How to Select a Reliable Plumbing Service

LOS ANGELES - Nov. 10, 2014 - PRLog -- How do you find a reliable plumber and avoid getting ripped off? It is critical to find a plumber with the right training, experience, licensing and equipment - and won't rip you off.

A plumber is a trained professional who installs and maintains systems and fittings related to drinking water and non-drinkable water ("sewage") into and out of a building or dwelling.

An experienced plumber can handle anything from a simple faucet replacement to repiping your entire plumbing system.

Plumbers need special training and sophisticated equipment. So how do you find the right plumber?

Plumbing Service Technicians
To work as a plumbing technician, one does not need a state plumbing contractor’s license. But he must work for a licensed plumbing contractor. Becoming a plumbing technician usually requires a high school diploma and up to five years of on-the-job training and experience.

A licensed plumbing contractor obtains state certification after extensive training.

The licensed plumber will have knowledge of all plumbing systems, all the necessary equipment and tools, and he will also need to be familiar with local and state building codes and permits.

Fixtures & Replacement Parts
One of the first things to look into when interviewing a plumber is what kind of fixtures and replacement parts do they install in homes and businesses. Do they use genuine quality fixtures like Price-Pfister of Moen faucets, or do they use those cheap plastic faucets you can buy at Costco for $2.00? If they’re going to install a new water heater, are they certified distributors and installers of the major brands or are you going to be stuck with an inferior off-brand product?

State License
To operate a plumbing company, a plumber must obtain a license as a plumbing contractor from the Contractor’s State License Board. Obtaining this license requires passing an exhaustive test. A state contractor’s license must be kept valid and renewed in compliance with state laws. If a plumber does not renew a license for a certain period of time, he must retake the examination. Make sure the plumbing company you are selecting has a valid, current state contractor’s license.

Insurance
Much of plumbing work is dangerous. Check that your plumber Is adequately insured.

Firstly, a plumber must carry liability insurance: if he damages your property, does he carry sufficient liability insurance to be covered?

Then the plumber must be insured for Workman’s Compensation: if one of his technicians gets hurt on the job, insurance covers his treatment and recovery in case of an accident.

Bonding
Upon obtaining a state plumbing contractor’s license, a plumber must post a bond. A Contractor's Bond is a requirement for the issuance of an active license, reactivation of a license, and for the maintenance of an actively renewed license. The bond must be filed to protect consumers against damage they might suffer as a result of defective construction or other license law violations. The bond also ensures that employees will be paid for work performed.

Equipment
Plumbers use a variety of complex tools. Make sure your plumber has the right equipment and tools to do any job, and uses quality fixtures and replacement parts. His van should be well stocked, so you don’t wait while he drives around finding the right part.

If your plumber is going to do a major drain-cleaning job, does he have the latest Hydro Jet equipment? If you expect him to locate a concealed leak, make sure he has the latest electronic leak detection equipment. If he’s going to replace a part of your pipe or your sewer line, is he going to dig up the entire yard or does he use the latest in "Trenchless Technology" to replace or reline part of a piping system without doing too much disruptive digging. Make sure your plumber has the right equipment.

Pricing
If a plumber gives you a fixed price without first examining your plumbing issue, you may be in big trouble. How can anyone diagnose a problem without first seeing it? If you call a doctor, will he tell you over the phone what’s wrong with you and how much it will cost to cure you? No way - the doctor must first examine you personally. In the same way, your plumber must first examine the issue and then decide on the best way to resolve it. Only then can he tell you how much it is going to cost. Beware of plumbers who advertise a fixed price for a particular plumbing solution: they are just getting their "foot in the door".

Dispatch
One of the best tests of a plumbing company is to check their dispatch response time.Often, customers call a plumber with an emergency, only to be put through to an answering machine or service, and you have to wait – sometimes half a day or more – to get a response. A good plumbing company will have electronic dispatch, and will be able to locate their technician working closest to your location. A good plumbing company should be able to dispatch a plumbing technician to your doorstep within an hour or two of your call, especially during normal business hours. You can expect dispatch to take a little longer after hours or on weekends and holidays. Ask if they operate an after-hours service, which is necessary if you ever have an emergency which can’t wait until regular business hours.

Online reviews.
Then there are those online reviews. Go to your favorite site and read some online reviews. Don’t only use one review site – like Yelp. Many sites have fake reviews – fake good ones and fake bad ones. You should visit more than one review site and check out what others have said about this company. A company with 20 or more positive reviews, most of them with four or more stars, is probably a safe bet.

Referrals
And finally there are referrals. Everyone you know has used a plumber before. Ask around: ask your neighbors, family members, or co-workers to recommend a plumber they have worked with and received good performance from. Ask your online social media network – your Facebook friends or LinkedIn contacts will always be happy to give you an honest referral.

If you use all these criteria, you can be sure of selecting a reliable plumber who will do a good job at the right price and leave you a satisfied customer.

Mr. Speedy Plumbing & Rooter Inc. is a full service plumbing and rooting company headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, with additional facilities in Huntington Beach and Concord, California.

Address:

Mr. Speedy Plumbing & Rooter Inc.

418 Molino Street

Los Angeles, CA 90013


Read our plumber's story:

http://www.mrspeedyplumbing.com/about/a-plumber-story/

What is Hydro Jetting?

http://www.mrspeedyplumbing.com/hydro-jetting/