Do I need an emergency plumber?
When it comes to owning your home there is always the nightmare waiting to happen of an emergency plumbing disaster due to how much of the pipework is out of sight and not visible. Plumbing emergencies range from the crisis of a blocked toilet that will not flush without overflowing, a leak coming from under the bath or shower tray to full blown burst pipework, which has the potential to bring down the ceiling! Other pipes that might block could be outside drains causing a back-up of drainage issues or a kitchen sink waste pipe that is also connected to the washing machine. Any sign of water, leaking or not draining, can mean a emergency plumber is required A.S.A.P. as it has the potential to cause major damage to your property as well as the neighbouring property.
Tips on how not to be taken advantage of by a plumber in a time of panic
Even though you desperately need an emergency plumber to attend quickly to your home make sure that any agreeable quotes you have received, you have first checked to see if the plumber is suitable for the job at hand by checking they are qualified. They should have an NVQ or City and Guilds qualifications, even better if they are a registered member of the IPHE (Institute of plumbing and Heating Engineering). Once you have found a qualified plumber to quote you, you need to take a moment to Google them online and see what reviews previous customers have left them on non-biased review platforms.
Agree a call-out charge before the emergency plumber comes to your home, as some plumbers might hike up the call out fee once they arrive and notice a fancy car parked on the drive. Make sure the agreement before the plumber arrives is to at least make the area safe and not leave you with the water leak or the overflowing toilet, even if the breakdown cannot be repaired on the same visit due to parts being needed.
Provide a detailed description of the emergency, no matter how rushed you are feeling in the moment because this will give the plumber the chance to arrive as organised and ready for the situation as possible. Let the plumber know the location of your mains stopcock and explain if you have already switched off the water to limit any water damage. While waiting for the plumber to arrive, clear away any furniture from the room needing to be worked in or if access is needed in a cupboard, clear out the shelves so that the plumber can immediately work in the problem area.
Emergency plumbers should arrive with a certain amount of parts on them for common fixes and may charge a higher mark-up fee on the product to cover their time and effort sourcing and outlaying the cash on the products for your convenience. Do not allow yourself to be talked into a product that you do not want fitted due to cost or quality of the product. You can always have the plumber just stop the water damage and buy you some time to source a product of your choosing and then they can return at a later date (bear in mind this will bring about another call out charge) to fit the product.
If you live in a parking restricted area, arrange for a permit or have your parking app ready to use before they arrive so that no time is wasted on securing the plumbers van. Once the work has been completed, make sure you are left with a written invoice detailing any work carried out and parts changed so that if you do claim off your home insurance you have proof of the emergency work as well as contact details written down in case you need to get hold of the plumber at a later stage. This way if there is a guarantee on the parts you have proof of the repair job.
Finding a emergency plumber to get me out of my jam
It is hard to stay calm in an emergency and more terrifying if you do not have a trusted plumber to call and help you in your time of need. HaMuch.com takes the panic out of the situation by making it easy and quick to find an affordable and qualified plumber near you, that can visit you quickly in an emergency.