When you need to hire a plumber, you can't afford to spend your hard-earned money on shoddy work. According to the Hook Agency, there are around 120,467 plumbing businesses in the United States today. If you're having trouble narrowing down your list of plumbing companies, here are eight helpful questions you can ask your plumber.

1. Are You Licensed?

Plumbers are required to carry a valid license to do plumbing work in most states. If your plumber is licensed, that means they went through years of schooling and an apprenticeship program to learn how to get the job done the right way. Even if there are no license requirements for plumbers in your state, you should always check for licensing and hire licensed plumbing companies to work on your home or business.

2. Are You Insured?

Professional plumbers do their best to be careful when they're working on your home, but nobody's perfect. If there's a leak or some form of serious damage to your home during plumbing repairs, hiring an insured plumber means you don't have to pay for those repairs out of your own pocket. Before you hire a plumber, make sure they're insured if you want to avoid expensive bills.

3. How Long Have You Been in Business?

When you want the best work, hiring experienced plumbing companies is the way to go. Experience gives plumbers a chance to work on a variety of projects, from new construction to remodels and simple repairs. You can usually figure out how long a plumbing company has been in business by checking the website, but you can always give local plumbers a call if you want to learn more.

4. Have You Worked on Similar Projects?

Whether you're hiring a plumber for a remodel, new construction, or a few simple plumbing repairs, you want to hire someone who's worked on similar projects. Ask plumbing companies in your area about some of the projects they've worked on before you hire anyone to make sure they're up to the task.

5. Do You Offer a Guarantee?

When you're paying somebody to service your home or fix a water leak, you expect them to fix the problem so you can move on with your life. The last thing you want is to have to pay for plumbing repairs a second time because the first company you hired was incompetent. This is why it's smart to ask if plumbing companies guarantee their work, so you don't have to spend your hard-earned money to fix the same problem twice. Instead, you can call your plumber and let them know you're still having issues, and they'll come to fix them for you.

6. Can You Provide a Quote?

You don't want to go in blind when you're hiring a plumber, so get a few quotes for your project before you hire anyone. You probably don't know how much it should cost to hire a plumber, so it's smart to talk to a few different plumbing companies to figure out how much your project typically costs. Comparing quotes from several plumbers can save you a significant amount of money.

7. Do You Work with Carpenters and Drywallers?

Plumbing projects can vary quite a bit in terms of how involved they are. If your pipes are in the crawlspace under your house, your plumber can probably get your plumbing problems fixed without having to cut into any walls or floors. If you've got a leak in a wall, the only way to access that pipe is to cut into the drywall. Before you hire a plumber, find out if they work with reputable subcontractors who can help you put your home back together when the plumbing work is finished.

8. Do You Offer Emergency Services?

It's always smart to have a plumber you can call when there's an unexpected leak or hot water shortage. Look for plumbing companies that offer emergency services, that way you have a reputable plumber you can call at any time. Emergency plumbing services can save you a ton of money by preventing water damage and mold growth.

Owning a home is a lot of work, especially when it's time to hire pros for plumbing work. Asking the right questions is a key part of making sure you're hiring a plumber you can trust. If you need plumbing repairs or installation, give Plumb Fit a call to schedule service today.