How to Find a Good Plumber ?

[Spinny]

So how can I effectively find and successfully engage a good plumber ?

 

I must have had contact with over 12 plumbers, and every case has been problematic. Builder's plumber could run neat pipe (mostly) but was a speedy gonzales that wouldn't turn up for weeks or months and left me with some issues, then resorted to gross dishonesty. Other plumbers I contact, they agree to come and look/discuss, then agree to provide a quote but you never get the quote. You gently and politely chase the quote but rarely makes any difference. I have had 4ish plumbers that said they would quote, then just blocked my number rather than type a text message saying they don't want the job. Then you call from another number, and it's, oh sorry I have just got back from holiday yesterday, been sick, yada yada obvious bullshit. I have had plumbers that ask for a list of works (why would they ask for this if they are not interested) so you send it, no response, gently chase, then get 'I am too busy for 4/5 months' - one chap did that twice over. Well if they were too busy why did they waste my time asking for a list of works. I have used plumbing services companies a few times for minor things (the type that serve landlords etc). While you get an appointment in a week or so, someone different turns up each time, generally young and recently qualified and it shows. Another plumber charged a fortune for a poor days work. One turned up, said are you technical because you seem to know what you want - then disappeared saying I'll let you know if I decide I am interested. Another one quoted, I accepted the quote, they came once and did the first 2 hrs work, then disappeared and turned out they were unavailable for many months having taken a big commercial contract (and abandoned their committed customers like me without even bothering to tell them). Asked 5 different plumbers how to resolve a problem - got 5 different answers.

 

At this rate it would be easier to train myself as a plumber than find a good honest personable and reliable plumber. I know they are out there - how the hell are you supposed to (a) find them and then (b) actually get them to engage on your job ? {Someone must be doing everyone else's kitchens and bathrooms.)

[Pocster]

In all the movies I’ve watched it’s easy to find a good plumber . You must have long legs , tight short skirt , large breasts ( but covered ) and be in desperate need of plumbing …

Edited Wednesday at 19:50 by Pocster

[-rick-]

That's how @SimonD ended up doing heating systems isn't it?

 

I'd guess you are asking them to do something non-standard or give them the impression that you will be picking up on any minor issue and they have enough other work that they'd rather take the easy job.

 

I'm not currently in this situation but have thought about it because I suspect I would similarly put off contractors for similar reasons. Options in my mind:

1. Play dumb, hide your knowledge and ask them to do the basic job without giving the detail (expect a poor job)

2. Find a friend of a friend who will do it on that basis (or find someone who has a rental portfolio who has a good relationship with a plumber). Would be easy to damage friendships here if not very careful.

3. Do it yourself

4. Offer a premium, don't ask for a fixed quote and pay by the hour. Be upfront about expectations.

5. Wait for a recession when there may be more availability (though given the shortage of plumbers it still won't be easy).

[marshian]

54 minutes ago, Spinny said:

<snip>

 

At this rate it would be easier to train myself as a plumber than find a good honest personable and reliable plumber. I know they are out there - how the hell are you supposed to (a) find them and then (b) actually get them to engage on your job ? {Someone must be doing everyone else's kitchens and bathrooms.)

 

If we are talking about basic plumbing (not derogatory term - just simple basic plumbing) then 30 years ago I was in the same boat.......

 

I had two poor jobs done by local plumbers which disappointed me - a lot - despite paying what I thought at the time was a high cost for a half days work.

 

I decided like many DIY aspects that if I couldn't get a decent job done by a professional I would buy the tools I needed to do the job myself as I needed them.

 

With a little research from books originally and later from the internet with a little practice I trained myself to gas solder copper, later to bend pipes to reduce the number of joints (aka risk of failures) and most recently bought a pressfit tool which is a bloody game changer for my next job on the list.

 

Unless of course you are time constrained in which case you have my sympathy for the lack of interest.

[JohnMo]

When I used a plumber, we used a firm that employed plumbers, not lone self employed ones. We generally had the run around, just like you until then. 

 

Learn what to do, it's not really that difficult, you don't even need to solder these days.

 

Easy DIY stuff to use

1. Hep2O, plastic pipe and push fit fittings. You need a cutter for plastic pipe and that's about it.

2. Tectite push fit for copper pipe, a selection of fittings for copper pipe, you cut the pipe with a proper cutter, and the fitting simply push on just like Hep2O ones, but these are metal.

Drain pipes, solvent weld or compression joint, just remember they are generally different sizes, so don't generally mix, you choose a system and stick with it.

 

Then it's a matter of correctly sizing the pipes.

[Pocster]

19 hours ago, Spinny said:

At this rate it would be easier to train myself as a plumber than find a good honest personable and reliable plumber

Not sure what you need a plumber for . But! Assuming it’s not gas I.e boiler install etc you can do it . I know you can . Because I did it . As mentioned hep2O is Lego for “ plumbers “ . I’d explain your exact issue / what you want done up here .You’ll get tons of help . Save you a fortune ! . Then when it leaks you can blame yourself but also fix it 😊

[bmj1]

I've also taking to doing most the plumbing myself.

 

Managed to learn (with youtube) how to drain, flush and repressurise the UFH manifold.

 

None of it is rocket science.

[marshian]

9 hours ago, bmj1 said:

I've also taking to doing most the plumbing myself.

 

last weekend I reconfigured my plant room (aka airing cupboard) because the gas engineer that modified the existing plumbing to suit the new boiler made a horlicks of it - yes it worked but it had way too many joints where existing pipework was used and new was spliced in.

 

It just looked butt ugly and wasn't exactly easy to lag in the old configuration 

 

It's still not great but to my eyes it's neater

 

 

Oh and I don't like leaving bottle vents open and they were on short pipes so I've raised them to add a little capacity with the pipes below them - probably pointless but in my head it works

[crispy_wafer]

There’s enough on this forum to get a good grasp of what to do, if you are minded to give it a shot.  in fact, I remember reading the forum in it’s early days there were many buildhubbers mapping out schematics and getting hints, tips and advice on how to go about it.  

 

I won’t be rude and say that it’s just a load of pipes, because beyond there’s much more to it, and it does require thought and planning, but like above, sometimes just gotta back yourself get tooled up and get stuck in.  Then have a good holiday with the savings, or put the money towards something in the build where you definitely need a professional pair of hands.  

 

I would add, that with the technology and systems available on the market today it’s easier for the DIY’er to certainly tackle the basics.