How to Choose a Reliable Plumber
How to Choose a Reliable Plumber
Got one of those annoying plumbing jobs you never get round to sorting out? A dripping tap, leaking pipe work or a toilet that’s not flushing properly? It is tempting to do it yourself but lots of homeowners get in a pickle and need a trusted local plumber to fix the problem with a minimum of fuss.
Here are the things to consider when hiring a plumber near you:
- The cheapest plumber is not always the best for your plumbing job
The cheapest plumber in town is not necessarily the best. They might be newly qualified and have limited experience and in some cases not qualified at all. In which case they won’t have insurance in case they damage your home.
Find out what the average plumber rate is in your area and that will help you make a choice based on the plumbing service offered, experience and value for money.
Large plumbing companies tend to charge more because of the overheads associated with running a business. Independent plumbers have low overheads and purchase supplies on demand from a local plumbing merchant.
- Choose Specialist Plumbers for Specific Issues
If you have a problem with your drains such as a blocked pipe, leak or bad smell you would probably call a drain expert who has the equipment necessary to inspect and fix your problem.
If your toilet is constantly filling, your ceiling has a wet patch or sink is blocked you will call a plumber or emergency plumber.
If your boiler has stopped working and you can’t restart it or your radiators are not getting warm a heating engineer is the person to call.
Some manufacturers, especially associated with heating, insist that you use one of their registered plumbers.
- Get Multiple Quotes
Once you know what type of plumber you need, it is your job to get multiple quotes by describing your job to local plumbers and sending photos to identify the problem and the components needed.
For bigger plumbing jobs such as installing a bathroom or kitchen the plumber will probably come to your home to quote but for smaller jobs it can be done by phone or a website specifically designed to find plumbers near you.
- Do Your Homework on the Plumbing Business
Do your research on the plumbers quoting for your work, especially for larger jobs. If you are looking to find plumbers near Birmingham for example, check google maps for the most objective feedback. There you can read about the recent experiences of other customers. If they are not on google maps, why not?
Ask if they have public liability insurance to work in your home and if you want further proof of their experience check if they are members of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE).
- Do I Need to Choose a Plumber Near Me?
The closer the plumber is to your home helps with call out fees, meaning they are likely to charge less for the job. If it’s a plumbing emergency they will likely be close by and able to arrive sooner to fix those damaging leaks.
Some plumbers arrange their days to go from one job to another and do not charge significantly extra for travel.
- Getting an Invoices and Warranties
Paying cash is not normally done these days and it doesn’t mean your job will be any cheaper because you are avoiding VAT. So even if you do pay cash, ask for an invoice which is your official paperwork in case the job has not been done correctly and the plumber needs to return to fix it.
The plumbing company may offer its own warranty, so make sure you have their certificate that is correctly dated. Also, components fitted by the plumber will come under warranty, so make sure you keep those documents safe and ask for them if you are unsure.
Pro Tip: It’s better to be safe than sorry. Investing a little time in the selection process now will almost certainly save you money in the long run.
