Pennsylvania Homeowners: Do This Before You Call Your Plumber

Plumbers may be extra busy with cold-weather issues in the winter, but you can't always put off an important call. That said, you can take a few simple steps to save money on your next service.

Here's what you need to know before you call in a professional to help with your plumbing issues.

1. Be Mindful of Hourly Rates

When you look for a pro in your area, it might be tempting to pick the plumber with the lowest hourly rate. Keep in mind that these rates can be deceiving. It’s more important to look for plumbers with high customer satisfaction. A cheap job that requires follow-up fixes is going to end up costing a lot more than a higher hourly rate done right the first time. Additionally, the most experienced plumbers often have higher hourly rates.

You’ll also want to keep in mind that plumbers need to account for their travel time, and they often charge a premium for the first hour. So even if the job was 15 minutes, you might pay for 45 minutes or even a full hour. Before you book the job, ask them specifically how the rates work. Make sure you get a reasonable, straightforward answer.

Need a plumber? Here’s how to find a pro in your area.

2. Do Some Research First

While we don’t recommend working on your own pipes, do a little research before calling a plumber. For example, ceiling stains are often caused by bad caulking or wet floors, not faulty plumbing. Before enlisting professional help, ensure your shower door or curtain is completely containing the water, and check the caulking around the shower or bathtub. If re-caulking doesn’t help, then it’s time to call a plumber.

3. Purchase Your Own Fixtures

If you need a replacement sink or toilet, for example, you might be able to save some money by procuring the new fixtures yourself. Professional plumbers will buy through a plumbing supply firm. Typically, they will purchase at the wholesale contractor’s price and sell to you at retail. This pays them for their time finding the fixture and protects them from any further issues, like buying the wrong color, etc.

Meanwhile, home centers like Lowe's or Home Depot may be able to offer a savings, since they buy fixtures at large quantities and get sizable discounts. Talk to your plumber to see if you are able to purchase these fixtures on your own, then have them install them.

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