Having a reliable plumbing company that you can count on in times of need is a definite benefit, right? No matter if it be for routine maintenance, small repairs or major emergency situations, there are more than a few potential plumbing projects that may arise (both on the residential and commercial side of things). As a local plumbing company, we’ve had the opportunity to work with homeowners and businesses all around the Kansas City area. Water heater installations, drain cleaning, sewer line repair, the list goes on! With this experience, we often utilize our blog as a resource for homeowners and facility managers looking to better understand their plumbing system. However, this week’s blog post will follow a slightly different theme.
Given that many of the bigger cities will have more than a few plumbing companies to pick from, it can seem a little overwhelming looking through all of the companies and ultimately deciding on which one to trust with your plumbing project. No matter what the project may entail, you want someone that will both get the job done right the first time and in an efficient manner. Not to mention, if you’re hiring a plumber for servicing a larger commercial facility, there may be a few other items you’ll want to take into consideration too. In this week’s blog post, we’ll discuss a handful of things you’ll want to ask before hiring a Kansas City plumber.
Are they licensed and insured?
To get this blog post started, we’ll begin with one of the most important questions, and that is whether or not the business is licensed and insured. While you may assume everyone has the necessary licenses and insurance, you don’t want to find out later on down the road that they don’t! In regards to a licensed plumber, this will help ensure they are familiar with the proper codes, which is obviously a must, as well as have the training needed to complete the work. When it comes to insurance, I’m going to guess that most people have an idea of why this is so important. General liability and workers compensation are two of the main ones that you’ll be looking for. If something were to go wrong on the jobsite or if someone happened to get hurt, you don’t want to be responsible for those expenses, right? All in all, just make sure they’re licensed and insured.
How is the project going to be billed?
Prior to hiring a plumbing company, you’re going to want to make sure you’re on the same page in terms of the billing. After all, who wants a major surprise when it comes time to pay your bill? So…when we’re discussing the different billing methods for plumbing services, you might find yourself coming across a couple of options.
The first of these is a quoted (or fixed) price. With this, you have a specific scope of work and a set price to complete the work. The one thing you’ll want to remember with this is to make sure all of the work is included with the estimated price. An example of this (even though it should be a given) would be a water heater installation, as it should include necessary components like the expansion tank install and hauling off the old heater. The main advantage with this strategy is that you’ll have a fixed price for the project, no matter how many hours the project takes.
The second potential billing method that you may see is a time and material (or hourly) rate. As its name suggests, this would be based on how long the plumber is on-site, with the material added to it. If your plumber is utilizing this method, it wouldn’t hurt to ask for a rough estimate on how long a particular project might take. While it isn’t a specific price, it will give you a ballpark figure.
How long have they been in business and how much experience do the plumbers have?
Experience is important for any business and especially in the plumbing industry. For one, we’ve listed this question because you want a company that is established and not someone that you’ll have to worry about not correctly completing the work. However, it will also help ensure they are able to troubleshoot around any unique plumbing issues. This is a skill that usually only comes through years of experience and is definitely needed given that there are a countless number of possible plumbing issues!
The second half of this question is related specifically to the plumbing technicians that will be completing the services on-site. Before booking a service call, inquire about the experience level of the technician that will be working on your project. Make sure they have the experience necessary to complete that particular type of project. This is very important!
Do they provide free estimates?
For bigger projects (like a bathroom remodel or sewer line repair), it wouldn’t hurt to get a few estimates before making a final decision. Keep in mind that this is mainly true if you don’t already have a go-to plumber. If you have someone that you feel confident in and trust, then you’ll likely be okay rolling with their recommendations. However, for the sake of this blog post, the question we’re encouraging you to ask is if they offer free estimates. While most plumbing companies should, it doesn’t hurt to be safe and ask beforehand! In addition, keep in mind that this particularly pertains to larger projects that require an on-site consultation.
What services do they offer?
The final item that we’ll discuss today is the various services that the plumbing company offers. After all, if possible, you would prefer to have one company that you can call for any plumbing problem that arises, right? Especially for a larger commercial facility (that may have multiple locations and more frequent plumbing issues), there can be quite the variety of projects that pop up from time-to-time. Having one point of contact will make your life a whole lot easier. So…when considering local plumbing companies to handle the plumbing needs for your commercial facility, make sure to ask about what services they offer! Even on the residential side, you’ll want to make sure they have experience with a particular type of project before hiring them. If they’ve never installed a water softener before, they might not be the perfect fit for installing your softener system (especially if you want their recommendation on a reliable softener!) even if they say they can.
Need a Kansas City Plumber? Call Stine-Nichols Plumbing!
When it comes to hiring a plumber for your home or business, there are certainly a handful of attributes that you’ll want to look for! For obvious reasons, you’ll want a company that is experienced and knowledgeable, thus being able to accurately troubleshoot your plumbing problem and provide an effective solution. However, that is only half of the equation. You’ll also need a company that is reliable (shows up when they say they will), timely (able to get someone out there relatively quickly) and professional (has all of the necessary licenses, insurance, etc). Doing some research online and even reaching out for referrals is a great starting point for finding the right plumbing company. Not to mention, you may even find yourself doing some trial and error if you’re not wow’d by the service of various local plumbing companies. Nonetheless, once you find one that you feel confident in, it will be a huge plus!
Do you live in or near the Kansas City area and need a plumbing company that you can call for any plumbing project that may arise? If so, we would love to have the opportunity to earn your trust and business! Our team of experienced professionals have years of experience handling all types of plumbing projects. Water heaters, faucets, sewer lines, water softeners, you name it!