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Allowing someone into your home or professional space doesn’t come without its own set of concerns. You want to ensure that the person hired to do the job will be able to do so without having to worry about ulterior factors at play. Then again, you also want to ensure that you won’t be taken for a ride; whether it comes to fixing problems which don’t really exist or having to pay more for a service than you normally would.
Thus, when trying to figure out what makes a good plumber before deciding on a specific professional, be sure to keep the following characteristics of a good plumber in mind:
1. Provides accurate/clear estimates.
The last thing you want is a professional plumber who keeps changing a quote. Someone who’s never quite sure what it would cost after all the work has been completed. When searching for a professional plumbing service, you need accurate and clear estimates in order to budget – knowing exactly how much you’re going to have to pay at the end of the day without any sneaky surprises.
2. Not afraid to show credentials.
Is the person you’re thinking of hiring qualified to do the job? Any plumber should be licensed, bonded, and insured in order to protect you from possible accidents which may occur on the job. A professional plumber will proudly display these credentials in their own office or be more than happy to show you.
3. Arrives on time.
There’s nothing worse than having to push your own appointments aside in order to make time for a plumber, only for the plumber to show up when they feel like it. As unprofessional as it may be, it does happen.
4. Good online track record.
With social media taking over these days, online reviews are everywhere. Lucky for you, you’re able to assess the professionalism and quality of work of someone before having to hire them yourself.Check out their Facebook and Google reviews, but keep in mind it’s impossible to keep everyone happy. Check out the way that they handle the negative reviews, as this will give you a more transparent insight to their personality and trustworthiness.
5. Ability to detect possible problems.
Professional plumbers with many years of experience will be able to spot potential problems; even if they may seem quite minor at that particular moment. A recent ABC News report revealed a plumber’s mistake when he had to fix a simple leaky pipe, which ended up exposing the tenants to deadly asbestos dust. According to the report, the 26-year-old students, Ella Gleeson and Morgana Russell expected the plumber to fix a leaky pipe in their bathroom wall.
“I just assumed he knew what he was doing,” Ms Gleeson said. “When he was finished, the hole he had cut in the tiles above the bathtub was still there.
“He was like, ‘that’s for the handyman to fix’. There was just a giant hole in the wall. There was dust everywhere.” Ms Russell added: “I saw a hole in our shower wall. I saw dust all over.”
After realising that a handyman is a no-show, they cleaned up the damage caused by the plumber. “The dust just spread around the house,” Ms Gleeson said. Her brother, a carpenter, visited after the third day. “I showed him and his face dropped. That’s asbestos. So then we just panicked,” Ms Gleeson said.
Any professional plumber would have realised the dangers and notified the tenants immediately. However, when dealing with someone who’s simply out for the money, doing their job and only that is what you’ll potentially find.
Plumbing problems can happen at any moment, any time of the day. Thus, finding a reliable plumber to help you out in a tricky situation will give you peace of mind that everything will be alright. Regardless of the situation at hand, finding a professional plumber with quality characteristics will save you money in the long run and prevent minor problems from becoming massive plumbing issues.