Is it your first time hiring a professional plumber? Have you previously had a bad experience and are wondering how to find the best plumbing service? Either way, at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton we understand it can be a challenge to hire a plumber who has the best plumbing expertise and professionalism to get jobs done right.
Making a mistake and hiring an unqualified plumber can be disastrous—especially when you live in Edmonton. When a pipe bursts in the middle of a forty-below winter or your hot water tank stops working, you can be left feeling downright uncomfortable or possibly be in a dangerous situation. Hiring the best plumbing services is key to ensuring your repairs are handled promptly, your home isn’t damaged, and that your life can go back to normal as soon as possible.
It can be easy to make a rushed decision when hiring a plumber—especially in a plumbing emergency. But rather than picking the first residential plumbing company that pops up in your Google search, take time to do a little research first. The best practice is to do your homework before emergency strikes, and build a long-term relationship with a company you can trust time and time again.
Before you hire a plumber, make sure you've done said homework and that they meet your standards. After all, plumbing is an integral part of your home. You need to be able to rely on the best plumbing service for your pipes. Below are a few important check-boxes you need to address before hiring a plumber, put together by our pro team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton.
1. Ensure Your Plumber is Insured
Avoid any company that does not have insurance. When you're dealing with a serious problem like a broken water heater, burst pipe or flooded basement, the last thing you'll want to deal with is a mistake that's not covered by insurance. While your plumber should have enough experience and skill to avoid mistakes, it's important to be protected just in case. Make sure any plumber you hire has liability insurance, so you're covered if something goes wrong.
2. Look for the Best References
Even if a friend or family member has recommended someone, it's important to still check their references. There are amateur plumbers out there that don't have insurance, work out of their homes, and are not equipped to expertly handle your plumbing repairs. After confirming that a company or individual you are hiring is licensed and insured, ask to see references.
If you can't ask to speak with other homeowners who've used a given plumber's services, another good resource would be to check online reviews. While scrolling through Google reviews, ask yourself these questions:
How up to date are the reviews?
How many reviews are there in total?
How recent was the last 5-star review?
How does the company handle client feedback?
Are there any commonalities in the reviews? (Such as notes on professionalism or a common issue popping up again and again.)
3. Ask for an Estimate
It’s common that the best plumbers charge a flat-fee for being called out to your home, plus additional costs for work and any parts required to fix your particular issue. This is standard practice, but that's why it's integral to get as much information as you can about the job cost over the phone.
Not only will a conversation with a plumber or customer service representative give you an idea of how approachable and professional the company is, but you can also inquire about the cost to get the best plumber out to your home and provide an estimate to complete the work. It would be nice if plumbing services could be quoted over the phone, but in most cases that’s not considered best practice. To get an accurate cost assessment a plumber needs to see what they are up against before providing a price for repairs.
4. Look for the Best Guarantee
The best plumbing companies will always stand behind their work with a guarantee. In the rare event something goes wrong, it's important that you have peace of mind. That peace will come from knowing you're covered if repairs fail and your home is damaged. While part of this equation is checking for liability insurance, another part is asking about a guarantee. The best plumbing companies not only offer excellent service, but are also backed by guaranteeing all workmanship and parts.
5. Experience is Key
Like anything else in life, the more experience a plumber has, the more equipped he or she will be to handle your repair, installation, and maintenance needs. Look for companies that have been serving the community for years. Poor quality plumbers tend not to last long because word gets around. Companies that are invested in serving the community outlast their short-lived competitors.
It's also important to ensure the individual plumber coming to your home is highly experienced. We only hire exceptionally experienced plumbers—which is one of the reasons why we're one of Edmonton's best choices for exceptional plumbing services.
6. Compare Different Companies
There is no harm in shopping around before deciding on the best plumbing company that's right for you. Do a little research and narrow down your list of prospects to about three to five. Give them each a call and suss out prices, whether or not you can book an appointment, if you have to pay a fee upfront, etc. This will help you get a feel for each company, and help you learn more about how each business operates. Obviously in a crisis, like backed up sewer lines, you won't have too much time to shop around for the best plumbing experts. That's why it's normally best to be proactive and do your research in advance.
7. Ask the Best Questions
To make sure you hire the absolute best plumbing services, it's integral that you feel comfortable asking questions. Don't just inquire about the estimate, but also ask:
What they're availability is like
If there's anything you need to prepare in advance of their visit
If they book scheduled appointments
If they offer emergency services 24/7
Whether the plumbers are uniformed
Whether the workers drive company vehicles
If the company will clean up before leaving
And ask about payment options and procedures
Need the Best Plumbing Service? Hire the Pros at Mr. Rooter Today!
When you need a plumbing company that provides quality service—whether for drain cleaning, fixing a leaky faucet or dealing with an emergency—trust the pros at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton. Not only are we known throughout YEG for our unparalleled workmanship, but also for our dedication to excellent customer service.
We're honoured to help homeowners throughout Edmonton and the surrounding areas with their repair, maintenance and installation needs—including in Terwillegar, Riverbend and Pleasantview, to name a few.
To book the absolute best plumbing services today, we invite you to call our friendly office staff at 780-429-3600. We're available 24/7 to solve your next plumbing problem.