6 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber in Howell
If you live in Howell, MI and need a plumbing service, you need to know your options. Here are questions to ask before hiring a plumber in Howell.
Are you in need of a plumber in Howell Michigan? Are you looking into different plumbing services in hopes of finding the right fit for your need? If so, then you need to know how to find the best service in town.
There are several questions that you can ask as you search. These questions will lead you to a plumbing service with the experience, customer service, and professional touch that you’re looking for.
See below for several questions that you must ask while searching for a plumber in Howell Michigan. Be sure to ask all of them before you schedule an appointment.
1. Do You Have Insurance?
Believe it or not, there are several plumbing services out there that don’t have the necessary insurance for their business.
Hiring one without proper insurance can leave you with some expensive repairs and damage to your property. If the company doesn’t have a provider, then you’re on your covering those costs.
There are two main types of insurance that you want to ensure your plumber has: liability insurance and workers’ compensation. Both are essential for covering the business, the workers, and the client (you).
Liability insurance will cover any damage in case there was a mistake on the job. Workers’ compensation will protect any work that’s injured while working on your property.
Make sure that you ask your plumber what kind of insurance they have and a few instances in which it’s come in handy for them.
2. How Long Have You Been in Business?
During your search, you want to make sure that you’re lining yourself up with a service that has the experience and know-how to get the job done right.
The only way to ensure that is by asking two questions: 1) how long has your company been in business? and 2) what level of experience do you require your workers to have.
Generally speaking, plumbers are required to undergo a plumbing apprenticeship that’s between 2 and 5 years long before they become a certified plumber.
It’s important to ask about the experience level of their workers. What good is it hiring a service that’s been in Howell for 40 years if they send a plumber that only has 2 years of experience?
Make sure that you find a company with several years of experience in your community. They will know the plumbing issues that you face as a Howell resident and will help you find the best solution for it.
3. Do You Have References That I Can Reach Out to?
There’s no better resource for getting a peek behind the curtain of a company’s service than previous clients.
Any reputable plumbing service will be happy to to share the contact information of satisfied clients that they’ve helped.
You can then ask the clients a number of questions such as how long have they been working with the service? What repairs have they had performed? What’s the level of customer support you should expect? How happy are you with the service they provide?
If the client doesn’t offer you references, you shouldn’t automatically cross them off your list. You can use online reviews as your guide as well. References and reviews both offer a clear definition of past services.
While you shouldn’t take every comment you see to heart (some can be overly dramatic), it will help you gauge the trustworthiness of the service. If the review is positive overall, it bodes well for their service.
4. Do You Offer Warranties on Your Work?
No matter how many stars the plumbing service receives online or how long they’ve been in service, there’s always a slight potential for error.
That’s why you must find a plumbing company that’s willing to repair any mistakes they make on your plumbing needs. It shows that they aren’t just in it for the money, they legitimately care about the residents in the Howell community.
Be sure to ask each service you’re talking to whether or not they offer warranties on their plumbing repairs. If they do (and they should), then ask them about specific details of the warranty.
How long does the warranty last after the service? How can you schedule a warranty repair? How quickly can the repair be performed?
5. Do You Have Your Plumber License?
Simply put: you should never hire an unlicensed plumber. It’s illegal and irresponsible to do so. All plumbers in the state of Michigan are required to have a license and undergo the previously-mentioned apprenticeship.
Those without a license don’t have anyone keeping them accountable. They could make costly errors on your home’s plumbing and never pay the price for it.
It’s also possible that the unlicensed plumber will charge you more for the service to make as much money off you as possible.
6. How Much Will My Repair Cost?
Some customers find it a bit awkward to ask, but the reality is that price will come up at some point.
Ask every service that you talk to what their estimated cost will be on the service that you need to be performed. Once you have a few different quotes, you can comb through them and weigh out the pros and cons of each.
Remember, the lowest price isn’t always the best option. If there’s a price that’s significantly lower than the rest, it could be because they use porous materials or are unlicensed and unqualified to perform service on your home.
Find the Right Plumber in Howell for Your Needs
Now that you’ve seen several questions to ask to find the right plumber in Howell, it’s time to start your search.
Be sure to read this article for more information on what to do when you experience clogged pipes, as well as what might be causing them.
For more inquiries, please be sure to reach out via our contact us page and we’ll be happy to assist you further!
