Your home can develop plumbing problems when you least expect. These problems could involve low water pressure, a clogged toilet, or issues with drainage. Whatever the issue is, the service of a plumbing company will be needed to identify where the problem is coming from, to get it fixed immediately. In this article, we address some of the things to consider when deciding the best plumbing company to hire in New Jersey.
Considering the complexity of plumbing systems with their network of pipes and drains, it is important that you work with the best plumbing experts around you. This will guarantee a quality job that will give you peace of mind.
Check their license
It is common to see plumbing companies use licensing as one of their selling points; they mention it on their websites and sometimes, their company vehicles have their license number in plain view. Therefore, you want to ensure that the plumbing company you hire has a plumbing license that is up-to-date.
One of the ways to know professionals who have considerable knowledge of how the system works is their having a plumber’s license. One of New Jersey’s requirements for anyone who is looking to get a plumbing license is to have gone through training of at least four years in a recognized apprenticeship program, and also to have a minimum of a year of experience as a plumber.
Find out about their work history
You don’t want to limit your vetting to just the license. The truth is that a company may have a valid license and still lack the needed years of plumbing experience. It is best to go for plumbing companies that have proof of having been in the business for years.
The chances of plumbing mistakes are reduced when plumbers with enough experience handle the job. In the event of mistakes, however, experienced plumbing companies have the necessary skills and resources to ensure that the issue is addressed to the client’s satisfaction.
Ensure that they are properly insured
Even with sufficient experience and knowledge, plumbing companies still sometimes face accidents and mishaps while doing their job. That is why you want to work only with plumbing companies that have the proper insurance.
Insurance helps to protect you from being responsible for injuries and damages that are done to your home during the project. For example, if the company is not properly insured, you could be financially responsible for the medical bills of anyone who gets injured on the job. Also, should there be damage to your home during the project, you will be liable if the plumbing company is not insured.
Find out what customers have to say about them
Never ignore the plumbing company’s reputation. It is often safer to go with a company that has many positive reviews. Many times, companies thrive on what customers have to say about them. When a customer is satisfied, they would naturally refer to other people.
You want to first visit the plumbing company’s website or social media pages to see what customers have to say about them and their services. This gives you a good idea of the company’s skills, professionalism, quality of work, and response time.
What are their payment options?
Just like any other business, plumbing services have different costing and payment requirements. There are many things that you want to find out about how much the plumbing company will be charging you. Most companies will visit the site, evaluate the situation, after which they will give you an estimate.
While some plumbing companies charged a flat rate, some others charged by the hour. So, you want to find out which the estimate is based on. Ask if the estimate includes materials, labor costs, and any problems that may be discovered during the project. Does the estimate cater for cleaning after the job is done?
Finally, you want to find out when and how you’re expected to make the payments. Be wary of companies who expect full payment before the job commences.
Check their warranties
Although you are protected from property damage, injury, and financial liability by insurance, you need something to cater for replacing plumbing parts and services. That’s where warranties come in. Should something go wrong as a result of the plumber’s work or the quality of materials used by the plumber, warranties should protect you.
Therefore, before you hire a plumbing company, you want to ensure they offer warranties for replacement parts and their work. If a problem comes up after the plumber’s work has been completed, you definitely wouldn’t want to pay another professional to get it fixed. With the warranties offered, you can be sure that the plumbing company will stand by its work when things go wrong.
Communication skills
One of the qualities of a great plumbing company is its ability to communicate effectively. Part of communication is them informing you about what plumbing issues you have and the best solutions to the problems. Such a company should be able to maintain contact with you from the beginning to the end of the project.
Not only will they evaluate your system, but they will give you details about the issues, let you know how they intend to fix the issue, and give you details of how much it would cost.
How much does it cost to hire the best plumbing company?
According to the Home Advisor, most plumbers charge by the hour, ranging from $45 to $200 per hour. Most licensed professionals charge between $80 and $130, and handyman rates are as low as $45. In New Jersey, however, it is illegal for anyone to perform plumbing work without a license. So, if you are a homeowner in New Jersey, you should expect to pay the rates of a licensed professional as earlier stated.
Generally, when it comes to projects where labor is required, the cost of getting the job done increases with the complexity of the project and how inaccessible the job is. This is because such jobs will require more time to finish.
Conclusion
There are many things that you want to consider before deciding on which plumbing companies to hire in New Jersey. Do due diligence and you’ll be on your way to get the best company to fix all your plumbing issues.
