The Top 10 Questions to Ask When Searching for a “Plumber Near Me”

Maybe it’s your first time hiring a Long Island plumber, or you weren’t happy with your last service, and you’ve turned to Google. You input “plumber near me” to see what pops up in your area, only to find thousands of hits. While naturally not all the results are actual plumbers in Central Long Island, there will still be quite a list of possibilities.

So, how do you narrow down that list and find the right plumber for your needs?

First, take a moment to research a few of the top results. Are they really in your area? What are their Google reviews like? Do they have any complaints listed on the Better Business Bureau?

After your research, you should have found a handful of plumbing companies that could be a good fit. Yet, there is still one more step you’ll need to complete: the interview.

Interviewing home service professionals is an excellent way to get to know the company better, see if your personalities are compatible, and get a feel for how trustworthy they are. At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Central Long Island, we know it’s integral to be able to count on the plumber servicing your home. An expert plumber has years of experience and training under his or her belt, and will be able to effectively repair any plumbing issue. However, experience is only half the battle. You’ll also want to get to know your prospective plumber to ensure he or she is respectful, courteous, and professional.

Your home is an important part of your life. It’s a place where you unwind at the end of the day, watch your children grow, and entertain friends and family. Naturally, you have a high standard for your home. When your toilet is clogged, your water heater is broken, or a pipe has burst, you need a plumber who can get the job done right.

To help you find the ideal company after completing a “plumber near me” search, we’ve put together the top 10 questions to ask your prospects. Continue reading to discover what you should ask before hiring a plumber for your Central Long Island home.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a “Plumber Near Me”

Some Long Island homeowners might thoroughly enjoy interviewing a prospective plumber. However, for others it could be a nerve-wracking experience. If so, we suggest printing out or writing down this list of questions. Then, during the interview you won’t miss anything because you were nervous or flustered. Instead, you can reference your list and be sure you ask everything you need to.

1. How Much Experience Do You Have?

Like any craft, the greater experience a plumber has the higher quality work they should offer. Also, greater experience means your plumber will be able to problem solve effectively—especially if an unseen complication arises or if there is an emergency. After all, when your basement is flooding you’ll need a plumber who keeps their cool and handles the situation like a pro.

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Central Long Island, many of our plumbers have been working in the industry for more than 20 years—and some of our team members are even second generation plumbers. Suffice it to say, we really have seen it all. Our plumbers know the best solutions for your damaged water heater or clogged kitchen sink and are committed to providing excellent customer service. Our team works and lives in Long Island, so when you welcome us into your home we treat it with the same respect we show our closest friends and neighbors.

2. How Long Has Your Company Been in Business?

Knowing how much experience the plumber servicing your home has is only one side of the coin. You also need to ask how much experience the company itself has. Unfortunately, in home service industries there are many businesses out there only looking for a quick buck and don’t have their customers’ best interests truly at heart. Since companies that have little reliability don’t last long, it’s best to hire a company that has more than a decade under their belt.

There are other benefits to hiring a longstanding business: access to more resources (greater industry knowledge), access to tools and parts, and more staff. Like we said, there’s a reason some companies stay in business and others do not.

For instance, the owners of Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Central Long Island, Gary and Shannon Curley, have operated their plumbing business for 20 years. This husband and wife team owned “Gary Curley Plumbing” before converting to the Mr. Rooter Plumbing franchise roughly 10 years ago. Additionally, Gary has been in the plumbing industry since he was a teenager—when he worked at his grandfather’s plumbing business. Like we said, plumbing runs in the family! We are very passionate about providing excellent workmanship to all of our Long Island customers.

3. Are You Licensed?

In New York, you can’t be employed as a professional plumber without a license. Plumbing industry regulations are strictly enforced throughout the state. Do not hire a plumber who can’t show you his or her license, it’s illegal to work without it. At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Central Long Island, all of our plumbers are properly licensed.

4. Can You Provide Proof of Insurance?

Plumbers in the State of New York are also required to get insurance, in addition to being properly licensed. When you hire a company from your “plumber near me” search, it’s very important to check for insurance. You don’t want to be liable for property damage or incurred injury while a plumber is working at your home. When asking for insurance, check that the plumber has both Property Damage Insurance and General Liability Insurance at the minimum. You should also inquire if the company has Workers’ Compensation Insurance.

5. What is the Estimated Timeline?

Naturally, you’re going to want to know how long the plumber will be in your home. You might have to book time off work to be there during the appointment, or organize for someone to pick up your kids from school. While some plumbing companies—like Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Central Long Island—offers clients the ability to schedule appointments, many smaller operations may provide little to no communication when your plumber might arrive. Thus, it’s important to check what the expectation is before hiring one of your “plumber near me” search results.

6. How Does Payment Work?

Depending on how you intend to pay for your plumbing service, it’s worthwhile to ask if the company accepts cash, credit, debit, check, or e-transfer. For instance, many smaller operations don’t accept some credit cards because of the transaction fees.

Additionally, you’ll want to know whether you need to pay a deposit, the entire fee upfront, or at the end. It’s also wise to inquire about how the fee structure works. Is there a deposit you don’t get back if the repair is unsuccessful? Does the company charge by the hour or by the job? It’s very important to have a clear idea of how payment works so both you and the plumber are on the same page.

Get An Estimate

As a homeowner, you’re likely acquainted with the “rule of three” concept (and no, it doesn’t just apply to Goldilocks). The rule of threes suggests that you get at least three estimates from prospective plumbers before deciding on the best man or woman for the job. While this is sound advice, there’s no harm in getting more or less estimates depending on what you think is best. You know what’s right for your home and need to trust your gut. The important thing is, whatever “plumber near me” search result you land on, you should find out how much the job is estimated to cost. Stay away from companies who refuse to provide any sort of estimate.

7. Can I See Your References?

The rule of threes applies to references as well. When narrowing down your “handyman near me” search results you likely checked online reviews from Google My Business and websites including Angie’s List, the Better Business Bureau, and HomeAdvisor to decide what companies to interview. This is good, but don’t be shy to ask the company directly for at least three references as well.

Any home service is only as good as their most recent job. Thus, be sure to check how current the provided references are. When you give the references a call, ask:

• What kind of work did the plumber do for you?
• Was he or she transparent with you about the work being done?
• Did they show up on time?
• Did you check for their license and insurance?
• What were they like while in your home?
• Did they stick to the estimated price?
• Were you happy with the work?

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Central Long Island, we’re happy to direct you to our references any time. Please give our courteous staff a call at 631-542-2194 to learn more.

8. Who’s Responsible for Parts?

Most plumbing companies will supply the necessary parts for the required job. They are the experts after all, and will have the clearest idea of what you need. However, for some jobs you might need to supply a few items. For instance, for toilet and faucet installation, you’ll have picked out what you like. Since it’s important to communicate clearly with your plumber, it doesn’t hurt to double check who’ll be supplying the parts.

9. Will You Clean Up After You Leave?

When interviewing your “plumber near me” search results, double check that they’ll clean-up before leaving. Depending on the task, your home could get quite messy. No one wants to have to clean up after the plumber leaves. Instead of feeling frustrated knowing you have to deal with the fallout of unclogging a sink or repairing a damaged pipe, be sure the plumber will tidy up before leaving.

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Central Long Island, our team always cleans up before we go. We respect you and your home, and it’s important to us that you have a positive experience with our company from start to finish.

10. Do You Offer a Warranty or Guarantee?

A trustworthy plumbing company stands behind their work with a guarantee. Not only does a guarantee protect you and your home in the rare event something goes wrong, but it also illustrates the company is confident you’ll be happy with the completed work.

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Central Long Island, we offer all our clients our Neighborly Done Right Promise. We’re certain you’ll be satisfied with our outstanding services, so we guarantee both our workmanship and products. If you find a problem after we leave, we’ll return right away to set it right.

Why Choose Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Central Long Island

Our company is trusted throughout Central Long Island for a good reason. Not only do we always arrive on time to your scheduled appointment, or as quickly as we can in an emergency, but we also pride ourselves on our outstanding service. Our plumbers are professional, courteous, and can tackle any plumbing issue you’re dealing with. We will efficiently and effectively repair your plumbing, and always provide the utmost in customer service.

Plumber Near Me

Stop wasting time searching for a “plumber near me” whenever your kitchen sink clogs or faucet leaks. Instead, choose the professionals at Mr. Rooter plumbing of Central Long Island and trust your home to the best.

To book an appointment today, call our friendly customer service representatives or request an appointment online. We look forward to meeting you and solving your Suffolk County plumbing problems.