How to select the best “plumber near me”
“Plumber near me” is the first thing most Sydney residents type into a google search when something goes wrong with their plumbing. But how do you know which local plumber near you is the best plumber for the job at hand?
Functional plumbing is an integral part of daily life. It helps us to stay clean, wash our clothes, wash the dishes, cook food, water the garden, go to the toilet, brush our teeth and so much more.
If something is wrong with your home’s plumbing it’s imperative that the plumber you call is going to get the job done well and not overcharge for their services. Choosing the right local plumber will give you peace of mind and ensure the longevity of your plumbing.
Here are some handy tips to consider when selecting the best local plumber near you.
The cheapest “plumber near me” is not always the best plumber
Plenty of local plumbers advertise low rates in their google search results, but then charge expensive fees when they finish the job. When you call a few “plumbers near me” make sure you ask them if they offer upfront, fixed pricing. A good local plumber will come to your home and provide a free quote so you know the total cost of repairs before the work commences.
Another reason that you shouldn’t automatically select the cheapest plumber in Google’s search results is because you get what you pay for. We’ve responded to countless calls from clients who have already hired a plumber who was either unable to fix the issue or did an unprofessional job. Plumbers train for many years to earn their qualification and plumbing license. It’s better to pay a slightly higher price for a plumber who actually knows what they’re doing than to risk an unqualified person attending the job and making the issue worse.
Make sure the “plumber near me” you hire is qualified, licensed and insured
You can weed out plumbers without a license easily by performing a simple Register search online. Service NSW offers a service you can access here. The Register will tell you about current, expired and cancelled licences under the name, licence number or ABN/ACN being searched. It is important to check the builder or tradesperson engaged has a current licence to ensure they have the appropriate qualifications for the work you want done. If the tradesperson is licensed you will have access to the consumer protections provided under the Home Building Act 1989 in the event of problems.
The Register will also show the category of work that they are licensed to undertake, whether Fair Trading has issued public warnings about the licensee, whether Fair Trading has finalised any disciplinary action against the licensee, whether Home Building Compensation Fund or other statutory insurance claims have been paid in respect of the contractor’s work, and whether the licence has been suspended or cancelled. So it’s always a good idea to check the Register before approving a quote from a local plumber near you.
Before you hire a plumber near me ask them to email you a copy of their certificate of currency for their workers compensation insurance and their public liability insurance. Any decent local plumbing company will be happy to provide this documentation for you.
Does the “plumber near me” specialise in the kind of repairs you’re looking for?
As with most professions, some plumber specialise in certain jobs while other plumbers posses more generic skills. Think about the medical profession. There are General Practitioners (GP) who possess a broad knowledge of many different medical conditions and there are specialists, such as a neurosurgeons, who are concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of patients with disorders of the brain and spinal column. You wouldn’t visit a neurosurgeon to discuss flu-like symptoms and you wouldn’t go to the GP for a brain injury.
It’s the same with plumbers. Depending on the work required, selecting the right plumber near me depends on what kind of plumbing services you need. If it’s a leaking tap pretty much any local plumber will be able to fix the problem. If you have a blockage in the sewer pipes, however, you’re better of doing some additional research and seeking out a local drainage plumber. Blocked drain plumbers carry certain equipment that regular plumbers don’t necessarily have. In particular, they carry plumbing cameras and high-pressure drain cleaning tools such as jet blasters.
Read plumber reviews of local Sydney plumbers and “plumbers near me”
If you want to know if a local plumber near you is reliable, well-priced and offers quality workmanship there is no better place to look than online reviews from other customers. Online reviews provide information about a plumbing company’s services and may appear on a business’ own site, on social media or on a review platform such as Google or Yelp.
When looking for reviews, be discerning and ensure that the reviews are both independent and genuine. It’s normal for businesses to have both positive and negative reviews. Even the best plumbing companies can’t please everyone all of the time. So one or two negative reviews is not something to worry about. If there are multiple bad reviews from customers who have had a similar experience - for example, being overcharged for a service - then you should probably take note and continue looking for another plumber near you.
Some businesses are unethical and have fake reviews on their site. The ACCC offers a list of things that can help you to identify fake reviews, including:
A significant spike in reviews about a particular business in a short period of time
Reviews that are written from the same email or IP address
Reviews that are written in overly positive or “marketing speak” writing styles
Call JAB Plumbing Solutions
At JAB Plumbing Solutions we pride ourselves on putting our customers first. If you’re looking for a reliable and honest plumber near you, give our friendly team a call. Our plumbers are insured, qualified and licensed to perform the full range of plumbing work. We specialise in blocked drain repairs including CCTV drain pipe inspections, high-pressure drain cleaning, jet blasting, drain installations and all other drainage work. We offer free upfront quotes, 24 hour emergency assistance for plumbing emergencies and have many five star reviews from happy customers. Call 1800 225 552.
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