Translating…
You enter your kitchen for a much needed snack after a long day at work and, lo and behold, it’s a kitchen no more but an ankle deep wading pool, if there ever was such thing. You pick up the phone and call trusty old Roger the plumber to come to your rescue.
But is your go-to plumbing guy really that trusty? Or is there some sort of secret plumber’s code keeping him from telling you everything that goes on under the sink? Here are a couple of things that your plumber should but won’t tell you.
“Well, I’m not exactly a plumber.”
A majority of the “plumbers” in the industry are actually just handymen who got a hold of plumbing tools. Although there are a number of self-taught plumbers out there who can get the job done well, there are also a number who can’t. Aside from fixing a leak in a jiffy, licensed plumbers follow proper work regulations and local safety codes. They also have liability and insurance which means it’s easier to file a complaint or track them down when you are unhappy with their work.
” The less experienced plumbing assistant will do the job.”
Plumbers or plumbing agencies usually have multiple work orders happening at the same time, so it’s rather common for trainees to be sent along with a senior plumber in order to have more hands working on a project. But there are times when an assistant is sent on his own, without the homeowner’s knowledge or approval. You may call the company and insist on having a licensed plumber to supervise.
” You should help me pick out the parts.”
More often than not, plumbers scout for parts on their own without consideration of the price or approval of the client. Plumbers should compare prices with other available options and consult with homeowners rather than just handing them the bill when the job is finished.
“I’m not sure I know how to do this.”
Licensed plumbers are well trained but even the best plumbers can be left scratching their heads. This however, doesn’t mean that the plumber isn’t qualified. The various innovations in plumbing may call for the help of a specialist. A good plumber will admit when an expert needs to be brought in. It’s important to be upfront with your issues to identify early on what kind of skill is needed for the task.
“I could have told you what to do over the phone.”
A number of plumbing dilemmas may be resolved with a just little hands-on work done by the homeowner. A good plumber would be willing to walk you through the repair steps over the phone. But then again there are those who wouldn’t pass up on a chance to make a little more money. It’s a good idea to read up or do research on some plumbing remedies before a calling a professional.
Having a plumber on speed dial is always a good idea. You never know when a pipe may burst or a drain may clog up. It’s a much better idea however, to be knowledgeable about plumbing, even on just the basics, so no plumber can dupe you and make you spend more than you necessarily should.