Finding a Reliable Plumber For Your Home

We all need the services of a plumber at some time, whether it’s for advice about updating the central heating system, a clogged drain, or an emergency leak that needs attending to. However, finding someone reliable that doesn't cost the earth, is in your locality, and isn't already booked up well in advance isn't always the easiest of tasks!

It’s advisable to have a list of service providers next to the phone in the case of an emergency, of course we aren't all as organised in real life and generally when we need a plumber we end up calling out the first one who picks up the phone. Ask around friends for a name as they might have past experiences with a particular company or individual and be able to offer advice and references.

A quick search online will provide you with a list of plumbing companies in your area, and most large ones will have websites where you can read through testimonials to see what previous customers say about the service they received. Small firms won’t always have a website but there are still various online sites whereby you can read reviews about them and check they have a good reputation before booking an appointment or calling them out in an emergency. They might also have a Facebook page where you can see how they respond to queries and interact with their clients.  

Every plumber has to be licensed as well as be fully insured so clients are protected in case something drastic happens, so always check their qualifications before letting them work on your property. Find out how long they have been in operation, if the business is a new one it might be more risky to employ their services as their reputation is harder to find out about.

Trades like these generally charge by the hour so once you have found a few companies in your district the next question to ask is what the hourly rate is. Some will start charging from the minute they leave their depot so find out exactly what their price includes and how long they expect the job to last, and they should be able to give you an idea of cost from past experience.

It’s worth checking out 3 or 4 businesses to compare prices and get a feel of how professional they are. Anyone who doesn't reply to your email or phone call within 24 hours should be disregarded; prompt replies are more likely to mean a prompt and good service. Any service that’s slow to respond, is vague about what time they will arrive, or doesn't tell you exactly what the work will involve should be avoided. There are plenty of first-class plumbing companies around that will make appointments, won’t let you do all the chasing, and pride themselves on a high level of customer satisfaction.

Finally, ask them if they offer a guarantee for work undertaken, and how long it lasts. If they have fitted a boiler for instance the guarantee could be as long as 7 years or so, whilst the replacing of a broken part will be much less. These are all questions you should ask of most services if you want the very best there is.

Minimise The Need For An Emergency Plumber

Calling out a plumber for an emergency isn’t going to be cheap and they start from around the £45 mark, and that’s generally during working hours, and just the call-out fee! This fee should include the hours labour too but you might have to pay for any parts that need replacing.

Charges go even higher if you have a real emergency on your hands and need a plumber in the middle of the night or on a Sunday. Mostly they charge by the hour, so if they are at your home for 30 minutes or 1 hour they calculate is as 1 hour due to the time it takes them to travel to your location, and the effort they have put in.

Examples of an emergency might be where a situation is either dangerous if it’s not attended to, or there is a burst pipe that can’t be managed. If you do have an emergency on a weekend but consider it can wait until Monday then this will save you some money. However, never leave a situation if it is dangerous simply because you want to save some pennies as this could just lead to a bigger problem and more expense.

Plumbers are human too and aren’t keen to present you with a hefty bill, but if you are going to call them out at anti-social hours then they have to make it worth their while to come. If the problem can be dealt with quickly, the odds are they will secure it and then return in normal working hours to fix it properly thus saving you money.

The best way to avoid call-out charges of course is to ensure all your plumbing systems and gas appliances are well-maintained regularly. Most companies offer a payment plan for a complete household check on pipes, drains, gas appliances, radiators and more where you pay a every month.

These payment plans are really helpful if you are a homeowner or a landlord as there are regulations whereby you have to produce a safety certificate otherwise your building insurance could be invalid, and if anything happens with the gas appliances to your tenants you will be held responsible.

Be aware that call-out charges are only applicable if you have a problem that needs dealing with. If you want a new bathroom radiator fitted perhaps or require a gas safety certificate for your insurance then you should be able to call and get a written quote or estimate.

One of the most basic tips that will help avoid having to call an emergency plumber includes knowing where the water shut-off valve is located. It’s shocking how many people don’t know this, and if there was a burst pipe wouldn’t be able to stop the water quickly which could result in a lot of damage and cost!

Follow these simple tips and consider taking out a payment plan and the chances you have to call upon the emergency services of a plumber are going to be very slight.

Thinking Of A Career In Plumbing?

Getting a trade is a wise idea as there is always going to be a demand for builders, plumbers, electricians and bricklayers. If you are practical, like to work things out logically, enjoy learning new things, are good with your hands and don’t mind getting dirty now and then, this might just be the perfect job for you.

Choosing plumbing as a career could see you fixing leaks, unblocking drains, installing a bathroom heating system or fitting a waste disposal unit. Any plumber will tell you that there is plenty of work available, sometimes there’s too much to cope with! You can choose to go it alone once you've finished your apprenticeship and got some experience under your belt, or join an established firm.

Plumbing is a skilled trade that involves on-the-job training along with a certain number of hours at a community college; generally it’s a 4 day work week and 1 day studying. Apprenticeships are around 3 to 4 years and trainees are given a salary that goes up once they qualify. Once you are qualified the money is good, and gets better the more experience you have, and the job diverse and interesting.

You could be unblocking a drain, fitting a central heating system or shower, fixing a washing machine, overhauling air-conditioning and ventilation units, or installing storm-proof materials. There is plenty more involved in a plumbing career, it all depends on your particular interests.

For this kind of work you have to be prepared to get dirty, be strong, motivated, and think logically to solve a problem. You may be asked to a small flat on the 10th floor of a block of flats to fix a leaking tap, or find yourself in a fancy hotel in the penthouse suite fitting a shower head! Remember too that you will be working with people from all walks of life, including clients and business colleagues, and so people skills are very important with this kind of job.

In the UK there is always a shortage of skilled plumbers and there will be plenty of opportunity for those willing to train and become proficient at this trade. To become a plumber you have to be in possession of a level 2 or 3 qualification in order to get a license to work, and you’ll also need to be covered by insurance. Opportunities in plumbing exist in government agencies and private companies, or you could become self-employed. Some plumbers specialise in certain areas for the domestic, industrial or commercial sectors and can then demand higher fees for their services.

Plumbers don’t generally work a 9-5 Monday-Friday week, they often are called out for emergencies which could be during the night or on a weekend or Sunday, so you have to expect to be on call a majority of the time particularly if you decide to go it alone.

You can find out more information on the web to get an idea of qualifications and courses, salaries and career advice.

Prepare Your Home Ready for The Winter Months

Although most people realise it’s necessary to check their drainage, plumbing and heating systems before the cold winter months, there are still plenty of homeowners who do absolutely nothing – and end up paying out a lot of money because of this relaxed attitude.

Heating bills are liable to double in the winter as a lot of the heat escapes through the attic, windows or doors. There are certain things you can do to make the house a cosier place during the cold spell which can reduce your bills, and plenty of other jobs you should also do to ensure you don’t get landed with a hefty repair bill from weather damage that could have been avoided if you had planned and prepared in advance.

Sufficient insulation is important and as most of the heat escapes through the roof the attic particularly should be well insulated. It’s easy enough to do yourself if preferred, just go to your nearest DIY store and buy some Fiberglass insulation, it comes in rolls that you simply unfold and lay down on the floor of the attic and acts as a protective blanket keeping the heat where it should be, inside the house.

Check for and seal any cracks visible around the insides and outsides of the window frames and doors to reduce drafts, extra thick curtains are always a good way to keep a room warm too once they’re closed at night.

Before the bad weather really starts take a look at the rain gutters to check for possible blockages, especially if there are trees around the property that may have dropped leaves in the autumn and be clogging the drains up. These can create barriers to the water flow resulting in heavy water streams down the side of your house and possibly into the foundations.

One big problem in the winter that affects many is water freezing in the pipes when the temperature reaches freezing point, and this in turn can cause the pipes to crack and burst. A burst pipe in the attic or basement can cause a lot of damage and create a lot of work for you too. If you notice the water pressure is low in the house then this is a good sign of pipes freezing. It’s advisable to allow a small trickle of water to flow from the tap during the night time as this movement will prevent the water from freezing.

Wrap up the pipes that are located in cold places, this includes the attic and any crawl spaces underneath the house, even those in the garage. There are a few options available for this, such as foam insulation and heat tape, again easily purchased from a DIY shop, or you can always call a plumbing company to come and do the preparations for you.

Keep the central heating on as much as possible, many people make the mistake of turning it off completely when away on holiday and then return to find the pipes have burst. The heating will keep the house warm as well as help the pipes from freezing.

If you don’t prepare these essential things then the odds are that you’ll have to call out a plumber to deal with an emergency that could have been so easily avoided.