Weed ‘Em and Reap – How to find a Plumber You Can Trust

By Billy Aldridge

Finding a competent local plumber is a lot like gardening.  You have to know how to weed out the bad from the good.   While no one wants to trust their home to an unqualified, or worse yet, unlicensed plumber, there are a few things that homeowners need to ask before they let anyone start messing around with their pipes.

1.      Nowadays, you don’t have to take any contractor’s word that they are honest, courteous and prompt.  With the availability of the Internet, researching a local business couldn't be easier.  Start by visiting a plumbers website and look for such things as how long they have been in business, if they have any testimonials, and what their hours of operation are.  You can also go to such sites as LinkedIn, Merchant Circle and Google Local to find if any positive and/or negative reviews have been posted.  Last but not least, read their blog, if they have one.  This is one of the best ways to get to know the people behind the advertisement. 

2.      Ask for their business license, contractor’s credentials, and proof of insurance.  The last thing you want is to have some damage done to your home during the repair only to find out after the fact that the contractor was either not insured, or under insured.  If you find that they are missing any of the three, keep looking. 

3.      When asking for a quote, make sure it is in writing and ascertain the approximate length of time the job is going to take, along with the materials that will b e supplied by the contractor.  The last thing you want to be hit with is a bill after the fact for materials that you assumed were to be supplied by the contractor.

4.        Also find out if any permits need to be pulled or inspections are going to be required before during or after the work is completed.   This could cost you time off from work if the job is inside and you need to be there to let the inspector into your home.  The last thing you want is to be informed of this after the fact.  Find out what time the repair crew is going to show up and how long the repair is going to take so you can plan your day.

5.       Talk to the contractor to find out if their crew is going to clean up after the repair is complete, or if they plan on leaving that detail up to you.  Ask for and check out their references. Specifically ask the people who have had first hand experience with a contractor what their impressions were of the people assigned to perform the repair.  Don’t assume that the well-dressed, soft spoken young man who comes to give you a quote is going to be the same person that is going to do the work.  You could be in for a rude awakening, literally.

6.       Once you decide to work with a contractor, you then need to see a contract that defines the job in its entirety.   If there is anything in the contract that makes you feel ill at ease, do not sign it until you have complete confidence in the people with whom you are dealing.

When it comes to plumbing repair, the last thing you want to do is repair the repair, or worse ye, have your home damaged by an unskilled or unlicensed plumber.  As in the garden, if you always take the time to make sure you are working with good seeds, then you won't be forced to spend your time pulling weeds.

Billy Aldridge is one of the Doctors of Plumbology at Aldridge & Sons Plumbing, a family owned and operated commercial and residential plumbing contractor based in Jacksonville, Florida.  Visit their http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com website for more blogs and helpful how-to videos that are designed to save you money and help your plumbing last longer.