How To Find A Reliable Plumber

Locate A Trusty Local Plumber Before Disaster Strikes This Winter

Don’t let the cold weather get the better of your plumbing systems. Find a local plumber now to carry out a service and help prevent frozen pipes and broken boilers.

With winter fast approaching, unfortunately, many homeowners in the UK will experience problems with their household plumbing as the temperatures drop and pipes begin to crack. When this happens, some are lucky enough to have the name and number of a reliable local plumber to hand. But many others find themselves googling plumbers or even flicking through a worn-out Yellow Pages looking for trustworthy tradesmen to fix their broken boiler or burst pipes.

So, what’s the best approach? How can you find a reliable plumber when disaster strikes?

Recommendations Are Ideal

If you can ask a friend, neighbor or family member to pass on the contact details of someone they’ve had a positive experience with, then this is probably the easiest way to find someone who will provide a good service. However, if this method isn’t uncovering any gems, then you might also ask another type of tradesmen. For instance, if you’ve recently had an electrician do some work for you, then you should ask for their advice in locating a plumber. Often tradesmen from different industries work on the same renovation projects together, so build up their own networks of people they prefer to work with. If you mention who recommended you, then you might even be able to secure a discount.

Utilise Feedback Sites

There are a number of digital platforms such as MyBuilder, TrustATrader or RatedPeople who display the feedback scores of previous customers to help businesses and tradesmen connect with those needing projects such as an ensuite bathroom to be installed or a ceiling to be re-plastered. Most of these models rely on a board user posting their job requirements and then professionals bidding for the work. The customer can read through previous project scores to get an idea of how reliable the tradesmen is likely to be, before selecting one they like the look of. If you find a plumber on these boards who has completed a large number of jobs and has received 100% positive feedback for the work, then you’ll likely be onto a winner.

Professional Accreditation

Before you go ahead and hire a plumber, regardless of how you’ve found the individual or company, it’s important to check the qualifications and experience of who is going to be carrying out the work. Watersafe is an initiative that brings together seven approved contractor schemes together in a bid to provide proof of plumbing excellence. Customers searching for a plumber can use Watersafe, which combines the partners of APHC, CIPHE, SNIPEF, WIAPS, Anglian Water’s A Plus, Severn Trent Water’s Watermark and Thames Water’s TAPS, to find out which local businesses employ plumbers that have obtained at least their NVQ L2 in plumbing mechanical services, alongside holding a Water Regulations Certificate.

Unfortunately, plumbing emergencies do occur, particularly during the colder months when you’ll be more reliant on hot water and heating than usual. So, instead of waiting for disaster to strike, it really does pay to be prepared and do your homework beforehand. Find yourself a reliable plumber sooner rather than later, and perhaps even book in for an annual service to check that everything is in working order to get you through the winter.