Tips on Hiring the Best Plumber for your Project

The need to hire a plumber is almost guaranteed to come up if you own a home long enough. Often home owners who are not handy feel uncomfortable when hiring this type of skilled labor. Don't feel discouraged! In the article that follows are some tips to keep even the most un-handy homeowner in the driver's seat.

Keep in mind that there are two types of residential plumbers. The family plumber works on every day issues that aging, or even new plumbing, can have. The types of work you want to hire a family plumber for are snaking drains, fixing leaky faucets, and swapping out fixtures. The family plumber is typically the plumber that responds to plumbing emergencies. It's good to know a trusted family plumber in case something happens in your house and you need help fast.

The other type of plumber specializes in remodeling work or new construction work. These types of plumbers often work closely with a general contractor or home builder. You would hire this type of plumber if you were considering installing a new addition with a bath or kitchen. Before calling a plumber, make sure you choose the type that fits your project.

Before your plumber visits, make a trip through your house and note every slow drain, dripping faucet or leaky shower head. When you are paying by the hour, you want to be prepared and efficient to get the most value out of your plumber's visit.

The best place to start looking for a plumber is through referrals. This is a great short-cut versus flipping through the Yellow Pages and hoping you get lucky and call a good company. If you are new to the area, ask for referrals at your local hardware store, lumber yard or at the local real estate office. All of these places will know plumbers that they will confidently refer. Also, remember to tell the plumber that you were referred to them. This could get you better pricing and attention.

Contact more than one plumber for bids and let the plumber know that you will be comparing these bids. A little competition is a good thing. Don't feel uncomfortable with this as it is an industry standard. Any good plumber should feel confident in standing behind their bid. If they try to push you away from comparing bids, do not hire them.

Review all your bids and ask as many questions as possible. You want to get as close as possible to comparing‚ apples to apples. Remember to ask about any warranties and any extra costs that may not be included such as disposal costs. When you have a sense of the bids, hire the plumber that you felt most comfortable with that offers the best price. You are building a relationship as well, so it's important that you feel good about the person you hire.