Emergency Plumbers

When something goes wrong with plumbing, it always seems to happen at the most inopportune times which is why emergency plumbers are in high demand. Home owners and businesses rely on the skill, effectiveness, and reliability of plumbing contractors in their area to protect the investment in their home and businesses. However, finding an emergency plumbing contractor you can rely on is not always easy. When you have a pipe burst, lines freeze, or basement flood in the middle of the night, on the weekend, or just before guests come over or you head to work, you need to know who to call on. There are a number of things to consider before deciding on which plumber to hire for your plumbing emergencies.

Sometimes, when we are in a rush, we just want the first available person to come out. We may fall into the trap of hiring that big brand name plumber with trucks all over town and advertisements on the radio and television, but that may not always be the best. Many plumbers, especially those who are part of larger firms, charge excessively high rates for emergency calls or appointments outside of their normal business hours. Worse yet, those companies tend to use automated systems for all of their scheduling. This might seem like a great idea, making everything more efficient, but the system does not know about plumbing, it doesn’t understand what different jobs entail or what kinds of problems you can run into. Then, when you end up calling those bigger companies, you talk to some call center rep who doesn’t really know anything about plumbing either. You never get a chance to speak directly to the plumber until they get to your house. You could end up waiting around all day just for no one to show up or even call, because everything was so compartmentalized.

Working with a smaller firm or an individual plumber usually gains you better treatment. You are treated like an individual rather than another entry in a data log. When you can speak directly with the plumber by the phone, they can give you guidance as to what to do before they can arrive. They may be able to provide some additional help by phone. Or, if they cannot make it in the time you need, they may be able to recommend another local plumber to help you with your plumbing emergency.

One thing you want to be sure to double check is the credentials and references of any plumbing contractor you consider hiring. This is a multi-pronged decision and elimination process. Is the plumber properly licensed? Check with the state and verify the licensing is in good standing. Also, check with the Better Business Bureau and state attorney general and see what kinds of complaints have been lodged against the company and what kind of investigations might have been done in the past or are still being done. Check with people you know in the area—friends, family, co-workers, even employees at local hardware and plumbing supply stores and see who they recommend. You can also look for reviews online and see what others are saying about local plumbers in your area. Check to make sure the plumber you are planning on hiring has the proper insurance for working on your home. It is a good idea to check with the insurance company that the policy is valid and up to date. This may seem like a lot of work, but remember, you are inviting someone into your home. You need to be sure you are protecting you, your family, and possibly the largest investment you will ever own.

You want a plumber who values you as a customer. The best plumbing contractors treat your home as if it was their own. They understand what an emergency plumbing request entails. They know you did not call them at 2 a.m. because you thought it would be fun, but rather because you needed their help. They understand the importance of coming quickly and getting the job done right the first time.

You should have an emergency plumber that understands different plumbing tasks. They should handle fixing leaking, burst, and frozen pipes. They should also have the ability to fix or replace a water heater, toilet, faucet, garbage disposal. Another thing that plumbers do that many forget about is work on gas and gas appliances. They are trained to handle pipes of all sorts and the fittings for transporting gas are like those used for transporting water. Whether you have a water line to a fridge break or a red tag from the gas company, experience plumbers can help you get your life back in order.

Have someone you can rely on and trust work on your plumbing. Make sure they offer a warranty both on the workmanship and materials of the work they do. This should all be writing along with the estimate for the job. That quote should be pretty solid, avoiding unexpected costs, if a proper inspection is done in the beginning. Some plumbers will charge a trip fee or a few for emergency plumbing repairs, but this should not break the bank. The best plumbers keep work flowing and stay in business because they are good at what they do. They treat their customers right and they don’t rip them off. They make sure to take pride in their work and they know it is that word of mouth that can make or break them. So, if you don’t feel like you are being treated properly, you probably want to call around and look for someone you feel comfortable working with. There are plumbers that will treat you the way you want to be treated, helping your save time, money, and aggravation.

For assistance with your emergency plumbing repairs, contact us. We will help you when you need it most.

We handle emergency plumbing calls as well as non-emergency plumbing repairs, remodeling tasks, and more throughout Massachusetts including Winthrop, Chelsea, Revere, Everett, Arlington, and more.