When it comes to easy fixing like replacing your showering head or a running toilet, do-it-yourself methods are fine and many homeowners like to handle these things themselves. However, when you have a major problem like flooding, a leaking water heater, an overflowing toilet, etc. you need to call in the professionals. Yes, they can be a bit expensive, but look at the long-term, if you try to fix a major problem yourself, you may end up doing more harm than good. Here are some plumbing scenarios where calling a professional is a wise decision:
- Repairing water pipes or moving them
- Clogged underground pipes and drains
- Leaking water heater
- Basement flooding
- Overflowing toilet
Inquiries you should make before hiring a local plumber
Before calling in an experienced plumber, you should first do some research. Nothing is more important than opting for a credible service, trust also plays a vital role. So, always shortlist plumbing services that are insured, licensed, and bonded. They have to be transparent about their services and experience. Above all, they should always provide you with a quote. In light of this, mentioned below are some important questions you should ask your plumber before hiring them for a job:
- Do you have a license?
- Are your services bonded?
- Does the local law in the area require bonded plumbers?
- Do you charge a minimum fee to evaluate the problem or do you provide a free estimate?
- Do you charge when the job is done, or do you have an hourly rate?
- Can I have a written quote?
- Does your service come with a guarantee?
- Will the product that you replace or use have warranties?
Hunting for local plumbers near your area
So how do you actually start finding the best rated plumbers near me? Well, it is something that is simple to do if you know what to do. Your town or city should have a local listing of plumbers, either online or in a phone book or directory. You can also do a google search for “plumber in Bishop Auckland” and see what comes up on the map. But you should not go off of these results alone as you can easily end up with a dodgy tradesman. You need to step the way you search for and investigate each result by utilizing the following techniques:
Use your network
One of the most efficient ways of looking for reliable and credible plumbers in your area is to get some recommendations from your friends or family. You can even ask your neighbor where they get their plumbing done.
Understand that these types of businesses thrive on referrals and recommendations. So, if your relatives, friends or neighbors recommend one or two companies repeatedly, it is safe to say that that particular company or plumber has worked very hard to gain their trust, and will do the same with you.
It doesn’t matter if you just moved to a new area, you can do the same there, just go on knocking on a couple of doors and have a chat about what plumbing company would they recommend. Try to shortlist around two to three plumbing companies, which you can later compare online. It is important to do the necessary due diligence yourself. You can compare prices, methodologies, whether or not they use the latest technologies, etc.
Online directories – search for plumbing contractors or company listings in your area
Another good way of honing in on the right plumbing service is to sift through online directories where they have listed local plumbers in your area that offer free estimates, for example, Sarkinen Plumbing.
After you find a handful of companies, the next step is to do a thorough comparison in terms of the best user ratings and reviews. You can also start by looking up companies with a 4 to 5-star rating. However, don’t forget to check their customer reviews, as well.
After you narrow down your list, you can directly log onto their website and get a feel for their overall scope of services. However, make sure they have listed repairs or replacement services for the kind of plumbing problems you are facing.
Contact your insurance company and get some referrals
This is an unconventional, but effective method and most people don’t know about it. You see, if you are unable to find the right plumbing service, you could always ask your insurance provider. They will have a list of plumbing companies to that they provide insurance. And yes, you can still ask them even if the insurance company is not paying for the repairs.
The insurance company will provide you with a list of plumbing companies or contractors that are thoroughly reviewed, which is going to save you a lot of time. Moreover, if you are really lucky, you may even get a discount on your total quote because of the good working relationship between your insurance provider and the plumbing company.
Wrapping up
So there you go – some effective and time-saving strategies you can use to find the right plumbing company in your area. Let us know how this has helped you and pour in your suggestions too.
Author Bio:
Evie Harrison is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, and experiences and express herself through her blogs. Find her on Twitter:@iamevieharrison
