Questions to Ask Any Plumber
Here are some key questions that you should make sure you get in so that when you’re comparing bids, you can make an informed decision about which plumber will work best, and hardest, for you.
How long have you been in business?
Just because a plumber has only been in business for a year doesn’t necessarily mean that they are a bad plumber. But if the plumber you’re talking to doesn’t have a lot of experience under their belt, it is something you’ll want to consider. By the same token, if you’re talking to a plumber that has a lot of experience, you can take it as a good sign that they know what they’re doing and have had many happy customers that have kept them in business.
Are all plumbers in your company insured?
If you are speaking to a larger company that has more than one plumber on staff, you’ll need to make sure that each contractor has their own separate insurance.
Do you provide 24 hour emergency service?
A plumbing disaster can strike at any time and you don’t want to have to wait for a plumber’s doors to open while your basement fills with water. Make sure that any plumber you use has an emergency number that you can call to speak to an actual person about any plumbing problem that might arise – at any time.
What is your response time after you receive a service call?
It’s very important to know that once you call your plumber, they’ll be there ready to help you with your problem, and fast! Comparing response times is very important when comparing the bids from different plumbers.
Do you charge trip fees?
If the plumber has to travel out to your destination, they may include travel fees such as mileage. Ask any plumbers you talk to if they include travel time and cost into their fees, or whether they’re added separately, so there are no surprises when the job is done. Also ask whether or not the plumber carries all of the supplies and equipment they’ll need in their vehicle, or whether they’ll need to be running out and buying parts. If they have to be going out to get new parts, not only will this take more time but they may also charge you the travel time for doing so.
How long have you been in business?
Just because a plumber has only been in business for a year doesn’t necessarily mean that they are a bad plumber. But if the plumber you’re talking to doesn’t have a lot of experience under their belt, it is something you’ll want to consider. By the same token, if you’re talking to a plumber that has a lot of experience, you can take it as a good sign that they know what they’re doing and have had many happy customers that have kept them in business.
Are all plumbers in your company insured?
If you are speaking to a larger company that has more than one plumber on staff, you’ll need to make sure that each contractor has their own separate insurance.
Do you provide 24 hour emergency service?
A plumbing disaster can strike at any time and you don’t want to have to wait for a plumber’s doors to open while your basement fills with water. Make sure that any plumber you use has an emergency number that you can call to speak to an actual person about any plumbing problem that might arise – at any time.
What is your response time after you receive a service call?
It’s very important to know that once you call your plumber, they’ll be there ready to help you with your problem, and fast! Comparing response times is very important when comparing the bids from different plumbers.
Do you charge trip fees?
If the plumber has to travel out to your destination, they may include travel fees such as mileage. Ask any plumbers you talk to if they include travel time and cost into their fees, or whether they’re added separately, so there are no surprises when the job is done. Also ask whether or not the plumber carries all of the supplies and equipment they’ll need in their vehicle, or whether they’ll need to be running out and buying parts. If they have to be going out to get new parts, not only will this take more time but they may also charge you the travel time for doing so.
