What should you do if you begin to notice a wet, musty smell whenever you enter the kitchen or bathroom, and are hearing a soft dripping noise emanating from the dark realm beneath the sink, but you can’t seem to find the source? Well, you are going to call a plumber for help of course, before any further damage can be done by the destructive force of even a small drip!
The thing is, what plumber should you call? If you are lucky enough to live in the area, just ring up the trusty plumber in the Sutherland Shire for tried and true service, but what if you have moved to a new place and need to find a new plumber? Before you make any calls, you had best formulate a list of questions to ask to make sure you get the best service available at a reasonable price! Here are some of the questions you should plan on asking:
Are They licensed? – Make sure that your potential plumber has all the proper licensing to do the work in your region. They should be able to demonstrate this by showing you their credentials. Be a bit cautious with a plumber who is newly licensed, they might lack in experience, but they may also give you a more attractive rate.
What Is The Estimated Cost? – One sign of a fair and trustworthy plumber is that they will ask to come view the problem first instead of just guessing over the phone. Once they have taken stock of the project they can give you a more exact estimate that will be fair to both parties. An experienced plumber will be sure to include the cost of any necessary new parts as well as the labour. Remember, this is just an estimate, sometimes the situation will require a bit more, or even less money! If the latter is the case you will know you have found a plumber you can rely on for years to come.
Who Will Be Doing The Actual Work?– Some plumbing services allocate part of their work to helpers and subcontractors, so it’s important to enquire into their credentials as well. You want to make sure the person who shows up to do the job is as capable as the one who made the estimate!
Are The Rates Hourly Or Fixed? – It’s important to make sure of this when talking about the estimate. An experienced plumber will be able to tell you within an hour or two how long a proposed job will take and be ready to charge you a fair fixed price for the work. In the event of an hourly rate try to get a very clear idea of what that might be to avoid any surprises, and suggest a cap beyond a certain number both parties find reasonable.
A really professional plumber will always adhere to The Plumbing Code of Australia to make sure you get the safest and best service possible!