Finding a Plumber Near Me | How to Choose The Right Plumber
Finding a plumber is easy. Finding the right plumber is not as easy as it looks. Our team has over 60 years of combined experience in the plumbing and heating industry. Here is some advice on what to look out for from your local neighbourly plumber.
What Makes a Good Plumber?
Our family is local to the Regina area. We have had to hire and train many tradespeople. This has given us a unique opportunity to see how different plumbers work. We have also been in many different homes in Regina looking at many different ways plumbers install your furnace or AC unit.
Here are some questions you can ask your new plumber to make sure you have found the best one.
Get an Estimate
Each plumbing scenario will be different. There may be a time when you want a new furnace. This gives you ample time to shop around. Compare prices and get the best furnace and professional workmanship you can get for your money.
In both scenarios make sure you get an estimate in writing.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the model of the appliance you are getting. Make sure you feel comfortable and knowledgeable about the service you are getting for the price you are paying.
Ask your plumber about potential hidden costs. Make sure these costs are also listed on your estimate. This will give you a full and true picture of the potential cost of your new appliance.
It is a legal requirement in Regina for a plumber to be licensed. We suggest asking the person doing your quote if they are licensed. How are they going to know what the true costs of a project are if they are not licensed to do the work?
We often see misquoting for the wrong size furnace or AC unit. Your quote should be from a knowledgeable and licensed professional.
Licensed And Insured
The work on your home should also be completed by a licensed and knowledgeable professional.
A plumber must be certified to work as a plumber in Saskatchewan. Plumbers must have their Journeyperson Certificate, or be certified apprentices.
They are also required to have some form of insurance. It is often general liability insurance. If they have two or more employees they will also need workers’ compensation insurance.
An insured plumber will leave you with fewer headaches if something ever goes wrong.
You are within your right to ask for proof of licensing.
A journey person has a card that they can easily carry around.
If the plumber is an apprentice make sure you have a journeyman overseeing their work.
If the work is being done on your furnace or other gas appliance the plumber must also be certified to work as a domestic gas fitter (residential) or general gas fitter (commercial).
If you get charged because you turn an unlicensed plumber away, dispute it. You are within your right to have a licensed professional complete your project.
Experience
Ask your potential plumber how long they have been working as a plumber. There is nothing wrong with a new or apprentice plumber but, it is better when that plumber also has someone on their team with many years of experience.
Make sure you have someone that knows different issues that can arrive during your service.
Personal Reference
Use your network. This is less of a question for a plumber and more a question for your friends and family. Ask around. Get a personal reference of a plumber that has done great work for someone you know.
A personal reference is a good indicator that your plumber understands what they are doing and services their customers well. Follow up a personal reference with the above questions to make sure you are always covered.
Guarantee
Does your plumber have a guarantee? As locals, our team at Trusted Plumbing & Heating Inc. guarantees our work.
Why? Because we want it to be done right. Our reputation is important to us. We know many of our clients personally. We also know that word of mouth is important in this industry.
Make sure your plumber will guarantee their work.
Community Involvement
Is the plumbing company you want to work with involved in the local community? Are you supporting a major plumbing company or locals?
The last two years have hit many small businesses hard. If you have the opportunity look for local family-run businesses. They need your support.
There are so many things that can be said about a family-run business. The most important point is to understand that supporting family-owned businesses supports investments in your local community.
Are they under new management?
There have been many buyouts in recent years. Small businesses are being bought by large corporations and running under the guise of a family-run businesses. While there is nothing wrong with large corporations you will likely get better service from your local plumber (we believe in supporting local).
Ask the company if they have been purchased recently or if they are under new management.
Check Their Reviews
Online reviews have become increasingly important in both service and product-based businesses. When I choose a business I often read the 10 newest reviews, the top 5 best reviews, and the bottom 5 worst reviews.
Look for the words people use in their reviews. If they are happy and shout out someone’s name then you have likely found a business with great service.
One-star reviews cannot be avoided. It is not the end of the world if a business has one or two. The important thing to look for is that there aren’t too many negative reviews in comparison to the positive reviews.
The most important advice I can leave you with is to do your research. Even if you have an emergency on your hands, a few extra minutes of research can save you a lot of time and money down the road.
We suggest going beyond Google reviews. While reviews can be a great first place to check they can also only scratch the surface of companies offering. Look for companies with video testimonials on their site. When customers are willing to get on video and praise a company’s service you know they produce quality work.
Plumbing and heating services are important because a poorly installed system or a unit that is not the right size can cause costly damages to the unit or your home. Find the plumber or HVAC specialist you can trust.
The Trusted Plumbing Guarantee
Trusted Plumbing & Heating offers a VIP program for our clients. If you want to save money on your maintenance packages and parts send us a message to learn more about our VIP program.
If you are looking for maintenance for your AC unit in the Regina area give us a call at (306) 552-5489. We are a licensed family-owned HVAC company that specializes in caring for your air conditioning unit.
We are a plumbing and heating company servicing residential and commercial properties. All work is guaranteed. We service Regina and the surrounding area, including Grand Coulee, Lumsden, Pense, Vibank, White City, Emerald Park, Pilot Butte, Regina Beach, Kronau, Lajord, Sedley, Fort Qu'appelle, Richardson, and more.
