As I’m sure you all now know, I move house a lot. In fact, even since starting this blog I have probably moved house more times than the average person does in a lifetime. (I’m not actually sure if that’s true or what that figure is. Feel free to look it up and probably correct me.) Moving house as often as I have, I’ve becoming pretty good at the whole procedure.
*looks proud*.
I can even plumb in my own washing machine, which probably sounds more impressive than it actually is.
Don’t think I’m some kind of plumbing genius though. A lot of the time I do mess things up and make really silly mistakes, like accidentally scraping the sealant away from my plug hole thinking it was grime. (Yes, really.) My general haphazardness means I do have to get a real plumber out once in a while. Living in a lot of houses, I’ve discovered that sometimes plumbers can be hit and miss if you don’t do your research properly. Please learn from my mistakes and follow my top tips on how to find a great plumber.
Don’t give them more work than necessary
This isn’t really a tip for finding a plumber, but more one for BEFORE you find a plumber. In my experience, I’ve learnt not to try and do a job yourself unless you are 100% confident. If you mess something up, it could mean more work for the plumber and therefore more money down the drain, (pun intended), for you.
Don’t just google it
A common mistake to make would be to just google ‘Bradford plumbers‘ or whatever area you happen to live in, and pick the top answer. Take the time to really look through all of your options. Even asking friends or asking on social media could mean the difference between a great job and a rubbish one.
Check their credentials
As I don’t know much about plumbers, I would usually be drawn in by great discounts or a fancy website. However, it’s really important that the plumber you’re getting is a top quality one, so make sure you check that they are certified and accredited before booking and that they have all the right credentials.
What guarantees do they have?
It’s all very well and good for your problem to be fixed when they leave your house, but for peace of mind, go with a plumber with a good guarantee on their work. Eco-Energy for example offer a 7 year parts and labour warranty, which is really reassuring, seeing as I’ve never even lived in a house that long anyway. Even if something does go wrong again, you’ll be able to have it put right straight away.
Have you had any DIY plumbing disasters?
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Luckily no plumbing disasters, but when we look for builders and similar hubby usually goes to the official site where only customers can write reviews on work carried out, and so far we have been always lucky.
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I think that’s really important, and proof of the power of the consumer!
What kind of certifications should I be looking for? I kind of assumed that anyone running a plumbing business legally had to be certified to do that. But I don’t want to make any mistakes next time we have some kind of toilet emergency. Is there a specific certification I should look for before I hire someone?
Thanks for your sharing! I will keep this article in mind as I try to take care of these things, thank you!
Reading about you accidentally scraping away sealant because you thought it was grime reminded me of when I did something similar with caulking in our shower! I really appreciate the tip to not just Google a plumber, but to actually check out their work and credentials. Having just moved to a new place ourselves, we don’t really know anyone we can ask for recommendations, so this article is going to be really helpful. Thanks!
I like your tip about not giving the plumbers more work than necessary. If you don’t absolutely know what you’re doing, you can end up making problems worse. It’s better to call a plumber first than to try to fix it yourself, mess up, and having to pay a lot more for the repairs. Thanks for the tips.
Great blog post. really enjoyed reading
I agree….many of us judge them by their looks and behaviour but we should do thorough research before hiring plumbing services.
Many households have local business directories delivered to their doors. Look in these directories and check out the plumbing services in your area. It is essential to know what their call out charges are if they provide a 24/7 service.
Make sure that the plumber has experience with water damage procedures and mold removal. Hiring an experienced plumber saves you time and money, as well as keeps you safe from unforeseen troubles caused by amateurism.
One thing with reliable plumbers is that no matter the time of day or night, you will get someone to answer your call. Their customer service is exceptional. Once you sign up with such a plumber, you are given a direct hotline number to use in case of an emergency.
Hi Jo,
You might have done outstanding job. Appreciate your sharing sharing.
Thank you for the great post. And yes I agree with your post about the judgement criteria. According to me we have to do deep analysis about the plumber and his experience in this field. The best way to know if their services are good or not is to check the online reviews and video testimonials from their you will get some idea.
Do not forget to visit them and then take your decision.
nice post. Thanks for sharing the information
Some great tips in this post…
Possibly the best is to find a testimonial and call them to make sure
it is real and get a genuine opinion of a plumber service.
You should definitley chose a plumber that is local and is KNOWN fr his quality of work
and efficiency.
Awesome post .. very useful for home owners
Most plumbing problems are simple, but some can be complex or difficult to diagnose. A homeowner may find a complex problem to be far above his or her skill level. Professional plumbers have the experience needed to tackle difficult problems. Plumbers can diagnose issues, offer solutions to solve them, then repair your plumbing so you don’t have to.
Hiring a professional plumber just makes sense. Next time you are faced with your own plumbing problem please rely on the professionals.
Websites like Check a Trade here in the UK are good places to check accreditation’s and customer feedback. Additionally relating to accreditation’s, if your calling a plumber for a gas related job such as a boiler repair they must be registered wit the Gas Safe Register. As a rule of thumb, any credible engineer ( i’m one of them) will have a track record and be able to provide verifiable references. I always say, whatever the trade to use somebody local too. Some people find it all too easy to do a bad job for somebody, or overcharge somebody based 20 miles away, whereas that same person would think twice before doing the same to somebody who they could possibly bump into again locally
Install screens over drains in showers and tubs, and pull out what hair you can every few weeks to prevent build-ups. Scrape food into the trash before doing dishes, even if you have a disposal and never put liquid grease down the drain; pour it into a sealable container to put in the garbage after it cools.
A professional plumber can offer invaluable advice, working with you to determine whether to maintain the old plumbing system or install a completely new one.
When you tackle a plumbing problem yourself, there is no guarantee behind that work. If the problem occurs again, you have to do the same work again and may even need to buy new supplies to do it. A professional plumber will guarantee the work he or she does.
HI
Great share
Plumbing is a fulfilling career that allows one to combine knowledge and innovation with the ability to create and build with your hands. It also offers tremendous benefits and career potential.
Thanks for this valuable knowledge. keep sharing posts like this.
Reliability is one of the most essential thing in business. I think we have to check people’s background before appoint any one. You have shared a great things with us. I’ll definitely use your tips.
That’s a good tip to find a plumber with certifications. That way you’ll know they have the know-how and tools to do the job. Different states have different qualifications for their professionals.
Making sure a plumber is certified would be a smart thing to do before hiring. I also like what was said about ensuring the person is accredited. Interviewing several plumbers would be wise to ensure they have personalities and communication skills that fit with yours.
Nice post!
Most important things you want to do is make sure that you only deal with licensed plumbers. Hiring unqualified workers can ultimately cost you a lot more in the long run. You should find a professional plumber they can solve your all kinds of plumbing issue.
I read and found your post interesting. .You should definitely choose a plumber that is known for his quality work and renowned for his work in his area. Keep Sharing…..
I like your advice to ask friends on social media about local plumbers. A review could help you find a great plumbing contractor. Also, make sure that the plumber you find has emergency hours. If you have leaking water, you want that fixed asap.
I love your tip about not trying to do the job if you don’t know that you can finish it. There really isn’t a reason to do that, especially when you consider that it will most likely cause more work to be needed, like you said. I think it’s best to save yourself a little time, and money, by just calling a plumber the second a difficult job comes up. I have to have a new sprinkler/irrigation system installed in my new house, and I know for a fact that it’s going to be best to just find a plumber to do that for me.
Hi Jo. These are all great points to consider when using a plumbing service. I would just recommend to read their testimonials as well. That will give you a more complete picture of what you’re going into. Look on a couple sites and don’t be put off by one negative review. Read them as a whole, because you can’t please everyone. Have a wonderful day.