Most people wait until something breaks before calling a plumber. That's usually the worst time to shop around. A little research upfront saves a lot of hassle.
What to Look For
You want someone who shows up on time, drives a clean truck, and doesn't reek of smoke or booze at 8 a.m. Look for a local shop, not a national call center that dispatches whoever is closest. Check that they carry workers' comp and liability insurance — if one of them gets hurt in your basement, that's your problem without it. A decade in business usually means they've seen enough weird stuff to handle your job without panic.
Questions to Ask
Ask straight up: 'Do you charge by the hour or by the job?' Hourly can be fine for small fixes, but a flat quote for a replacement or install protects you from a slow worker. Ask if the quote includes parts, cleanup, and disposal of the old unit. Then ask: 'What happens if you find another problem mid-job?' A good one will call you before doing extra work and give you a price first. If they dodge that question, move on.
Red Flags
Cash-only demands are a bad sign — that often means no insurance and no accountability. Anyone who pressures you to sign something before they even look at the problem is selling, not fixing. Vague quotes with phrases like 'starting at' or 'as needed' are traps. If they badmouth every other company in town, they're probably insecure about their own work. And if they show up in an unmarked van, you're rolling dice.
How Ratings Help You Choose
Ratings matter, but not in a vacuum. A perfect five-star score with three reviews is worthless. Look for someone with at least fifty reviews and a solid four-star average. Read the one-star complaints — are they about high prices, or about shoddy work and no-shows? The latter tells you more than a glowing essay from someone's cousin. Filter for recent reviews, because a company that was great five years ago might be a mess today.
Stop guessing — compare local plumbers side by side on RatingsNearMe and see who your neighbors actually trust.