Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Emergency Plumbing Service

It’s crucial to clarify things with an emergency plumbing service before you hire one to make sure that you’ll be satisfied with their services. A great way to avoid confusion is to ask questions during your initial consultation with prospect plumbing services. You should also ensure that you get a certified and experienced company such as CE Plumbing & Heating and obtain a realistic quote without hidden costs. Here are some questions to ask:

Do you provide emergency plumbing services round the clock?

Availability and reliability is an important consideration, especially for emergency plumbing services. Most of the time, plumbing services operate only during regular working hours. But sometimes, plumbing disasters can happen any time of the day. In these cases, you need to find a plumbing company that you can rely on at any time of the day. Find a company that offers 24-hour emergency plumbing services. Ensure that the company has a reputation for immediately responding to calls and completing their contracts.

Are you licensed?

Just because they have a plumbing company doesn’t automatically mean that they are licensed. The reality is that many plumbers are not licensed to do plumbing jobs. For your peace of mind and safety, ensure that you request proof of their license. They should have documentation issued by the state. In other states, licensed plumbers are required by the law to hang their certificate and make it visible to their customers who enter their offices. Having a non-licensed plumber to work on your project may get you into trouble as it may not pass inspection since the quality of their service is poor.

Do you provide warranties on your work?

In choosing a plumbing service provider, ask questions that will ensure the quality of their service such as providing warranty on their work. This warranty means that the company is confident of the quality of their service and could be more reliable than others that don’t offer one. It’s not really required for plumbing companies to provide a warranty, though some companies even offer warranties that can last for years.

What are the costs involved?

Another thing to consider in hiring a plumbing company is your budget. Do take note that pricing shouldn’t be your primary deciding factor. This means that you shouldn’t just hire the cheapest or the most expensive plumbers. It’s important to get a balance between affordability and quality in plumbers.  In asking a prospect plumbing company, determine which of them provides the best quality for your budget. If you want to know how to save money from plumbing repair, consider having annual plumbing maintenance scheduled.

When is payment due?

Plumbing companies may offer various pricing models and packages. Before paying for anything, understand what the cost means. You should know upfront when they expect to get the first payment, and if payment should be completed upon hiring. When they provide a quote, inquire if the cost already includes everything in the project. Stay away from plumbers who require full payment before any work begins. A preferable payment scheme would be to pay a portion of the total amount and the remaining will be paid upon project completion. Some plumbers are even willing to take payment only upon completion of the project. In this case, you must make sure that you provide the appropriate amount for the materials needed for the job.

Who will complete the plumbing project?

Many homeowners don’t bother to ask the plumbing company this question as they believe that the plumber who has been contacted will complete the project. But there are times when the plumber can’t finish the job in a day. Others may subcontract the work to other plumbers. Before you sign the contract, ensure that you give the project to someone who is willing to do it until completion. Don’t give it to a plumber who’ll do part of the project and have another contractor finish it. Consistency is an important part of the job so that you’ll know who to talk to in case of problems. The final contract that you sign should clearly specify the work that has to be done before giving any partial payment.

Will you be responsible for cleaning up after the project?

Another important consideration in finding a plumbing company is cleaning up after the job. There are many plumbers who are willing to complete the job but won’t consider cleaning up. As much as possible, you should find someone who will include cleanup and disposal of waste. However, you should remember that waste disposal and cleanup might add to the total costs involved.

Final Thoughts

Not all plumbing problems can be solved with a DIY. Emergency plumbing problems may require you to find a reliable and quality plumber. In finding one, it’s important to find someone licensed and capable of providing quality work. You may also consider the costs involved in the project, their warranty, and cleanup and waste disposal.