You go to work and come home, and your home is flooded. You have no idea where the water is coming from and start checking the sinks, tubs, and showers, but find nothing. You have nothing left to do but contact an emergency plumber.
The problem with this scenario is that you may not know anything about this company but randomly called from the telephone book, and you get a plumber who is going to charge you thousands of dollars when it was actually an easy fix.
Before you need an emergency plumbing company, it is best to start your search long before something goes wrong. Talk with family and friends about the company they use.
Once you have found a few that you might wish to use, use this checklist to ask questions:
- How long have you been in business?
- Do you work on refrigerators?
- Do you work on spas and saunas?
- What products do you use?
- Can you provide licensing?
- Can you provide references?
Ask about different scenarios when you might need a plumber so you can get a quote if anything does occur. You may learn that some will not even provide a guesstimate while others will offer a range. It would be best to go with a company that will at least provide you with a price range with the idea that you know it could be a bit below or above this first figure.
Also call references and ask questions. Did the company perform a professional task? Did it take longer than they stated? Did they stay close to their quote? How far from the quote was the actual price?
The one thing you should remember is that to ensure you never have issues like this; it would be best to have your plumbing checked at least twice yearly just like you do your air conditioner and heater. This way, you will never be surprised when a part wears out and causes a flood. You can have the worn part replaced before anything bad occurs.
Never try to do the work yourself, if the floor is flooded, you can be in danger from electrocution or may cause other damages if you are not sure where or what the plumbing problem is and do not have the knowledge on how to fix the issue. It is always best to use a professional that has the education and experience to ensure that all goes right the first time.