Questions to Ask, Before You Hire a Professional Plumber in Chicagoland

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Professional Plumber in Chicagoland

There comes a time for many homeowners when the services of a professional plumber are essential. You may need a sink unclogging, a leak repaired, or a full basement rough-in – no matter the reason you need a plumber, it’s always handy in these situations to have a good relationship with a local service!

So, how can you tell whether a plumber is the best fit for a job? Just like when you hire any contractor, there are some important questions to ask before you make a decision over which plumbing company is right for your needs.

Here are eight tips and questions to ask, before you hire a plumber in Chicago for your plumbing job:

1. Do They Provide Services for Commercial and/or Residential Plumbing in Chicagoland?

The first thing that you need to know is whether the company offers the services you need. There’s no point in hiring a commercial plumber in Chicago, if you need a residential plumber, or vice versa. Some plumbing companies will offer both commercial and residential plumbing services, but others may only offer one service or the other, so it’s worth asking in advance to make sure that you hire the right type of plumbing company!

2. Make Sure You’re Protected! What Guarantees and Warranties Do They Provide?

You’ll find that not every plumber offers the same guarantees or warranties on their work. If something goes wrong after the work is completed, some plumbers will agree to return and fix the problem within a set timeframe, while others may have more exacting conditions on what they will/won’t replace or repair. Before you hire a plumber, you should ask them what guarantees and warranties they provide and make sure that you get them in writing before work begins.

3. What’s the Cost of the Job – Do They Offer Free Home Estimates?

Does the company provide free estimates? Will you get a quote over the phone? Are estimates provided after a home inspection? It’s important to have a clear understanding of the cost of a project before work gets underway – and when payment will be due after work is completed! In most situations, your plumber should be able to give you a clear estimate of the cost of the project after having a look at the work that needs doing.

4. Check How the Payments Work! Do They Offer Fixed/Flat Rates or Hourly Rates?

Another essential payment-related question is whether the plumber offers fixed rates or hourly rates. If the payment is a fixed rate, then you know that the price won’t change, but an hourly rate can be very unpredictable, especially if the job doesn’t go to plan. Knowing whether you’ll be paying a set fee or are going to be charged by the hour for work will help you to plan ahead for expenses. If you don’t want to pay an hourly rate, then check the contract to make sure there are no clauses stating that you’ll need to pay reasonable costs.

5. Are They A Reputable Company? Check Plumbing Service Reviews!

A great way to get a better understanding of a plumbing company and their reputability, is to check online reviews and ratings. There are many review sources online, including BBB reviews (Better Business Bureau), which help to build trust between businesses and customers. Through BBB, you can search for businesses in your local area, check what rating they have (F to A+), see whether they’re a BBB accredited business, and even look at reviews and complaints.

6. Know Your Local Plumber! Who Will Be Doing the Work?

It’s always better to know in advance who’ll be completing your plumbing job: will it be the person who gave you your estimate, or will it be someone else? Some plumbing companies have multiple plumbers on staff or hire subcontractors; some plumbing companies have just a single plumber. Ask who’ll be completing the job, and about their qualifications, training, and experience – the company should be happy to share the skills of their plumbers!

7. Are They Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?

Making sure that the company you choose is licensed, bonded, and insured is one of the most important things to do before you hire a plumber in Chicagoland. Plumbers in Illinois require a license to work, so it’s essential to make sure that they have one! Insurance and bonding is protection for both you and the company: insurance means the company is covered in the event of an accident, and bonding means that there’s money available to cover the cost of any claim filed by a customer – protecting you against unsuitable business practices and poor workmanship.

8. Plumbing Experience Matters! How Long Have They Been in Business?

No matter the type of contractor that you need to hire, experience should always be an important factor in the decision-making process. An experienced plumbing company should be able to identify and repair most common problems very quickly and they’ll have a better understanding of how to manage situations that are out of the ordinary. Most businesses share their experience on their websites, and you’ll also be able to find how long they’ve been in business on BBB, or simply by asking them directly!

Contact Arco Plumbing

If you’re looking to hire a plumber in Chicagoland, then the team at Arco Plumbing are happy to answer your questions!

Arco Plumbing is a residential and commercial plumbing service that’s based in Westmont, IL and serves the Chicagoland area. Our company was founded more than four decades ago, in 1978, and since 1985, we’ve been proud to be an A+ BBB rated business.

We’re licensed, bonded, and insured, and offer fixed rate payments on all our plumbing services in Chicagoland. You can get in touch with us today for a free home estimate on your plumbing job in Chicagoland or advice on your plumbing problem or project. Whether you need general plumbing services or emergency services, we have you covered!

Last Updated on July 31, 2019 by Arco Plumbing Services