In case you have a leaky faucet, need to upgrade your water heater or install a new toilet bowl, you want to have a professional next to you who knows what they are doing. And finding a good plumber is not an easy task, especially if your issue is very complicated or needs immediate attention. Your area probably has dozens of plumbers available, but you can’t just let anyone mess with pipes and fixtures in your home. It’s best to go local because local tradespeople have the best understanding of the area, parking, hardware stores nearby, and local directives. So what do you do? Getting an experienced and reliable plumber shouldn’t be a lottery, so here’s how to determine which one is just right for your needs. 

Ask your friends and family

Start with the easiest route, grab a phone, and chat a little bit with your friends and family, especially those who recently went through a house renovation. They probably still have contacts from their tradespeople and remember well how their plumbing jobs went. And since your friends and family love you, they have no hidden motive to lie and recommend someone badly. The recommendation will most likely come with both the positive and the negative; they won’t hold back in any way to offer you an exact picture of the situation. Maybe you’ll even get an invite for a cup of coffee so you can see the results yourself and ask additional questions or grab some of the ideas for your bathroom or kitchen design.  

Ask another tradesperson

If you’re planning a whole house renovation, it will be much easier to get a good plumber. Why? Well, your electrician will definitely know someone who does plumbing so take their recommendation to heart. People in the trades industry often know people from many different trades fields, and have worked alongside various experts on complex projects. See if your tradie has enjoyed working with a certain plumbing company and check whether they are willing to give you contact information. 

Check their credentials

In most cases, it’s best to choose a plumbing service company with a longer history than a company that’s new on the market. The first one often has plenty of credentials and good reputation marks that will paint a picture worth a thousand words. In Australia, there are different Local Business Awards, Product Review Awards, and even Best Plumber Awards. So if you’re looking for a reliable plumber for pipe relining in Northern Beaches, definitely check whether they have some rewards in their display case. These usually guarantee that the company is reputable, focused on technical abilities, offers great customer service, and delivers consistently high-quality results.

Contact plumbing associations

If you’re new to the area and don’t know any neighbors or tradespeople, here’s what you can do. Find your local trade association online and check whether they have any local plumbers listed in their association. These listed are typically good and experienced plumbers with an attitude of professionalism and dedication. Ask around in your local association of plumbing and heating contractors, as well as with your local institute of plumbing and heating engineering. 

Dig around on your local community groups

In recent years, many local communities decided to make Facebook groups and Instagram pages where people living in the area can share information and ask questions. If your community has such a commodity, join and ask for recommendations on plumbing professionals. After several people recommend a certain plumbing company, they will likely deliver good results. 

Try review websites

If you were quite unlucky when looking for plumbers in your area through friends and family, as well as through your other recommendations, you could always try online directories and review websites. Remember that these plumbers are not personally recommended, meaning that the reviews can be rigged. However, if you read the reviews, check out the ratings and look at the photos, you can most likely gauge the quality of their work. Some websites have verified reviews that are not anonymous or made to look too generic. Also, sometimes, reliability comes in numbers, and the more reviews a plumber has, the more accurate the review is going to be. And don’t get scared of negative ones—it’s impossible for all reviews to be five stars. 

If you follow the reviews and recommendations, the chances are that you can get the best plumber for your needs and end up with amazing results. No matter if you need your plumber to handle your dripping taps, your clogged toilets or your old piping, you’ll know your fixtures are in good hands.