by Suzanne Rose

Created on: March 23, 2010

When your toilet does not do what you want it to do, then who are you going to call?  A plumber!  These masters of the pipes are plentiful enough, but you will want to assess the candidates for certain qualities, which will give you the best chance of plumbing success.  The following are some of the things you should look for when choosing a plumber.

Make sure that he is licensed and insured as required by your local government

It can be tempting to hire someone without the proper credentials in order to save a few dollars, but this is often a substantial mistake.  If something goes wrong, and with plumbing it can, then you want to have the proper protection.  Remember, the damage can be far more than the item that is being fixed.  For instance, let’s say the pipe bursts when he is fixing it.  The pipe is busted.  However, let’s say that water then goes on your carpet.  The carpet might get ruined.  The walls might get ruined.  Now let’s say you are in a condo on the thirty-first floor.  The person below you?  A collector of priceless antiques.  Get the idea?  You are going to want to have some protection.  The plumber’s insurance might be able to help with that.  In addition, someone who is properly licensed might be of better quality, and this is of course important.   

Make sure that you get someone who can properly diagnosis and remedy the problem. 

In other words, get someone who is good.  Especially since a bad plumber can create the sequel to Waterworld, you want to be very careful.  How do you find such a person?  It is not like a mediocre plumber is going to come along and say “I’m just okay” while the bad ones simply shake their heads and urge you to look elsewhere.  Of course, everyone will try to sell him or herself.  So how do you know which is good?  One way is to get a recommendation.  Many people use plumbers so by asking around, you are likely to get many different recommendations.  See if you can find someone that a friend has used for a while with good experience.  Also, if you can get someone that was recommended by several people, then that might be great. 

Find someone who is punctual and reliable

It can be frustrating to wait for a contractor in your house.  You might feel like the sick kid stuck at home while all of your friends are out playing.  How annoying it is then when the plumber doesn’t show up!  Obviously, you want to find someone who will be there when he says he will be there, or at least within a reasonable window of time.

Consider the above factors when choosing a plumber.

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