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Here Is Your Guide To Finding A Plumber!

Steps To Finding A Good Plumber:

1.    Check to make sure that they have a current State License.

2.   Get two or more references.

3.    Ask how long they have been in business.

4.    Get at least one other bid for the same job to ensure that you are not being ripped off.

5.    Find a plumber that will give you pricing for small jobs over the phone.

6.    Get flat rate estimates so that you know the total you will pay beforehand.

7.   Ask neighbors & friends for plumbing referrals.

How To Hire A Plumber

Think about the last time you purchased a car. Chances are that you didn’t just go to the yellow pages, choose a dealership at random, and then bought the first car, from the first dealer that you visited. Many times though, this scenario describes the way homeowners find a plumber!

They look in the phone book and call the plumber with the largest ad, or the one that listed at the top. But much like purchasing a car, finding a qualified plumber requires research and comparison shopping.

Identifying A Plumber

The first step in finding a good plumber is to ask family and friends, for recommendations of professionals, that they’ve hired in the past. Other good sources of referrals include, contractors, real estate agents and your local plumbing or home improvement store.

Your city may even be able to provide a list of approved/recommended plumbers who they feel are familiar with the current building codes in your area.

When asking for referrals, be sure to check the type of job the plumber was called in to accomplish. Also, determine if the plumber specializes in residential or commercial work.

Things To Look For In A Qualified Plumber

There are a number of qualifications which can set a professional plumber apart.

State License or Certification.
Many States (including California), require certification for plumbers working in the State. Call the California State License Board (800 321-CSLB) or visit  California’s  Instant License Check web page
and verify that the plumber is licensed and that it is current. Also check to see if there are any active complaints against the license.
Insurance
Be sure that the prospective plumber that you are considering is fully insured, having both workers’ compensation and liability insurance. Your selected plumber should be able to provide you with a copy of their insurance policy.
Better Business Bureau
Contact your local BBB, to ascertain if any complaints have been filed against your potential candidate. If so, have the complaints been dealt with satisfactorily.
Questions To Ask

When you have narrowed the list, ask two or three plumbers to visit your home, to survey the job, and provide a written estimate that also includes a materials list. The contract should spell out the scope of the project, any items that are excluded and the payment terms.

When obtaining a quote, one of the most important questions to ask your plumber, is the type of materials to be used. Remember a plumbing part defect, has the potential to cause water damage to your home and further expense to boot! Look for

Quality Materials

Don’t let your plumber install products made with inexpensive and inferior materials. Ask for quality materials, often with recognizable brand names, that offer manufacturers’ warranties to the consumer. You may pay more for these parts initially, but you will be glad you did, if there is ever a problem or parts need replacing.

Reliability and Proven Performance

Many homeowners who are calling in a plumber to replace a leaking copper pipe, don’t know that there are alternative materials on the market. Why would you let a plumber make a repair with the same materials that have already failed? Ask your potential plumbing candidates, whether they use any of the proven superior alternatives to copper, such as “Flow Guard” Gold CPVC pipe and fittings.

Made of durable chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, these pipes and fittings offer a number of benefits over copper pipe. Mainly they will never scale, corrode or pit which will help eliminate the risk of future failures and costly re-piping. As compared to metallic systems, FlowGuard Gold CPVC systems also virtually eliminate condensation, significantly reducing the risk of costly drip damage to walls, structure and contents. From a helath standpoint, the CPVC alternative offers the added benefit of maintaining water quality, since there is no metal to leach into the tap water.

In addition to inquiring about quality materials, other questions to ask a potential plumber include:

Length of time in business / references

Ask each plumber how long they have been in business and if you’re not personally referred, ask to speak to several people that can vouch for the quality of their work, and whether they completed the work on time and within budget.

Permits

Be sure to ask the plumbing professional, whether they will be responsible for obtaining all necessary permits.

Service Guarantees

Does the plumber guarantee the work? This is an important point, if there are any problems that need fixing after initial installation.

Safety Commitment

Accidents can happen with almost any home improvement project. So ask your prospective candidate what steps will be taken to prevent injuries and property damage. A common problem when installing copper pipe is a solder torch that may get too close to drywall or wood joists, in tight places. Non-metallic alternatives, like CVPC pipe, are solvent cemented (not soldered), so the risk of fire is eliminated.

Clean Up

Ask the plumber how they intend to leave the work area, once the job is completed. You don’t want to be cleaning up after a plumber for hours, after they’ve left your home. Also ask about disruption, during the project. For instance, will the water be turned off for extending periods, that will cause problems with your daily routine.

Pricing

Compare prices, but remember the cheapest quote isn’t necessarily the best plumber for the job. An experienced, qualified plumber may charge more for the work, but could save you money in the end by doing the job correctly and using the best materials for the job.

Tips

Small business plumbers will be more affordable because their overhead is lower
If it’s a big job, ask a number of plumbers and discard the cheapest and most expensive options. The cheapest will have underestimated and will sting you for it later and the most expensive doesn’t really want your business, probably because they have work up to their eyeballs already.
Ask for references when ever posible , particularly for large jobs ,  follow up with any previous client that the plumber may provide to you.