by Deborah Michelle Jordan

Created on: September 03, 2008   Last Updated: October 07, 2008

These days, people are making more home repairs themselves. With access to the internet and so many other resources for do-it-yourself'ers, it's tempting to try to save money instead of hiring a professional. However, where plumbing matters are concerned, unless it's a very basic repair, it is not worth the risk to do it yourself. To stretch your funds and get quality work done, it's important to arm yourself with information before hiring a plumber.

There are plumbers that respond to home/business repairs and emergency calls and then there are those that work on remodeling jobs or building sites. You'll need to decide which kind of plumber you need and how to identify them in the yellow pages. If you have time to do some research, the best way to find a quality plumber is to ask friends, neighbors and even a real estate agent.

Plumbing is a professional occupation, meaning it is regulated by most states. Anyone calling themselves a "Plumber", should hold a license. You can obtain proof of a license by asking for it, or requesting the license number and looking it up yourself with your state's regulatory board. Verifying the license is a good way to find out if there have been any complaints filed against the person. Plumbers-in-training are called apprentices. If you hire an apprentice, working under a plumbers license, be sure to verify their years of experience with the plumber.

If problems arise with repairs due to negligence on the part of the plumber, you don't want to be stuck with a more expensive problem than you had before. Protect yourself by asking about liability insurance. Find out if the policy is current and the amount of coverage.

Jokes about the hourly rates for plumbers are based in truth - they are expensive, but not expensive as a plumbing problem gone wrong.

For basic plumbing services, you can expect to pay anywhere from $40 to $70 per hour, not including parts. If the call is made after hours or on the weekend, the plumber may charge an additional fee for inconvenience.

Where remodeling jobs are concerned, the hourly rates are about the same, if paying by the hour is an option. In many cases, you will be quoted a rate based on the "fixture". For example: the cost to run plumbing lines, install parts and fixtures for a restroom, might be $1,500, regardless of the actual time spent to perform the work.

Plumbing requires a thorough understanding of plumbing and construction codes, in addition to experience with parts and materials. When work is done by a respected and qualified plumber, you can be confident that the work will be done right.

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