Something as simple as a leak dripping from a pipe fitting can end up costing you thousands of dollars and throw your household into disarray for weeks. This is just one of many reasons why it’s so important to hire a highly qualified, licensed and insured plumber. Here are few tips to help you get started.

Find out If They’re Licensed and Insured

The majority of states require that plumbers are licensed. If your state doesn’t require licensing, take the time to determine if any complaints have been filed against the plumbers you’re considering hiring. You can check the Arizona Register of Contractors as well as the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Plumbers need to be insured and in some cases, they’ll also need to be bonded. Insurance is crucial because it’ll protect both you and the plumber in the event of an accident or injury.

Ask for a Referral

A great place to start when it comes to hiring a qualified valley plumbing service is to ask friends, neighbors and family members for a referral. Good, highly qualified plumbers understand the power of referrals. They understand that the best way to build their client base is by having their satisfied clients refer them, so they focus on quality when fixing the problem area.

Check out Online Reviews

Use Yelp or Google and type the words: valley plumbing service reviews to find plumbing services in the valley. Then read through as many as you can find, both positive and negative, and move on from there. Take your time and consider whether or not the reviews are legitimate. Sometimes reviews are from friends and family or their competitors.

Know How Long They’ve Been in Business

Find out how long the plumber has been in business. In most cases, a bigger, well-known company will have plumbers working for them that have years of experience. It’s a good sign if the valley plumbing service you’re considering has been in business for at least a few years because it usually means that they’ll have a proven track record of high-quality work.

Get References

Plumbers who have been in business for a while should be able to provide you with references. Don’t rely on their brochure of testimonials. Ask for people that you can talk to. If they can’t provide you with references, consider looking elsewhere.

Get the Estimate in Writing

Experienced plumbers will have a good idea of what they need to do once they assess your plumbing problem. They may even be able to diagnose the problem over the phone and give you an accurate estimate, with the exception of any major unknown issues that they find as they work on the problem. You should get at least two ore three estimates before you decide on a plumber, and be leery of the ones that give you low ball estimates. Plumber’s whose estimates are significantly lower than others will probably end up cutting corners or use inferior parts.

Ask About a Warranty

Quality plumbers will guarantee their work, along with the parts. In many cases, warranties can cover the plumbing work for up to a year. If the plumber you’re considering refuses to guarantee their work, move on to the next.

Choosing a plumber requires more than picking the first one in the phone book or search engine results. Plumbers are responsible for dealing with many of the most important aspects of the home, including the water heater, faucets, and toilets. Failure to find the right valley plumbing service will more than like result in costly and damaging repairs down the road.