A lot of homeowners never give a thought to an emergency plumbing service until one is needed. In an emergency, every minute counts, so here are some pointers and questions to ask prior to hiring a plumber to avoid surprise fees and to protect yourself.
Ask the plumbing contractor if he or she is licensed in your city or state. Not all cities require a license, so if they do not have one, it might be that licenses are not available. All licensed plumbing professionals have to pass a written test. A plumbing technician should carry both workers compensation and liability insurance. Workers compensation covers the plumbing contractor and staff members in case of an injury. Without this insurance, the homeowner is liable for medical expenses and other associated costs. Liability insurance pays for repairs and damages as a result of the plumbing contractors actions. If the plumbing contractor causes damage to your house while dealing with the problem, this insurance policy will pay for damages. If the plumbing contractor does not carry liability insurance, the homeowner is liable for damages.
Plumbing professionals without insurance are often more affordable because they do not have to pay substantial premiums. However, the savings are minimal compared to the cost of an injury or accident.
Ask the emergency plumbing service exactly how quickly they can fix the issue. Emergency plumbing professionals are on call 24 hours a day, but if they have to drive a long distance to get to your house, response time will be put off. If you have a leak, extra response time could lead to thousands of dollars of damage to your house. If they are several hours away, ask if they could refer an emergency plumbing contractor closer to your house.
Inquire about hourly rates, and see if the plumbing contractor can provide a price quote over the phone. Lots of plumbing professionals will not provide a quote without seeing the problem, however, you can ask for an estimate for your particular problem. Some emergency plumbing professionals also charge a service fee in addition to the hourly rate and parts. This charge applies if they come to your house whether they fix the problem or not. Ask what types of payment they will accept. Some plumbing professionals take charge cards, but others will just take checks.
Inquire about the warranty on both parts and labor. The manufacturer should cover the warranty on parts. The plumbing service should guarantee its work. Ask if they keep most parts stocked on their truck, or if there will be trips to the store. If the plumbing contractor needs to go to the store to get parts, ask who pays for that time. If permits are needed, will the plumbing contractor get them? A lot of plumbing professionals will pull the permits because they are familiar with the procedure and know the procedure Plumbing Tucson .