How to Find the Right Plumbing Service for You

Eventually, every homeowner has to employ the services of a plumber. Whether it’s for a clogged drain, minor leak, or complete plumbing disaster, hiring an experienced Toronto plumber that you can trust is important.

Finding the right plumbing company can be difficult. Therefore, here are our top tips to help with your search.

Ask Your Friends and Family for Recommendations

Word of mouth remains the best way to find the right professional for the job. Not only is it a vote of confidence from someone you trust, but it establishes a proven track record of success.

Plus, when you ask friends, family members, and neighbours for their personal recommendations, you can get more insight into the quality of services provided by a plumber. How does your network rate their go-to plumber’s skills, qualifications, and dependability?

Pro tip: ask the pros! The home improvement world is small. Professionals know and talk to other professionals. So, if you trust your HVAC technician, don’t be afraid to ask them to recommend a plumber.

Check Online Reviews

Online reviews are another great way to assess if a commercial plumber is right for you. You can easily examine a wide selection of past customer experiences. People feel more comfortable being honest online, which can paint an accurate picture of a company’s reputation. Google searches, as well as websites like HomeStars and TrustedPros, are great for checking for company reviews.

However, online reviews are not perfect. Sometimes, they even can be misleading. Unfortunately, some companies add fake positive reviews for themselves to appear more legitimate than they actually are. Consequently, you should never rely entirely on online reviews.

Always Request References From the Company

Since online reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, you need to supplement your research with real references from past clients of the company.

An honest and trustworthy company should have no problem putting you in touch with their recent customers. When you call your potential plumber, ask for relevant references from their past customers. To avoid cherry-picking, it’s best to request the contact information for their three or four most recent clients.

Make Sure the Plumber is Properly Licenced, Bonded, and Insured

You should never hire a Toronto plumber that lacks the proper licensing and insurance. Any company operating without a licence is not a legal business. If you choose to work with an illegitimate company, you could be held liable for injuries that happen on your property.

Unfortunately, many plumbers operate without proper credentials and insurance. Avoid these companies at all costs. Ask to see their business licence and insurance.

Request an Upfront Estimate

You should never hire a plumber without first getting an upfront estimate of your project’s cost. Professional plumbers have no problem providing a complimentary quote before the work begins.

However, they do need to visually inspect your home to give an accurate assessment. It’s nearly impossible to know what underlying problems may be causing your plumbing issues without actually seeing the situation.

Getting an upfront estimate helps you know what to expect. It allows you to make a clear agreement with your plumber and avoid surprise expenses. Of course, unexpected things do happen sometimes. Therefore, you should discuss these potential extra costs with your plumber in your initial conversations. That way, you’re prepared for anything.

See if Their Employees Undergo Background Checks

Knowing exactly who is going to be stepping foot into your home can provide comfort and peace of mind. Most plumbing companies employ multiple plumbers. Therefore, it’s important that they do background checks on their employees.

After all, plumbers work inside your home. They will be around you, your family, pets, and valuable belongings. That’s why background checks are an absolute non-negotiable issue.

Ask About Their Level of Experience

How long have they been a plumber? And how much experience do they have working on your specific plumbing issue? These are important things to know, as they affect the quality of the service and the longevity of the solution. You want someone who knows what they’re doing.

Specifically, ask for the level of experience of the person who is actually tackling your plumbing problem. The person answering the phone may be confident in their abilities, but that’s little help if they’re not the one doing the work!

Gauge if They’re a Good Fit

If your personalities are already clashing during the initial phone call, then they’re probably not the right plumber for you. Trust your gut if something doesn’t feel right. You’ll be much happier if you actually get along with the person doing your plumbing work.

The initial phone call is also a good opportunity to assess the company’s customer service. Do you feel listened to, and did they adequately answer your questions? Furthermore, were they friendly, helpful, and good-natured? Remember, you can tell a lot about a company by its customer service.

Inquire About Warranties or a Satisfaction Guarantee

A warranty or a satisfaction guarantee can really save you in a tough situation. Therefore, ask if they offer a warranty on workmanship or parts before hiring a plumber in Toronto. If something isn’t to your liking, having a satisfaction guarantee is a huge asset.

Verbal agreements are not enough when it comes to warranties or guarantees. Thus, make sure you get everything in writing.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions. A professional plumber should be able to answer all of your queries and be happy to do so. If a plumbing company struggles to provide adequate answers (or becomes frustrated that you even asked), move along. They’re not the right plumber for you.

Call Brothers Plumbing for a Plumber in Toronto

Brothers Plumbing has more than 50 years of industry experience. No matter your problem, big or small, we can help. We offer a wide range of professional plumbing services, such as drain cleaning, power flushing, and renovations.

For plumbing services in Toronto, call Brothers Plumbing at 800-741-8471 or contact us here.