How Do I Know I Have a Good Plumber?

Hiring a qualified, experienced and honest plumber is an important step for a homeowner. It is important to find one that knows what he/she is doing. They are responsible for parts of your house that are crucial to your daily life and if they fail to execute their job correctly it can result in costly repairs later on.

There are a few things that you can check before hiring a plumber:

Licensure

Always ask to see the license of the plumber you are planning to hire. A license ensures that the contractor that is working for you can maintain and protect your water supply. License requirements vary by state, make sure you follow up about the requirements in your area so that you know what is or is not required of your plumber.

Insurance

Check the insurance for both workman’s compensation and general liability. Liability insurance will cover damages during construction, damages to existing pipes and damages that result from some form of workman’s accident. Workman’s compensation covers their workers job-related injuries.

Length of Time in Business

A plumber or company that has been in business longer, mostly likely has more experience on hand. Although this isn’t always true generally the longer a company is in business the better a track record they probably have, and if they have a bad track record you can check that too.

Pricing

A good plumber will be able to give you and accurate estimate for the job at hand, barring any complications of course. Get at least 3 estimates and be wary of any that is too low as this could be indicative of inferior work or parts.

Warranty

A good plumber should back their work and parts used and provide at least a year guarantee.

References

Always check and follow up on references. A plumber that has been around for a while should have good references and should be able to provide them to you. Past customers can be the best way to gauge the quality of his or her work. You can also utilize online tools for references.

Western Sales and Services has licensed plumbers serving the Birmingham, AL area. Call us at 205-787-8674 for more information, or to schedule repairs/maintenance.