You caught your toddler playing in the bathroom… and now the
toilet is overflowing. Where did the hand towel go? And the spare rolls of
toilet paper? And your son’s shirt?
Time to call a plumber! But that’s almost as daunting and
trying to fish your son’s shirt out of the toilet. Plumbers are expensive and we all have that fear that
they’re going to tell you far more is wrong than really is. Or charge you an
arm-and-a-leg per hour…. And who knew it took two hours to unclog a toilet?!
Hopefully our tips will give you a little more piece of mind
so you can make that call before water starts seeping through the floor.
Licensing
First and foremost, anyone you consider for a plumbing gig
needs to provide you with verification of their license. This isn’t a typical
request, as most people don’t think to ask. You can first try looking up the
plumber’s name in the Missouri
Professional Registration Search. But there are basically three levels of
skill: apprentice, journeyman and master plumber. Apprentice is what you want
to avoid because, as one might assume, these are folks in training.
A journeyman’s license means that apprenticeship is
complete. According to the Missouri Revised
Statute for plumbers, applicants for a journeyman’s license must be at
least 21 years old and have at least five years experience as an apprentice
under a master plumber. A master plumber must be at least 25 years old and have
at least three years experience in the field with a journeyman’s license.
What You Need to Ask
For
There are a few items that you should request – in addition
to licensing proof – to make sure your plumber is legit and will charge a
reasonable rate:
- References – Ask for them and then actually contact them to see what they have to say. Wouldn’t be a bad idea to check out reviews online, but remember that most people only get online to complain, not appreciate, so it’s an unbalanced ratio.
- Estimate – Be sure to get your estimates in writing.
- Insurance – Ask for insurance verification and clarify what it covers.
- Payment Schedule – If you’re hiring a plumber for a bigger job, such as a renovation, ask for the payment scheduled in writing so you know how much will be due from you and when.
- Office Address – There are many great reasons for a company to have a post office box, but this is also a way for fake contractors to take advantage of people. Ask where their office is located and verify that it’s actually there.
As you look at plumbing companies, you may also want to
consider the services they offer as part of your assessment. For example,
plumbers that offer 24/7 services or guarantee a fast response time sound
great, and are sometimes necessary, but a often very expensive. HA Construction recommends that
you not use these companies outside of an emergency situation.
Often, the way that a plumber dresses and conducts himself –
and even the condition of his work truck – say a lot about his reliability and
the overall experience you’re going to have. A plumber that puts time and
energy in appearance means that his company is important to him.
Also, cheaper doesn’t always mean better. Everyone is on a
budget these days, but it’s probably better to go with the master plumber that
charges $75 an hour than the journeyman who just got his license and charges
$50 an hour – because you may end up spending far more in the end if they don’t
get something right.
Who We Recommend
While we absolutely encourage you to support any locally
owned plumber service, HA Construction has working experience with and highly
recommends the following companies:
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