Translating…
If you don’t know much about plumbing and you need some work done, how do you judge one plumber against another? Very often there’s no time to carry out extensive research to find exactly the right plumber for the job, at the best price, because you are in a tearing hurry. A burst pipe, flood from the washing machine or broken tap is usually an extremely stressful situation when you need help fast!
The last thing you need in an emergency is a tradesman who makes the situation worse because he or she is not properly trained or equipped. Nor do you need to pay inflated prices just because you are desperate for help, no matter what it costs. Next time you need to find a plumber in a hurry, just follow these top tips to help avoid being ripped off:
Keep an eye out for plumbers doing work in your local area and ask your neighbors about them. If a neighbor is full of praise about the plumber they used, saying he did a good job for a reasonable price, make a note. If neighbors are around when your plumbing emergency strikes, then they might be able to advise. You might even have a qualified, experienced plumber living next door!
Likewise you need to glean information from your friends and family. If they are going on and on about the renovation or extension of their house, ask whether the tradesmen they are using are any good. Any kind of recommendation is valuable because you are getting another person’s objective opinion rather than advertising blurb. Keep the plumber’s name and number in a safe place because you never know when you might need it.
If you don’t have any recommendations from friends or neighbors handy when you need a plumber quickly, the next best thing is to consult a professional trade organization. You can usually find the contact details in a phone directory or on the internet. Plumbers belonging to the Association of Plumbers and Heating Contractors or the Institute of Plumbing have to meet certain standards and follow codes of good practice.
When you are speaking to a plumber or a company providing plumbing services, always find out how well established they are. Also, you might find that a large established company is more reliable than an individual tradesman. Accreditation Such as being CORGI registered may be necessary, particularly if it’s your gas boiler that is causing problems. If a plumber tells you they are registered with trade bodies and schemes, check by contacting the relevant organization.
Ask about insurance – are they covered? Can they give references from previous customers? And do they give guarantees for their work? Always get a quote for the call-out over the phone and ask for a written quote for any work that needs carrying out.
Last but not least, try to stay calm in an emergency. You may not have time to ask all the right questions and check the references, but you should at the very least speak to two or three different companies to make a comparison. Even if there’s water pouring through your living room ceiling!