First thing Saturday morning I decided to fix the washing machine. This decision had not been reached lightly. The cold water pressure was weak so I had checked with two experts at work (i.e., they had both owned washing machines at one time or another) and determined that it was a sticky solenoid. I grabbed my toolbox and told my wife what I was planning.
A Trustworthy plumber will answer all of your questions. Good plumbers will provide you with references, and tell you how long they have been a plumber, and the type of guarantee they provide for their work (warranty.) As well, a professional plumber will offer emergency service for nights and weekends. You should be able to make contact with him or her in a timely manner. A professional plumber will also have all of the appropriate insurance such as liability insurance so that you are protected in the event of an accident.
The first thing to know is that these folks can be very hard to find. A good service person is like a needle in the haystack, or so it sometimes seem. Average plumbers, those who install fixtures, are much more common. But the ones who come to fix up the horrifying messes that can be caused by faulty plumbing are almost heroic.
Asking friends for recommendations is always a great idea. But, having just moved to Denver from St. Louis, I sure didn't know anyone to ask for Denver plumber referrals. In the end, I was successful and had a happy result. The clogged shower drain repaired and the cost was okay for the service call too. Here are the steps I used to locate the best Denver Plumber for my problem.
Go with your gut feeling and don't hire someone that you are uncomfortable with. You should be confident that he is honest and that his bid for bathtub repair is reasonable and competitive. Watch him closely and make sure that he isn't wasting time just to collect additional money from you. Monitor his actions and evaluate whether he is giving you expert advice or simply "shooting the breeze" with you. Solid advice and intelligent tips from him are what you should watch for.
Once you had a master plumber on your premises, you remembered that old sink in the garage that hadn't drained since you bought the house. Luckily, your Local plumber was experienced with drain and rooter service and was able to diagnose the problem and have your drain and pipes clear again in no time. Whether the culprit is intruding willow tree roots, a Barbie doll head, clumps of hair, or maybe even more potato chunks, master plumbers can handle it all with minimal disturbance to your schedule or decor.
Often a plumber is on a minimum charge out rate - for example a minimum charge out of half an hour, if he finishes the job you have given him in 10 minutes, you will still pay for the whole 30 minutes, so make sure you have a couple of other jobs for him to do while he is there.
If you have cold called a plumber, that is just found their name in the local paper or the internet, ask them for a reference. Getting in touch with a recent client is a great idea, they can give you an honest testimonial of the plumbers services. Even if you are looking for someone to complete a small job, finding a good plumber who you can trust is a great contact to have.