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Looking for “Plumbers Near Me” in Kelowna? Here’s What to Do

Posted in Clogged Drains, Damaged Pipes, Plumbing Repairs

Help! How Do I Find the Best Plumbers Near Me in Kelowna?

Are you tired of searching “plumbers near me” and sifting through page after page of search results that aren’t telling you what you really need to know? If you’re experiencing trouble with your Kelowna plumbing system, you’ve got enough to deal with already — you don’t need the added hassle and risk of hiring a plumber who isn’t capable or honest.

But how do you find out which Kelowna plumbers will not only avert disaster by restoring your plumbing system to fully functioning condition, but also make you feel at ease by treating you and your property with respect? That can be a challenge, but it’s worth it to build a lasting service relationship with a plumber you like and trust, so you have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ll get the help you need when something goes wrong with your pipes or plumbing fixtures.

This guide outlines five steps you can take that will make it a lot easier to find the “plumbers near me” who will be able to get your water flowing again with long-lasting repair solutions while always communicating honestly and clearly with you so you know what to expect at every part of the process.

Want to skip straight to the part where you have a friendly, capable plumber on your Kelowna doorstep as soon as possible? No problem — at 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. we pride ourselves on fast response times from experienced professional plumbers. Give us a call right now at (250) 801-0911, any time of the day or night, to find out more about what we can do for you.

5 Steps to Find the Right Plumbers Near Me

The first thing you need to do is narrow down your search to a short list of possible candidates. These five steps will help you find Kelowna plumbers and plumbing companies who may fit the bill, and trim down your list to a manageable size before you start calling.

1. Ask for Referrals

Start by turning to the people you trust to offer honest, unbiased opinions and referrals: your friends, family, and neighbours in the Kelowna area. Every homeowner needs plumbing services at some point, so there is a good chance they will be able to tell you about their experiences with local plumbers and point you in the direction to someone who will be a good fit to get your problem resolved. You may even be able to view the results of plumbing work in their homes and judge for yourself if it is up to your standards. Questions you can ask to get a clear picture of their experiences include:

• Did they arrive on time for your appointment?
• Did they behave professionally and make you feel comfortable?
• Did they take the time to answer your questions and clearly explain their recommendations?
• Were you satisfied with the results of the plumbing work?
• Did they go above and beyond in any way?
• Were the scheduling and billing processes handled smoothly?
• Is there anything you wish they’d done differently? If so, did you address it with them? How did they respond?

2. Check Online Reviews

Once you’ve spoken with friends and family in Kelowna to get their opinions on the best local plumbing company, it’s a good idea to head to the computer and check out some online reviews from local people in the Kelowna region. Detailed reviews, whether they are negative or positive, can be extremely helpful in the search process — and it’s even better if they provide photos to help prove their claims.

Speaking of proving their claims, how can you tell if a review is truthful? Some negative reviews are planted by rivals to make a company look bad, or are written by the type of person who’s never satisfied. On the other hand, some dishonest businesses will write their own positive reviews in an effort to make themselves look better. The best way to figure out which reviews are genuine and honest is by consensus. If it’s mostly terrible reviews with a few suspiciously great ones in the mix, that’s a warning sign to stay away. But, if you see many 5-star reviews with a couple bad apples thrown in, it is a positive indication that you’ll be pleased with the service as well.

3. Confirm They are Licensed

Before you go any further, you should ensure that you’re considering a licensed plumber. When you hire licensed professionals, you know they have the certification and ongoing training to provide safe, capable service that meets all building code requirements. It’s also an indication that they’ll be aware of technological advances in plumbing and safety, so they can use the current methods and techniques on your system and ensure their approach to plumbing repair services is up to date.

4. Make Sure They Offer the Plumbing Service You Need

From a leaky pipe or a sewer backup to a running toilet or nasty drain clogs, there’s a lot that can go wrong with your plumbing system — and not every Kelowna plumber is equipped to deal with all the potential issues that can come down the pipe. You can pretty much count on any plumber to provide the basics such as faucet installation or drain cleaning services, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be willing and able to offer more advanced or specialized services such as sump pump replacement or hot water heater installations.

Check for a list of plumbing services on their website to confirm that they offer the type of professional service you are looking for. If you’re in need of an unusual or highly specialized service, it may not be listed on their site, and in that case it’s best to call and confirm. If they offer a comprehensive list of options, they’re more likely to be able to handle your project as well. 

5. Find Out If You Are in the Service Area

Finally, it’s a good idea to check and make sure you are within the service area for any plumbing service provider you are thinking of hiring. If you’re outside their service area, they may not be able to help you or may charge extra to compensate for the additional travel time. Checking where the company is located in relation to your home will also give you a sense of how long it will take them to reach you, which can be good to know in an emergency plumbing situation. 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. proudly serves Kelowna and surrounding areas such as West Kelowna, Lake Country, West Bank, and Peachland.

What to Ask Before Hiring Plumbers Near Me

Now that you’ve narrowed down your list to a couple of possibilities, you’re nearing the end of your search for Kelowna’s best plumbing experts. It’s time to pick up the phone and ask your potential plumbers near me some questions that will help you determine if they are the right fit.

Any company who is proud of the work they do should be pleased to answer, so don’t hesitate to ask! The way they answer these questions will give you a good sense of how they’ll handle service calls. Grab a pen and jot down some notes so you can compare.

How Long Have You Been in Business?

If a company has only been in business a short time, that’s not necessarily a bad thing — after all, they can still hire experienced, competent employees. But if they’ve only been operating for a few short weeks or months, it’s a potential red flag that could indicate they’re a scam looking to take your money without completing the work. Also, a business that has been operating for longer will be more practised with making sure processes such as scheduling, billing, and customer service go smoothly. That doesn’t necessarily impact the plumbing work, but will make the experience a lot better for you.

How Much Experience Do You Have With This Plumbing Issue?

Plumbing is skilled work, so it stands to reason that the more practice they’ve had, the better. Not all plumbing tasks are created equal, so it can be helpful to find out if they have previous experience dealing with the particular problem that you need addressed.

How Long Do You Think This Will Take?

You want to get an idea of how long the plumbing service is going to take so you can plan accordingly by taking time off work or making provisions for the water being turned off — but keep in mind that it is just a rough estimate. A qualified plumber can tell you how long the work would generally take, but they won’t know all the details of your particular situation until they investigate and assess the problem.

Do You Offer Free Estimates?

Some plumbing services will charge you just for offering a basic cost estimate, yet in our books, that’s needed information that helps you choose the plumbing professional who is right for you. They should be willing to offer a free estimate with every call. Again, keep in mind that an estimate is just that. Once they’ve had the opportunity to assess your plumbing system in person, they should be able to offer a quote in writing for a reasonable price.

What is Your Payment Structure?

Find out if they accept the type of payment you prefer to use, whether that’s credit, debit, cash, e-transfer, or another method. Some companies don’t accept cash, or avoid credit card transactions due to the processing fees. Also, ask how the payment will work; do you need to pay a deposit or hand over the entire fee upfront? Or will you be billed after the service is provided? Knowing what to expect in advance will help the payment and billing processes go more smoothly.

Do You Offer Any Discounts?

No one wants to pay more than they have to for home services, and that includes plumbing. The company you’re speaking with may or may not offer discounts, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. On top of the affordable rates charged at 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd, we also offer coupons that you can take advantage of for extra savings.

Who is Responsible for Supplying Parts?

Most plumbing companies will supply parts needed for repairs. Since they’re the experts they are going to have the best idea of what’s needed, so it makes sense. However, there are some situations where you may need to supply or at least select parts — if you’re having a new toilet or faucets installed, for example, you will need to choose the style. Either way, it’s a good idea to understand the expectations of who will be supplying what.

Will You Clean Up After Yourself?

Plumbing work is messy, and someone has to clean up after the work is done. Ideally, that person will not be you. When you hire 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. you can count on our expert technicians to clean up the mess from their work and leave your home in better condition than they found it.

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services?

You may not be dealing with an emergency plumbing situation at the moment, but this is still a helpful question to ask in case you encounter a future plumbing emergency. If you get service now that you are pleased with, you’ll have an emergency plumber on speed dial when disaster strikes. It’s reassuring to know that you’ve got a 24-hour plumber who can assist you at any time of the day or night — even on a holiday long weekend!

Stop Searching for “Plumbers Near Me” in Kelowna and Call 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd!

Whether you’re in Kelowna or a nearby area such as West Bank or Peachland, you can rely on 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. for expert plumbing services in Kelowna BC, 24 hours per day and seven days per week.

Give us a call today at (250) 801-0911 to speak with our friendly customer service representatives about how we can enhance your plumbing system and make your life easier!