Reviews and feedback

Ask whether the quote is given before work begins and whether it is in writing when the job is large. A plumber who will not explain the price is a warning sign.

Ask how the plumber diagnoses problems. A good answer includes testing, looking at the cause and explaining it to you. Be cautious of anyone who recommends a major repair without showing you why.

Ask about the warranty on parts and labor. Know what is covered and for how long, and keep your records.

Check that the company is licensed where required and carries insurance. You can ask for proof and verify with the appropriate state licensing board.

Read reviews for patterns. A handful of detailed reviews that mention the same strengths tells you more than a perfect score with no detail.

Look at how a business responds to criticism. Calm, specific replies that offer to fix the problem are a good sign.

Compare quotes carefully. The lowest price is not always the best value, and a very high price is not proof of quality. Ask what is included.

Trust your sense of how you are treated on the phone. A business that is patient and clear before you hire it tends to be the same afterward.

See our guide to choosing a plumber for a longer checklist you can use with any company.

Be careful with reviews that sound the same. A wave of similar five-star comments posted close together can be a sign of something other than real customer experience. Look for natural variety in the writing, specific details and a mix of dates.

Consider what the review is about. A review of a quick faucet repair tells you little about how a company handles a burst pipe, a sewer problem or a water heater replacement. Match the review to the kind of work you need.

Do not ignore the negative reviews. Every business has an unhappy customer now and then. What matters is what went wrong, whether it was fixable and how the business responded.

Ask friends, neighbors and family. A personal recommendation from someone who has used a plumber for a similar problem is still one of the best sources of information.

Finally, ask us anything. Call (470) 847-9076 with your questions about how we work, what we do and what you can expect. We are glad to explain.

One more point on ratings: a single number cannot tell you how a plumber handles your specific situation. Use ratings as a starting point, read a few detailed reviews and then call and ask your own questions. The way a company answers the phone, explains your problem and offers a quote says a lot about how it will treat you during the job.

If you are comparing several companies, write down the same questions for each: how they quote, how they diagnose, what the warranty covers, whether they are licensed and insured and what happens if the repair does not hold. Comparing the answers side by side makes the choice clearer than comparing star ratings alone.

Also think about the size of the job. A small repair is a low-risk way to try a new plumber. A major project, such as a repipe or a sewer line replacement, deserves more research, written quotes and a clear scope of work before you sign anything.

Finally, remember that a good plumber is also one who tells you when a repair is not needed. If a company recommends only the biggest, most expensive option every time, ask why, and consider getting a second opinion on large jobs.