How to Choose the Right Professional Plumber

Looking have some plumbing work done in your home? Large or small, it’s important you hire a skilled plumber who can be trusted to complete the job efficiently and satisfactorily. Going with an inexperienced handyman you found off Kijiji, could result in low-quality work that might cost you even more in the long run. Here are just a few factors to take into consideration to ensure you select a high-quality plumber.

• Licensing: You should work exclusively with licensed plumbers. You can do a quick internet search to check license records for your area and make sure a plumber who claims to be licensed actually is. Licensing ensures the plumber has achieved a certain level of training and can be trusted to provide you with quality work.
• Insurance: You should never work with an uninsured plumber. Insurance policies protect both you and the plumber in the event an accident occurs on your property during your job. You could be liable if they are insured or have WSIB. Real pros are happy to provide or offer this proof. WSIB is mandatory in fact.
• Experience: It always helps to work with a plumber who has been doing the job for quite some time. Larger companies may have multiple plumbers covering a broader range of experience, but in any case, it’s a good idea to at least go with a company that has several years or more of operational experience, which will indicate they have a track record of quality workmanship.
• Reviews and references: Before making any hiring decisions, it’s a good idea to do some research into your potential plumber’s background and customer service capabilities. One of the best ways to do this is to browse online reviews on sites like Google Reviews or Yelp. You can also ask the company for some references to satisfied clients, or ask around to your friends and family to see who they would recommend—you can trust your loved ones will not steer you wrong. If the company is unwilling to provide references or testimonials, this is a sign that you’re probably not going to want to work with them.
• Warranties: Does the plumber guarantee their work and the parts they use? If there are no warranties, you should consider looking elsewhere. It’s pretty standard for plumbers to have warranties covering their work for up to a year. A lack of warranties indicates a lack of willingness on the plumber’s part to stand by their work, which should raise some major red flags.
• Price: Finally, price isn’t the sole factor you should consider for hiring a plumber, but it’s definitely something to consider. You should get several estimates from plumbers so you can get a general sense of what the job will cost. Low pricing is often a warning sign of other quality issues. Good contractors are in high demand and book well in advance for non-emergency work. If someone is available in this tight marketplace wonder why….

Talking with your potential plumber is a great way to begin the vetting process and get some of your biggest questions answered. For more information about our plumbing services, contact PipeMasters. Our licensed professionals can help: info@pipemasters.ca or (289) 404-9063. PipeMasters is part of Oakridge Plumbing Ontario Ltd. and serves the East GTA, Durham Region, North to Lindsay & Peterborough, out to Cobourg and all points in between. All Rights Reserved.