Tips to Remember When Hiring a Plumber

When you own a home, you must find a reliable, affordable, and efficient plumber. Plumbing issues can arise when you least expect it, and you’ll want to be prepared when the moment strikes. Failing to act immediately in the event of a burst pipe or flood can lead to excessive water damage and restoration costs.

Whether you need to install a new toilet or schedule some routine maintenance on your water heater, you need quality work that will stand the test of time. A shoddy plumbing project can be dangerous to your property, as well as to your wallet down the line.

For that reason, we’ve compiled a list of tips you can use when you want to hire a plumber. It’s good to make lasting relationships with your plumbers, as you can rely on them should a plumbing problem arise. Ultimately, every home will need plumbing work at some point.

To learn more about plumbing services, call King’s Services today at 204-815-5878. In an emergency, contact our team, and we’ll send a professional plumber to your home immediately.

1. Pay Attention to Online Reviews

Any good service company, plumbing or not, should have a litany of rave reviews. If a company does good work, your friends and neighbors will likely talk about them. Using the internet to scout credible plumbers provides a great way to start.

Google and Facebook reviews act as trustworthy sources for qualified plumbers as they each have strict review systems. It’s usually a good sign when a plumbing company has many reviews, as well as favorable ones. Review scores offer greater accuracy with larger sample sizes, so hire the plumber with a 4.3 with 200 reviews over the plumber with 4.5 and 20 reviews.

2. Ask Your Winnipeg Neighbors

To this day, many plumbers operate heavily on a word-of-mouth basis. Naturally, this means their reputations live and die by their customers' opinions—and their customers talking about them to others. This will give you a better sense of what plumbers charge, too, as you can reference the services your neighbors have completed.

People love to share their trade secrets, so relying on someone who already knows a plumber ensures you get repair service that’s already been tested. You can combine this tip with the first and double-check your friend’s recommendations online.

3. Ask Your Plumber Questions

A surefire way to make sure you choose a good plumber involves talking to the plumbing company directly. Some good questions to ask your plumber include:

• What do you charge? Most plumbers will give you a free estimate before you commit to purchasing any services. Likewise, they should be able to provide you with a rough estimate of how much a project would cost over a phone call, as any noteworthy plumber is comfortable with this question.
• What is your specialty? Certain plumbers specialize in different repairs and installations than others. If you have a basement flood due to a burst pipe, you’d likely want the plumber who excels in emergency service. Different projects like garbage disposal and toilet work require different skill sets, so make sure you hire the right plumber for the job.
• How quickly can you arrive? Often, plumbing issues can be problematic, if not just inconvenient. If water leaks anywhere in your house, it can lead to water damage if not treated immediately. Don’t mess around with plumbers who take days to respond to a call. If you experience an emergency, call a 24/7 plumbing service as soon as possible to avoid suffering additional water damage.
• Do you have insurance? This may seem trivial, but it’s essential to consider when you hire someone to work in your home. Some plumbing projects can be dangerous, and you want your plumber to have insurance coverage should they get injured. In the event they or your property gets damaged, you don’t want to be liable.
• Do you have a guarantee? Any decent plumber will offer you a guarantee upfront. If they do not, move on to the next company. Without a guarantee, you risk improperly fixing a problem. This can be irritating and lead to massive, expensive problems down the line—hold your plumber accountable.
• Are you licensed in my state? You need to pass an examination required by the state before you can perform plumbing work. This is more than a formality, as the examination ensures your plumber is familiar with and knows how to handle any problem that could occur within your state. You can ask for license numbers directly and run them on your state’s verification website to ensure they check out.

4. Cross Reference Companies

Combining all the skills above, you can talk to multiple plumbing companies and essentially make them compete for your business. Have them all come out to assess the project's scope and see who gives you the best offer. This also gives you the opportunity to see the competency of the plumber, as a skilled plumber will briefly explain to you the problem and what service you require.

Inquire about the cost breakdown for the repair work; will there be any extra fees in the event of an overrun? Most plumbers charge a percentage upfront—double check this amount and determine how reasonable it sounds.

Reliable plumbers will present you with an understandable, clean contract that represents all the work that will be done and at what cost. A low estimate might suggest an inexperienced plumber, while an unusually high one could mean they are too busy to handle this project.

Time to Hire a Plumber

Hopefully, you feel more comfortable navigating plumbing companies. If you need Winnipeg plumbing services, King’s Services stands as one of the best plumbing companies in the business. We’ve been serving your neighbors for years, attending to routine maintenance, repairs, replacements, and emergency services.

Browse our customer testimonials to get a feel for who we are as a company. When you’re ready, give us a call to get a free estimate on any plumbing project. We’ll be there promptly to resolve your issues and get you back to your routine, relaxing home life.