8 Important Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber
Hiring the perfect person to do your house repair job is not an easy task. First, you have to be clear about the problem. Not all plumbers specialize in all plumbing issues. There are different specialized persons available to handle different issues. That is why it is recommended that you should first realize your problem and then hire a professional.
For example, if your problem is related to technical issues then you have to hire a technical plumber. Similarly, there are different plumbers for residential and commercial building plumbing issues. Ask your plumber specific questions to determine what kind of specialties he has and what kind of plumbing issues he specializes in.
8 Questions to Ask Plumbers Before Hiring
The following questions are important to ask plumbers before hiring them to ensure they are capable of solving your problem.
1. Do They Have a Licence?
Every country or state has its own rules and regulations regarding plumber certifications. However, most of them at least demand a diploma or some certificates before issuing a license. Some also demand vocational training before the issuance of a license.
Before the issuance of a license, they have to work as an intern in a company for a few years. During the internship period, they get the chance to learn all aspects of plumbing and related tools so that they become able to tackle issues in a professional way. After that, they have to take an exam to show their knowledge and learning before they can actually get the license.
The above process is not an easy one. Therefore a licensed plumber means he has all the skills and technology to fix your plumbing problems. That is why you should first ask them if they have a license before hiring them.
2. Do They Have Insurance?
This is a very important question to ask your plumber in Norwich before hiring them. Having insurance means that he belongs to a professional company with good ethics and working rules. If anything goes wrong during or after your work is completed, they will be responsible for future repairs for a certain period of time.
However, not having an insurance facility means that all the expenses or responsibility related to any wrong happening will be totally yours. No responsibility will be taken by the plumber or the company.
3. Do They Offer a Warranty?
Another important question to ask them before hiring is whether they provide a warranty for their work or not. This is called a workmanship warranty. All professional companies and individuals provide workmanship warranties. This warranty usually includes that if anything goes wrong within a 30-day period after the repairs, then the company will provide free of cost repairing services.
You should therefore ask the plumber first if they provide a warranty or guarantee of their work because the one who does not provide a warranty shows unprofessional behavior which can lead to unsatisfactory results for the customer.
4. Do They Have References?
You should always ask for any references from the person before hiring them to do your task. You can also ask for the number of previous customers. In this way, you can easily contact them and ask about the work quality and satisfaction level of the previous customers. This can be very helpful for you before making any final hiring decision.
Most companies maintain online directories and websites where you can also find customer reviews, their work profile, and previous work history. This will also help you to see what kind of specialty the person or company is offering. You can then select the one according to your requirements.
5. What are the Operating Hours?
Some plumbers offer 24 hours services while some of them have fixed operating hours. Therefore make sure about their operating hours first before hiring them as time constraints can be a serious issue regarding your task completion. Also, make sure that you have one plumber who works 24/7 so that you can call upon one in case of any emergency.
If the person you are hiring is working 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, then ask about the extra charges as well. There is a possibility that he will charge some extra amount for extra working hours.
6. How Many Years of Experience Do They Have?
Whenever you search for a good doctor for your illness, you always prefer the one with more years of experience. The same formula is applicable to the plumber as well. An important question you should ask before hiring is about the number of years they have been in this business. The more experience the better will be the work and the more will be satisfaction level. Therefore it is an important question to ask about the years of experience they have.
7. What is Their Specialty?
Like other professional fields, the plumbing field also has professionals who specialize in different areas. This means that not every plumber is capable of solving your plumbing issue. It is therefore very important that you should ask them about their specialized area of expertise to hire the right person to do your job. However, if you have a general problem then you can also hire a general plumber who can easily handle the issue.
8. Do they Provide Follow up?
You should ask the plumber whether they provide after-sale services or not and what kind of follow-up they offer. A good plumber will always follow up with the customers to get feedback and build a reputation.
Does the Plumber Clean the Drain?
When your home's drains clog or slow, it's a good idea to call for professional plumbers. Drain cleaning by licensed plumbers not only unplugs your drains but also makes it hard for them to plug up again in the future.
Final Words
Finding a professional plumber that can give you quality services and long-lasting work quality is certainly not an easy task. However, the above article will help you to know what kind of questions you should ask the plumbers before hiring them to make sure that you get the right person to get your job done.
