Red Flags to Look for When Hiring a Plumber

August 23rd, 2019 Posted in Choosing a Reputable Plumber
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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

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How to Avoid Drain-Cleaning Scams

September 4th, 2018 Posted in Choosing a Reputable Plumber
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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

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Do You Know Where to Find Your Plumbing Shut-off Valve?

July 31st, 2018 Posted in Emergency Plumbing
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A plumbing emergency can happen at any time. If you have a burst water pipe or one of your faucets starts spurting water, do you know how to turn off your water flow? If you don’t, a small plumbing emergency can turn into a large home repair. Water is constantly flowing into your pipes and plumbing throughout your home. If there is a break or other issue that water will keep flowing into your home, possibly causing thousands of dollars in damage, unless you shut off the main water valve.

Most homes have plumbing that has several shut-off valves and one main valve. The individual valves can be to larger water appliances like your toilet, washer and water heater. You may also have separate valves under your kitchen or bathroom sink. These can be used to shut off water to these fixtures when you need to do a repair or replace parts, or in case of a plumbing failure. Simple turn the valve to the off position and the water is stopped for that area.

When a pipe bursts or no shut-off valve is available, you need to turn off the water at the main pipe entering your home. If you have city water, this will usually be located at the front of your house or on the side nearest your water meter. For homes will wells, the main shut-off valve should be wherever the main pipe enters the home from the well.

The first thing you should do in a plumbing emergency is shut off the water to the fixture or use the main shut-off valve for the home. Then, call your local plumber for an emergency repair.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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3 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber

July 31st, 2018 Posted in Choosing a Reputable Plumber
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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

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What Kind of Experience Does Your Plumber Have?

February 1st, 2013 Posted in Choosing a Reputable Plumber
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A plumber’s a plumber, right? They all are required to go through the same training and requirements in order to get licensed; why would there be a difference?

In spite of the training plumbers receive through a trade school and the required on-the-job training necessary to be licensed, there are still plenty of scenarios that plumbers only learn how to handle through years of experience. The old saying that ‘experience is the best teacher’ is as true in the plumbing profession as it is in any other profession or area of life.

You will also want to make sure that those years of experience are related to your area of the country and preferably the city you live in. Ten years of experience working in new developments outside Denver will not offer a lot of guidance related to a full residential repiping in Orlando Florida . Knowledge of the city and regional codes in one area of the country do not translate over to a new location in another region.

So what do you need to know about a plumbers experience before you hire him? The first, of course, is how many years have they worked as a ‘licensed’ plumber. Don’t be fooled by someone padding their years of experience with their years of training. Secondly, you’ll want to know what geographical areas they have been working in. How many years have they been working within your local area? Thirdly, what types of plumbing situations do they have experience with? Have they mostly done new construction work? Has it been primarily residential, commercial or a mixture of both? Their answers to this questions will give you a better picture of what they mean when they say that they are an ‘experienced’ plumber.

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