How To Find A Reliable Local Plumber

Plumbing is one of the most important services in maintaining the integrity and longevity of your home. This is because plumbing plays a huge part in your home’s successful day-to-day operation, including essential functionality such as showers, toilets, taps, and hot water supply. Keeping your plumbing in tip-top shape is best achieved with professional plumbing services, but how do you find the right plumber for the job? Read on to find out!

1. Do Your Research

The most common first step to finding a plumber is to do a quick online search. Look for local plumbers in your area (generally the closer to your home, the less you will be charged for the call-out fee/mileage). You will want to form a list of about 5 to 10 potential prospects to begin your research and narrow this down to three or four after carrying out the following 14 tips for finding a reliable local plumber. 

2. Check Accreditations And Licensing

When narrowing down your list of potential plumbers, always check out their industry accreditations, insurance and licensing. Ensuring the plumber is licensed and insured will protect you legally if something goes wrong during the project or you experience problems later on. It also pays to find out if the plumber offers any workmanship guarantees on their work, this offers greater peace of mind. Certain plumbing jobs can be done without the need for building consent if the job is done by an authorised person – see here for more information. Or you can check with the New Zealand Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) to verify licensing status. 

3. Ask For Recommendations

One of the most popular ways to find a reliable plumber is by recommendation from family, colleagues or friends. Simply ask around for anyone who has recently used the services of a plumber and whether or not they were pleased with the service they received. Personal referrals can provide valuable insight into the plumber’s quality of work, professionalism, and reliability. Anyone frequently recommended often indicates a good choice as they have a good reputation within the community.

4. Read Reviews From Previous Customers

Reading online reviews can be a great way to get a better idea about the business, the quality of their service and how they operate. However, it does pay to remember anyone can write anything online these days and to rely on common sense when reading these. Negative reviews are always going to be there, so look out for a more general positive consensus regarding areas of importance such as professionalism, punctuality, quality of work, and customer service.

5. Verify Experience

How long has the plumber been in business? Generally speaking businesses that have been around for many years means they have managed to maintain their profitability by providing consistent service standards (otherwise they would have gone out of business). Experience also shows a proven track record of handling a variety of plumbing issues, implying the required expertise to accurately diagnose problems and provide effective solutions is definitely part of their skill set. Familiarity with local plumbing codes and regulations also improves with experience levels, ensuring that work is completed in compliance with the appropriate standards.

6. Check Out Their Website

Although you can’t necessarily judge a book by its cover, taking a quick look at a business’s website can tell you a few things about their business. For example, do they provide contact details such as address and phone numbers, are they easily identifiable and contactable? Do they have a blog with useful tips and additional information? (this is often a sign of good communication and business standards). Businesses without a website with relevant information or a reliable online presence can be difficult to trust or track down and may not be as reliable. 

7. Are They Transparent About Their Rates?

When hiring a plumber, their charge-out rate must be clear from the beginning. No one wants to be hit with unexpected charges at the completion of the job. All good plumbers will clearly state their call-out rates, fees and charges before taking on the job, some are even displayed on their website for convenience. If this is not the case, always ask before booking the plumber. Once your plumber tells you the cost of your work, always make sure they give you a written quote and detailed invoice.

8. Get Quotes From Multiple Plumbers

When hiring contractors, standard practice is to get at least three quotes from the prospective plumbers. Be sure to ask for detailed quotes so you can better compare and also to make sure there aren’t any unnecessary items or things that are missed that may become unexpected add-ons later. There should be three main components in a plumbing quote, labour, materials and travel. You should also take note of the payment conditions such as deposit required etc.

9. Be Clear And Consistent About Your Requirements

Communication between you and your potential plumber is going to be the key to successful completion of the project. It is reassuring to customers, shows professionalism and reduces the potential for misunderstandings. Understand what it is you want to achieve and be sure you are both on the same page before any work commences, your plumber should be able to explain what needs to be done, how long it will take, and any potential issues that might arise in a timely manner and be available when you have any concerns.

10. Confirm Availability

Even if you think you have found the perfect plumber and they come highly recommended - availability can be a much bigger deciding factor. When it comes to plumbing jobs, timing can be of the essence, particularly if encountering leaks. Always check when your potential plumber is available to complete the work in your expected timeframe - they are often heavily booked up for weeks in advance and may not be able to come when you want them.

11. Are They A Local Or National Company?

Both local tradespeople and large, national companies both have their merits. Local businesses are likely to be able to respond more quickly, squeezing you in at short notice and perhaps tend to be a more cost effective choice. Larger companies come with the added benefit of reputation and exposure. It really comes down to what you prefer on this one. 

12. Ask About The Materials/Brands Used

Something that many people might overlook when choosing a plumber is the materials/products that they use. Everyone knows the quality of the product can affect longevity, performance and both long and short term satisfaction. Don’t be afraid to ask about the materials/brands the plumber uses and whether or not there are options with regard to choosing different products etc.

13. Compare Prices

While we would all like to make decisions without taking the cost into account - the reality is this is usually not the case. Cost is always important to consider - but it isn’t something that should be primary deciding factor. Remember, hiring a plumber is an investment in your home. Take the time to find the right professional for your project. 

14. Do They Provide Emergency Services

Depending on your requirements, the ability to provide emergency call-outs might be the simplest deciding factor when choosing your plumber. You will need to find someone who can come immediately if there is the possibility of damage to the surrounding area, such as gib, carpet, cabinetry, walls and flooring. This is highly likely for situations with leaking hot water cylinders and pipes.

One last thought to take away - always keep all correspondence, invoices, emails, quotes and receipts etc for your protection once the job is complete. Just in case there are any problems with the work, or disputes regarding what was agreed upon. And also for product warranties. Need a reliable local plumber in Christchurch? Give the team at PlumbFitz a call today.