In a sea of Atherton plumbing services, knowing which is the right one for you can be difficult. Asking the right questions can help you determine which Atherton plumbing services best fit your needs. Below are a few basic questions you should be asking your plumber before letting them into your home.

Are you licensed and insured?

This question may seem obvious, but it is also incredibly important. You do not want to hire an Atherton plumbing service that is unlicensed and uninsured. For one, in the state of California, all plumbing companies must be licensed. A license issued to a plumbing service proves that they meet the state’s requirements and have sufficient knowledge of regulations and standards. Licenses in California must be renewed every two years. Ask for their license number and check online to ensure it is up-to-date.

Insurance is equally important. You want to make sure that if an accident occurs in your home the plumbing company is insured to take care of it. The last thing you want is for your plumber to get injured in your home or property damage to occur and the company not be insured. Make sure that the company you hire will take responsibility if any of these things were to happen.

What are your rates? Are they hourly or by a project?

The cost of plumbing problems can quickly add up. The last thing you want is to be slapped with an unexpectedly high bill and not understand where the fees are coming from. Find out before any project begins how the company charges. If they charge hourly, ask how long your project is expected to take so that you have a good estimate for the final charge. Initial quotes should always be free, and an experienced plumber should be able to accurately estimate their fee.

How much experience do you have? How long have you been in the business?

Experience goes a long way. The more experience the plumbing service you hire has, the more likely they’ll know what they’re doing. That isn’t to say that a young company won’t be good. Ask them about their experience, not just the number of years they’ve been working as a plumber, but what types of jobs they’ve done, what they specialize in, etc. Get to know your plumber and see if you think they’re a good fit for your plumbing needs.

What services do you provide? Do you offer 24-hour emergency services?

Plumbing is more than leaky pipes and backed-up drains. Plumbers can offer a wide array of services from repairs to remodeling. Find out what types of services your plumbing company offers and ask them what they specialize in. If you’re looking to remodel a bathroom, but the company you picked specializes in repairs, it may not be the best fit. The best-case scenario is you find a well-rounded plumbing company that offers a comprehensive range of services. This way you can continue to go back to the same company when different plumbing problems arise.

It’s also important to ask about 24-hour emergency services. Since plumbing problems can occur at any time of day or night, it’s important to have a plumbing service on hand that will come to your home in the middle of the night.

Performance Plumbing is a licensed and insured professional plumbing service in the Atherton area. We offer a wide range of services from repairs to maintenance to remodeling, as well as 24-hour emergency services. Contact us today to get your fast free estimate.