How to Save Money When Hiring a Plumber

With certain types of plumbing problems, you have no choice but to call a plumber. Many people try to put off calling a plumber as long as possible until they're certain it's a problem they can't fix themselves to save money. However, just because you're calling in a professional doesn't mean you're going to need to fork over a large amount of cash.

Here are some quick tips to help you save money when you call in a plumbing professional to your home.

Compare rates

Chances are there are going to be multiple plumbing professionals to choose from in your area. This allows you to get quotes and compare hourly rates. While you shouldn't just hone in on the plumber that offers the lowest rate, you should absolutely take that into consideration while also looking at factors such as services offered, reputation and quality of customer service.

Stay local

Dealing with a local, neighbourhood plumber has advantages that affect the price too. They often have experience in the area, know of common issues and stock the parts needed in various areas or developments reducing troubleshooting and repair time. Our team has proudly served local residential, commercial, seasonal and farm systems throughout Durham Region.

Take care of your plumbing

If you can take steps around your home to minimize the need you have to hire a professional plumber, you can save a lot of money on their services. This means knowing what items do and don't belong down a drain, clearing clogs yourself, taking the proper steps to prevent or thaw frozen pipes and addressing leaks as soon as you notice them. Ongoing preventative maintenance will help small problems turn into major issues that necessitate significant, expensive repairs.

Reduce how much time the project will take

If you can reduce the amount of time the plumber will have to spend on the project, this will cut down the amount of time for which you can be charged for the project. Make the plumber a thorough list of every plumbing issue in your home and where they're located so you can have them address all these issues at once. Clear all work areas so they can get right to work without having to make space. Handle some of the cleanup yourself as well. Be prepared to give the plumber information about the issues you're experiencing and any steps you've already taken to attempt to resolve the problem.

Buy your own fixtures

Many plumbers will also sell you replacement fixtures like sinks, faucets and toilets if you need to install new ones. You might be able to save by organizing the fixtures yourself, particularly if you have specific items you are looking for. Your plumber can install these fixtures for you. Just keep in mind warranties etc, often if the plumber supplies and installs they cover both the fixture and the labour vs you having to coordinate that with the supplier and the plumber separately.

These are just a few of the steps the average homeowner can take to reduce how expensive a visit from a plumbing professional will be. For more information, contact us at PipeMasters: info@pipemasters.ca or (289) 404-9063.

PipeMasters is part of Oakridge Plumbing Ontario Ltd. All Rights Reserved.