Red Flags to Look for When Hiring a Plumber

Whenever you hire someone to work in your home, you want to know you are hiring a trusted, experienced professional. Plumbing companies are plentiful, but not all offer the same quality of service. If you are researching plumbers, there are a few red flags that can alert you to possible issues. These red flags can help you avoid hiring the wrong plumber for the job.

No Local Phone Number

If the plumber has an out-of-town area code or only has a 1-800 number, look a little closer. Where is the company based out of and are they local? There have been instances where companies come into a town, posing as local contractors, scamming people out of their money before they quickly leave town. Make sure the company you hire has a local address, phone number and location.

Bad or No Reviews

Check out the reviews online for a company. Keep in mind that one bad review can happen, even to the best contractors. However, if there are no good reviews or a pattern of bad reviews, this is a bright red flag to avoid this plumber.

Licensed and Insured

You want to make sure any plumber you hire is legitimate. They should have a contractor number through the state and carry insurance to cover their employees and any damage. This is quick to check – most reputable plumbers have their contractor license number on their website that you can verify through your state’s business licensing agency.

Checking a plumber’s background can save you time, money and frustration in the long run. Make sure to vet your plumber to avoid hiring the wrong company to perform your next plumbing project.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing, Inc.
106-M Oakgrove Road
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

Tips on How to Hire a Professional Plumbing Repair Service

Fortunately, you don’t need a plumber all the time. So, when you do need one, you may not know where to begin to find the right one for your needs. You don’t want to just pick one from the phonebook or the first name that pops up on a Google search. You want a plumber that will be able to do quality, reliable work, whether you need an emergency repair or a professional installation for a new appliance. Here are some tips on how to hire a professional plumbing repair and installation service that will meet all your needs.

  • Experience. You want a plumbing company that has been around for many years and has a good reputation in your community. You also want to ensure the people you hire have a stellar track record.
  • Licenses, insurance and credentials. A quality plumbing company has all the licenses, bonds and insurance that is required in your area. Plus, make sure they perform background checks on their employees for peace of mind.
  • Services. You may only need a pipe repaired or a water heater installed now, but you want a plumber that will be around for all your plumbing needs. Choose a company that offers emergency repairs 24/7, sewer/septic repairs and a wide variety of other services.

Take the time to find a reputable plumbing service that can provide you with excellent service when you need it. There are excellent plumbers that have decades of experience, are trustworthy and guarantee their work, you just need to do a little research to find the right one to meet your needs.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 884-4678

How to Avoid Drain-Cleaning Scams

Most plumbers are trustworthy professionals that you can count on when you have a plumbing emergency like a clogged drain. However, like many professions, there are scam-artists that can take advantage of those with a plumbing issue. Drain-cleaning scams are used by disreputable companies to gouge customers for services they do not need. Here are some tips to avoid these scams when you have a plumbing issue.

  • Are you a target? Scam-artists look for people they think will be easily deceived. Often victims are elderly, especially women, that are targeted due to the perception that they may not know much about plumbing. Be wary if they start asking personal questions.
  • Accompany the inspector. If you have someone inspecting your home for a drain problem, make sure someone you trust is with them. These scammers may place items in a basement or pipes as “proof” of a broken pipe, like dirt or rocks. Make sure someone is there to see the evidence first-hand.
  • Watch videos live. Many plumbers use video cameras for sewer line inspections. While useful, you want to make sure you are watching a video of your pipes, not someone else’s. Watch the video live as it goes down the pipe so you know you are seeing legitimate footage.
  • Hire a reputable, local plumber. The best way to avoid scams is to hire a reputable, local plumber. Check their reviews, years in business and their rating with the Better Business Bureau to ensure you are hiring an honest, reliable professional.

Most plumbers are professionals that you can trust when you have a plumbing emergency like a clogged drain or a broken pipe. Avoid scams by hiring a plumber based on their reputation and experience, not by a cheap price point or persuasive advertising.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing, Inc.
106-M Oakgrove Road
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

3 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber

Too often, hiring a plumber is done without much forethought. Many times, you may not know you will need a plumber until a plumbing emergency occurs. If possible, you should find a reliable plumber BEFORE the need for one arises. Picking the first one you see when you do a quick search for a plumber or open the phone book is a bad idea. Take a few minutes now to find a plumber that you can trust and ask these three questions before you decide you will hire them for your next plumbing problem or project.

Are licensed and insured?

You would expect that any plumber you see advertised in licensed and insured, but that is just not the case. You want to ensure that any business you hire to work in your home or business has these basic requirements.

What level of experience do your plumbers have?

You don’t want an inexperienced handyman doing your plumbing project. Make sure the company you hire has experienced, expert plumbers on staff that will be performing the work you need.

What types of plumbing issues can you handle?

You want a plumbing company that can be there when you have any type of plumbing problem. This includes septic or sewer issues. Some plumbers only do basic repairs; you want a company that you can call for a simple clogged drain or a major septic issue, covering all your needs.

Don’t wait until you have a plumbing emergency to find a reliable source for plumbing issues. Research your options and find a local plumbing company now that will be able to fix your future plumbing issues as they arise.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 884-4678

How to Choose a Reputable Plumber

When it comes to having someone work on your home, you want to choose someone who cares as much as you do about your investment. Using someone that has the cheapest prices or that is your best friend’s uncle can turn out to be a big mistake. That’s why when you have plumbing issues you are going to want to find someone who you can trust, but who is also good at what they do. Here are a few key qualities you might look for in a reputable plumber:

  • Yes, of course you’ll want to ask your friends who they suggest, because you trust them. Just make sure that person has actually done some good work for them and isn’t a new face that they are trying to publicize.
  • Quality Workmanship. Talk to the plumber and make sure he stands by his work. He should be willing to take his time to do a job well and use quality parts to make the fix last a long time.
  • Fair Pricing. In this line of work, you might get what you pay for. Don’t go the cheap route to save a few pennies. Be willing to go with a professional plumber for an extra few bucks, because it will likely save you money down the road.

Looking at just one of these characteristics, will not get you the plumber you want for the job. Combining all three and thinking through a few more like, honesty and availability, will help you find the best man, or woman, for the job. You don’t want just any Joe Plumber working on your home; pick someone who will care for it like you do.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
106-M Oakgrove Road
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

Choosing the Best Company for Your Plumbing Needs

There are plenty of plumbing companies that want your business. All will claim to offer expert service and care about your needs. But how do you determine which company is really the best company for your home or business plumbing repair and maintenance? Here are a few questions to ask about your local plumbing company before choosing to use their services.

  • Do they have all the right licenses, permits and insurance? First and foremost, you want a licensed contractor that insures his business. Also, permits are needed for many larger projects.
  • Are they a member of the BBB? You want a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau.
  • Do they handle repairs, maintenance and new plumbing installation? You want a plumbing company that can handle all your plumbing needs, from a clogged drain to installing new pipes in your home or business.
  • Do they have a trustworthy and experienced team? It is not enough just to have one reputable plumber on board. Before inviting a plumbing company into your home or business, find out about their hiring policies. A quality plumbing company should be running background checks on all their employees.
  • What other services do they offer? If you have a septic system for your home or business, you want a plumbing company that also handles septic repair and maintenance.

Don’t wait for a plumbing emergency to find a great plumbing company you can rely on. Do the research and find a company that you can trust before you need to call them in the middle of the night. Having the right plumber on speed dial can ensure that when you need them, you’ll get the service and experience you need.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

Your Qualified Local Plumber

Your qualified local plumber is a trained professional who is licensed, bonded and insured to do the best job possible in the least amount of time and for the best price. Consider these facts the next time you take on an overwhelming and difficult plumbing task yourself.

A licensed professional plumber has become such by taking extensive coursework, along with on-the-job training, to ensure they know exactly what they’re doing on the job-site. Whatever your plumbing needs are, your local plumber has seen the situation before and knows how to proceed in order to get your problem resolved. It is important to make sure your plumber is properly licensed and meets all state and local licensing requirements.  Unlicensed plumbers and general handymen may not be legally allowed to complete a plumbing project or repair.

Any plumbing professional should be bonded and insured. If anything goes wrong during the course of your plumbing job, you will want the assurance that your plumber meets the current legal standards required. Anyone working on your home should be able to readily verify any work they do will be done right, and will be responsible for immediately remedying any unforeseen issues, should something go awry in the process.

To locate a competent Marietta plumber, it’s best practice to obtain references and ask prospective plumbers for customer referrals. You want a plumber who runs a successful business and who can provide lists of happy and satisfied customers, works in your neighborhood and with your neighbors. Working with a professional is the best way of ensuring a properly completed project in a reasonable amount of time.

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing

Choosing A Plumber For New Construction

If you are considering new construction for your home or business, then you’ve probably already sought out the help of a general building contractor for designing and building your project. General contractors are also responsible for bringing your job into completion within an estimated timeframe and within budgeted costs. A general contractor will usually “subcontract” to the specific trades required to finish your job, such as the electrician, HVAC and plumber. Most often, the decision as to who works on your building project comes down to the lowest bid made by the most competent and experienced company, as determined by your general contractor.

However, perhaps you are self-building or self-managing a project, only using specific trades’ people as needed on a time and material basis. In such a case, you may be making these selections yourself and need some basic guidelines. If you’ve not yet needed a residential or commercial plumber, you may want to question others that you trust in your community as to their experience.

Usually, neighbors and other acquaintances have had some experience to make a recommendation as to a plumber’s reputation. Also, you may contact a general contractor in your area and ask them for a referral; they would be a knowledge source of local plumbers that do quality work at reasonable prices. Another reliable source would be your local trusted real estate professional.

Once you’ve narrowed down your selection, make sure to get your plumber’s license number and ask for verification of required business insurance to ensure your freedom from any liability. Ask your plumber to provide you with a firm estimate and be sure to check on their service warranty policy.

Why You Should Hire a Licensed Plumber for New Construction

When you’re building the home of your dreams, staying within your budget can be a very real concern. It’s tempting to cut corners wherever you can, opting for less expensive choices when it comes to finishing and the installation of some features.

Most local building ordinances will prevent a non-licensed plumber from performing plumbing work on a new home, but many have loopholes in the building codes that allow homeowners themselves to perform the work, provided that it meets inspection. Properly plumbing your new home isn’t as simple as making a trip to the bookstore or turning to a search engine, however.

Improperly installed plumbing fixtures can cause very real problems in your home, with the least of your worries being a failed inspection. Tearing out the offending plumbing work and replacing it can be more expensive and time-consuming than simply hiring a licensed professional plumber in the first place. When you consider the potential issues stemming from mistakes during the installation of sewer lines or drains, any money you could save up front may simply not be worth it when all is said and done.

If your home will be connected to a septic tank, rather than a municipal sewer system, you’ll also have the possibility of fumes from the septic tank backing up into the bathroom to contend with. Vent pipes and p-traps are designed to prevent these problems, but aren’t likely to be effective if they’re not properly installed by a seasoned professional. Before you take on the major task of plumbing your new home from the ground up, you should consider the many benefits and very few drawbacks of contracting with a licensed plumbing professional in your area.

One Man Shop or Larger Plumbing Contractor: Pros and Cons

When you hire a plumbing contractor, it can be hard to tell from their advertising how large of a firm the company name represents. There are plenty of one-man shops where the licensed plumber is the owner, operator and assistant, all rolled into one. There are also large corporate plumbing contractors that have dozens of licensed plumbers working for them. In between those two ends of the spectrum are mid-range contractors who have a significant number of employees but are still in the small business category range.

There is no best answer as to whether you are better off hiring a small plumbing contractor or bigger one. However, there are some pros and cons to take into consideration as you are making the decision.

If you are looking for someone you can rely on to show up for a service call whenever you happen to need them, a one-man shop may not be the best choice. Even though the plumber may be extremely dependable, one man can only be in one place at one time. If he’s a high quality professional, his services will be in big demand. He may not always be available when you need him.

Another negative aspect of a one-man shop is speed and efficiency. The more hands available to work on a project, the faster it will get done. This is particularly true for big jobs like a polybutylene pipe replacement or septic to sewer conversion.  If your plumber has to make all his supply runs himself, it will slow down his progress. In addition, you’ll be paying full plumber rates for all the time on your job, rather than having some of the time being billed at a lower assistant’s rate.

With a larger plumbing company, you may or may not know the owner on a first name basis, but the integrity of the owner is still on the line, no matter the company size. Smaller is not always better or the best choice.