11 Tips to Find the Best Plumbing Services in Mississauga

You wake up after a freezing night and turn the faucet so you can make your morning pot of coffee. Nothing happens.

You go to flush the toilet, but the water doesn't go down. Instead, it keeps rising. Applying the plunger does nothing.

You hear loud gurgling noises coming from your bathroom. When you investigate, you find sewage has started backing up into the bottom of your tub.

What now?

These are only a few situations where you’d want to ensure you find the right plumbing company for the job. You’d want to choose experienced Mississauga plumbers you can trust to fix the root problem and provide honest service so your daily routine can quickly return to normal.

Continue reading to learn eleven tips that can help you find the best plumbing services in Mississauga.

Why Finding a Great Plumber Matters

You may wonder why it's so important to choose the best plumbing services. They're only fixing your toilet or unclogging your sink, right? So what's the big deal?

The thing is, plumbing issues go far beyond what the average homeowner assumes. Even something as simple as fixing a toilet or unclogging a sink can go sideways.

If something goes wrong, there can be drastic consequences, especially if the plumber was not properly licensed, or insured. A plumber works with your home's water source and waste methods. These two systems can even become intertwined; your water could be contaminated if someone doesn't know what they're doing.

Unprofessional plumbing can lead to many issues, including a worsening of existing problems. Working pipes could be broken, and water could damage your home. Your water source could potentially be contaminated with sewage.

Common Plumbing Issues

There are many reasons you may need to hire plumbing services in Mississauga. Common issues you may need to hire a plumber for include:

Clogged or dirty drains
Waterline repairs
Frozen, leaking, or burst pipes
Water heater-related issues
Sewer line repairs
Sewage backups
Kitchen and bathroom hardware replacements

These are only a few examples. There are many other issues you may need to hire a professional plumber for.

Why Do Common Plumbing Issues Occur?

There are many reasons something may go wrong with your home's plumbing. Since plumbing deals with so many different things, the reasons may vary widely.

A few of the most common reasons you'll want to hire a plumber include:

Food or small items have lodged in the kitchen sink
Hair and soap scum have backed up your shower
A clogged sewer line has backed up into your home or yard
Something has clogged the toilet
Pipes have become old and begun to break or burst
You want to replace the faucets in your bathroom or kitchen
Your toilet has become cracked or otherwise physically broken
You notice that for some reason your water bill is much higher than normal and yet, you see no faucets that are leaking
Your shower has become cracked or broken
Flooding has occurred that caused water or sewage backups
Someone has dumped grease, oil, or butter into the kitchen sink
The temperature has dropped below freezing, and your pipes have frozen
Pipes that were frozen have expanded too far and burst
You notice that you run out of hot water more quickly than ever before
Your hot water heater has become old, damaged, or otherwise needs repair

These are a few prime examples of why common plumbing issues occur. Many other factors might contribute to a plumbing issue, depending on your unique problem and situation.

Here are our top 11 tips to help you find the best plumber:

1. Ask for References From the Company

An honest company should be able to offer relevant references from recent customers. If you're provided with these references, don't just hold onto them. Follow up by calling and inquiring about the company's services.

Remember, these should be relevant references. Some companies may provide other services along with plumbing, such as HVAC or handyman services. You want references specifically for plumbing.

2. Check Online Review Sites for Verification

There are many online websites where customers can leave reviews of the companies they've used before. Before hiring a company, take a scroll through at least one of these sites. It'd be easy to offer only good references and forget an onslaught of displeased customers.

Online, people can leave honest reviews. If most people are leaving positive reviews, you can feel confident in hiring a company. If most reviews are negative, this should be a big red flag to go with someone else.

When reading negative reviews, remember that people are human and do make mistakes. When you do read negative reviews, see how the company has dealt with these issues.

3. Ask for an Upfront Estimate

Most respectable companies should be able to offer an upfront estimate on any plumbing services in Mississauga. It is almost impossible to give someone a price over the phone until the problem is actually visually inspected by an experienced technician. This is important because the problem may have more underlying issues than what is actually showing. One can almost compare it to calling an auto mechanic, telling him that your engine is knocking, and asking what is wrong and how much it will cost to fix the problem. The mechanic actually needs to inspect the vehicle. If companies do give a price over the phone, come out and inspect the problem, the price may often be higher than verbally given over the phone. Upfront pricing should include all work needed to offer a permanent solution, with no hidden costs.

Some projects may have unexpected things come up while work is underway. A professional plumber should explain extra costs before working on something you didn't discuss. This is just common professional courtesy.

But what happens when a company does work you didn't sign off on and expects you to pay?

If you end up in a situation where an unprofessional company does extra work, you should take this to court. A professional will always have you sign something in writing before moving forward and incurring you additional project costs.

4. Ensure the Company Is Licensed, and Insured

Ontario requires plumbing companies to be licensed through a professional licensing agency. A company that isn't licensed to work in your province isn't a legal business.

Bonding and insurance requirements vary. Together, a bond and insurance will protect both yourself and the plumbing company.

A "bond" is an amount of money placed aside for claims filed against the company. The amount of money varies. The bond will ensure you get any money needed for damages while also helping the company remain financially stable after a claim is filed.

5. Ask If Employees Undergo Background Checks

Many plumbing companies employ more than one person. Smaller companies may only have two or three employees, whereas larger companies could have a dozen or more.

Before hiring a company, ask if employees undergo background checks. Plumbers work inside your home. During their job, they'll be around your family, pets, and most valuable possessions.

You want to ensure it's safe for this person to be in your home, and a background check is one of the only ways to do so. A company that doesn't run background checks on all new employees is showing that they don't care about the safety of their customers.

6. Ask How Much Experience the Plumber Doing Your Job Has

Here is where a lot of well-meaning homeowners make a mistake. They ask about the experience of the person they speak to in person or over the phone. Usually, this point of contact will be the owner (although not always).

Knowing how much experience the owner has doesn't help if they aren't completing your job. Ask about the person who will be doing your plumbing services.

Sometimes, it isn't immediately certain who will do your plumbing project. The owner or customer service representative can offer a range of experiences their staff holds. For example, between two and twenty years. Be diligent, and ask specifically about the plumber(s) who will be completing your service.

7. Inquire What Certifications the Plumber/Company Has

Certifications aren't always mandatory. Most certifications are extra steps in learning that range from safety to equipment handling and beyond. Always inquire what certifications the plumber or the company has received.

The company may have had their staff undergo health & safety training, for example. They may have undergone operator training on a new type of equipment. It's even possible some (or all) plumbers have undergone customer service training.

Every relevant certification is important. But why?

Additional certifications show that the staff has been trained more thoroughly than required. They show that the company is dedicated to both their careers and their customers. A company or plumber with certifications proves they go above and beyond what is expected of them.

8. Ensure They Have a Physical Location

Be wary of any company that can't give you a physical location. No, P.O. boxes don't count. Lack of a physical location is one of the most significant warning signs of a scam company.

All businesses should have a physical location. This counts for companies like plumbers who don't do much (if any) business through that location.

Another thing to be cautious of is anyone who comes to your home soliciting their services. A real plumber won't go knocking on people's doors, hoping to turn a quick buck. The people who do this are usually either not professionals or scam artists.

9. Inquire About Emergencies

Before hiring a plumber, ask if they do emergencies. Even if the project you're looking to hire them for isn't an emergency, it's a good thing to know. Most homeowners prefer to use the same company for all their plumbing-related needs.

Plumbing emergencies can arise at any time. Sometimes, they might be caused by apparent reasons like storms or old plumbing. Other times, it can seem as though there is no reason for the pipe that suddenly burst or the toilet that won't flush anymore.

Knowing you have a reliable company to call when these situations occur can take a lot of stress out of those situations. While on the topic, remember to ask if there are extra service charges for emergencies. You don't want to be surprised if something comes up.

10. Ask If They Have a Satisfaction Guarantee or Warranty

Ask the plumbing company you hope to hire if they offer a warranty or a satisfaction guarantee. A verbal agreement isn't enough. You'll want something in writing.

If something breaks from negligence or simply isn't fixed right, having an agreement in writing can save you. The best plumbing services in Mississauga will have no problem living up to those guarantees, either.

11. Gauge Their Customer Service

When you're making your phone call or talking to someone in person, gauge the customer service you receive. Ask yourself the following questions:

Did you feel like you were actively listened to?
Were they friendly and helpful?
Did the person you spoke with appear to know what they were talking about?
Did they ask you questions to clarify anything they didn't understand?

You can tell a lot about a company by how good (or bad) their customer service is. If the plumbing company cares about their customers, they'll work hard to make them happy.

After Your Plumbing Services Are Finished

One thing you'll want to consider is leaving a review or reference for the plumbing company you use if you're satisfied with their services. Why?

Leaving a review of your own can help others find a reliable plumbing company. If nobody left reviews, there would be none for you to look over when finding the best plumbing services in Mississauga.

Leaving a rating and a brief overview of what you thought is like paying it forward. That simple effort is beneficial for both future customers, and the company used.

It's also highly suggested you save the phone number to the company in your phone. This will keep it easily accessible next time you need plumbing services. Leaving a magnet or paper with the phone number on your fridge is also a great idea.

Do You Have More Questions About Finding the Best Plumbing Services in Mississauga?

It's essential that you do your homework when you’re looking for the best plumbing services. There is too much that could go wrong if someone doesn't know what they're doing. The eleven tips and extra information provided above can help you do just that.

Or You Can Choose Us!

Our local Mississauga plumbing team follows all of these guidelines and offers above & beyond courteous service. If you still have any questions (or just want to do your due diligence with the above list), Contact Mr Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga today! One of our associates would be happy to answer any questions you still have.