Let’s say it’s a major holiday. Or your daughter’s wedding. Your son’s bar mitzvah. Your own wedding. Regardless of the occasion, the point is simple: It’s a huge day at the family estate and you’ve woken to an outright plumbing catastrophe.
We’re talking muddy water mere inches from spilling out of your kitchen sink and onto your recently polished floor. Toilets backing up. Showers misfiring. Your beautiful baseboards a darker, more ominous color. That water heater going glug-glug-glug, and an air conditioner going screech-screech-screech.
Who are you going to call?
(Here’s a hint: It won’t be ghostbusters.)
No, chances are you’ll book it to your laptop or grab your smartphone and google “plumber near me.” And if you live in San Diego (first, congrats!), you’ll probably type in—shaking hands and all—“plumber near me San Diego.”
With that will arrive page after page of San Diego plumbing companies, all in 0.62 seconds. So many websites, in fact, that you’ll probably go with one of the first companies that appears—research be damned—or will call up a company that sounds vaguely familiar. (“Honey, didn’t our neighbor Arthur use Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air last year?”)
And while finding a San Diego plumber in a jiffy may feel like a blessing, there’s a difference between googling “plumber near me San Diego” and finding a trusted San Diego plumbing service near you.
Further, when hiring a professional plumbing company for a large, costly renovation, you want to make sure you’re working with the cream of the crop. Don’t you?
With that in mind, here are 9 questions to ask a potential plumbing company before booking an emergency plumbing or standard service:
1. How established are you?
Plumbing jokes may run rampant in certain circles (hey, hey, Jeff Foxworthy), but plumbing is also a very serious matter. (Don’t believe us? Just talk to anyone who has experienced a major water leak.)
And you wouldn’t hire a “doctor” entertaining the idea of medical school, would you?
No. We all want the best, especially when it comes to things that touch upon key needs like shelter, cleanliness, warmth—and properly functioning toilets.
Ask the plumbing company how long they’ve been around, and, while you’re at it, ask for references. Even if it’s a brand new outfit, they should have at least one satisfied customer who can substantiate their promptness, efficiency and, well, bedside manner.
Meanwhile, check the plumbing company’s online reviews. Here at Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air, we have more than 2,500 reviews that speak to the quality of our service. Now that’s established.
2. Are you licensed and bonded?
When faced with an emergency plumbing problem, you may be tempted to hire the first person who answers your call.
But be forewarned: You should ensure that the plumbing company is licensed and insured, which will protect you—and your neighbors—in the event of a disaster. (Trust us, they can happen.) At the same time, make sure they’re qualified to work in your area, whether you live in Old Town, Hillcrest, Point Loma, Rancho Bernardo, or anywhere in-between.
Which brings us to our next point:
3. Which parts of San Diego county do you serve?
Funny how phone books, word of mouth, and internet queries work—sometimes a “San Diego plumber me” search can lead you to a plumbing pro in another area. Even if the company does serve more of San Diego – our corner of California is, as you well know, quite large (as in the fifth most populous county in the U.S.).
So before getting your hopes up that that San Diego plumbing company can be at your house in twenty, ensure that they serve (and are qualified to do so) your area of San Diego County. After all, what if you happen to live in Poway and they work only in Oceanside?
4. When is customer service available?
client service at Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—meaning there’s no significant lag time between that emergency plumbing problem and that plumbing repair.
In addition, it’s wise to work with a plumbing company who has a physical address. Take it from Angie’s List: “Be cautious of contractors who give you a post office box with no street address or use only an answering service.” After all, you want to deal with a real, live customer service representative who knows the ins and outs of their company—not a robot in Duluth.
5. What kinds of plumbing services do you handle?
An experienced, reputable plumbing company will know how to manage more than a minor water leak.
They’ll know how to address a slab leak repair, install or offer air conditioning repairs, provide drain cleaning, perform pipe repair, replace a water heater, and tackle any problem you might have with your kitchen and bath plumbing fixtures—and they’ll execute all of it with quality workmanship to guarantee customer satisfaction.
They’ll also be well-versed in the latest plumbing technology (using, say, a sewer camera to get to the root of a clogged drain) and have knowledge of both residential and commercial plumbing systems (as well as heating and air conditioning issues).
Doing a big renovation? Look for a master plumber who is an expert on more than one plumbing system—and will deliver quality service.
6. How do you ensure customer satisfaction?
It’s one thing to casually promise a potential client that they’re “leaders” in customer satisfaction—and quite another to back up their pledge for real.
At Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air, we stand behind our work by providing our customers with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee in writing.
Meaning, if you’re not 100% satisfied with the service we have provided—or if your plumbing professional did not meet your expectations—we will refund your money. All of it. Like, every penny. We mean it, and this vow has earned us a reputation as one of the true leaders in customer satisfaction. It’s also why our company tagline is “Nobody wows clients like we do!”
7. How much will it cost to get the job done?
This is, literally, the money question—and a plumbing estimate is often at the forefront of people’s minds when they’re searching for a plumber.
Ask if the professional plumber charges an hourly rate or a fixed rate. If it’s the former, be sure to get an estimate on how many hours it will take to get the job done. An emergency plumbing problem may require more money – ask ahead of time to make sure, and see if you can’t hold off on having the repairs done until their normal business hours. At Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air, our standard rates apply 7a-7p, 7 days a week!
8. Do you clean up the area when you’re done with the job?
Doing a search for “plumber near me San Diego” may turn up some interesting finds—including a plumber who may leave your home in chaos (which, during times of stress—like an emergency plumbing problem—is the last you thing you need).
Here at Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air, not only do our plumbing professionals get the job done expertly and efficiently, but we also go to lengths to ensure that your home is left in the condition in which we found it—if not in better shape.
9. How soon can you be here?
When dealing with an emergency plumbing problem—that holiday, wedding, or party in which you’re expecting a boatload of visitors—you rightly need to know when the plumbing company can arrive and get the job completed.
Likewise, for larger repairs, you’d like it to be as little of an inconvenience to you and your family as possible.
A master plumber business will work closely with you to determine the best day and time to initiate repairs—just as they’ll work closely with you to reach the best solution possible, whether that’s a slab leak detection, drain cleaning or pipe repair. (As for getting those party guests to leave—well, perhaps do call ghostbusters.)
Your Trusted San Diego Plumber
Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air isn’t just near you in San Diego—we’re also near your expectations and desires. Our plumbing company has provided plumbing heating and air services to residents throughout San Diego County including El Cajon and Imperial Beach for over 45 years. That’s a long time to be in business—and a testament to the customer satisfaction we promise.
So, whether you’re having an emergency plumbing problem or want to make sure that you won’t face one come your big day, go ahead and give us a call – and give Google a rest.
