Plumbing is among the most crucial aspects of home and building construction. If it’s not handled properly, it’s not only the people who’ll use the structure who will suffer; the building will be badly affected too. So whenever you have a plumbing task — installation, repair, maintenance, replacement, etc. — it’s always better to ask for help from a registered plumber.
Plumbers’ areas of expertise
Did you know that plumbers don’t take on the same set of tasks? Like other tradies in construction, they also have different specialisations, so make sure you talk to the right tradie for your job. To help you identify the right plumber to hire, here are some of the fields that plumbers can specialise in:
Drainage
Plumbers who specialise in drainage work are equipped to install, repair, and maintain sewer systems, drains, and stormwater pipes. Septic tank and sullage pit installation jobs are also included in this field.Irrigation
Irrigation specialists design, install, maintain, and repair different types of watering systems for gardens, yards, and larger areas like farms and parks.Gas fitting
Got gas appliances you need to install? You should get in touch with a gasfitter. They also set up, repair, and test hot water systems, gas lines, regulators, and metres.Roofing
A roof plumber is fully equipped to install and repair gutters, downpipes, flashings, metal roofs, and other roofing accessories.
Plumbers can concentrate in only one area, but many specialise in more than one. So there’s a high possibility that you might chance upon a plumber who can take care of various tasks for you including common jobs such as toilet repair and installation, tap repair and installation, and others. These jobs also cover some important plumbing work such as:
- studying layouts of plumbing systems
- preparing the materials, tools, and equipment needed
- preparing sites for installation
- testing installed systems, and
- maintaining systems and fixtures
There are also emergency plumbers who are prepared to provide reliable services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So if you encounter busted pipes, leaking roof, or blocked drains in the middle of the night, rest assured that there are experts who are available to lend you a hand.
What to look for when hiring plumbers
Need to find a plumber? When you’re short listing plumbers for your job, make sure to thoroughly check their qualifications. As mentioned before, plumbing systems are among the most important parts of homes and buildings. They’re much too critical to place in the hands of inexperienced and unqualified people. Here are some of the things you need to check out:
Licences - plumbers need to have proper and up-to-date licences. For those who handle gas fittings, they should have a separate gas fitting licence.
Certificates - they should be able to show you certificates and other documents that can verify that they had formal education and that they underwent intensive training.
You should also find out whether your plumber is fully insured or not. Insurance can give you peace of mind as you can be assured that your property and your handy plumber are protected in case something bad happens. Specialisations matter as well. Although many plumbers take on a range of jobs, it’s still best to talk to them about yours and see if they’re authorised to handle it.
Lastly, head on over to their business profiles or websites and find out if they’re highly recommended businesses. Nothing says more about the quality of a plumber’s services than the feedback given by their customers. By reading reviews, you can also find out whether they’re professional, courteous, hardworking, and trustworthy or if they’re shonky tradesmen who give customers nothing but a hard time.
How much does it cost to hire a plumber?
Planning to get a plumber to carry out your job? The cost of hiring a plumber in Australia today is at an average of $50 per hour. But you can expect to pay more or less than that price as it’s still not carved in stone.
The price will depend greatly on the type of task that you need done. Of course, the cost of a simple tap repair or a toilet flush repair is relatively more affordable than a complete bathroom renovation or a metal roof replacement or installation.
Be sure to collect as many quotes as you can — it’s always best to have plenty of options when choosing a plumber to employ. Also, don’t forget to review each cost estimate thoroughly and clarify each questionable point. Talking to your prospective plumber about it before work starts is better than paying hidden fees or paying for work that you didn’t sign them up to do.
ServiceSeeking.com.au can help!
If you’re looking to hire a plumber, you can always check out the list of the top plumbers on our site. They’re the best among the businesses on ServiceSeeking.com.au, so they can definitely assure you of quality services. Here are some of the things customers say about them:
_"Steve is a very friendly and honest plumber. He did a very thorough job and cleaned up after himself. Communications both before, during and after the job were excellent. Steve even followed up with a call a few days later to check that everything was OK. I would recommend Steve to anyone." _ - Barry from Port Melbourne, VIC
"We found Lloyd to be very honest and helpful in giving us advice when discussing the job. He was very professional and on time. He did an excellent job in installing our two new toilets which he supplied also. They are both working very well and we really like the self closing lid action! His price was reasonable and we would have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone who has a plumbing job that needs to be done. H. Flynn Wattle Grove"
- Helen from Wattle Grove, NSW
You can receive up to 12 quotes by posting your job on the site. If you want more accurate cost estimates, be sure to include a detailed description of your task.
In this week's 'Ask a Business,' Andrew talks about the types of plumber repairs he does, the safety measures he follows, and the tools of the trade.