When hiring a professional or master plumber for high-quality work, consider their certification, insurance, and license status. Finding a skilled plumber with a good reputation in the local community and a history of offering quality service to various clients is essential.
But finding a plumbing pro with all of these qualities can be difficult! Our guide will help you interview potential plumbing candidates, learn key skills, and find a contractor to tackle your job successfully. We’ll also help you find a local Connecticut plumber that can provide diamond club-level services and guarantee protection from accidents or incidental damages.
You’ll need to find a plumber that can handle important commercial plumbing or hydronic heating services, like clearing a plumbing drain, providing cooling repair, cleaning water lines, checking our sewage line, repairing your hot water heater, and more. Our guide will help you find a reputable Southeastern Connecticut plumbing pro!
We’ve written an entire article on this site about what are the two main types of plumbers and what are some other types of plumbing services.
Commercial Plumbing Services: What You Should Know
There are multiple service options a plumbing professional and their team members can offer to local homeowners, including water heater installation and repair, pipe maintenance, plumbing features, and so much more.
As you begin your search for a plumber to help with your needs, be sure their skillset includes the following services:
- Repair and maintenance of pipes: This service includes fixing leaks, replacing rusted pipes, and unblocking drains.
- Installation of plumbing fixtures: Plumbers can install new gear such as toilets, sinks, showers, and bathtubs.
- Water heater installation and repair: Professional plumbers can install new water heaters, repair existing ones, or replace outdated ones.
- Sewer and drain cleaning: This service involves cleaning and maintaining the sewer lines and drains to prevent blockages and backups.
- Backflow testing and certification: Backflow happens when there’s a reverse in potable or clean water. This occurrence usually leads to contaminated water flowing into your business or home. So, plumbers can test and certify backflow prevention devices to ensure the safety of the water supply.
- Water filtration and treatment: Plumbing pros can install water filtration systems to improve drinking water quality and remove contaminants.
- Sump pump installation and repair: Sump pumps remove water from basements, and plumbers can install or repair new pumps.
- Gas line installation and repair: Another unique service plumbing experts may offer is the installation and repair of gas lines. A plumbing expert can install new gas lines, repair leaks, and perform safety inspections to ensure the proper functioning of gas appliances.
- Re-piping: Plumbing experts can replace outdated pipes with new and more efficient ones to improve the plumbing system’s performance. They can also help drain cleaning and replace parts of your home’s water system that may need patching or repair.
- Emergency services: The best master plumbers offer 24/7 on-call, service scheduling, and are prepared to address any unexpected plumbing or sewer issue, drain services, or other repair needs. Generally, plumbing providers offer safety and important protections, residential and commercial service and repair, sewer and drain service, water heater repair, heating or furnace repair, and so much more—and any time of day.
Hiring the Best Plumbing & Drain Services in Southeast Connecticut
To hire a licensed plumbing professional in Southeastern Connecticut, you’ll need to do a little research first. Identify local and national companies that can support drain and sewer repair, drain cleaning, water heater support, heating and furnace repair, and more. Read client reviews, call and ask questions, and get recommendations from family and friends you trust.
To ensure you’re hiring the best possible plumbing pro for your specific job, be sure to follow these steps before you schedule service:
Conduct preliminary research.
Search for local plumbing companies in Southeastern Connecticut. Look for information about the companies online, such as their websites, online reviews, and ratings. This information can give you an idea of the quality of their work and their reputation for working with both residential and commercial clients in your area.
Also, you need to confirm the service options they support. For example, some companies provide toilet and sewer repairs, emergency attention, and drain cleaners—while others focus more on commercial buildings, heating and furnace repair, and more. Before you make your call, collecting all this info is essential to securing the best possible service.
Check the plumber’s credentials.
Before taking the time to call a potential plumber, check to make sure they’re licensed and insured. This will protect you from any potential legal or financial issues that may arise during the plumbing project.
You can also check for the plumber’s candidate information bulletin from professional organizations. In addition, the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) is an excellent reference source. Other certifications may include a high school diploma, hands-on training, practical
experience, a plumber’s license, and so on.
Ask for other both residential and commercial plumbing referrals.
Ask friends, family, or neighbors for recommendations for a good plumber in the metro area. This can be a valuable resource, as you can hear about the negative or positive experiences of others and get an idea of the quality of work from different plumbers.
Get several plumbing work estimates.
Contact several plumbers and get written estimates for the job you need to be done. This move allows you to compare prices and determine the best value for the services you need. Be sure to ask each plumber to break down their estimate, so you have a clear understanding of what is included to avoid extra costs.
Be sure to ask lots of questions when you call.
When you speak to potential plumbers, ask about their work experience, availability, and warranty or guarantee policy.
As you interview potential plumbers, some good questions to ask and help get the conversation going may include:
How many years of experience do you have?
- Are you insured and bonded?
- Can you offer some references?
- Is your charge based on an hourly rate or flat rates?
- Can you provide a written estimate?
- What are your payment expectations?
- What are your specific skills?
Take your time to make an intelligent, final decision.
After you have completed your research and received estimates from several plumbers, it’s time to make your decision. Choose a plumber who you feel confident will provide the best sewer or drain service and who has the necessary credentials and insurance to tackle your job. It’s essential that the plumber you hire not only complete the work to your satisfaction, but they should also be someone you trust.
The Best Plumbing Services & Qualifications
Hiring a random plumber to handle your plumbing needs is a step toward failure. For example, suppose the plumber makes mistakes that result in leaking pipes, water dripping within your home’s walls, or freezing water lines. This is why you must get licensed plumbing contractors.
Usually, you can find these professionals in a plumbing company. But before you proceed, always confirm the skills and qualifications of the plumber.
An excellent professional plumber typically has the following qualifications:
- Education: Plumbers usually have a high school diploma or equivalent experience. Some states require plumbers to complete a formal apprenticeship program or attend a trade or technical school to obtain certification.
- Licensing: In most states, a good plumber must be licensed, which usually involves passing a written license examination and a practical skills test. Plumbers must also meet continuing education requirements in some states to maintain their professional licenses. In some cases, they may also need an apprentice identification card.
- Experience: Plumbers gain practical experience through on-hand training, often as apprentices to experienced plumbers. Many plumbers start their businesses or work for plumbing contractors after gaining several years of experience.
- Knowledge of codes and standards: Professional plumbers must thoroughly understand local, state, and national plumbing codes and standards. These codes include plumbing systems, water treatment, and waste management.
- Technical skills: The best plumbers must have various technical skills, including installing, repairing, and maintaining plumbing systems. Also, they need to know how to diagnose problems and use tools and equipment safely and effectively.
- Communication and interpersonal skills: Plumbers must work well in a team environment. That means having the interpersonal skills to articulate what’s needed with their customers to get the job done right. A good plumber must also have the ability to communicate effectively with coworkers and supervisors.
- Problem-solving skills: Plumbers must know how to troubleshoot and solve problems quickly and efficiently and think critically to make sound decisions.
Generally, a professional plumber has received formal training, passed required licensing exams, and gained practical experience. Additionally, they must possess a strong understanding of plumbing codes and standards.
Hiring a Plumber: Pricing Essentials
Hiring a plumber in Southeastern Connecticut can be costly. As a benchmark, the current average salary for a plumber in Southeastern Connecticut is $34.66 per hour. However, plumbing costs in your specific area will depend on the type of repair work needed, the water, sewer, or drain service you may require, and the plumber’s experience level.
Generally, the rates range from $35 to $430 per hour. So the cost of plumbing services and repair can vary greatly. As for the plumbers’ hourly rates, you can hire apprentices between $45 and $90 per hour, journeymen between $70 and $120 per hour, and master plumbers between $90 and $200 per hour.
However, getting an estimate from a few plumbers is better for finding the best price point for your pipe, drain, heating, or sewer line repair and service work, especially when the job is complex.
Make Your Final Decision
Finding the best plumber in southeastern Connecticut requires due diligence and research. It’s advisable to start by asking for referrals from family, friends, and neighbors. You also want to check the plumber’s credentials, including their license, insurance, and certifications.
Reading online customer reviews and Googling plumber ratings can also provide valuable insights into the quality of their services. Ultimately, the best plumber will be professional, experienced, and reliable—and be able to provide you with quality services at a fair price.
Check out our TMG Companies blog archive to learn more helpful plumbing tips. We can also help you understand the process of working with insurance companies and guide you through the claims process!
