This week, master plumber Andrew Trombettas was charged with being responsible for a deadly Lower East Side gas explosion. Trombettas was accused of supplying his licenses to an unqualified worker, in addition to other negligent acts that endangered the public. Examples mentioned during court included signing off on a job where gas piping was installed in a staircase, thereby preventing escape in the case of a fire.
It’s this sort of thing that may run through many a homeowner or business owner’s mind while finding a plumber. How can you make sure that the work they’re doing is legitimate, and not just the equivalent of sticking a bandaid on a broken arm? Here are a few things you can keep in mind in order to ensure the plumbing services you’re receiving are quality and dependable.
Find Someone With a Local Reputation
While this isn’t the end-all in making sure someone will do great work, it certainly helps. Choosing someone who has a reputation in your local community will help eliminate the fly-by-night plumbers who may not have the experience and skill that someone more established has. A business that has a website, a stable address, and past clients they can refer you to is more likely to be a dependable option. opinions like yours matter.
Opt for a Licensed Plumber
It’s important to make sure that your plumber is licensed. That means their knowledge and skills have been judged as sufficient to get the job done. A licensed plumber, for example, will know that just a three millimeter pipe crack can lead to 250 gallons of water lost per day.
Insurance Matters
It’s a good idea to ask several plumbers for estimates. If one is 25% lower than the rest, you may be tempted to sign up immediately. However, you have to ask yourself — and them — how that extremely low budget is possible. Be wary of plumbing businesses that are not insured. On the off chance something goes wrong during the job, who will be left holding the bill for damages? On the bright side, a quality plumber can actually help save you money. Fixing small, easy leaks can save you up to 10% on your water bills and prevent up to 10,000 lost gallons of water per year.
Finding a plumber doesn’t have to be hard. Keep these tips in mind for future plumbing repairs.