How to Spot a Cowboy Plumber
Plumbers are worth their weight in gold, however, there are some that aren’t worth much at all - they’re the cowboys. It takes years of skill and dedication to become a plumber, and in order to be a good one, you have to study the intricacies of how gas works and how to work with it. Learn about wet piping systems and decide whether they want to work with water only or work with gas, or both. There are fundamental skills which take years of learning, and most learn while on the job in some form of apprenticeship.
Once qualified, the best plumbers are the ones who are kind, honest and hard-working - and the majority of them are. Those who do good work have a thriving and profitable business, those who don’t prey on those who don’t know enough about it to make a quick profit. But how can you spot them?
Do your homework before you hire.
Even when the job you want doing is only small and relatively simple, don’t think it’s okay to just hire someone on the spot without doing your homework. This is a sure-fire way of hiring a cowboy who could turn a simple job into a living nightmare with a bigger cost to fix.
Are they saying they can start immediately and are they asking for cash upfront?
If a plumber comes to you in response to your word-of-mouth need for plumbing work and say they can start immediately, make sure you check them out. How long have they been doing this? What are their qualifications, who did they train with? If they ask for cash in advance for the whole amount, you should have alarm bells ringing in your head. Don’t do it, you may never see them again.
Ask for testimonials and ask to be put in contact with previous customers.
What do they think, how long did they take to do the job, did they finish on time and did they leave a mess? Ask whether they’re pleased with the service and whether they left more problems to deal with than they started out with.
Are they registered?
They should be registered on the Gas Safe Register if they’re working with gas. Ask them, and if they are you should be able to check they’re on the list by looking at the website here -https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/.
Quotes, deadlines and how long will it take?
Always ask for a quote and they should be also be able to provide a breakdown of what this entails. They should be able to tell you how long it’s going to take and give you a deadline of when it’ll be finished. It could be something relatively simple or it could be a bigger problem or you’re having a new bathroom fitted. Once you’re satisfied you’ve done all you can to find the right plumber, a trustworthy craftsman you can rely on, you shouldn’t have anything more to worry about.
Bryan Morris Plumbing & Heating – for the best Plumbers in West Lothian.
If you’re looking for a plumbing job to be carried out, then don’t look any further than Bryan Morris Plumbing & Heating. We’re a team of qualified and trained plumbers who are gas safe registered and always carry out an excellent job. Get in touch and we’ll talk you through your options and see how we can help you.