Why it Doesn't Pay to Hire a Cheap Plumber (Edmonton, Alberta)

Edmonton homeowners often take their plumbing system for granted—as long as clean water comes out of the taps and wastewater swirls away down the drain, there’s no reason to give it a second thought. But when you experience irritating or downright aggravating issues that range from clogged drains to a basement flooded with raw sewage, you know you need a professional’s help. It’s important that you don’t choose a cheap plumber. All homeowners are better served by licensed, skilled professionals.

It can be really stressful to discover you need plumbing services. Going without access to clean water or waste disposal is certainly not an option. But if your budget is already spread thin, you may be tempted to hire a cheap plumber. Edmonton plumbing services are available at a range of price points. Yet, homeowners and commercial property owners should be wary of choosing a plumbing company that offers rock-bottom prices well below what others have quoted. There is probably a reason why their services are so cheap, and you could end up with a lot more damage, stress, and expense than you bargained for.

Don't give yourself even more time-consuming, expensive problems that come with cutting corners with a cheap plumber. Edmonton homeowners can rely on the pros at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton for efficient, skilled service and long-lasting repair solutions that won't break down in a few weeks or months. As your Edmonton plumbers, we’ll work with your budget to provide affordable, safe service with transparent pricing at an upfront rate.

8 Reasons Not to Hire a Cheap Plumber in Edmonton

Whether you need residential plumbing services in Edmonton or have trouble with your commercial building’s system, you need to know you’re getting good value for your money in the form of skilled workmanship and customer service that goes the extra mile. It may seem like the way to do that is to choose the option with the lowest price, but that isn't how it works in the plumbing industry. It’s very much a case of "You get what you pay for," and if you find an especially cheap plumber in Edmonton, you should be very wary about the service quality they will deliver.

1. Cutting Corners

A cheap plumber still needs to make enough on any given job to cover the cost of labor, parts, and time. If they are charging a much lower rate to handle your plumbing issues, they often attempt to recoup some of the lost income by cutting corners to get the work done as quickly and cheaply as possible.

Unfortunately, that means their work will likely not be up to the standards you expect and need for your residence or commercial property. Those cheap repairs will not last very long, and you could find yourself dealing with the exact same problem—or worse—in a few weeks or months. Then you’ll have to pay to have yet another plumber come out and fix what the first one did. It’s more cost-effective to choose a qualified plumber who’ll get the job done correctly the first time, so the repair is long-lasting and you don't have to worry.

2. Inexperienced

It stands to reason that most people want to hire a plumber with extensive experience. We have all heard that old saying, "Practice makes perfect." But that means it can be difficult for an inexperienced plumber who is just starting out to find work, and they may lower their prices considerably to get a foot in the door. While that may sound understandable, keep in mind that your plumbing is a complex system with a lot of potential for things to go wrong. It takes years, and sometimes even decades, of experience to inspect, diagnose, and repair it correctly. A cheap plumber who’s cutting costs might end up costing you more than you thought when they make novice mistakes.

The classic example of this is a cheap plumber in Edmonton who went to repair a simple leaky pipe—but tried to save money and time by not shutting off the water supply to the condo building first. Needless to say, it caused a major flood in the apartment. Two apartments suffered serious water damage, and the tenants were forced to vacate for expensive water damage mitigation. An experienced technician who isn't rushing and is focused on getting the job done right would have assessed the situation correctly and shut the water off first. Our expert team of service professionals avoids mistakes like this by taking their time and relying on years of qualified plumbing experience.

3. Unprofessional Behaviour

Inviting someone into your home to provide services can be an uncomfortable experience. You need to know they will do the job right, of course, but you also want to know that they will display friendly, courteous, and professional behavior at all times—so you don't have to worry about your own safety or comfort. That’s not something you can always expect from cheap plumbers.

We talked about cutting corners, and excellent customer service takes time—which is why it’s one of the first things to go out the window when you hire a cheap plumber. Plumbing professionals who care about their customers, such as the ones on our team, will always take the time to address your concerns, answer any questions you may have, and even offer maintenance tips that will help you avoid future repairs.

4. Could Be a Scam

Incompetent, rude service is bad enough, but homeowners don't want to also worry that they’re hiring a scammer who intends to take their money without doing the work. Unfortunately, this does happen. A so-called cheap "plumber" who sounds experienced and above board will get in touch with you, and may even come out to your house to look at the issue. They promise a surprisingly low rate that you just can't refuse—and then take your money and leave the work half-done, or not even started.

When you choose an established, reputable company, you don't have to worry that you’re being scammed by a cheap plumber. Scammers usually set up "companies" quickly and then abandon them once they’ve stolen money from a few people. You may also encounter a situation where a cheap plumber charges an hourly rate and spends way too long getting the work done to inflate the bill. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton offers upfront, flat rates and gets jobs done efficiently, so you know exactly what you’ll be paying before we begin.

5. Can't Get the Job Done

To be fair, a cheap plumber in Edmonton may get started with the best intentions, thinking they know what needs to be done to fix your system and get the water flowing again, only to get halfway through and realize they’re in way over their head. Or, they don't have access to the right equipment to complete the job. That is an embarrassing situation that can lead to shoddy work, covering up the real problem with a "band-aid fix," or just abandoning the job. They may also realize that the quoted price simply isn't realistic for the amount of work required, and ask for more money. This means you aren't paying the cheapest price after all, and may as well have hired a skilled technician from the start.

When you make an appointment for routine services like Edmonton drain cleaning or maintenance, it’s an opportunity for an expert plumber to assess your system and notice hidden problems. An inexperienced, cheap plumber may not have the skill to properly inspect and diagnose your system—leaving critical repairs unfinished that will cause you a lot of stress, money and time in the future.

6. Not Licensed

Some people assume that all plumbers are licensed, but that is not always the case. The risk of hiring someone who is not licensed increases when choosing a cheap plumber. Edmonton property owners should take due care to ensure they are only hiring licensed plumbers, so they have the peace of mind that comes with knowing their service professional has the proper training and ongoing education to complete repairs and replacements correctly, while also adhering to municipal and provincial building codes. While everyone should ensure their plumber is licensed, it may be particularly important for commercial customers who could have their business penalized, or be forced to stop working, if their commercial system is not up to code.

7. Not Insured

Fixing pipes and fixtures can be a lot more dangerous than people tend to think. In fact, it’s a profession with a high injury and illness rate, and there are hidden dangers such as mold or chemical exposure. An inexperienced, cheap plumber without insurance is a recipe for disaster, and a plumber with suspiciously cheap rates is a lot less likely to be insured. That means if something goes wrong and your property is damaged or someone is injured while working at your house, you could be responsible for covering costs. While our experienced, skilled plumbers are much less likely to encounter a dangerous situation that results in damage or injury, you will have peace of mind knowing they are insured in the unlikely event something happens.

8. No Guarantee

What happens if a service provider repairs an issue with your system and you pay them—only to discover a couple of weeks later that they didn’t repair it correctly, or they used a shoddy part that’s already breaking down? If you choose a cheap plumber in Edmonton, nothing at all will happen and you’ll need to hire another service provider to come out and fix the repair—incurring even more expense and frustration. If you choose a qualified plumber from Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton, it’s highly unlikely that you will experience further problems. If you do, we will make it right. We only hire the best, which is why we stand behind them with a guarantee on all workmanship and parts.

How Do I Find the Best Plumbers on a Budget?

Now that is truly the question. You still want a good deal on experienced, reliable services, even if you understand the reasons not to hire a cheap plumber. Edmonton homeowners are lucky—they have access to the best plumbers available at a reasonable rate when they call the pros at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton. Need more information? Check out the key qualities of the best plumbing companies in Edmonton.

Are You Thinking of Hiring a Cheap Plumber, in Edmonton?

Don't do it! We know it can be very frustrating to have a plumbing malfunction, from clogged toilets to frozen pipes, and not have much room in your budget to cover it. The experienced team of professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton will work with you to provide the highest standards of workmanship and customer service at rates that won't break the bank. You won’t have to worry about further complications and costs caused by a cheap plumber in Edmonton.