Most of the people who seek out plumbing services do so because they noticed a leak. Leaks are quite annoying actually. Imagine going to bed at night thinking that everything is fine. Then you wake up in the morning and sleepily make your way over to the kitchen for your coffee only to be icily awoken by a cold puddle on the floor! That qualifies for a rude awakening.
- Replacing and repairing faucets and toilets
This is another common reason for hitting up a plumbing company. Have you ever slept through a dripping tap? Enough to make you want to pull your hair out! The moment you wake up, you are on the phone with your local plumber.
Then, of course, there is the toilet which can be quite messy when it leaks. Be sure to find out from your plumber if a simple repair is enough or you need to replace the toilet. For more toilet repair tips, check out this page here.
Now, you can go right ahead and find the best company in your area and you know what services you require as well, so you can find them by typing plumbing San Diego or wherever you are and choosing the one you want to work with.
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