The decision to hire plumbers is one that should not be taken lightly by homeowners. They are in charge of repairing some of your home’s most important components, such as the water heater, faucet, and toilet. Failure to hire an experienced or highly qualified plumber can lead to dangerous and expensive repairs in the near future. Let us show you six ways to ensure that you hire an experienced plumber when you require their services.

1. Licenses for plumbers

Although most states require plumbers to have a license, there is always someone who advertises without one.
The first question you should ask a plumber over the phone is whether or not they are licensed in your country or city. Most of the time, they will tell you the truth; however, a few may lie.
When they arrive at your home, ask them to show you their license, or check with your city’s licensing agency to see if they are registered.
Because you are in such a hurry, you may be tempted to hire an unlicensed plumber. If you do, keep the following in mind:

  • You are unable to express your dissatisfaction with someone’s work
  • You can still file a lawsuit against them. However, because they do not have any plumbing standards to follow, this is a long and difficult process
  • Even if your plumbing issues are resolved, unlicensed plumbers may not follow the code when repairing pipes and may take an easier shortcut, putting you in danger

2. Cost concerns

A plumber can provide you with a quote over the phone or come to your home to provide you with a physical estimate. Always insist on them being completely transparent about all potential costs.
Are they giving you a ballpark figure that could go up if problems arise? Do they give you a quote that includes both labor and parts, or just labor? Will they need to pay the city for a permit?
Remember to inquire about whether they work on an hourly or flat fee basis. In addition, you should always request an onsite plumbing estimate. It may be more convenient to get one over the phone, but you are more likely to get one that is incorrect.
When it comes to payment, inquire as to how and when they prefer to be paid. If they demand money, that is not a good sign. The ideal scenario would include a down payment and the remainder to be paid after the work is completed.
Some plumbers use milestone payments, in which a small amount is paid at each stage of the project. This is an excellent option because it guarantees that the work will be completed.
Also, while price is important, you should not always choose the cheapest plumber. Do not hire them if they are slow to return calls, are unlicensed, or do not appear to be trustworthy. Other than sacrificing quality, there are other ways to save money on plumbing services.

3. Plumbing companies vs. plumbers

You should know who will be doing the work before hiring a plumber. If you hire a plumbing company rather than a contract plumber, you should inquire about who will be coming to your home to fix the problem. Plumbing companies frequently send one person to provide plumbing quotes and another to complete the work.

4. Getting rid of the mess

Remember to inquire about who will be in charge of cleaning up after the job is completed. Many plumbers leave you to deal with pools of water, product boxes, and parts.
If they are unwilling to do so, you may need to look for someone else. Some businesses charge extra for cleaning up the mess. You can choose whether to hire them to do it for a fee or to clean up the mess yourself.

5. Insurance and guarantee-based

You should inquire about what will happen if something breaks with the potential plumber. You certainly don’t want to pay the full fee if your toilet breaks again after a week. Some plumbers offer a one-year or two-year guarantee on their work. Others will tell you that the product’s warranty is sufficient. You should also check to see if they are insured. You want to make sure that if they run into a problem, it is fixed and covered.

6. Plumbers, that are working in 24/7 mode

It’s also crucial to know if a potential plumber is available. You’ll need assurance that they have a 24-hour emergency call-out service as a Thelo Ydravliko company (υδραυλικοσ καισαριανη), that offers plumbing service in Greece in 24/7 mode. You could need it if your boiler breaks or a pipe bursts. One of the factors that should lead you to the right plumber is knowing their response time. Plumbers in Pretoria will almost certainly arrive within minutes if a pipe bursts at any time of day or night. And this keeps you from having to wait for the next day.