Choosing good Plumbers in Dublin
Wednesday, June 4th, 2014
There are plenty of plumbers in Dublin area these days. In fact, Dublin based residents are somewhat spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a plumber to carry out works in their home or business. With so many to choose from, how should one decide on one Dublin based plumbing service over another?
Plumbers in Dublin
Just like any other home based service (such as roofing, air-con, electrical services etc.), there are certain standards and practices which should be closely adhered to when it comes to plumbers. Listed below are some of the most important things that you should expect from your plumber. If they do not meet all of these criteria then you should probably take your business elsewhere. After all, it’s not like there is a shortage of plumbers in Dublin.
What Makes A Good Plumber?
Plumbers Must be Qualified
While there are lots of fully qualified and reputable plumbers based in Dublin, there are also plenty of unsuitable ‘cowboys’ and chancers doing the rounds – often offering their services on the cheap at the expense of good and honest labour. Don’t be tempted to go for whoever is offering the lowest priced plumber service without first checking that they are legitimate plumbers – this could lead to problems (eg: shoddy craftsmanship or a lack of redress) further on down the road.
Be sure to check that your chosen plumber’s credentials are up to scratch. For example, did you know that it is illegal in Ireland for anyone to work on gas based equipment such as your central heating system’s gas boiler without being registered with the RGI (Registered Gas Installers of Ireland)?
If your plumber is not fully qualified you run the risk of receiving poor and possibly even dangerous workmanship.
Plumbers Must be Fully Insured
Just because the person you have carrying out your plumbing works is a qualified and registered plumber, that does not necessarily mean that they have all of the required paperwork needed to be a good option. Insurance is every bit as important as qualifications when it comes to plumbing.
Always make sure that your chosen plumber is fully insured. Otherwise, you will be liable to pay for damages should something go wrong (and, let’s be honest here, if your plumber is careless enough to not have insurance then they will most likely extend said carelessness to other aspects of their work)! Always check to see if your plumber has public liability insurance.
There are plenty of plumbers in Dublin who are both fully qualified and insured for the work that they carry out, so don’t settle for anything less.
Plumbers in Dublin Should be Available 24/7
It makes sense for plumbers in Dublin to be available anywhere in Dublin any time as plumbing problems such as burst pipes or broken radiators are not polite enough to occur only at times that suit you. Indeed, Murphy’s Law would dictate that they can and do happen at the most inopportune times. There’s not much point in calling a plumber on a Saturday night during a Bank Holiday weekend if they don’t open again until Tuesday morning. The longer it takes for your plumbing problems to be seen to, the more damage they will cause.
Even if your plumbing problems occur during normal working hours, you should still avail of an emergency plumbing service which operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Although plumber services which close will be able to come out and fix your problems at these times, you are left vulnerable should something go wrong later. You could end up stuck waiting until the next day to have follow on problems rectified al because your plumber has turned off their phone for the night.
In plumbing it is best advised to expect the unexpected and has a contingency plan should the worst case scenario happen.
Plumbers Shouldn’t Have Hidden Charges
Despicably, some plumbing companies still charge their customers for petrol which they used driving their van to your property. Some even start charging an hourly rate which starts from the moment they start up the van and begin their journey toward the job. This is a totally underhanded and unfair practice. Plumbing companies which do this are best avoided like the plague as they are rip-off merchants. A plumber should only start charging once they have arrived on site and have begun working. Fortunately, most plumbing companies in Dublin operate in this fair manner, but you must keep your eyes peeled for the dodgy ones.
When arranging for a plumber to do works for you, be sure to make sure that they outline what they intend to do and how much this will cost. Prices should be clearly spelled out by your plumber so you will know how much you will have to pay for their services. Beware of rogue plumbers, which are becoming increasingly common in Dublin these days, who will try spring additional charges and expenses on you once they are on site.
It helps to get your list of works required and their relevant prices quoted in writing before any works are carried out so you are not tricked into paying extra money for plumbing services which you hadn’t agreed to have carried out beforehand.
Plumbers Should Offer Fair Advice
As most people know precious little about plumbing and the various processes involved in it, your plumber has you at something of a disadvantage as regards knowledge on the subject. With this in mind, plumbers have a certain amount of responsibility on their shoulders as to not take advantage of this situation for profit.
A sign of an honest plumber is one who is willing to make a recommendation that may not be as lucrative for them as some other options may be. Plumbers should also be upfront about the advantages and disadvantages of the various services which they offer. If they only ever bring up the positives, while ignoring the negatives, then there is a possibility that they are dishonestly hiding something and more interested in making a sale than giving you the most appropriate plumbing services for your needs.
Plumbers in Dublin should be Tidy
One of the main things that put many home owners off having important plumbing works carried out for them is a fear that their plumber will make a mess of their house. It is a plumber’s responsibility to leave your home in every bit as good condition as they found it in. They should put in proper precautions to avoid creating a mess, clean up as they go and give the area they were working in a thorough clean once they have completed all of their plumbing works.
A plumber who is messy should be avoided. Check the cleanliness of their van, office and/or work station if possible. If these are messy then it is likely that they are a messy person by way of disposition and might be sloppy when it comes to doing their actual plumbing jobs.
A plumber should also be well kept in terms of personal appearance. Although, some leeway should be afforded in this regard. Bear in mind that your plumber has more than likely performed numerous plumbing tasks before arriving at your site and will not be in a perfect condition of cleanliness. That said, they should not be filthy and/or smelly upon arriving at your home.
At DeWAR Emergency Plumbers we take great pride in our work. All of our plumbers will strive to meet all of the aforementioned criteria, giving you, the customer, the best plumbing service possible.
DeWAR Plumbers operate all day, every day (24/7), offering a wide variety of plumbing services all over Dublin as well as the rest of Ireland. You can contact us on 01 514 3300 or send us an email to get a quote for any plumbing service.
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