Tips for Hiring a Plumber

How to Hire a Plumber

Although taking on smaller DIY projects around the home can make sense at times, hiring a professional is often a better value when you consider your time, purchasing tools and supplies that you don’t have and, of course, the possible damage that can occur if you perform the job incorrectly.

This is especially true when it comes to plumbing repairs and installations. Hiring a plumber is usually a smart move from the start. When dealing with water and pipes, one wrong turn of the wrench could cause an uncontrollable mess that could lead to extensive damage.

A professional Indianapolis plumber can fix your residential or commercial plumbing problems. When looking for a plumber, it’s important to do your homework and compare plumbing services. Whether you choose HomeSense or another plumbing service, here are a few things to look for:

Plumbing License

In Indiana, any repairs or work with potable water need to be completed by a licensed plumber. The individual plumber and the company both need to be licensed in Indiana. There is a four-year plumbing apprenticeship under the supervision of a licensed plumber to become a journeyman plumber.

It’s crucial to hire a plumber over a handyman for plumbing services. Handymen may not be up to date on industry trends. It’s more likely a plumber has seen a particular plumbing issue than a handyman, who may be drywalling one day and roofing the next. Plumbers have access to manufacturers’ tech lines and training and complete four years of classroom and on-the-job training to become a plumber.

Workers’ Compensation

Plumbing is more than tightening a few pipes. Plumbing contractors deal with hazardous waste, heavy materials, sharp tools and flammable gas. Accidents can happen while a plumber works on your property. When hiring a plumbing company, make sure the business carries workers’ compensation to ensure that you aren’t liable to pay for the plumber’s injuries while on the job.

Indiana requires all companies with employees to carry workers’ compensation, but some small companies don’t. Be sure to ask before a plumber starts work in your home.

Liability Insurance

No matter how experienced a plumber is, accidents can occur. In case they do, it’s important to hire a plumber with liability insurance so you won’t have to pay for damages to your home caused by errors or mistakes.

When looking for a plumbing company, asking to see proof of licenses and insurance is all part of doing your homework. You’ll have peace of mind knowing the job will be covered, no matter what goes wrong.

Ask About Pricing

Choose a plumbing company with straightforward quotes and costs. It’s always possible that the job will incur extra costs for unforeseen reasons, but a reputable company should be able to provide an accurate quote of what the final charges will be. Be wary of receiving quotes over the phone. A good plumber will want to analyze your plumbing problem before providing a quote.

Are Parts and Equipment Covered by Warranty?

Some repairs and replacements have warranties and guarantees provided by either the manufacturer or the installing company. Be sure to review the warranty process, as sometimes manufacturers will provide more benefits if you follow their processes. Generally, the manufacturer only guarantees their product and not the labor. The installing company provides the labor guarantee in some cases. If the guarantee or warranty is provided by the company, remember if they are purchased by another company or are no longer in business you may not receive all your benefits.

Read Online Reviews

Research the company’s online reviews on sites such as Google, Angi and the Better Business Bureau. There, you can get an understanding of what previous customers had to say about the work the plumbing company performed. This should factor into your decision to hire the company. HomeSense has a 4.9 rating out of 5 on Google Reviews based on more than 600 reviews. You can also ask the plumbing company to provide you with references before you hire them.

Experience Matters

Young plumbers or newer companies might perform good service, but choosing a company with a long history in the plumbing industry can provide confidence in their experience. HomeSense has served the homeowners and business owners in Indianapolis and Central Indiana for more than 60 years.

Customer Service & Responsiveness

Burst pipes and clogged drains rarely happen at convenient times. When you need a plumber, you usually need one pretty fast. Professional plumbers know the longer the wait, the worse the water damage. The responsiveness of a plumbing company reflects the quality of customer service it offers.

When hiring a plumbing contractor, it’s important to check online reviews, ask for references from friends and call around for quotes. Check your prospective plumber’s website to see if they offer emergency services. You don’t want to be without a plumber when there’s water flooding through your house. HomeSense offers after-hours emergency service.

Finding the Right Plumber

When it comes to finding a reliable, insured and licensed plumber, it’s important to research a few companies first and not just go with the first or lowest quote. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. HomeSense provides reliable, licensed plumbers with the experience to handle your home’s plumbing issues. Contact HomeSense for all your plumbing, heating, and cooling needs.