choosing the right plumber Archives - BobsPlumbingVideos.com

In a previous article I pointed out some of the most common mistakes made when hiring a plumber. But how do you really know if you’ve found a great plumber? Here are a few more things to consider to help you in the decision making process.

EMERGENCY SERVICE: The last thing you want to hear when that emergency happens is an answering machine. Top rated plumbers make sure a live person answers their phones at all times.Whether an answering service or an in house customer service rep., having a human being on the line in times of an emergency is mandatory. Bear in mind that even a great plumber may not be able to drop what he’s doing to get to you. But by returning your call in a timely manner and giving you periodic updates as to his E.T.A., the stress factor can be greatly reduced. A two to four hour window is not unreasonable.

LICENSING: Any plumber your considering should be licensed by the state in which he or she practices and hold mandatory workers compensation and liability insurances. If you’re in New York City where I’m located, you can go here to check the status of the plumber your considering hiring. Check if your plumbers license is current – click here. Now just because someone is licensed, it’s no guarantee that they’re a great plumber. Again this is where you should ask questions such as how long have you been in business?, as well as at least three references with contact phone numbers and or e-mail address’s so you can perform your due diligence. Just because someone has a drivers license, that doesn’t necessarily make them a good driver.

PRICING: As far as I’m concerned, a Flat Rate / Upfront Pricing system is the only way to go. You’ll know exactly what the cost will be before the job begins. You should expect your plumber to offer several options that fits different budgets. To avoid any miscommunication you should always ask what scenario would cause the quoted Flat Rate Price to change and how the additional charges if any are handled. In general most plumbing projects are not cheap, so constant communication between you and your plumber are key!

CUSTOMER SERVICE: A good plumber will make a follow up phone call the same day he performs his service. In addition a follow up thank you card a few days later thanking you for your business tells me they’re grateful to have your business. Most great plumbers will provided you with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and do whatever it takes to win your business. That should include priority service for V.I.P. clients and iron clad money back guarantees.

PERFORMANCE: A great plumber is all about providing health and safety for his clients and strive to keep them safe from leaks, fumes and maintaining a safe job-site free of any potential hazards. Performance should also include good communication by explaining what he’s doing and keeping you informed of any changes or problems that can surface through the scope of his work. Neatness counts too, work areas should be kept clean and free of tools and debris, in addition protective floor covering and shoe covers are key in protecting those hardwood and carpeted floors.

When you think you’ve found your dream plumber, be flexible! He’s busy and unless you have a true emergency, try to work with him and not pressure him. That makes you a great customer and one that a great plumber will go out of his way to satisfy!

HERE’S MY QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO A GREAT PLUMBER:

Holds a current and up to date plumbing license as well as a current and up to date Home Improvement Contractors license.
Holds active workers compensation and liability insurances.
Answers and returns your calls in a timely manner.
Has the expertise and is well qualified to handle your unique plumbing problem.
Arrives on time and provides you with updates if he’s running late.
Explains the solutions to your problem in simple terms and offers several options.
Offers Flat Rate or Up Front Pricing, is clear about service call charges and offers written solutions.
Shows up prepared with everything needed to complete your repair.
Provides continued communication through any decision making process.
Provides a detailed invoice that explains all charges, guarantees and restrictions.
Follows up after his service to make sure all is working well.

Until Next Time, HAPPY PLUMBING!

Mistake #1: Not Asking For References!

The least painful way of avoiding problems when hiring plumbers is to ask for references. A reputable plumbing company will be more than happy to provide you with references and if they won’t, keep searching. I would ask for a minimum of at least three with their contact phone numbers and or e-mail address. Now it’s time to follow up and ask questions about their experience with the potential company you’re considering hiring. Listen to them closely and then make an informed decision, in my opinion this is the best route to take when hiring a plumbing company. Are you guaranteed a good experience? Not at all, but compared to surfing the internet or looking in those antiquated phone books, the odds are certainly in your favor.

Mistake #2: Cheap Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Good!

Did you ever hear that saying you what you pay for? IF a cheap job goes wrong you wasted your money. Price is not important if you pay half as much and then have to do the job over again. When hiring a company you should be more interested in the best value, price should be secondary. A plumbing company that uses the best materials hires the most talented plumbers and provides the best service should command higher prices. I would not look at companies that charge by the hour because if they have slow working technicians, you will pay more for the job. The price also tends to change as the job progresses either because they missed something or the job was more difficult than they anticipated. You should look to companies that use Flat Rate based pricing; they’ll quote an exact price up front so you’ll know exactly what you’ll pay. No surprises!

Mistake #3: All Plumbers Are Not The Same!

Plumbing is a combination of craftsmanship and art combined. Believe it or not plumbing is not just banging on pipes or unclogging drains. Plumbers will diagnose measure and perform complicated calculations before proceeding with their work. In New York City which is where I’m from, it takes a minimum of five long hard years of working the field before you’re considered marginally proficient at the job. If you decide to become a Master Plumber, add two more years before you can even take the test and then plan on going to school at night for a solid year just to prepare for the test. No, all plumbers are not alike therefore you should ask many questions before hiring one. Question’s such as: Do you work weekends? What’s your turn around time? What type of work they specialize in? (You don’t want a new construction plumber servicing your heating system) Do you provide 24hr emergency service? Ask any other questions that are unique to your needs. After you ask your question of several companies, you should have a better idea of which one is right for you. If they want your business they’ll go out of their way to win it! All plumbers are not the same, so please don’t assume they are.

Mistake #4: Having a Few Plumbers Compete For Your Work!

Sounds like a plan at first, but let me tell you why I think this isn’t a good way to deal with plumbers. Most reputable plumbers have a steady stream of business from long time loyal clients. Enough so, that they don’t have to deal with the price shoppers! If you find or even currently have a good plumber you trust and feel comfortable with, why would you flip flop from one to another? Getting a cheaper price might be important to you but it shouldn’t be more important than great service and quality. If your loyal to your plumber, trust me he will go out of his way for you when the chips are down. Maybe emergency service during the week or perhaps on weekends, maybe having to work all night long to get a difficult job finished so you can have your hot water or heat back. You never know when that scenario will present itself, but I can tell you if you’re loyal to your plumber he will be loyal to you. Keep loyalty in mind when you hire a plumber.

Mistake #5: Hiring Plumbers who don’t guarantee Their Work!

Unfortunately, there are unethical plumbing companies who don’t guarantee their work. They won’t make good on their work and probably won’t take responsibility for their own mistakes. Some companies when called back to fix a problem that should be guaranteed will try to blame you because of miscommunication and then have the nerve to tack on extra charges to make it right. All reputable plumbers guarantee their work unconditionally. This means if they make the mistake on your job, they will re-do or fix your job at NO CHARGE to you! The next time you hire a plumber, ask them if they unconditionally guarantee their work. If they get a dazed and confused look on their face, I suggest you keep looking.

Mistake #6: Not allowing Enough Time for Your Plumber to Finish Your Job Properly!

Everyone is in a hurry but it’s a good idea to have several meetings with your plumber to get a sense of how long your job will take. You’ll save time, money and aggravation with the proper communication from the beginning. I can tell you from experience that a fair amount of jobs generally take longer and cost more than anticipated. Most people feel a plumber’s work is relatively easy and therefore everything will move along without a hitch. Think again! Ever hear of Murphy’s Law? In short it states “anything that can go wrong will go wrong” and it usually does. Most reputable plumber’s are busy, they’re not sitting around waiting for a job to walk through the door so you should let them know in advance what you want installed or fixed so they can plan accordingly. Good communication from the start will ensure a smooth and trouble free experience!

Your Plumbing Systems!

In closing I’d like to add that if your plumbing system seems to be working fine, it may not be the case. Just as the human body and family car need periodic examinations and checkup’s, so does your homes plumbing systems. Most people wouldn’t think of driving thousands of miles without checking the condition of their vehicle. Unlike the family car however, your plumbing system doesn’t have warning lights to alert you of potential problems. Ironically, this is the most often used system in your home and it undergoes the most wear and tear. Are you aware the 99% of all plumbing emergencies can be avoided by having your plumbing systems checked at least annually? Start by finding a highly referred plumber in your area and make an appointment for a plumbing systems check-up today. You won’t be sorry!

HAPPY PLUMBING!