If you’re trying to hire the best plumbing contractor. Los Angeles has to offer, it’s important to know what to look for! With so many plumbing services in Los Angeles, you may find the Yellow Pages or Yelp has too many options to consider. Thankfully, we’ve got a simple checklist to help you narrow down your choices and choose only the best plumbers:
- References – Does the plumber offer references to previous customers? You’ll want to contact these references to find out what they think of the plumbing service. Never hire a plumber sight unseen without contacting their previous customers to get the “dirty details”.
- Residential vs. commercial — Commercial plumbers are ideal for corporate offices, restaurants, and businesses, while residential plumbers are better-suited to the plumbing of your home. Hire the right plumber for the job depending on your need.
- Scope of Project – Give the plumber some details on your problem and see if they’re capable of handling a large project like a full pipe replacement. Some plumbing “services” are really just one guy driving around in a truck. They may not have the tools, manpower, or expertise for larger jobs, but they may offer lower prices ideal for smaller jobs.
- Availability – Most plumbers have their typical work hours, with an “emergency services” option (at a higher cost). Try to find a plumbing service that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You never know when a pipe will burst or water main will be cracked!
- Response Time – Your plumber will usually give you an estimated time of arrival (ETA) when you call. You want to find a plumber that has a rapid response time, especially for larger and more urgent jobs. Test a few plumbing services to see how quickly they can reach your home to start working on the required repairs.
- Thorough Written Estimate – You want to get an estimate of any job BEFORE you start, as that will help to avoid hidden costs and extra fees. The written estimate should cover everything: labor, parts, etc. But the estimate should only be written after they examine the problem thoroughly.
- Presentable and Good Tool Condition – Plumbers are hard-working men, but they should wear clean clothing, be well-groomed, and carry tools in good working condition. It’s a minor thing, but it helps to build your confidence in your plumber!
Check every item on this list, and you know you’ve found yourself a plumber that will do a good job.
