Plumbing problems always seem to happen at the worst time -- which means many homeowners hire whoever shows up first and hope for the best. Here's how to hire a good plumber even under time pressure.
Verify the license
Plumbers must be licensed in every US state. License requirements vary but typically require thousands of hours of apprenticeship and a written exam. You can verify a plumber's license on your state's contractor licensing board website in under 2 minutes. An unlicensed plumber has no regulated training and no insurance requirements.
Get a written estimate before work starts
Any legitimate plumber will give you a written estimate before touching anything. The estimate should specify: what work will be done, what parts will be used, labor cost, and any conditions under which the price could change. Never accept verbal-only quotes.
Ask about the warranty
Professional plumbing work should be warrantied. Labor warranties of 1 year are standard. Parts are often covered by manufacturer warranty (typically 1-5 years). Ask specifically: 'What warranty do you provide on the labor?' A plumber who won't warrant their work is not confident in it.
Red flags to watch for
Avoid plumbers who: can't give a price range until they arrive and start work, demand full payment upfront before starting, pressure you to make immediate decisions about expensive repairs, don't have a local physical address, or can't provide a license number when asked.
- ✓No written estimate
- ✓Requires full payment before starting
- ✓Can't provide a license number
- ✓Pressure tactics for immediate decisions
- ✓No local business address
Bottom line
A qualified plumber who provides a written estimate and warranties their work is the baseline. The cheapest option is rarely the best value when the work involves water and your home's infrastructure.
Need plumbing work done?
Novum sends its own licensed crew. Flat upfront quote before we touch anything.