If you are a new resident in Big Bear, one thing you’d discover quickly is the number of technicians available to serve your needs. But while it might be easy to choose a provider randomly, we have curated some qualities to look out for to help you make an informed decision.
We also discuss various classifications of plumbers in the following sections. Read on to learn how to find the best plumbing company in Big Bear.
How to Find the Best Plumbing Company in Big Bear
Finding the best plumbing company in Big Bear probably means that you have a problem you need to fix. However, having a handy service provider before a problem occurs can save you the costs of fixing an emergency. Below are things to look out for when finding a plumbing company:
Licensing
This is one of the first questions to ask a prospective contractor. Plumbers are mandated to acquire some years of training and experience before they can qualify for certificates. They also have to pass a series of government tests to be licensed.
A licensed provider has an understanding of building laws and projects that might be inconsistent with them. Without a license, therefore, the contractor will be unable to gain permits for specific projects. Licensing also ensures that your plumber can perform the tasks required without compromising standards.
References and Credentials
References enable you to be more certain of your plumber’s qualifications. An experienced plumber will typically have between three to five references to present when required. Before signing a project off to a contractor, ensure that you verify these references yourself.
You might also want to look at their credentials. A plumber’s credentials help you to determine how invested in the job they are. Things such as membership in trade unions and relevant organizations can prove commitment to the task. It can also indicate updated knowledge on building best practices and techniques.
Subcontractor Licenses and Qualifications
That your original contractor is licensed does not imply that the same goes for everyone else. In this case, the contractor might hire other providers to do the work, making it essential to ask if the job will be done by the contractor themselves or other plumbers. Where it is the latter, it is best to look into their qualifications too. This enables you to get a fully professional project on your premises.
Service Charges
To avoid surprises, ask your contractor beforehand if they charge any fees for visiting your home. When plumbers drop by for an estimate, they often charge a non-negotiable fee for that visit whether they eventually take the job or not.
Transparent pricing is also a good way to determine whether you should hire a contractor or not. If they provide upfront quotes ahead of time, it may indicate openness throughout the project. You may, however, want to rely less on providers with hidden costs from scratch.
Travel Costs
The travel costs you incur depend on how distant or close your plumber is to you. When you call a service company, always inquire about their travel expenses to your location and from it. The closer the company is to your home, the lesser the price you are likely to get. Besides the costs, plumbing companies within your vicinity are more likely to be familiar with the building code of that area and deliver quality as a result.
Response Time
Plumbing leaks can quickly degenerate into large-scale problems in the home. If your service provider only responds when they are available or able to, you face the problem of unusually high repair costs. As such, it is best to contract with a provider who is available round the clock and can reach your home on time.
Specialty
Another thing you may want to look out for is the particular specialty of your plumber. Some plumbers perform better when they are tasked with repairs than they do with remodeling. Finding out what the contractor is better suited for will help with properly assigning jobs.
Costs of Plumbing Parts
Often, plumbers come to the scene with spare parts for plumbing problems. Issues may, however, arise where they do not have the parts required for your job. You may therefore want to ask if there are any costs for sourcing these parts.
Emergency Services
Some plumbing companies perform emergency services while others don’t. Emergency service providers are typically on call for 24 hours and may not offer regular services. Understanding the plumbing service terrain in your area will help you find contractors that are most suited to your work.
Guarantee
An additional tip for finding the best plumbing company in Big Bear is to check if it offers a guarantee for their work. Although manufacturers will have attached their warranties for problems that may arise, a reputable contractor can gain your confidence by adding a warranty. This means that they will fix any other issues that arise.
A company may also guarantee your satisfaction concerning response time, customer service, and quality project delivery.
Quality of Service
Often, it is easy to dismiss contractors due to their high fees. However, it is important to state that lower pricing is not a guarantee of a quality job. In fact, fixing a problem for cheap whilst sacrificing quality can cause you to fix the same problem again within a short period.
As such, it is best to emphasize quality delivery over attractive prices.
Other Ways to Find a Plumbing Company in Big Bear
The following are channels by which you can find the best plumbing company in Big Bear:
Referrals
These can either be online or personal. For the former, you can find websites that provide links to plumbing companies within your area. These sites use various metrics for the services they recommend.
On the other hand, personal referrals are one of the best ways to get a reliable plumbing company. If you know of any friends, family or neighbors who have had a recent plumbing fix, you could ask about the service, whether they were satisfied with it and if they would recommend it. You could also request referrals from property agents in the area and contractors in the building niche.
Adverts
You could also find print adverts referring you to plumbing companies. However, advertising is not the best way to determine service quality. While larger companies may be better placed to advertise, it does not mean that they are the best fit.
It is best to rely on referrals and the reputation the company has built over time.
Types of Plumbers
Plumbers include a variety of providers who specialize in tasks such as remodeling projects, repair works, and plumbing installations. Some deal in sector-specific fields like commercial and residential plumbing. Competence for a project will depend on whether the job falls into the plumber’s specialty and the level of expertise.
Commercial Plumbers
Commercial plumbers perform plumbing fixtures for schools, offices, malls, manufacturing plants, hospitals, and other public locations. They specialize in repair and installation jobs for buildings far larger than residential homes. As a result, their work is more complicated than routine home fixes. For instance, a commercial plumbing expert will typically handle a higher number of pipes and other fixtures than a residential plumber.
They are also tasked with tracing networks of fixtures across floors, whereas a residential plumber has to work on fewer fittings and fewer floors. Commercial plumbing requires a deeper level of involvement than the residential type as it consumes more time. It also carries a higher risk than normal.
In addition to these, a commercial plumber is tasked with the removal and excavation of waste. They are also required to provide regular maintenance services due to the expensive nature of the fixtures. As such, plumbers in this field may lack the technical competence required for working in much smaller environments like homes. This also applies to residential plumbers.
Residential Plumber
Essentially, a residential plumber specializes in problems in the house. They are tasked with smaller-scale projects and are the ones you call for a regular fix. Plumbers in this niche acquire training and experience by working as apprentices under experts. They gain their skill from working on residential construction projects, housing schemes, and homes.
Residential plumbers focus on the installation, maintenance and repair of pipes, toilets, and other plumbing installations within the home.
Service and Repair Plumbers
Service and repair plumbers are experts who specialize in repairs at homes and commercial businesses. They are hired for issues such as reduced pressure, cleaning, clogging, leakages, and servicing. They are also skilled in problem-solving as it relates to plumbing.
Classification of Plumbers by their Job Type
In addition to the above, plumbers are further classified based on the type of work they do. Below are the classifications in this respect:
Sanitary Plumbers
Sanitary plumbers are easily some of the most sought-after. They specialize in issues such as the installation and repair of bathroom facilities. A sanitary plumber performs bathtub installation, maintenance, and removal jobs; fixes suspended drains; unclogs sanitary installations; and installs pipes for bathroom and toilet uses. They also fix heating systems for showers though this may require specific qualifications.
Water Supply Plumbers
Water supply plumbers are named for their work. They specialize in installing kitchen tanks, overhead water tanks, bathroom water installations, and pipes. They may also engage in clearing blocked kitchen and bathroom drains.
Classification of Plumbers by Qualification
Plumbers are classified into four based on their qualifications. Understanding each one and their capabilities will put you in a knowledgeable position when dealing with contractors.
Plumber’s Apprentice
An apprentice plumber only needs to have registered with the state. They also have to find a qualified employer to train them. A plumber at the apprenticeship stage cannot perform any work without the supervision of the company’s master plumber.
At this stage, the apprentice’s role is mostly observatory.
Tradesman Plumber
This stage requires the plumber to receive certification. For them to qualify, however, they must possess a minimum of two years experience in the plumbing industry, complete 24 hours of classroom training, and pass a written exam.
Tradesmen can perform routine plumbing projects such as installation, service, and repair for small residences under supervision. They can also supervise apprentices.
Journeyman Plumber
A plumber becomes a journeyman after completing 8000 hours of work experience, 48 hours of classroom training, and a qualification exam. Their expertise extends to all facets of plumbing works, including gas line plumbing, and they supervise less qualified plumbers in the field.
Master Plumber
Master plumbers have held their journeyman’s license for a period of four years. A journeyman can also become a master after holding the license for a year by undergoing training approved by the Office of Apprenticeship and the Labor Department. Their expertise is basically on everything in the plumbing niche.
Reach Out to Bear Valley Plumbing in Big Bear, CA!
This article has examined everything you need to know about plumbers and the standards for selecting one. These will help you in finding the best plumbing company in Big Bear.
Should you need a fix for your plumbing system, we are a licensed service operating in Bear Valley, California. Contact us for your needs now.
If you are looking for a Big Bear plumbing, heating & air conditioning contractor, please call (909) 584-4376 or complete our online request form.
Category: Plumbing
