Rule Number 3: Shop for a Plumber
When a problem does arise, shop around before deciding on a plumber. That means going to your phonebook and looking up plumbing companies. If a plumber offers you a service but he does not have an ad in the phonebook, don't use him. That is a really good way to find yourself in a hole, both financially and in your living situation. But enough about that, let's get back to the point.
When shopping for things, we can generally believe that the cheaper something is, the lower quality it will be. With plumbers, that just isn't the case. If one company is quoting a way higher price than the other, use the cheaper of the two. Here is an example of why you should follow this rule. The higher priced plumber will have a reason for why he is higher priced, but he won't tell you that. The lower priced plumbers generally are bigger companies and have a way better customer base. The higher the price of a repair or service means that the plumber is not doing well financially for his or her company and needs to jack up the price to offset the bills. The companies that are cheaper are probably more financially set, and with that they will probably do a much better job.
Of course this isn't always the case, so there are other variables to look at. When you call for a quote, ask how long they have been a contractor or if they are apart of the Better Business Bureau or some other organization like that.
Rule Number 4: Beware of Thieves
Here is an important rule, one that most people don't think about. Remember, this man is a stranger who for all you know may have a criminal background. This is not uncommon in the construction trades because if someone has been in trouble before, labor work and trades work is usually a good place for them to go since most corporate companies won't hire them. Make sure you lock everything up and keep an eye on your children.
An example of this would be older couples. They call a plumber but they can't get around the house very well and they are automatically more trusting then regular folks. So they will sit and watch TV while the plumber has free reign to move around the house. If your parents are older, help them out by going over there and talking to the plumber. If he or she knows that you have a strong presence at the house, it is very unlikely he will cheat or steal while he is there.
Rule Number 5: Only Trust Licensed Contractors
Plumbing Contractors are licensed for a reason. This being said, do not trust John Smith, the Handy Man to come over and install a new Water Heater. He may be way cheaper, but he won't do it the legal way. By law, there are certain procedures that have to be done during plumbing jobs and the best way to cover yourself is to use a Licensed and bonded plumber. It covers both him and you.
Here is what happens when the handy man messes up on a water heater. In most cases, water heaters have two components to them; either water and gas or water and electricity. The gas and the electricity are very important things to be careful with. For instance, what happens if your gas water heater is installed wrong and there is a water leak from a pipe? Let's just say that water somehow drips down and puts out the flame that keeps the gas burning. Now the gas is still on and will stay on until it shuts off. But let's say after 20 minutes of it being on, something in the house sparks, what is going to happen? Cause and effect, trust me, no matter what the problem is, use a pro.
Following these steps will help get you a better deal, better service and a better working plumbing system.
