Paying the plumber

Paying for plumbing repairs is really a grudge expense. There are hundreds of things that homeowners would rather do with their money. But things go wrong and everybody needs the services of a plumber at some point. Choosing a qualified plumber can save you a lot of money and headache along the line.

How to choose the right plumber installer or plumbing company?
If you are planning to hire a plumber or a subcontractor, you need to ask the right questions. This checklist will provide you with all the questions and information you need to make an informed decision when appointing a plumber.

Are you employing a qualified plumber or registered plumbing company?
A plumber must be qualified in order to carry out plumbing work, or a plumbing company must employ a qualified Plumber. In addition a plumber must be registered with the Plumbing Industries Registration Board (PIRB) to issue a Certificate of Compliance (COC).

Is the installer registered with the Plumbing Industries Registration board (PIRB) as well as the company with Institute of Plumbing a voluntary association?
For plumbing companies to be members of the institute of Plumbing SA they are required to be qualified or employ qualified plumbers. If a plumber is registered with the PIRB his work is inspected by the PIRB inspectorate and non-compliant work must be corrected or installers are deregistered.

Does the plumbing company have insurance?
Businesses that are serious about what they do will have insurance for possible incidents. Insurance cover should include, public liability, product liability, defective workmanship, vehicle and tools. This way, the consumer bears no responsibility for, and is in no way impacted by, the consequences of these incidents and subsequent consequences like delays and costs.

Is the Plumbing Company registered with Companies & Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC)?
All installers should be registered with CIPC. In addition, make sure that you have your plumber’s residential addresses as well as their contact details.

How long has the company been operating for?
This will give you an indication of the company’s stability.

Is the company currently financially stable?
It does not matter how skilled a plumber may be, if the company is experiencing financial difficulties, the company will likely experience trouble managing the project. This often results in delays, cutting costs, and in some cases, plumbers absconding.

Does the company have references?
Contacting references for feedback on their experience of the company is recommended. Ask the company for information on the projects they are currently busy with. Visit the project site and speak to the company’s clients.

Did you get referrals from friends and family?
The best form of marketing is word of mouth, so if someone you know recommends a plumber, they would have had a good experience with them

Has the company’s management team participated in business training?
Most small companies or installers are tradesman with very little or no business experience. Depending on the size of your project, the more business training and experience the more likely your project will run smoothly.

Have you compiled a shortlist of plumbers and obtained at least three quotes before making your decision?
Ensure you have given all three plumbers the same information when asking them for quotes. This way, quotes can be accurately compared. Avoid “lump sum” quotes – having a quote breakdown of the various individual items gives you a better basis for comparison.

Do you have a plumbing contract?
If you are going to appoint a plumber, ensure that you have a contract that will protect not only the plumber, but you as a consumer as well. This will benefit you when managing the project especially if anything goes wrong. – www.iopsa.org.za

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