When you own your own home, certain maintenance tasks can be a little bit intimidating. From plumbing leaks and frozen pipes to installing a new faucet and changing light fixtures, there are many things that require expert help. But the idea of hiring a plumber and dealing with this kind of stuff might seem like an unnecessary expense at the moment. However, think about all the benefits of hiring a plumber: Hiring a plumber offers peace of mind because of their professionalism, experience, and reliability. After all, no one wants to see their home flooded with water, or have their pipes break due to an unchecked blockage because someone didn’t do their homework before purchasing a home. These things are costly, inconvenient, and even scary if you don’t know what you’re doing. Hiring a plumber to solve these problems before they become even more expensive and inconvenient is a sound investment for anyone who owns their own home. Here are some examples of situations that require a plumber: When you have a clogged toilet that is overflowing sewage into your home. When your water heater has sprung a leak and is slowly leaking water all over the place. When your home has frozen pipes and needs to be thawed out so you can have water again. When you have an unusual smell coming from your pipes and need them checked out as quickly as possible. When you need a new faucet installed so you can have easy access to clean water.
Types of Plumbers
When you’re talking about a plumber you might be wondering what kind of person is qualified to fix these problems. There are three main types of professionals that you might want to hire: A Licensed Plumbing Contractor – A Licensed Plumbing Contractor is someone who has gone through rigorous training and is certified to work on a wide range of plumbing issues. A Licensed Plumbing Contractor can fix any plumbing problem that you have, including broken pipes, frozen pipes, and leaking water heaters.A Licensed Plumbing Contractor also provides a 10-year warranty on their workmanship, which is extremely reassuring because many people don’t receive the level of service that they should from a licensed contractor. However, Licensed Plumbing Contractors are much more expensive than other types of plumbers. A Licensed Plumbing Contractor typically charges between $100 and $150 per hour, plus materials. A Licensed Plumbing Contractor will also be able to provide you with the necessary permits if you need to make any alterations to your plumbing system. A Licensed Plumbing Contractor will be able to give you a free estimate on the spot and is the best option for most people who are dealing with serious plumbing issues.A Licensed Plumbing Service Worker – A Licensed Plumbing Service Worker is someone who specializes in minor plumbing issues, like clogged drains or a leaking faucet. Licensed Plumbing Service Workers typically charge $50 to $100 for their services, plus or minus depending on the type of issue that they are called out to fix. Licensed Plumbing Service Workers are great for small plumbing issues, but they lack the training and experience of Licensed Plumbing Contractors. Licensed Plumbing Service Workers aren’t covered by a 10-year warranty and can’t provide the same level of service as a Licensed Plumbing Contractor.
Beware of Scams
Unfortunately, there are a lot of unscrupulous people in the plumbing industry. Be particularly wary of contractors who insist on coming to your home and repairing your plumbing issues. This is a common scam because it’s easy for dishonest contractors to get into your home without you knowing. Scammers will often use a higher-than-average hourly rate to make you think they are trustworthy. This is also a common scam, because Licensed Plumbing Contractors should be charging the same rate regardless of where you live.Another common scam is for contractors to promise to fix your plumbing issues and then charge you for materials that were never used. These types of scams are especially prevalent in areas where people don’t have the same access to plumbing services that you have in your area.
Beware of Misleading Marketing Strategies
One of the biggest red flags to look out for is a contractor who is trying to put pressure on you to hire them immediately. You should always give a contractor time to inspect your plumbing issue and give you a free estimate. Contractors who are impatient and pushy are usually looking for more than just an inspection. Contractors who are trying to get their foot in the door may also be willing to charge you less than what you should be paying. There are plenty of legitimate contractors who will provide you with an inspection, give you a free estimate, and then let you know if they are the right fit for the job. There are even a few websites that allow you to submit a request for a free estimate and find a contractor nearby to come out and inspect your plumbing issue.
Beware of Schemes to Steal From You
Not all contractors are honest. There are plenty of contractors who will take the money you give them, promise to come out to fix your issue, and then never show up. There are also some contractors who will promise to come to your home and fix your plumbing problem, but then actually steal from you instead. Some contractors may offer to repair your plumbing issue and then take the money for materials that they never installed. Other contractors may take your money, only to come out to your home and tell you that they can’t help you. You’ll have to pay for materials that you don’t even need, and you’ll also have to pay a contractor to come out to your home and tell you that they can’t help you.
The Bottom Line
Hiring a plumber is an important part of owning your own home. It’s important to remember that you are responsible for all of the maintenance and upkeep of your home, including plumbing. Hiring a plumber to solve these problems before they become expensive and inconvenient is a sound investment for anyone who owns their own home.