How To Find a Trusted Plumber

Whether your taps are leaking or you have a boiler making some funny noises, having a plumber you can trust in your phone book can be incredibly handy. But how do you find one you can rely on in an emergency?

We’ve heard the stories about bad tradesmen leaving work incomplete or done to an awful standard, but there are things you can do to make sure you find one you can trust and return to again and again.

So, if you’re looking for a trusted plumber near me, follow these top tips and we’re sure you’ll come across a plumber you can go to for life.

Do you need a plumber or heating engineer?

The first thing you need to ask yourself is whether you’re looking for a plumber or a heating engineer. The best way to separate the two is knowing that plumbers work with water and pipework, so they’re the ones to call when you have drips or leaks.

When it comes to boilers or central heating, that’s when you need a heating engineer. They can conduct everything from boiler services, repairs, installation and repairing gas fires. They must be on the Gas Safe Register.

Plumbers can also become heating engineers by taking the relevant qualifications and getting on the Gas Safe Register, which is where the confusion may come from. But as long as you know you have a qualified plumber or heating engineer on the job, you can trust them to help you out.

Search plumber trade associations

You can start your hunt by finding plumbers that are members of a trade association. Not all plumbers join trade associations, but it is always a good sign if they are part of one. This offers a symbol of professionalism and good quality customer service. A few examples include The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors and The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering.

Getting a quote

Getting a number of quotes is vital when looking for a plumber, that way you can see how they deal with customer service and how easy it is to book a job with them. Usually, good tradesmen will do the following when providing a quote:

• Explain what services they provide and how they will do so
• Explain how much this will cost and when they expect payment
• Offer a contract, terms and conditions and how they prefer to be paid

If tradesmen are difficult to get in contact with, this is an early sign of bad tradmenship and they should be avoided. You need someone you can rely on in an emergency, and if they are already difficult to contact, you won’t want to rely on them.

Ask questions

A good plumber will be able to answer any questions you have easily, so asking questions can be a great way to sniff out a dodgy tradesman. Think about asking the following questions:

• How long have you been working as a plumber?
• Do you have any references or reviews?
• Is your work guaranteed with insurance?
• Does your insurance cover my property?
• Are there additional costs I should be aware of such as travel?

Ask for recommendations

Asking people you trust for recommendations is always a good place to start when looking for a plumber. Family members and friends have nothing to gain from offering a decent plumber, so you know you can trust their word.

Check reviews

If no one close to you has anyone they recommend, turn to the internet. There will be plenty of reviews you can find online making it easy to find plumbers to avoid, and those to trust. Head to directories such as Yellow Pages, Trustpilot and Trust a Trader. Don’t trust any anonymous reviews.

Things to avoid

There are certain red flags to look out for when looking for a plumber:

• Door-to-door plumbers should be avoided at all costs
• Always make sure to get a receipt for every job you pay someone for
• Get the quote in writing to avoid miscommunication about payments further down the line
• Don’t sign a vague contract or blank document
• Always ask for identification and their proof of licence

Trust your gut

You will usually be able to tell if someone is authentic or not, so listen to your gut when on the hunt for a plumber. You should choose someone professional, reliable and knowledgeable about the industry. Taking your time on the hunt for a plumber will mean you have someone you can turn to in an emergency for the coming years.