Imagine for a moment that it’s three in the morning – or even Christmas Day – and sewage begins backing up into your sinks and tubs. Now imagine that you call an emergency plumber, but when that plumber arrives (at their exorbitant hourly rate), they have no idea what they’re even doing. This sounds like a nightmare, but it happens all the time. Here’s how you can avoid it.
The Company Itself is Reputable
If you want to make sure you’re getting an experienced, knowledgeable plumber who can help you resolve a stinky situation during the wee hours of the morning when the rest of the world is asleep, make sure you’re calling a reputable plumbing company from the start. Depending on where you live, you probably have at least half a dozen plumbing companies nearby with each one offering emergency services for situations just like this one, so you’ll want to be sure you choose a company that is not only fairly priced but also experienced.
The Plumber is Transparent and Up Front about the Issue
Anyone who comes into your home on a professional basis should be able to provide you with some sort of diagnosis and quote within the first 30 minutes of their visit. If after this long, the plumber is still walking around scratching their head, or if they can’t seem to give you a straight answer about the issue or the cost involved with the repair, then this may not be the best plumbing company for the job. Remember that while some plumbing issues can take time to repair, they aren’t usually difficult to diagnose. In fact, an experienced plumber may even be able to diagnose the problem over the phone just by asking questions.
They Lack Courtesy and Professionalism
When you have someone inside your home to complete a necessary repair, you’re paying not only for that repair but also for professionalism, basic courtesy, and respect. The plumber should respect you and your home for his or her entire visit. If your plumber seems rude, or if he or she treads across your cream carpet with dirty boots, there’s a serious problem and you should probably consider hiring a different plumber. Anyone who cannot treat you and your home with courtesy likely won’t provide the highest quality workmanship possible, either.
They Offer a Solution that Doesn’t Seem Right to You
Finally, if you’re wondering whether your emergency plumber really knows what he or she is doing, think about the resolution they offer before they leave your home. If that resolution involves some sort of “quick fix” rather than an actual repair, then something is amiss. Keep in mind that in some rare cases, parts may need to be ordered before the issue can be fixed. Otherwise, if it seems like your plumber is making excuses to get out of there rather than giving you repair options, then he or she probably is making excuses.
Hiring someone to come and help you with a potential disaster outside of normal business hours can be a pain, but in cases where it’s unavoidable, you want to make sure you can trust that the individual you hire is both professional and knowledgeable. It’s a good idea to write down the name of a plumber you trust long before you need to call one for an emergency so you can feel confident that they are doing what they need to do to repair the problem.