Where to start with choosing a local plumber (what to look for)

*Collaborative Post

When you move to a new area, you need to set up a whole new network of local services again. From finding your local post office to establishing the best place to get fresh coffee, a lot of these tasks can be quite simple and fun.

One of the services you’ll need to sort out at some point is finding a local plumber. While perhaps not as fun as trying out local coffee shops, it’s potentially even more important. If you’re not sure how to start that search, then continue on for some of our main tips on what to look out for.

Start with recommendations

A great place to start is by asking local people for recommendations. Not only is this a great way of finding a reliable service, but it’s also a nice excuse to make some connections in your new neighbourhood. 

They might recommend a local, individual tradesperson, or they might point you towards a larger provider like Able Plumbing Solutions. Of course, it’s important that you don’t take these recommendations at face value – do your due diligence, by looking out for the following points as well. 

Check reviews

Once you’ve found potential local options, give them a quick search online and check their reviews. Most businesses these days tend to have Google business pages, which should have at least a few reviews on them. 

Take a quick scroll through, seeing what prior clients thought about the service. While you shouldn’t be put off by the odd bad review, if you see any serious trends, it might be worth looking elsewhere.

Gas Safe Register

All boiler technicians in England need to be on the Gas Safe Register. The website has an easy search function that allows you to check anyone who’s going to do work on your house, so that you can make sure that they have all the proper qualifications to keep your house safe and secure. It only takes a second to do this search, and it’s absolutely worth it for your peace of mind. A gas safety certificate, also known as a CP12, is a document that contains important information about the gas safety of a domestic property. It includes details of the gas appliances and pipework that have been inspected, and whether they are safe to use. A gas safety certificate will also contain the contact details for the gas engineer who carried out the inspection. Gas safety certificates are required by law in England and Wales. 

If you’re planning to book a certified engineer, it’s also a good idea to check current gas certificate pricing so you know what to expect before the inspection.

Give them a call

Once you’ve found a local plumber, with good reviews who’s Gas Safe Registered, all that’s left to do is to give them a call. Lots of plumbers are super busy these days, but if you’re looking for a boiler service, you can always try to book it for some time in the future. 

While on the phone, you can see if you get along with them, and if you think you’d be comfortable having them in your house. Some people definitely find it’s nice to have a quick chat, so you can get an idea of who it is you’re dealing with.

Finding a good, local plumber isn’t too hard once you know where to start. By keeping the points listed above in mind, you can make sure that you check the important boxes, identifying a reliable, safe and friendly provider. Once you’ve found a good plumber, you should be good to go for many years to come.

*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.