Plumbers

Plumbing in itself is a vast category. It contains so many tasks related to piping systems, tanks, fittings required for water supply, and setting up gas supply at your place. Plumbers are not only meant to fix what is broken but also install new equipment, which can include fixing leaking pipes to installing a water heater. They can repair or install your sump pumps or add a sink in your basement. There is nothing wrong with saying that you will need them everywhere in your home.

What services do plumbers offer?
1. Installation, Inspection, and Replacement
Plumbers can skillfully install, repair, or even replace items, including toilet, bathroom, kitchen sinks, tubs, showers, water heaters, faucets, dishwashers, septic tank systems, washers for laundry, pipes, water lines, as well as backflow protection. Pipes and fixtures also have a lifespan and will eventually need replacement when worn out. It will be your biggest mistake to ignore a leaky pipe, no matter how small, because the water will ultimately seep into walls, ceilings, and floors, making you spend even more on repair and renovations.
2. Toilet Repair
Clogged drains, overflowing, and flushing issues exist side-by-side with toilets, especially the one that's mostly used in the house.
3. Leak Repairs
Again, leaks are kind of every other day problem, and most households ignore them until they create a bigger, visible mess or add extra charges on the water bill. You will probably end up needing a licensed plumber even after watching the top 10 tutorials on DIY leak repair. The early signs of leakage before it damages the structural integrity of your home are stained or damp ceilings, walls, floors, unusual noises from the pipes, and running water from the fixtures.
4. Drain Cleaning
No matter how conscious you are about keeping the drains of kitchen sinks and bathrooms clean, they still accumulate dirt and debris over time. There are a lot of commercial products available and written in your shopping list that claims to remove the accumulated dirt and unblock the drains. However, the best way is to have regular cleaning and maintenance scheduled with the trusted plumber near you.
5. Sewer Repair
The worst kind of repair you want to DIY (Do-It-Yourself) is the sewer repair. A foul-smelling sewer or strange noises can be an indication that your sewer needs attention. You don't want to jump into that. Thanks to the plumbers who offer these services with the right tools and proper training, you can leave the messy business to a professional.
6. Water Heater Services
Plumbers also offer installation, repair, and maintenance of water heaters. Older water heaters may require more calls to a plumber because typical water heaters have a life expectancy of 12 years, so it would be wise to replace your water heater accordingly after twelve years or so.

How to choose the best plumber near you?
The market for every service has become so competitive that choosing the right plumber can be very hectic and challenging. You have to make sure he or she is the best one in the market because plumbing services can be costly. When pipes are clogged or you have overflowing toilets or the hot water tap is not working when you are trying to take a shower – you need someone to help you with it without making it more frustrating for you.
Before you get all emotional and pick up your phone and call someone at random to just get rid of the issue, you should think twice, because you do not want someone to take advantage of you. If you choose carefully and make the right decision, you might end up with the best value possible and a quick solution by hiring a licensed plumber.
- Price
The price is crucial when ordering any service for such tasks. Plumbing is expensive, and you don’t want to waste your money by hiring a plumber service on hit and trial. Most people try to fix the issue themselves to save up money leading to more problems. Why put yourself through the trouble? You can’t be the expert of every question and end up either making the situation worse or just wasting your whole day with no results. For the plumbing world, it’s often the case that "you get what you pay for.” Going cheap can lead you to pay even more later on, so considering other factors besides cost is essential to avoid future problems.
- Quality
We usually see that brand products are costly, but they deliver quality, and you pay for quality. Similar is the case with plumbing: quality must be your top priority when selecting a plumber; otherwise, get ready to pay more than the actual issue costs. There is a saying which goes: “cry once by buying expensive or cry over and over again by buying cheap.” Therefore, look for someone who is a proper professional and has at least an experience of a year or two rather than picking someone who is a part-time plumber. You can usually tell the difference by the way they interact with you when hiring.
- Punctuality
In any service, you want a plumber to respond to your issue as soon as possible because plumbing issues are a direct disturbance in your daily life flow. You should not have an issue where you contact a plumber, and he responds to you the next day, or he tells you that he will be visiting your place at 12 pm, and its 2 pm, yet no sign of the plumber. Observe whether the person you are hiring values his/her time as well as the client’s time.
- Reviews
Before you grant someone access to your home to fix any issues, you have to make sure the person is trustworthy. What is the easiest way to find out? Check out their reviews from other places they have worked at. Look at their profile on the internet, or if you are hiring a plumber through the internet, you can find their reviews on their site as well. Check the company the plumber is working for and go through the overall reviews of the company and the individual plumber. Look for detailed reviews rather than a simple line saying, "The best plumber ever." It can often be a fake review generated by the site owners, so be careful about that.
Compare the negative and positive reviews because unsatisfied customers are more likely to leave a lengthy review, addressing the reason for being unsatisfied. Sometimes, the review reflects a person's anger over the situation, which they got stuck in rather than the company, so keep a clear understanding of whether there is a problem in the services or the situation.
- Warranties & Certifications
A professional plumber is the one who has earned proper certifications from an institute, which adds credibility to their name and work. Make sure who you are hiring, actually has certified plumbing knowledge. Moreover, the tools and material that plumbers will be using also must have certification. Some of the certificates to look for include the CSA, cUPC, NSF 14, UL Plumbing Mark, and WQA Certification Mark. Be mindful that whatever material is being used must pass these certifications before they can be installed for repairs. Warranties are equally noteworthy for such tasks.
- Comparisons
The most valuable and foremost part of choosing a plumber is comparing. If you got the right guy for the work on the first try, do not hire him just yet. Always compare them with other available options. Why? Because it’s possible that the same service can be offered by someone at a much better price, or the other plumber may provide more value-added services at the same price.
In short, compare their reviews, their response time, their quality of work, and what services they will be providing for the price you are willing to pay.
Plumbing is a service, too, so leave a review once they complete their task so others can benefit from your experience. If you have a good experience, your review will build trust between you and the plumber, which can help you achieve consistency in your other plumbing works in the future. Once you have all that figured out, pick the right plumber for yourself and stick to your choice so you can enjoy the perks of a long-term relationship with such service professionals.

12 common issues you should leave to the plumber
Not every challenge needs to be addressed as a Do-It-Yourself challenge. There are issues that you should leave to a plumber – that’s what they are trained for.
1. Clogged drains
2. Leaky pipes, water heater, and faucets
3. Burst pipes
4. Pipe replacement or relocation
5. New plumbing installation
6. Refrigerator water line installation
7. Sump pump failure
8. Low water pressure
9. Water heater installation
10. Waterline break
11. Sewer line backup
12. Hard water

How much does it cost to hire a plumber?
A plumber can charge you anywhere between $45 to $200 per hour, depending on the task or contract work. It ranges from $172 to $427, with an average cost of $314. For services like unclogging a drain or fixing a faucet or toilet, the flat rates can vary from $100 to $400. The labor charges are directly proportional to the complexity of the task.
In most cases, plumbers are required when a prolonged problem becomes an emergency. As a result, off-hours repairs can be very costly as compared to their regular working hours. Off-hours include weekends, holidays, after-hours work, or a combination of two.
The cost of hiring a plumber during off-hours is:
- Flat or Trip Fee: $100 to $350 (or more in immoderate cases). This can be an additional charge to the hourly rate so, ask your contractor beforehand.
- Hourly Rate: $70 to $400