5 Questions to Ask When Looking for Emergency Plumbing

Emergency plumbing tends to happen at the worst possible time.

Whether your pipes burst or your geyser pops in the middle of the night, over a weekend or on a public holiday: the ordeal will be easier to handle if you already have an emergency plumber to call.

It’s best to be proactive and choose a plumber before you find yourself scrambling for the phone. Here are a few questions to ask before saving your potential plumber’s number on speed dial.

1. Are You Licensed?

According to Times Square Chronicles, this is one of the first questions to ask a plumber.

Most cities require plumbers to write an exam before they can get to work. A plumbing license is a proof that your potential plumber knows what they’re doing and that they understand building codes and regulations.

Checking your plumber’s qualifications won’t only save you from having to redo shoddy work in the future, it will also protect you when you have to make insurance claims for plumbing again.

2. Are You Insured?

While you’ll need to know if your own insurance will cover work done by a potential plumbing contractor, another of the questions to ask is whether the plumber is insured himself.

This is Money points out that a plumber with proper insurance and worker’s compensation will save you from any nasty surprise costs like paying for a worker’s medical bills in the event of an accident.

A plumber’s insurance will also cover any accidental damage to your or your neighbour’s property.

3. How Much Will I Be Paying?

Emergency services are always going to cost more than regular plumbing services, it’s a good idea to find out now how much more that will be.

Among the cost-related questions to ask are:

• Do you charge a call out fee?
• Will you provide a quote before you start working?
• What do you charge for travel time?
• What is your hourly labour rate?
• Do you make a profit on parts?

Times Square Chronicles suggests asking friends and family what they’ve paid for similar plumbing jobs to get an idea of the going rate.

Some plumbing companies like PHS offer service plans that could save you money in the long run.

Either way, it’s important that you are comfortable with your quote before accepting it.

4. What Are Your Response Times & Availability?

If you’re looking for a plumber that will be there in an emergency, you ideally want someone who will be available 24/7.

You’ll also need to find a plumber that operates from somewhere close to your home or office to reduce response time. The further they have to travel the longer their response time will be.

With water leaks, for example, the quicker you can get the problem fixed, the less damage you’ll have to deal with.

5. Do You Offer a Warranty?

According to Angie’s List, most plumbers should guarantee their work and the parts they use.

You’ll want some kind of warranty on the work done to make sure you don’t have to have it redone at an extra cost in a hurry.

If a plumber isn’t willing to offer a warranty or references, it might be better to find someone else who will.

A last word on the questions to ask about emergency plumbing:

Nobody plans for emergency plumbing, but by ensuring you already have the number of a reputable emergency plumber on hand, you could minimize the damage to your property.

These five questions will help you choose the right plumber and save you money in the long run.