5 Ways to Tell If Your Plumber is a Crook
1) Get a Good Quote on the Phone
This is no small step. When you call a plumber there are certain questions you will want to ask. Ask them for an estimate over the phone first. If they cannot provide you with an estimate it is probably because either a) the person on the phone does not know what the job entails or b) they want to wait until they are already at the house and have started the clock on you. That’s right! They will charge you just to show up at your door and look at the problem so by that time you are already looking at paying them a minimum of $50. So find out ahead of time.
2) Compare Quotes and Notes
Do not just pick the first plumber you call based on what he said during your conversation. Instead tell them thank you and call another plumber to compare prices and notes. If one place claims that the price of the job should be considerably cheaper ask why. Take down notes and compare them.
3) Ask for Credentials
Sometimes plumbing companies will give brand new or inexperienced plumbers their own van for calls like yours. Do not judge a plumber by their age because some start young and some start old. Just ask if they are licensed journeymen. If not ask them to show you their apprentice card. This will give you an idea of the level of experience your plumber.
4) Watch Them Work
Sometimes plumbers will claim they did work that they did not do. For instance a plumber may charge you for a whole new P-Trap assembly but really only replaced one piece. He could say that the assembly is $20 when he only used a $1 piece. This is true for other things as well. Make sure and test their work before they leave, in front of them. Do not worry about offending them; you are paying them for a service. This can save you on problems down the road.
5) Check for a Warranty
On the invoice they will give you make sure that it says there is a warranty on the work they did. Now specifically the warranty should not be for 2 days or a week. You need to have one for longer periods of time. For drain work I recommend that you don’t accept any warranty on work for any less than 30 days. For small repairs 30 days. For major repairs 6 months to a year minimum. It is only their work that they can warranty, not the parts of fixtures such as water heaters or toilets. But if it was their fault for not installing it properly then they need to fix the problem and upon completion renew the warranty.
If you follow these steps you will not get cheated. They cover all of your ends and force the plumber to do good business. If you have any questions or concerns about a plumbing contractor call the Better Business Bureau and talk to them. In the process you may be able to help save others trouble as well.
