In this article…
- 4 Risks Of Not Hiring A Licensed Plumber
- Why You Should Hire A Reputable, Licensed Plumber
- Red Flags To Look Out For In A Plumbing Company
Whether your kitchen sink won’t drain, a leak has sprung from your second-story bathroom, or suspect there may be a leak underneath your home’s slab, you need an expert plumber to solve your problem.
Finding the right plumbing company to work with can be difficult (and sometimes, frustrating).
If your problem is small, it’s tempting to try a DIY fix or hire a neighborhood handyman to help. If the problem is extensive, you become overwhelmed by choice and struggle to find the right plumber for you.
Because there is no shortage of plumbers on the market, it can be tempting to go with the first person who knocks on your door. However, you must do your research before committing to one company, or one plumber, over another.
As a trusted Dallas and Fort Worth plumber, Jim’s Plumbing Now provides exceptional plumbing services from commercial plumbing to whole-home repiping to simple leak repairs.
Our team consists of experienced, licensed plumbers, many of whom have been in the industry for decades.
While we’d love to earn your business, we aren’t here to convince you to work with us. Sometimes, we aren’t the right plumber for everyone, and we understand that.
We simply want to educate you on all you need to know about finding the right plumber who can meet your needs and provide you with high-quality products and services. One of the most important components of this is working with a licensed plumber.
This article will explain why you need to hire a licensed plumber, including four major risks of not working with a licensed plumber, and red flags to watch out for in a plumbing company.
4 Risks Of Not Hiring A Licensed Plumber
When searching for the right products and services for your home, considering both the benefits and potential risks each option poses is important.
Because your home’s plumbing is an integral part of its functionality, it’s crucial that you find a reputable, licensed plumbing company to work with.
If not, you risk running into these four common problems.
1. You don’t know what type of products or services you’re receiving
The first major risk of not hiring a licensed plumber is not knowing the quality or type of products and services you receive.
When you work with a trusting, licensed plumber, they use high-quality, certified materials and tools for all plumbing repairs. Many of these tools and materials are not accessible to non-licensed plumbers.
This means when a handyman or “Chuck-in-a Truck” works on your plumbing, they most likely do not have the same professional tools as a licensed, professional plumber.
If you choose to work with an unlicensed plumber, you have no idea what quality of products, installation, and workmanship you are getting. This can lead to your plumbing failing sooner than expected, and you will have to pay more money in the future to get it fixed the right way.
2. You don’t have a warranty
The second risk of working with an unlicensed plumber is not knowing what type of warranty (if any) you will receive for the products and the labor involved in your plumbing repair.
The manufacturer’s warranty backs certified plumbing products, and when installed by licensed plumbers, you also have a labor warranty that backs the plumber’s work in case of any workmanship issues or future repairs needed.
If you work with an unlicensed plumber, you may receive a standard manufacturer warranty for the parts used, but most likely no labor warranty. This means if anything goes wrong with any product, it’s up to you to file a warranty claim and pay for the labor to replace or repair the part.
Working with a licensed, established plumbing company with a high-quality parts and labor warranty ensures your plumbing is repaired properly, and if anything goes wrong, they will be there to fix it.
3. You risk getting ripped off
Perhaps one of the biggest risks of working with an unlicensed plumber is the risk of getting ripped off.
One tactic shady plumbers and contractors will use is going door to door to promote their services. They’ll present their information, provide you with a spiel, and probably present an offer that seems too good to be true.
If you decide to call them back to hire them, they may ask for a down payment on the spot with the promise to come back and start the job. Then, once they get your money, you’ll never see or hear from them again.
While a cheaper price may be attractive, it’s important to remember the quality of the products and services you receive. The last thing you want is to get ripped off by an unlicensed plumber.
4. You may end up spending more money in the long run
Getting ripped off by an unlicensed plumber can happen in more ways than one.
Having a company steal your money with absolutely nothing to show for it is one way. The other way is getting ripped off by the terrible quality of products and installation.
Unfortunately, most of us have been ripped off before. We’ve bought a cheap product or fallen for an infomercial that offers an incredible product for little spend. Of course, this product turns out to be a total flop, and even if you didn’t spend too much money on it, it’s still wasted dollars.
If you work with an unlicensed plumber, there is a high chance you will need a professional plumber to come out and repair the same plumbing soon.
If any damage was caused by the unlicensed plumber, then the total cost of repair will be higher than if you worked with a licensed professional in the first place.
This is why finding a trustworthy, reputable plumber to work with is important. Although it may be more expensive up front, it ensures you receive quality work that will last and protect your plumbing.
Why You Should Hire A Reputable, Licensed Plumber
Now that you know the four major risks of working with an unlicensed plumber and how they can negatively affect your home’s plumbing, you understand what problems come with choosing a cheaper plumber over a professional, licensed plumbing company.
One of the largest appeals of working with an unlicensed or lesser-known plumbing company is the cost. These plumbers cost less because of the cheaper quality of their work, products, warranty, and overall outcome of your plumbing.
Working with a high-quality, licensed, reputable local plumber will ensure your plumbing is repaired with quality products and professional workmanship so it lasts decades in your home.
Remember, working with high-quality plumbers is more expensive than unlicensed, smaller companies. But, cost and quality have a direct relationship.
If you want to repair your plumbing with products and services that will last, it will cost more. However, it will save you in the long run by avoiding repairing the same plumbing in your home over and over due to low-quality workmanship in the first place.
Looking for a trusted DFW plumber for your home? Contact Jim’s Plumbing Now for all your plumbing needs!
Red Flags To Look Out For In A Plumbing Company
Understanding why you should hire a licensed plumbing company and the risks that come with is only one part of finding the right company for you.
Along with identifying the right qualities to look for in a trustworthy plumbing company, you also want to know what red flags to spot so you can avoid them.
Check out this article that outlines 9 red flags to watch out for in a shady plumbing company, from their licenses, insurance, how they answer your question, and more. Then, you’ll be equipped with the right knowledge to find a high-quality plumber and avoid getting ripped off by a shady one.