Did you know that indoor plumbing has been around for almost 5,000 years?
Thankfully, with plumber technological advances, our plumbing systems are highly efficient and sophisticated compared to those of the ancient Egyptians — but they are not infallible.
Household plumbing systems often develop problems that need fixing. Some minor drips and blockages can be sorted out by DIY work but the majority of plumbing issues require a professional plumber.
Plumbers attend to a plumbing services lot more than just leaking taps. They protect your home from expensive water damage and, if you have ever been in a situation where your home is flooding from a plumbing issue, you know how alarming that can be.
There are many reasons to hire a professional plumber rather than attempt a fix yourself…and we take a look at these below.
- Proper diagnosis of plumbing issues
You can’t fix a problem if you don’t know what it is. Sometimes, attempted fixes make the problem worse. Untrained eyes may not get to the root cause of the problem.
With a professional plumber, the real problem will be correctly identified before any repair work is attempted. We use equipment like infrared thermometer guns, cameras to see into pipes, and gas leak detectors to diagnose the issue so that repair work is appropriate and efficient.
- Safety
A professional plumber offers an important advantage over a DIY fix: safety. Plumbing issues can create hazards in the home, some of them serious like electrical faults or gas leaks.
As fully licensed and insured plumbers, we’ve been properly trained in safety procedures. Safety always comes first whether it’s changing a water heater, replacing a furnace or tackling frozen pipes.
- Permanent plumbing solutions — not quick fixes
Sometimes, a quick fix is needed just to get through an emergency but calling a professional plumber will result in a more permanent solution.
Repair jobs should be made to last. Correct diagnosis, equipment, expertise and experience all contribute to a lasting outcome that will serve your household for the years ahead. The alternative is the same problem arising again and again, which can be an expensive annoyance.
- Support if things go wrong…
Who’s going to help if your DIY job goes wrong? Normally, you end up having to call a professional plumber anyway, wasting time and money.
With a professional fix from Alpha Plumbing, you’ll receive friendly backup customer support if needed. Your professional plumber will keep you informed at every step and explain the work being done.
In the unlikely event that something goes wrong, our insurance coverage means everything can be sorted out easily.
- Access to the latest plumbing equipment
You’re unlikely to have professional plumbing equipment lying around at home. Many plumbing issues require a lot more than a pair of pliers and a screwdriver.
With our professional plumbing equipment, we can diagnose and fix problems much more efficiently than homeowners. Jobs that a homeowner might take days to fix can be completed in hours.
- Cost-efficiency
If your DIY job is unsuccessful, it might cost more to fix up your plumbing issue than if you’d simply made a call to a plumber in the first place — especially if you need to buy tools to do the job.
By investing in a safe and permanent solution to the problem rather than a patchwork fix that might come unstuck later, you may end up saving money.
- Save time
Do you really want to spend your Saturday afternoon troubleshooting and fixing that plumbing issue?
Some problems take a lot of time to repair. A pro will look after it more efficiently and free up your time.
How do you make sure a plumber is right for the job?
Professional plumbers help save you time, headaches and money. But it can also be a headache trying to find a reliable, experienced, and affordable plumber in Calgary.
It’s useful to ask a series of questions and gather some basic information before hiring any plumber. That way, you can make an informed decision about the plumber you hire…
- “Can you show licenses and references?”
Besides many experienced and licensed professional plumbers in Alberta, there are, unfortunately, plenty of unqualified and inexperienced plumbers practicing here. If they cannot show a valid licence and references, keep a wide berth,
- “What level of training have you undergone?”
There are different levels of professional plumbers according to their training and competence levels: from an apprentice plumber just starting to a journeyman plumber who has completed an apprenticeship and is pursuing further education for license renewal, to a master plumber, who is fully qualified and experienced.
- “What experience do you have?”
Experience counts for a lot in any profession. Try to gauge your plumber’s level and steer clear of any so-called professional who cannot show at least several years of experience in the plumbing profession.
- “Do you have the necessary insurance and surety bond?”
Don’t touch a plumber without insurance. If something goes wrong during the work and causes damage to your home (or injury to your family), professional plumbers will cover repairs through their insurance.
A bonded plumber also ensures that a surety bond covers any unforeseen costs associated with the repairs.
- “Do you offer a guarantee?”
Alpha Plumbing guarantees all parts and labour for one year. We put our money where our mouth is!
If your professional plumber can’t provide similar assurances, you may want to look elsewhere as it could mean that they are not confident enough to produce the results that their customers expect.
- “Who’ll be doing the work?”
Some professional plumbers work independently while others work as contractors for larger plumbing companies. Make sure you know who’ll be performing the plumbing work in your home.
- “Do you clean up after the work?”
Professional plumbers should leave your home as they found it. Make sure that your plumber commits to clearing up plumbing waste, boxes and so on.
- “Will you provide a written estimate for the work?”
A professional plumbing company should be able to provide a written estimate for the plumbing repairs. Our plumbers will visit your home and provide a quote, which is the best way as it ensures an accurate estimate based on a diagnosis of the real issue(s).
Hire a professional plumber in Calgary
Whether your drains are blocked or you need repairs or maintenance to household equipment like a water heater, an experienced plumber from Alpha Plumbing can save you time, money, and headaches.
Remember, all plumbing work is covered by our one-year guarantee for parts and labour.