Plumbing

Choosing an Experienced Plumber

When it comes to hiring a plumber there are a variety of factors that you should be aware of to ensure you are getting the right professional for the job. Our helpful guide shows you the 12 things to look for when hiring a qualified plumber.

Whether it’s a burst pipe, a toilet that won’t flush, or simply fixing a leaky sink, you’ll know exactly what to look for and what to ask the next time you need to hire a plumber.

Reviews

Online reviews are a great barometer for checking to see whether or not your chosen plumber is as good as they say they are. As with all online reviews, there are bound to be a few negative reviews thrown in with the good, so don’t let that put you off hiring a plumber if the vast majority are good.

Although bad reviews shouldn’t be completely ignored, and it’s worth taking into consideration what the issue was to warrant a poor score. If it’s the same issue appearing in the negative reviews again and again, it’s probably best to look elsewhere, but if not, don’t let it worry you too much. If you do still have any niggling doubts when hiring a plumber, don’t be afraid to ask questions. A good tradesman will happily be open and explain about his previous jobs, especially if it means new work coming his way.

Are They An Emergency Plumber

When choosing your plumber, it’s also important that you know their availability. If a pipe were to burst in your home, or your boiler were to break, you need the assurance that they offer a 24 hour emergency call out service. Unfortunately, boilers on the brink of breakdown don’t wait for 9am. Knowing their response time can be the deciding factor when choosing your plumber. You don’t want to have to wait 8 hours for an engineer to arrive if a pipe bursts at midnight.

Qualifications

The most important part to check when looking for a plumber is to check that your plumber has all of the correct qualifications. At the very least you will want to hire a plumber with at least a level 2 Diploma in Domestic Plumbing and Heating, and a level 3 Diploma if such work involves a domestic gas heating system.

Experience

While qualifications are incredibly important, plumbing experience can also go a long way. An experienced plumber will have at some point seen it all before and will be able to offer up a solution to your problem quickly.

Do They Offer Insurance?

Alongside qualifications, insurance should be at the top of your list for things to look out for when hiring a plumber. Most plumbing companies will be heavily insured up to a fairly large amount and as such, any issues or damage that may occur can be resolved without too much worry. However, without insurance any costs incurred from unfortunate incidents will not be covered, leaving you and your plumber with costs that will need to be resolved.

Accreditation and Certification

Making sure that your new plumber is registered with the correct body to legally be able to carry out work on your home’s plumbing system is another key thing to look out for. If you’re hiring a plumber to carry out any work that involves gas, such as a gas boiler, then they will need to be Gas Safe Registered. This accreditation needs to be renewed every 4 years and ensures that your plumber is up to date and proves their trade experience and safety.

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) is another accreditation that we recommend you look out for. And while not legally required, it does show that your plumber follows a code of professional practice and provides unhappy clients with a contact point to complain about poor work.

Are They a Local or National Company?

Both local tradespeople and large, national companies can have their benefits. Local businesses will be close by and know the area, and will be more likely to be able to reach you quickly. National companies on the other hand, will have built up a reputation of trust. However, national plumbing companies may take longer for an engineer to arrive at your home, and may be more expensive than smaller, local companies.

Local plumbing companies tend to be a more cost effective choice, and can feel much more personal and friendly than a large corporation, whilst still offering the same quality service.

Are They Transparent About Their Costs?

Should you be in need of hiring a plumber then it’s understandable that cost will be an influencing factor in your choice. If they’re not clear about their pricing before they arrive to carry out the work, this can cause frustration if they end up charging more than you were ready to pay. However, some may ask to see what work will need to be carried out first in order to give you an accurate figure. Once your plumber tells you the cost of your work, make sure they give you a written quote.

Availability

The last thing you want when you’re suddenly faced with a burst pipe is a plumber with little availability. When enquiring with a plumber you’ll want to know when is the earliest that they are usually available and whether or not they also operate 24 hours in cases of emergency.

Online Presence

Checking to see if your plumber has an online presence, such as a website or various social media channels, provides a great opportunity to see how they work and makes contacting them when you have an issue a lot easier. And while a lack of online presence doesn’t necessarily indicate a poor tradesman, it does make it a lot harder to build up a picture of who they are and how they work.

Hiring a professional plumber to fix a problem within your home can often present itself with all manner of questions. However, with a bit of prior knowledge of what to look out for and what to ask, you can ensure that everything ends up running smoothly.

So whether it’s a burst pipe, a toilet that won’t flush, or simply a leaky sink, you’ll know exactly what to look for and what to ask the next time you need to hire a plumber.