Consumer Affairs: Best to find a good plumber before you actually need one

Finding and hiring a good plumber is not that easy, there are quite a few out there and so much to consider. 

However, if you are a homeowner it is good to have a good plumber before you need one. 

You should have one who has a good reputation and is trustworthy. 

If you do not already have someone, take the time to carefully research and determine who you will use for your plumbing needs.

Here are some tips to help find a good plumber, one who will give you good quality work and value.

1. If you are in need of a plumber urgently, you may not have time to do a lot of research. Call your friends and family for a recommendation and before you hire anyone carefully consider their qualifications and reputation.

2. Find out how long they have been in business. Knowing the amount of experience that a plumber has can help you decide if they know how to respond to your particular situation. 

3. If possible, shop around and get a few detailed quotes, at least three. However, do not let price alone be a factor, make sure that you are comparing apples with  apples and that you will receive good value.

4. Do not assume that the company that is most familiar to you or is bigger than all of the rest, is the best. The biggest and most popular company may not be the best company for your particular needs, so again we stress, do your research carefully. 

5. Sometimes it may be difficult to compare quotes and rates because of the many ways plumbers count their billable hours. Make sure you are clear about this before choosing a plumber.

6. Travel time is a factor that should be considered. Plumbers spend a good part of their day driving from job to job. When getting a quote find out if you will be charged for the time it takes to travel to your location and for any time taken to find out what is wrong and prepare the quote. Ask about all charges that will be associated with your job. 

7. The best way to select a plumber is on his overall ability to deliver customer satisfaction consistently. Customer satisfaction takes into account all of these issues and constitutes an accurate indication of value received. 

8. Minimize plumbing needs by learning some basic plumbing DIY. The most common plumbing calls have to do with drains. Grease and hair are common causes of blocked drains, also drips and leaks. These can be simple to repair and may not require a plumber.

9. Reduce the plumber’s chargeable hours by determining before he arrives what needs to be addressed.   Go through your home and check every faucet and plumbing fixture. Make a list of everything that drips, runs, and is clogged. 

Then, when you get the plumber out, have him take care of all the problems at once. You’ll avoid additional trip charges, set-up time and the hassle of scheduling multiple visits. 

10. If it is an emergency then let the plumber know this before he comes out. Remember that after hours and weekends can be considered emergencies or overtime, so be prepared to ask questions as your bill may reflect this.

11. Finally, once you find a plumber that you are satisfied with then keep his contact information handy.

At Consumer Affairs, we offer guidance to consumers, businesses and other organizations. If we receive a complaint, and believe that a violation of the law has occurred, we present the complaint to the business and request its assistance in resolving the problem. Most businesses are happy to work with us. 

Before contacting us we recommend that you first visit our web site, www.ca.gov.bm, and read the relevant advice. 

If you are unable to find the information you require on our website, please e-mail us at [email protected]. 

Honey Adams Bell is the education officer for Consumer Affairs.