How to Select a Plumber

When you urgently have a plumbing or drain problem

, it can be rather daunting to quickly choose a plumbing firm to resolve your issue.

With all the online ads, everyone seems to be a plumber these days. And the yellow page plumbers? Their yellow page advertising expenses usually ad 30-40% to the cost of the plumbing services!

Referrals from neighbors can be problematic, as they are limited to stating things like the plumber showed up on time and was nice. Can they really attest that the plumber had an in- depth knowledge of applicable plumbing building codes and provided services that were highly competent? Plumbing repairs can be done completely wrong and it will rarely manifest itself as such to a homeowner.

As to government issued licenses, most licensing tests are just memorization of answers that rarely have any correlation to repair plumbing. It's unrealistic to think the government tests are going to ask questions like; "How can proper maintenance almost double the average life of a water heater?" Government issued licenses are about as much of a guarantee of competence and ethics as a drivers license is a guarantee of a good driver.

Ok, so now that you are even more paranoid, following are some helpful tips towards selecting a good plumber.

Ask what type of credentials does the plumbing firm possess. Do they have articles published in professional plumbing journals? Do they have ongoing education and training? What types of appointments have they had to plumbing boards and professional associations?

Avoid fraudulent teasers ads and coupons from fly by night companies like "$68 drain cleaning". Drain machine cables do not "clean" drains, a highly misleading term. These ads are like the fly by night carpet cleaners who claim they'll clean the carpets of 3 rooms and a hallway for $19.95.

"Free estimates" is another classic bait and switch to avoid. They just raise the prices to clients that have the services performed to subsidize the ones that didn't.

Always insist on a written contract with an up-front contract price specifying what is to be done, even to just unclog a toilet or repair a leaking faucet.

A plumber that volunteers in advance your proper options and benefits and limitations of each option is a great sign you're dealing with an ethical plumber.

If you follow these tips, you will be far more likely to have a pleasant experience using the services of a plumbing professional.

How to Select a Plumber

By: Dave

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