Realizing that you have a serious plumbing issue is never fun, and it always seems to happen at night or over a long holiday weekend when you are pretty sure no plumber will come to your rescue. The good news is that there are great emergency plumber services out there, but you do have to choose one carefully.
Here are some things to consider when you are choosing an emergency plumber:
- Customer service: No matter what time of day or night it is, you would hope that someone advertising as an emergency plumber would actually answer the phone, not leaving you to record a message and then wait for hours for a response. If you do leave a message, do they return it promptly? Do they have a positive, helpful attitude that helps you feel comfortable?
- Pricing and cost: It can be hard to estimate the cost of emergency plumbing services over the phone because they can’t be sure what they are dealing with until they get there. What they should be able to do is discuss scenarios and potential pricing. Once your emergency plumber arrives and checks out your situation, you should get a quote in writing. Also, remember that you often get what you pay for in plumbing. A quality repair may cost more upfront, but it will save you money and headaches in the long run.
- Quick checks: Take the time to quickly check out online reviews and other information about the company. You won’t have time to read all of them, but it should give you a sense of the company and their service record.
- Ask questions: It is okay to ask if the technician coming to your home is background checked and drug-tested. Other questions might include the years of experience an emergency plumber has and whether there are any warranties offered with the work.