When looking for a suitable plumber to hire, it is crucial you consider a number of factors. This is because there are many plumbers out there, so you have to compare all the local service providers to find the best one for your plumbing needs. You may be looking for a plumber to a fix broken faucet, burst water pipe, clogged drain or faulty water heater. Whatever the case, you should not rush to pick any plumber before carrying out the necessary research. Below are important factors to consider when searching for a plumber:
i) Response Time
Plumbing problems need to be fixed quickly because they often get worse with time. For this reason, you have to compare the response times of the plumbers you have shortlisted. You want to hire a plumber who can get to your home in a matter of minutes, not a few hours. After all, a backed up sewer line, leaking faucet or clogged drain must be fixed urgently. Water leaks can lead to significant water damage, which can cost you a lot of money. If the water accumulates on unprotected surfaces, significant water damage can occur. To mitigate the damage, therefore, you have to call for emergency plumbing services.
ii) Licensing
Only accredited plumbers should be shortlisted. This is because you want the plumbing problem to be fixed by a properly qualified plumber. Therefore, you have to check the validity of the licences held by different plumbers and shortlist plumbers with the right licences. The expiry date of a licence as well as the type of licence, whether commercial or residential plumbing licence, must also be considered.
iii) Cost of Service
It is crucial you compare the fees charged by different plumbers to identify the most affordable plumbers. This is because you are looking for a plumber with competitive pricing. After all, nobody wants to pay more money than they need to for the services they need. Most plumbers are usually happy to offer free quotes to potential clients, so you can easily do the cost comparison.
iv) Insurance
A plumber can cause more damage to your property while fixing your plumbing. For this reason, you should only consider plumbers with valid insurance policies as well as performance bonds. You want to be protected from any liabilities that may arise from the plumbing service. That is why insurance is a key requirement.
v) Reputation
A emergency plumber may claim to be able to respond to emergency calls within the hour. However, their actual response time might be much longer than that. By reading reviews, you will be able to learn about the actual response time of a plumber as well as their reliability.