subject: How To Find A Good Plumber [print this page] It can be hard to find a decent plumber these days. The media reports so many horror stories that you might start to wonder if there are any good plumbers left out there.
It is worthwhile doing your homework before using any tradesman and this includes plumbers of course.
Here are some top tips to help you to find him or her.
Use Google and look for reviews which many websites including Google encourage. You will find testimonials from customers which are usually genuine. Companies have checks in place to ensure that the same person cannot write multiple reviews.
Check to make sure that they are insured, qualified and registered. If you are looking for your plumber to carry out gas work then check that he is on the Gas Safe register. Every gas engineer who is registered has a unique number, which can be looked up online in the UK.
Make sure that you plumber is registered with a professional trades association such as APHC - the Association of Plumber and Heating Contractors.
Plumbers often work with water pipes and accidents can happen, maybe slightly more frequently than with other trades. Ask to see their insurance to make sure that they are covered if something goes wrong, even the most experienced plumbers can make mistakes. Sometimes mistakes are made because of previous plumbers. For example if someone installed the water pipes diagonally instead of vertical and horizontal it can be easy to drill through a wall into the pipe which should not be there.
Ask the plumber if they can supply you with references or better yet the numbers of recent customers for you to have a chat with.
Find more than one quote on the work that needs doing.
Just because you have found a decent plumber does not mean that you have got the best deal. Find a few decent plumbers following the steps above and ask them all for a quote. The cheapest is not always the best, and normally a much lower quote is only provided due to lower quality cheap materials, and cutting corners on the labor.
Make sure you are provided with the details about their guarantee including exactly what is covered and how it lasts for. Also enquire about the warranties on any equipment or parts to be installed. For example if a boiler is being installed check that it is brand new and from a UK supplier or distributor.
It is important to agree what work will be done and tell them to inform you of any other work that may need doing before they do it. It is a bug bear of tradesmen that once they start the work the customer starts to add little jobs here and there. It is a two way agreement that is worthwhile to clarify in detail the work being carried out.
There may well be complications but you need to be informed about them before you get invoiced for them. Just like when you take your car for a service. Before fitting a new exhaust or a couple of new tyres they need to consult with you. if you are unsure then you can always ask another plumber for a second opinion.
If you find and use your plumber and he is decent, it is always good to tell others. Word of mouth recommendations cannot be beaten.
