If you own a home, you will need to hire a plumber to repair, maintain or make improvements to your plumbing system multiple times over the years. It’s important that you have a qualified and reputable plumber that you can rely on as these issues arise. Here are some tips for how to hire the right plumber:

Ask for referrals.

Ask people you trust, like your family and friends, if they can recommend the best plumbers in Calgary. If you have worked with other contractors or trades companies and trust them, ask them if they can recommended a company for you. Make a short list and start doing a little research on these companies online.

Interview the plumbers on your short list.

Contact each plumber and ask them a few questions. You can ask them about their experience, training and the types of projects they typically work on. Find out if they can do small plumbing repairs or are qualified for major plumbing installation projects. Are they a one-man show or will there be multiple people working on your project? Do they offer any guarantees or warranties on their work? Learn more about how to find a good plumber.

Ask to see a business license and proof of insurance.

You would be surprised how many ‘handymen’ offer plumbing services and operate without a business license. Ask to see both their licence, insurance and WCB coverage. If they don’t have those things, then walk away and call someone else. If you have a contractor working in your home without insurance, it puts you as the homeowner at risk. You will be held legally responsible for any damage or injury that happens on the jobsite.

Check references.

If you’re happy with one of the plumbers you’ve been speaking with, ask if they can provide contact information of a couple of previous customers. You can ask these references how their experience was working with the company, if they did good work and if they would hire them again. If a plumber refuses to give out some references, they are not worth hiring.

Get a detailed quote.

Most plumbers will give you an estimate based on an hourly rate and the amount of time they think the job will take. Ask them to include the cost of any materials, fees for building permits, cost of hiring additional trades for the work or other costs that might come up during the project. This will reduce or eliminate any nasty surprises when it’s time to pay the bill. Your estimate should also include a work schedule and estimated timeframe for the project.

Read more articles about plumbers.