How to Find a Good Plumber in Utah
Indoor plumbing is one of the greatest home conveniences, and when it stops working, things quickly get uncomfortable. You need a plumber you can trust both for emergencies and preventative maintenance alike.
Don’t wait until you need a plumber to start looking. Instead, be proactive and find your perfect plumber through dedicated research. Discover how to find a good plumber in Utah and the red flags you should avoid as you shop around.
Why Choosing the Right Plumber Matters
The first lesson on how to find a good plumber in your area is that you shouldn’t choose the first plumber you find. A plumber is a trusted partner in keeping your home or building running smoothly. You need someone you know can get the job done both in the present and the future (so you don’t try to solve the problem yourself).
Here are just a few consequences of choosing the wrong plumber:
Plumbing system damage: If your plumber doesn’t have the right skills, you’ll find that they do more damage than repairs. Not only will that delay your plumbing getting fixed, but it may require you to spend more money to fix what they damaged.
House damage: Water can do serious damage to your home. It can flood basements, break ceilings, and cause mold growth. One small issue can quickly become a catastrophe in the wrong hands.
Long waits: Often, unprofessional plumbers don’t have enough people to handle all their incoming customer calls. This means that they will be unavailable for emergencies, and even standard calls can lead to long waiting times.
Unfair pricing: Without proper research, you won’t know what plumbing service pricing should be. This leaves you open to getting taken advantage of and paying more than you should.
Poor service: An unprofessional plumber can be rude to you and your home. They may not explain what they are doing, offer multiple solutions to a problem, or leave your home a mess when they are done.
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How to Find a Good Local Plumber: Green Flags to Look For
If you want to learn how to find a good plumber in Utah, here are seven key aspects you should keep your eye out for.
1. Transparent Pricing
High-quality plumbers understand everyone has a budget they follow and are willing to provide an estimate for how much their service will cost you. This should be for both standard and emergency services.
Estimates can serve as a good starting point for the project budget, but it’s important to remember that they are only estimates. If additional issues arise while the plumber is fixing the main issue, the price may be higher than the initial estimate.
2. Positive Local Customer Reviews
The best way to find a good plumber is to hear from their previous customers. Thanks to the plumber’s personal website, as well as third-party review sites, you can get an idea of what to expect from their service.
While online reviews can be extremely helpful, remember to treat reviews with a healthy amount of skepticism. Rather than trusting a single review to tell you everything about the plumber, read multiple reviews. This will give you a more realistic view of the plumber.
3. Portfolio of Previous Work
Good plumbers are proud to show off their best work. Inspecting a plumber’s portfolio can give you a good idea of what to expect from them. A common mistake some people make is being unsatisfied with a plumber’s portfolio and then expecting it to be different when the plumber comes to your home.
4. They have State License, Warranties, and Guarantees
Plumbers are a closely regulated field. Utah requires plumbing licensing that includes requirements and exams. A plumber with state licensure is a good starting point to ensure they know how to do their job.
You should also inquire about their company guarantees. Do they offer easy returns if the work is unsatisfactory? What about a cleanliness guarantee, so you know you can trust your home with them?
What happens if they install plumbing equipment that breaks down within a month? Do they have warranties that cover this? What about within a year?
The more guarantees and warranties a plumber has, the more confidence they show in their work. After all, why would they want to give you money back for no reason?
5. They Offer Specializations
Residential plumbing is fairly universal, but some plumbers have specialties within residential plumbing. Finding a specialist who shares a specialty with your plumbing needs is an excellent way to find a good plumber.
Search for certificates in pipefitting, gas line work, sewer line work, welding, etc., so you know you’ll receive top-quality service.
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6. They Have Emergency Availability
Life doesn’t follow a schedule, and neither do plumbing problems. You want a plumber who can come when emergencies occur, usually outside of standard business hours. Ask if they have emergency plumbing services and what the costs tend to be.
If you have a plumbing emergency, call YES!
7. Courteous, Professional Customer Service
Access how your potential plumbers act around you. Was the person who answered the phone or responded to your email polite, or did they seem bored? When someone arrives at your home, do they greet you with a smile?
How they interact with you before being hired will give you a glimpse into how they will treat you once you become a customer. You want someone who is kind, patient, and willing to discuss things with you before making any changes to your plumbing during repairs.
Sign up for our Pro Service Plan for additional high-quality services.
How to Find a Good Plumber in My Area: Red Flags to Avoid
When you’re shopping around for a good plumber, it’s important to know not just the good things, but the bad things as well. Here are seven red flags that should make you automatically question the plumber you’re working with.
1. No Customer Reviews
It’s natural for new plumbers not to have many reviews, but it should be a giant red flag if an established plumber has no online customer reviews. Generally, an experienced plumber with no customer reviews is a sign that they are trying to cover up their history and prevent customers from sharing their experiences with others.
2. No License, Insurance, or Certifications
If your plumber doesn’t openly share that they are licensed and insured, ask them directly about it. If they say they are not licensed or insured, or they try to avoid the question, you are not dealing with a good plumber.
Additionally, if a potential plumber has a licence and insurance but no further certifications, they probably aren’t the right plumber for you. If you have a problem that requires specialty work, you may have to hire an additional plumbing company because your usual plumber can’t handle more complex work.
3. They Don’t Have the Right Tools for the Job
A good plumber has the tools they need to perform common maintenance and installation jobs. The state of their tools also says a lot about their professionalism and attention to detail, which will be reflected in their work.
When interviewing potential plumbers, if you notice that their tools are pretty damaged or dirty, that can be a sign of a lack of care. If they are rough with their tools, like throwing them back into their vehicle, that can also be a sign of how they’ll work on your plumbing system. Good plumbers know that clean, professional tools help make the work go faster.
4. Offering Blind Estimates
Do you ever wonder why it’s hard to find a specific price range for a plumber in your area? It’s because it truly depends on the project. A good plumber can’t give you a realistic estimate without seeing what they are working on.
While it is common to get quick over-the-phone estimates, they are very broad and highly inaccurate because they don’t speak to your unique needs.
Plumbers who only deal with blind estimates and refuse to come to your home for an in-person estimate should be avoided. They will either always overcharge you or add surprise fees to their bill—taking you by surprise.
5. Extra Workers
For most residential jobs, there is no need for a team of plumbers to perform the job. If you are giving a plumber a test run and they show up with a whole team for a drain cleaning, something is wrong.
More often than not, extra workers will only increase the price of the plumber without actually providing any meaningful assistance.
6. Oddly Low Costs
Bad plumbers will use low-quality materials, rush through the job, and provide extremely low estimates. Consumers who don’t shop around or do their research will see the final price tag and go with that plumber. However, even though they think they’ll save some money, they will end up paying more due to low-quality work and even lower-quality materials.
7. Unprofessional Behavior
Good plumbers know that their business is more than just plumbing, it’s also how they interact and deal with their customers. If a plumber is pushy or rude, or talks down to you when you have questions, it’s time to find a better plumber.
Additionally, how they dress and act at your home while working says a lot about their quality of work.
What Do Most Plumbers Charge Per Hour?
As mentioned before, the cost per hour of a plumber can change depending on the job, the plumber's experience, the materials they are working with, and your location.
The more specialized the job is, or the more experience, training, and knowledge a plumber has, the higher the cost will typically be.
While other plumbers may charge per hour, YES! offers upfront and straightforward (flat-rate) pricing. The benefit of flat-rate pricing is that the cost will remain the same even if it takes longer than expected to complete the job. That way, customers do not need to worry about watching the clock as their repair is being completed.
We also understand that sometimes plumbing repairs can be out of budget, but are needed immediately. We offer financing options and special coupons for our customers because we want all of them to be comfortable in their homes.
Call YES! for a free estimate for our service.
Don’t Choose Just Any Utah Plumber, Choose the Best
If you’re still struggling to find the right plumber, start with YES! We provide award-winning service throughout Utah. From small repairs to large installations, we’re prepared to help you resolve any issue you have.
We want to hear from you about your next project. Get in touch with us and schedule your next service with YES! today.