It’s best to have a plumber in mind before an emergency happens. Should something go wrong, such as a burst pipe, you’ll be in a panic and may not be thinking clearly when searching for a plumber. This can lead to a number of bad decisions, including not choosing the best company for the repair job. Before you do anything else today, read through this list of things to look for in a plumber and find one in your area. Write down the name and number of the company and then place it in an obvious area. This way, you’ll be prepared when disaster strikes.

1) Training and Qualifications

This is the first thing to look for in a plumber. The company that you choose must have trained and fully qualified plumbers on staff. Many states don’t have certifications that plumbers need to pass, but some do. It’s important for you to know whether or not your state has this requirement. Even if you live in a state that has no governing body for plumbers, you should still ask about experience and training.

2) Tools

The plumbing company that you hire should make their employees travel to homes with a full toolkit. There’s nothing quite like a plumber getting to a job only to find out that they need more tools. Meanwhile, your drain is clogged, and water is pooling in your basement. You can avoid this situation by asking your potential plumber about the tools that they provide. Of course, there’s always that one situation when nothing works, and the plumber needs to call in back up or get more tools. It happens, but that should only be for those weird, unplanned situations. Not common ones.

3) Good Recommendations

Never hire a plumbing company that doesn’t provide references or have good reviews online. The majority of their reviews must be positive and prove that the company hires people who know what they’re doing. You can also ask your friends and family for recommendations. If they live nearby and have worked with a particular plumbing company in the past, they should be more than happy to pass that information along.

4) Location

You need a plumbing company that’s located near you. Otherwise, you could end up waiting for a very long time for them to show up. Many have a certain geographic area that they stay within. It just makes sense for them. While you shouldn’t hire the plumber that’s located the closest to you (unless they fit all of the other criteria), you should make sure that they work in your area.

5) Emergency Service

Ask your potential plumbing company if they offer emergency services. You might need a plumber at 3am because your house is flooding due to a broken pipe. There are plenty of situations that call for emergency help at odd hours. The plumber in Salt Lake City that you choose must be able to respond when needed.