Choosing a Plumber

Have you ever had that sinking feeling that you had to call a plumber? It’s never a good feeling, but that feeling is made even worse when you don’t know who to call. It is always best to choose a plumber before you actually need one and you’re at the mercy of whichever name you happen to pick out of the phone book listings.

In general, there are two types of plumbers: those who take advantages of homeowners in crisis mode and those who don’t. But whether you’re in crisis mode or not, there are several things you can do to help make the right decision about who to call. It all starts with simply asking the right questions:

  • Are you licensed? If the plumber isn’t licensed, you can hang up the phone right then and there. Of course, if he’s smart, he’ll tell you that he is, even if he isn’t. This is why it is just as important that you insist that he bring his license with him to prove that he actually is. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that people won’t hire you if you tell them that you don’t have a license.
  • Do you know what might have caused my leak? One of the easiest ways to get an idea of how knowledgeable a plumber is by simply asking about the common causes of the type of leak you have. The benefit of hiring someone who knows what caused the problem in the first place is also being able to avoid doing whatever caused it again.
  • Have you ever fixed a ____? Fill in the blank with whatever the plumbing problem happens to be. Some plumbers spend a lot of time fixing toilets, while others have all the fancy equipment needed to detect leaks in hard to find places in your home. You definitely want someone who deals with your type of issue each and every day.
  • What does your fee schedule look like? Make sure that you get a complete rundown of the expected charges before he even steps his foot in your door, and when he does arrive, make sure that you get that estimate solidified in writing so that you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. You’ll want to avoid plumbers that charge by the hour and instead opt for one that offers a flat fee for the job. This will ensure that the job gets done quickly and efficiently.
  • What kind of insurance do you have? You definitely don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t have insurance on their work. In this case, having insurance means that if the person causes a bigger problem than what he started with, the cost of repairs will be covered by his insurance. This protects you from having to foot the bill because the person you hired made a bad situation even worse.

Every homeowner will probably need a plumber eventually, so it is definitely worth your time to put together a short list of the companies you think would do a good job in the event that you have to call them. One of the easiest ways to get a short list going is to ask your local friends and family members who they call. Of course, there is always a chance that they’ve not yet had to call anyone either, but there is nothing better than a personal referral to a company from someone you know. Let Scott English Plumbing, plumber in Aliso Viejo help you solve all of your plumbing problems.

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