You may want to hire a plumbing contractor if you are going to build a home from scratch or do a major remodeling job. If you know enough about plumbing you could do the work yourself, but it is very time consuming and frustrating if you are not skilled at it. If you do decide to seek the help of an expert, here are some tips to help you look for one.
1. Go to a home improvement store and ask for their list of preferred contractors. This is a good choice if you are planning to purchase the plumbing supplies from that store. The store management will usually have a number of plumbers that are available to work on your projects.
2. Go to a plumbers' union. If a plumbers' union has an office in your city, it might be convenient for you to go there for advice. They will be glad to supply you with names and phone numbers of plumbing businesses that are union-certified. This type of approval means that the plumbers have undergone extensive training and met strict requirements.
Nevertheless, in order to imbue civilization with sound principles and enliven it with the spirit of the gospel, it is not enough to be illumined with the gift of faith and enkindled with the desire of forwarding a good cause. For this end it is necessary to take an active part in the various organizations and influence them from within. And since our present age is one of outstanding scientific and technical progress and excellence, one will not be able to enter these organizations and work effectively from within unless he is scientifically competent, technically capable and skilled in the practice of his own profession.
—Pope John XXIII (1881–1963)
3. Check with city hall for plumbers who are certified. The best time to use this method is if you are living in a medium-sized town. In a small town, you would probably know all the plumbing contractors. In a big city like Sam Jose, the list of plumbing professionals might be overwhelming. However, in a medium-sized town, you would have a manageable-sized list to consider.
4. Pay attention to the advertising you see. You will probably see plumbing contractors advertising in the yellow pages, on TV, or even on the sides of their trucks. You can get some information from the ads, but mostly it will be a sales pitch. To find out if the contractor is reputable, check the better business bureau in your city for complaints.
5. Ask your friends and relatives. The people you know are a great resource for finding expert plumbing in San Jose or wherever they live. They might have had experiences of getting a bathroom re-plumbed or having their plumbing replaced and they will be able to tell you first-hand if the plumbing contractor came in on budget, on time, and whether the work was satisfactory.
We visualized her less as a woman at work than as a light widening as it brightened.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973)
6. Go with a national chain. There are some well-known names in plumbing contracting. The advantages are that you are usually dealing with plumbers who really know their business and are properly certified. You should be able to count on a big company to stand behind their work to because they have a reputation to uphold. The disadvantage is that you are one of many, many clients and you might not get the personal attention you desire.
When you are ready to find a plumbing professional, it may work best to try a variety of methods. As you check all the aspects of the plumber's credentials and reputation, you will learn more about which one will work best for you.
All Star Plumbing (http://goallstar.com/) provides some of the best plumbing in San Jose. Their fully loaded trucks, friendly workmen, and commitment to customer service make them an exceptional choice. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.