Did you know that water waste in the UK amounts to ~460 million litres each year?
Even the smallest of leaks can waste many litres of water which in turn can cost you hundreds of pounds and have a negative impact on the environment.
Hiring a “cowboy” to do the job of a professional will only contribute to these adverse effects.
Here are a few tips on how to choose a reputable plumber in your area.
6 Essential tips to help you choose the right plumber:
1. Ask For Their Credentials
This might seem like a pretty obvious tip, but this is how you avoid getting scammed by a bogus plumber. Most countries require licenses and certifications to start a plumbing business. If they don’t have any, then you know to avoid them.
Make sure that they’ve got a good reputation before you let them into your home to work.
2. Ask if They Have Insurance
In case something goes wrong during the job, you will have to make sure that they will provide insurance for any damages. If they do not provide insurance for damages, you will have to pay for them and then go through an arduous process to get reimbursed by the courts for their mistakes.
This is precisely why it is essential to be certain that the company you want to contact covers you with insurance for any damages done to your property.
3. Ask For Their Rates Upfront
An excellent plumbing service should be able to give you an accurate—or close approximate—quote of the job after surveying your home. They should also be upfront with their rates to avoid any surprise charges.
Take note that unforeseen complications can arise during the actual work process. This usually means extra charges for promptly addressing the issue. A trusted plumber will be transparent about the extra work needed and will take the time to explain what the charges are for.
4. Check Their Online Reviews & Testimonials
Today’s word-of-mouth usually takes the form of online reviews. You’ll know it’s a trustworthy service if they have credible reviews that reflect the quality of their labour. Most of the time, you can find these on their website. Keep in mind, however, that they’ll probably only post stellar testimonials; after all, it’s bad business to do otherwise. This is why we recommend looking for reviews on public domains (think Yelp or Facebook pages).
Realistically, you should expect some bad reviews—especially on the aforementioned public third-party review sites. But as long as the majority sound credible and give substantial insight on the company’s services, you’re good to go.
5. Check if They Offer Emergency Plumbing Services
In cases of emergencies, you will want the plumbing company you contact to send out one of their plumbers as quickly as possible and fix the problem.
Emergencies cannot wait unlike some of the other plumbing jobs, so you will not want to rely on a company that does not respond to emergencies on time.
In these situations, check that the company is open 24/7 and can respond quickly to avoid the issue escalating any further. This includes weekends and holidays.
6. Assess their communication skills
Choosing a good plumber is not just about fixing your issue. A reliable plumbing provider proves its worth throughout the whole process.
From the time they pick up your call to the time you complete the forms and finish business with them, they should be responsive and courteous. More so, they should keep you in the loop regarding the specifics of the problem in terms you can understand.
The best way to look for the best plumbing service in your area is right at your fingertips; a few clicks on your computer and a few phone calls and get most of the research done.
You may be able to fix some issues yourself but just remember that some plumbing problems are best left to the professionals. (like these guys in La Mesa – click here)
Don’t let them escalate and become more expenses than needed.