8 Tips on Choosing Residential Plumbers in Austin

There are almost 500,000 plumbers in the US. That means when choosing residential plumbers — especially in a large city like Austin — you can be spoiled for choice.

When it comes to narrowing down your options, you don't want to pick the wrong plumber. If you have a problem or just need some preventative work done before something becomes an issue, you want to make sure it's done right.

So how do you pick the best one?

Follow these tips for choosing a plumber in Austin, Texas, and make sure you get the best person for the job.

1. Ask Around

When looking for options for plumbers, the first thing you should do is ask around locally.

Your friends and family might have had a residential plumbing experience that was great and is able to recommend someone for you to consider. On the other hand, they might have had one that was terrible and advised you to stay away from someone.

Whatever the case, it will give you a lot to consider and some company names to look into.

2. Read Reviews

Most Austin house plumbers will have reviews available online. Whether it's on Facebook, Google, or Yelp, you should be able to track down reviews for the service.

It's a good idea to look at both the five-star reviews and the one-star reviews. The one-star reviews will tell you what problems other people had, and you'll be able to tell if those issues were minor or if there's a reason you shouldn't consider that company.

Many newer companies may not have a lot of reviews yet, but you should at least be able to gather a general idea from reading online reviews.

3. Consider the Costs

Comparing plumbing costs is essential to deciding which plumber you want to go with, as you don't want to pay more for a service than you have to.

At the same time, you shouldn't automatically go with the cheapest plumber. You should balance the cost with every other factor and make a decision from there.

Getting quotes from a few different companies is always the best idea, as you will be able to tell if someone seems to be overcharging. If someone is seriously undercharging, however, it might be best to avoid them too.

4. Check Their Credentials

The most important credential a plumber can have is experience, but they may also have gone to a trade school. While a trade school isn't necessary for someone to be a good plumber, it is good to examine it along with how many years they've been working and consider just how experienced they are.

If someone is fresh out of their apprenticeship, they might be a great plumber, but it would be understandable if you didn't want to hand them a complex issue and instead seek out someone with more experience behind them.

5. Consider Their Communication Style

When it comes to hiring any service, communication is everything. You should make sure you're comfortable with the level of communication you're getting.

A plumber should be able to answer any questions you have, as well as being able to explain the issue and how they'll fix it. If you don't understand what your plumber is telling you, or they take days to respond to any questions you have, they might not be the fit for you.

Everyone gets busy, but your plumber should be willing to make reasonable time for you if you're considering entrusting a problem to them.

6. Examine the Website

The website might tell you all you need to know about the plumber you want to hire. If they don't have a website, it can be harder to gauge how good they are.

If they do, it might have the services they provide, contact information, client testimonials, and a lot of other handy information.

A professional-looking website can also be reassuring that this company puts time and effort into reassuring its clients that they're getting a great service.

7. See How Timely They Are

If your plumber comes out to your home to give you a quote, you should consider how timely they are. If they're late to give you a quote with no good reason or call ahead, they might also be late to fix the issue.

You should also consider if they can work on your schedule. There might be some times when the house is unavailable for them to come and work on the issue, so you need to make sure it all works for you.

Ask about their availability from the start so you don't waste any time.

8. Consider Your Instincts

At the end of the day, you should consider all of these factors along with your instincts.

If someone is timely, has a great website and experience, answers all of your questions, and you feel good about them, they're likely a good choice.

If you have a bad feeling about a company, consider why. There might be a reason, like not answering your questions, showing up late, or having very few reviews. Your gut may be telling you something.

Choosing Residential Plumbers Can Be Daunting

Choosing residential plumbers can be daunting because you don't want to make the wrong choice. Entrusting a plumbing problem to someone is worrying whether a dripping faucet or a new water heater is installed because what if you make the wrong choice and they make the problem worse?

As long as you consider all these factors, it should be fine. Do your research, read the reviews, and ask them lots of questions, and you'll be sure to make the right choice.

For a residential plumber, you can trust in Austin, contact us today.