Washington DC Plumbers

Hopefully, the pipes and fixtures within your home or business are installed snug and sound, and rarely if ever need the attention of a professional. Faucets control water flow without dripping, pipes don't leak, toilets flush strongly and quickly, and you get hot water in your bathtub or shower.  Having said that, the day (or night) will come that you need Washington DC plumbers. You might notice a drop in your water pressure, a leak flooding a room, or water stains on the walls and ceilings under a bathroom.

Of course, your need for a plumber might not be the result of an accident or emergency situation. You might know you need to take care of a problem in advance before it turns into something, or you just have chosen to upgrade older pipes and fixtures with something new. You could even be doing home improvements and renovations that mean a new bathroom or are turning a powder room into a full bathroom.

Whatever is going on, you need a plumber, and you need to know how to find one. Depending on your age, you might think that your local phone book is the best place to start, and before the Internet came around, that would have been true. Of course, you can still find plumbers in the phone book, if you still get phone books, but remember that they're listed in alphabetical order by name, not by quality. Someone calling themselves "AAA Plumbing" just means they're smart about phone book placement; it's no indication of how great they are at plumbing.

Other Ways to Find a Plumber Near You

Fortunately, there are many other ways of finding plumbers, and most of it involves the Internet. Doing your own searching is a strong place to start. Just make sure that you type in your city or neighborhood along with your keyword so that the search engine knows to restrict results to what's around you. You'll get options and listings immediately, but you'll also see customer feedback ratings from previous clients you can use to narrow down what you want.

Furthermore, some services and websites specifically focus on connecting you to local service providers. Sites like Thumbtack or Angie's List are good resources for vetting and even wooing local service providers if you have the time. If you're in an emergency, you might just have to trust feedback from Google searches.

If you do have time and know other homeowners in your community, put out a query on social media for their suggestions about who they have used and trust. Also ask around at work, when hanging out with other parents, or in your social circle. Don't bug too many folks about it, though, as all you need is one good suggestion.

Once you do select a plumber, get a quote in writing before letting them do any work. You want to protect yourself from sticker shock, no matter how highly recommended they come, and if your gut ever tells you no, honor that instinct.