When you run into a plumbing issue in your home or business, we know your first thoughts are “I don’t have time to deal with this” or “How much is this going to cost?”. You may be considering fixing it yourself, hiring a handyman, or calling a plumbing company. Maybe you think fixing the issue yourself or hiring a handyman will save you money, and while this might be true, it could actually end up costing you more in the long run.
Below is a List of Reasons Why Hiring a Licensed Plumber May Be Better For You, and Your Wallet:
1. Long Term Solutions
Repairing a plumbing issue on your own or hiring a handyman can provide a temporary fix, but may end up leaving you with an unresolved or recurring issue. Often times, plumbing issues end up being more extensive than what it may seem at first. Licensed plumbers are trained to fully evaluate a plumbing issue and find the root cause. This means when you hire a licensed plumber, you are more likely to receive a long term fix. This will save you money in the long run because your plumbing issue will be fixed the first time you make a repair.
2. Extensive Hands on Training, Classroom Time, & State Exams
To become a licensed plumber, you must have at least 4,000 hours (about 2 years) experience working under a licensed plumber. You also have to have 24 hours of classroom training and pass the state licensing exam. At Options Plumbing, we have four plumbers that work in the field with 4, 5, 19, and 20 years of experience. When deciding which technician to send on each call, we consider the complexity of the issue and the plumber’s experience dealing with similar issues.
3. Every Plumbing Company is Overseen By A Master Plumber
Master plumbers must have 8 or more years of experience and pass an additional state licensing exam to prove the knowledge they have gained after 8 plus years of working in the field. To open and operate a legitimate plumbing company, you must employ a master plumber who can oversee complex jobs and answer any questions less-experienced plumbers may have. At Options Plumbing, our master plumber and owner is Don Hill. He has over 25 years experience as a plumber and is as knowledgeable and responsible as they come.
4. Licensed Plumbers Must Go Through Background Checks and Continued Education Courses
Each year, plumbers must take continued education courses that teach the most up to date procedures, codes, and legal information. This ensures that Licensed plumbers are up to date on the best quality standards. In Texas, plumbers must undergo background checks throughout their career that allow the State Plumbing Board and employers to examine a plumber’s criminal record and take any necessary actions. Some felonies, misdemeanors related to plumbing, and other crimes may result in a plumber being denied employment or their license being revoked.
5. Plumbing Companies Warranty Their Work
Most plumbing companies warranty installations and repairs for a set amount of time, depending on the service. For example, Options Plumbing warranties pipe repairs and faucet installations for a year. This means that if anything were to go wrong that falls on the fault of the technician or faulty supplies, the plumbing company would fix the issue with no extra cost to the customer. Plumbing companies are required to have insurance to cover accidents and unexpected repair costs. This most likely isn’t the case if you were to hire a handyman.
6. You Will Always Be Able to Contact a Company
During the process of working with a plumbing company, you will always have a phone number, email address, and/or physical address for the company. If you have any questions or concerns, you will have at least one direct way to contact the plumbing company and resolve any issues you may have. Established plumbing companies usually have a google business pages, a Facebook page, a Yelp page, a Next Door page, and/or website where you can leave honest reviews to help potential customers in the future pick a plumbing company that is right for them.
7. Going For a Quick, Cheap Fix May Cost You More in the Long Run
As mentioned in the introduction, fixing a plumbing issue yourself or hiring a handyman may seem like the cheaper and better option at first, but end up costing you more in the long run. Your own repairs and handyman repairs are not done by licensed professionals with years of experience and training, they are not warrantied, and you have no one to contact if the repair is not up to your standards. All of these reasons may result in you having to hire a licensed plumber anyways, and this is why Options Plumbing and the Texas State Board of Plumbing recommends always calling a licensed plumbing company when you are in need of plumbing installations or repairs.
