When you need to call an emergency plumber, the situation at hand can easily make you feel overwhelmed. And when you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s all too easy to simply dial the first plumber you find on Google or in your local directory, just because the number is readily available.
But calling the first emergency plumber you find may not be in your home’s or your wallet’s best interest. Before you make a hiring decision, turn off your water main to control any flooding, and take a few minutes to heed the following tips that’ll help you find the best plumber in your area.
Verify Time in Business
If you have a smartphone or computer on hand, take a minute to enter “emergency plumber near me” into your preferred search engine. You’ll get a list of the emergency plumbers who are closest to your location, and the first thing you’ll want to do is verify whether those plumbers actually offer 24/7 service.
Once you’ve verified that the business really does offer around-the-clock service, check to see how long they’ve been operational. The longer a plumber has been in business, the more likely they’ll be able to solve your plumbing problem quickly and efficiently, so you don’t end up overpaying for labor hours.
Read Customer Reviews
Once you’ve found a few options, take a look at customer reviews on their website or on Google. Don’t just read the positive reviews. Take a look at the negative feedback, too, just to see how the business handles dissatisfied customers. If a plumber handles both positive and negative feedback well, that’s a sign the business truly cares about customer satisfaction and will serve you well.
Get Service Estimates
When you have a plumbing emergency, you probably won’t have time to get written estimates since you need immediate service. But once you’ve narrowed down your list of local emergency plumbers to two or three prospects, call each one and ask about their rates.
Be prepared for emergency plumbing rates to be considerably higher than what normal labor rates might look like. If a plumber has to pay you a visit in the middle of the night, that’s way outside normal working hours, and their charges will reflect that.
Generally, you can expect rates to range from $50-$200 an hour, and emergency plumbers may charge a travel rate as well. You’ll also need to consider the cost of any plumbing parts you may need, so keep that in mind.
While cost can be a major deciding factor in who you choose to hire, try not to let it be the only deciding factor you have. If you get any cheap-ish quotes that are far lower than the rest, be wary. A cheap estimate may indicate a lack of experience or lack of licensing and insurance, which you certainly don’t want.
Let Steve’s Plumbing & Heating Handle All Your Emergency Plumbing Needs
When you need a reliable, honest, and highly experienced plumber for emergency service, look no further than Steve’s Plumbing & Heating. We serve Wisconsin Rapids, Wausau, Stevens Point, Marshfield, and the surrounding areas and all of our plumbers are fully licensed and insured. We also offer the best service guarantees in the business!
To learn more about us or schedule plumbing service, give us a call at 715-421-1800 or request an estimate online, and we’ll get in touch.