Guest Blog
A plumbing professional is needed when either the water or the sewerage system is not functioning like it should. For instance, your tap could be running dry or the water might be flowing in drips. You might also spot pools of water in some rooms which is a cause for concern. All these signs indicate that something is not right with the plumbing system. Such plumbing issues normally happen because the pipes are broken or there is a clog in the system. Even if you are a DIY enthusiast, it’s important that you call in a plumber when you encounter a problem in your plumbing system. This is because they have the necessary skills and tools that are needed in stopping water from getting wasted.
On the other hand, hiring the right plumber is not as easy as we are made to believe. There are so many jobless people out there that would not hesitate in seizing such an opportunity and make a few bucks. If you hire the wrong plumber, the problem will still happen again after a few days, meaning you will have to call him again. Here is a list of questions that you should ask a plumber during the hiring process to ensure you get quality workmanship.
- Do you have Insurance?
Hiring a plumber who is not insured is a huge mistake. Keep in mind that the plumber may damage something accidentally when fixing the problem. Alternatively, the plumber might get injured while working on your property. If they are not insured, you will have to meet the cost of repairing or replacing the stuff that he damaged. And if in case of an injury, you will be the one to pay for his treatment. Such liabilities can be avoided by opting for a plumber that is insured.
- Do you have a License of Registration
The law requires all plumbers to have a license of registration. The license is actually used when identifying them for purposes of taxation. It’s also used for regulating them. If a plumber doesn’t follow the rules that are specified by the authorities for plumbing projects, they risk having their license cancelled. Besides that, the plumber’s license will be needed when getting consent from local authorities. Keep in mind that it’s illegal for any plumber to work on a project without proper documentation and approval from relevant government agencies.
- Do you have Portfolio and Credentials
Hiring a plumber that doesn’t have credentials is a recipe for disaster. This is because they don’t have the necessary skills to be able to handle the job at hand. The problem of dealing with such plumbers is that they can’t guarantee their job because they can’t solve a plumbing issue once and for all. For the purpose of safeguarding your interests, you should insist on seeing their credentials. And since some plumbers use forged documents, you should ensure that the credentials are from a recognized technical training institute. It’s also important you ask the plumber to show you a portfolio of his past projects that are somehow similar to yours. After seeing the portfolios, you should contact a few of his past clients to confirm that he indeed worked on their projects. The advantage of doing this is that you will be able to dig on the reputation of NexGen HVAC & Plumbing. You should only consider hiring the plumber after getting positive reviews from his previous clients.
- What are your Charges
The worst mistake you can make when hiring a plumber is to allow them to get started with the job before agreeing on charges. In fact, you should put it in writing so that you can refer to the document in case a dispute arises later. When discussing charges, you should find out whether the plumber charges an hourly rate or a flat rate. And that’s not all. You should insist that the plumber will not be paid to fix a problem in case it resurfaces again. Besides that, you should ask the plumber how he prefers to be paid. There are those that prefer to be paid in installments while others want to be paid a lump sum amount once the project is completed. By the rule of thumb, you should never pay the full amount until the job is done and is satisfactory.
- What’s your Availability
Hiring a plumber who is not available is as bad as not hiring one. This is because they will not be able to respond to your call when you need them the most. Lest you forget, some plumbing issues come as an emergency, meaning they have to be solved as soon as they happen. There are some plumbers that work round the clock while others are only available during normal working hours and days. It’s recommended you hire a plumber that can come to your rescue at any time of the day.
