Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber

Almost everyone will need a plumber at least once in their lives, if not for an emergency, then for a routine plumbing issue. But, how do you know you have hired the right plumber for the job? You’ll want one that has experience, many five-star ratings, and is going to be around to guarantee their work after it’s done. Top-rated plumbing companies like these Gold Coast Plumbers are the ideal companies to choose, but always make sure you ask the following questions to be sure they can handle your plumbing issue and do it right the first time.

Are You Licensed?

You only want licensed plumbers to work on your plumbing. Anyone can call themselves a plumber, but if they don’t have the license, then you don’t want to put your pipes in their hands. A license tells you that everyone in the plumbing company has passed rigorous criteria and has the skills necessary to repair any plumbing problem or install any plumbing component. Without a license, you don’t know if the person working on your plumbing is actually qualified to do the job.

Are You Insured?

Accidents happen and even experienced plumbers make mistakes sometimes. You want to make sure the plumber you hire has insurance in case they damage anything in your home while they’re working on your plumbing. Additionally, if the plumber gets injured while on your property, you won’t be responsible if the plumber has insurance. If they don’t have insurance, you could be on the hook for their medical bills.

What is the Estimated Cost for the Repair or Installation?

Always get a written estimate up front from your plumber for your plumbing project before they start any work. This protects you from paying more than you expected for a job. Even if the job goes over the estimate a little bit, the plumber won’t be able to charge significantly more than you’re quoted.

Also, do not get an estimate without the plumber actually looking at your plumbing project. They need to physically see the issue before quoting you an accurate price. If a plumber is willing to give you a price before ever seeing your project, you probably don’t want them working on your plumbing (this isn’t always true for installations, since they can be fairly standard).

Is Your Rate Fixed or Hourly?

Another way to make sure you don’t pay more than you should is to ask the plumber if their work is billed hourly or as a fixed rate. With a fixed rate, you’ll know exactly how much you’ll pay regardless of the time the plumber is at your house. If they bill hourly, make sure to get an estimate of how long the project is going to take so that you don’t get any unexpected billing surprises.

Who Will Be Doing the Actual Work?

Some plumbers subcontract their work to third-parties so you don’t actually know who is going to be doing your plumbing job until they get there. This might be fine if your issue isn’t very complex, but if it is a complicated problem, you’ll want to make sure you meet with the actual person doing the job so that you can get a feel for them.

Conclusion

Hiring a plumber can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’ve never done it before and you don’t have any references from friends or family members. Luckily, by asking these questions and verifying their experience and reviews, you can hire a plumber you can trust.