How to Choose a Plumber: Questions That Matter Before You Hire

Check the license type

Colorado's DPO licensing division lists license types for plumbers, including Residential Plumber, Journeyworker Plumber and Master Plumber. The state also requires continuing education each year. You can look up a license online before you hire. Ask for the license number of the person responsible for the work, and verify it. A company can carry licenses and still send an unlicensed helper, so ask who will be on site.

Permits and inspections

Many jobs need a permit. The City of Brighton's permit page allows urgent repairs to water heaters, heating systems and water supply or sewer service to begin before a permit is issued, with the application due the next business day. Ask any plumber how permits are handled.

A plumber who says permits are not needed for a job that clearly needs one is a red flag. So is one who asks you to pull the permit in your name for work they perform.

Questions to ask on the phone

• Are you licensed, and what is the license number?
• Who will come to my house?
• How do you price the job, and when do I get a written quote?
• Can you handle the permit?
• What does the warranty cover?
• What happens if you find something unexpected?
• How soon can you come, and how long will it take?

Short, direct answers are a good sign. Evasive ones are not.

Match the plumber to the job

Not every plumber does every job. A drain specialist may not do water heaters. A repair-focused company may not do a full repipe. Ask whether the work you need is routine for them. For a leak that nobody can find, ask about diagnostic tools. See leak detection. For sewer problems, ask whether they offer camera inspection and repair, as on the sewer line repair page. For a planned water heater swap, ask about venting, sizing and permits, as covered on the water heater replacement page.

Beware of pricing games

A low advertised fee may cover only a visit. The real price comes after. Ask what the first fee includes and whether it is credited to the repair. Ask for the repair price before work starts. Be careful with after-hours work. A real urgent need justifies a higher price, but you can still ask for the total before the plumber starts. A fair plumber does not mind.

Keep a short file on every job

Save the quote, the invoice, the permit number and the name of the person who did the work. Photograph the finished repair before walls close. If a problem returns or you sell the house, that file answers questions quickly. Note the date of each repair on a calendar. Many items, such as water heaters and sump pumps, benefit from a yearly check, and a calendar entry keeps it from slipping.

Reading reviews without being fooled

Reviews help when you read them for detail. Look for specific descriptions of the problem, the cause and how the company explained it. Generic praise tells you little. Also read how the company replies to complaints. A handful of reviews is not a pattern. Look at timing, spread and whether the same details repeat. If a review sounds like an advertisement, treat it as one.

Use reviews to build questions, not to make the decision. The phone call tells you more than a star rating.

Urgent calls and the urge to rush

When water is rising, speed matters, but the first step is to shut the main valve. That buys time to ask two or three questions. Ask about arrival time, the license and how the price will be set. A reputable company explains how a quote works even at night. If someone refuses to say anything until you sign, call another. Stopping the water yourself gives you room to choose.

Comparing two plumbers fairly

When you have two quotes, put them side by side and mark every line that appears in one but not the other. A missing line is either an exclusion or an add-on waiting to appear. Ask each plumber which one it is.

Compare the scope in plain words first, then the price. Does each quote name the part, the labor, the permit and the cleanup? Does either one leave out the haul-away of the old equipment? A lower total that omits two of those items is often the higher bill in the end.

Then compare how each plumber communicates. The one who explains the cause, shows you the failed part and describes the options is giving you information to decide with. The one who rushes you toward a single answer is not. For a repair that cannot wait, you can still ask for the scope in writing. For example, on a failing tank, ask for both a repair figure and a replacement figure so you can see where the line falls.

After the job

1. Walk through the workAsk the plumber to show you what was done.
2. Test the fixturesRun water and check for leaks.
3. Get the paperworkInvoice, warranty terms and permit number.
4. Ask about maintenanceWhat should you check and when?
5. Keep recordsFile everything with your house papers.

A call back after the job shows care. If something fails, call quickly and refer to the warranty.

Sources

Local facts on this page come from public documents.

• City of Brighton permit information
• Colorado plumbing licensing, Division of Professions and Occupations