It is not uncommon for us to reach out and call our plumber the minute we see a clogged pipe or a leaking faucet. Well, while it is perfectly fine to call your plumber for any of those emergency needs, there are many aspects that you should be aware of. It is essential to be a smart customer and avoid being a victim to a scam and take care of minor plumbing needs on your own.
Here are some essential tips to keep in mind before you call your plumber
Look around for different plumbers and determine the kind of work you need and the expertise needed. Study the reputation of the plumbers and compare the price quotes before you decide if not an emergency issue. Get references and referrals before you contact them.
In case if you are buying a home, get a plumber to come and do a full inspection of your home. It is the plumber work to come and inspect the plumbing system to check for installing and fixing of the pipelines also changing the taps or faucets of the kitchen and bathroom.
In case you really need to call your plumber, it is a good idea to turn off the main water supply. Every homeowner should know the location of the main turnoff and prevent big screw-ups later on. More importantly, you save water wastage and can prevent flooding in your home or basement.
In case you live in areas of extreme weather conditions, do not forget to turn off the faucets off during winter. All you need to do is to disconnect your outside hoses if you want to avoid frozen pipes. You can simply drain the hoses and take them out when the spring arrives.
In case you have a faulty toilet handle, there is no need to call a plumber as you can easily replace the handle on your own. You just need to replace the flap valve and you can easily get the flap valve from the local hardware store.
Check if the plumber is licensed and certified to work for you. Do not hire a plumber without a license even if he carries a great reputation and proper experience. Well, it is always a risk to hire an unlicensed plumber who is not well aware of the local building codes and regulations.
Do not expect the plumbers to clean up after the task is over as plumbers are not expected to do so. They will break the wall or remove the tiles to fix the pipes; they will not rebuild the wall or past those tiles back. So, get an idea of the kind of mess expected so that you can plan accordingly.
Never compromise for the quality of services for the prices. There are plenty of plumbers who are willing to bring down their prices and offer very cheap services. These plumbers are often not too experienced and use low-quality materials. There is a fixed basic price for good plumbing work.
Another aspect to keep in mind is to check the quality and warranty of the parts your plumber is going to use before installation. After all, you should know what is being placed inside your house. You will need another plumber sooner than expected if the earlier one has used low-quality parts.
Last but not the least, pay the plumber by the hour and not by the task. This is one of the most important aspects to keep in mind when you hire a plumber. So, keep all the above tips in mind when you call a plumber and know the pitfalls.