6 Tips to Find a Trustworthy Plumber in Toronto

When you need a plumber, you likely Google to see who is in your area, and you end up with pages and pages of websites. There are over 49 thousand qualified and working plumbers in Toronto alone, but how do you sift through all of them to find the one suited for your needs?

There are plumbers who offer just basic services, and then there are those who provide 24/7 services and emergency response. To complicate things even more, there are some plumbers who offer basic, emergency, and specialty services. 

So, what can you do? Here are a few tips to help you navigate the different options, avoid scammers and cowboys, and find trusted, professional, and cost-efficient plumbers in your region.

1. Read Google reviews

The first page of a Google search will show you all the companies that have spent lots of money on marketing to make sure that they get noticed. While reputable companies will absolutely do this, there may be the occasional scammer who also does the same.

With that in mind, read closely the Google reviews. An average rating of 4.5 stars or higher is a good indicator of a reputable business. Then, read the reviews themselves. You can tell the ones written by real people, and you should also see the occasional negative review. No company gets away without the occasional dissatisfied customer.

Being able to see what real people say about their experiences can give you a good sense of how the company operates and treats its customers. 

2. Make sure they are licensed and insured

To be able to operate in Ontario, plumbers in Toronto need to be certified and licensed. This shows that they have learned the trade, and are legally allowed to perform the work needed in your home or office. 

Insurance is another necessity for a plumbing service. This also shows the company’s dedication to protecting not only its employees, but its customers as well. Accidents do happen and repairs can fail. It would be remiss for a company to not acknowledge these factors. Thus, insurance protects everyone in such a situation.

While you may not need to understand every minute detail of the coverage, simply knowing that the business has current and valid insurance is a requirement. 

3. Check their years of service

The length of time that a plumbing company has been servicing the community, whether residential, commercial, or both, will tell you something about their expertise and knowledge. 

Experienced plumbers provide peace of mind, as they will have proven they are trusted and can deal with any situation. While newer companies do need to build up their portfolio and reputation, it can be more comforting to go with an established plumbing service. 

One important factor is to check their website. If the plumbing service claims to have been in business for decades, but the website was only published recently, this is a red flag.

4. How to spot a scammer

If a plumbing company’s prices and services seem too good to be true, then they likely are. Scammers are great at creating inviting and professional-looking websites. They will even have a contact page with a phone number and email address.

However, a professional and licensed plumbing company will have their workers registered with the OPIA (Ontario Plumbing Inspectors Association), which is the governing board in Ontario that regulates plumbers. If your plumber is not listed here, then they are probably a scammer.

You should also try to Google Map the plumbing company’s address. If nothing comes up, then they are likely fake. All plumbing services should have a physical address.

5. Assess their customer service

Call the plumbing business and talk to someone on the phone. Use this interaction to ask questions about their services and fees, and see how the company responds.

All callers looking for answers should be treated with respect, and receive professional service over the phone. If you get this type of service on the phone, then you should expect it in person when the plumbers come to your home.

Bad customer service over the phone is usually an indication of poor service you will get from the plumbers who come to your property to carry out the required task.

6. Look for hidden fees

Prices or quotes should include all the fees you will be expected to pay. Hidden fees that emerge after the work is completed simply to generate additional income for a plumbing business are a definite sign of manipulation.

Hidden service fees are the bane of existence for many people. So, a plumbing company that is upfront and open about all its fees will provide better, more reliable, and cost-efficient services.

Contact Expert Plumbers in Toronto

At Drain King Plumbers, we provide reliable, fast, and efficient service delivered by insured and licensed plumbers in Toronto who can tackle and repair anything that life throws your way, all found in one company.

We follow a very strict code of ethics, which shapes our actions involving

respect, integrity, and customer satisfaction. We are proud to deliver high-quality work and stand behind the warranty that we offer on all projects undertaken. 

We understand the importance of being able to deliver a unique service when needed. Being homeowners ourselves, we take this responsibility seriously, delivering a high standard that we would expect from the same work being done in our homes.

Drain King Plumbers have been in service to Toronto and the GTA for many years, and have gained the respect and trust of all our customers. We can perform basic plumbing repairs, service and maintenance, emergency call-outs, and specialized services such as hydro-jetting.

For more information, call our amazing team of professional plumbers in Toronto at 833-983-5663 or go online to save $25 off your first service call.