Don’t flush money down the drain
Ugh! It’s so frustrating when you start hearing your toilet gurgle, have no hot water for your shower, or discover your kitchen sink is clogged. Unless you already have a reputable plumber, you’re at the mercy of one you don’t know. Before you decide on a plumber, here’s how two licenced plumbers say you can flush out the lies from the truth.
There’s nothing to see here
Even if you have no working knowledge of the plumbing system in your home, a plumber should show you evidence of the problem. “If your plumber is making recommendations without physically showing you proof of a problem, they may be using dishonest tacts,” says Max Rose, owner of Four Seasons Plumbing. This includes the hard-to-access places like the attic or crawl space; a plumber should show you pictures if you can’t see for yourself. “If the plumber gives you the run-around, get a second opinion from a reputable plumber in your area,” advises Rose.
You need a new hot water heater
You never realise how much you take hot water for granted until you step into a cold shower. A fast fix is essential, but if your plumber doesn’t come up with repair options for a water heater that has no visible leaks, give the plumber the cold shoulder and get a second opinion. “There are some rare cases where a water heater might have some serious issues apart from leaks and cannot be repaired, but 99 percent of the time you should expect a plumber to give you both repair and replacement options, as well as inform you of the manufactured date and life expectancy of the particular unit,” says Rose.