[Closed] How do you find a plumber?

Wave a £50 note out your window , that will get you an estimate.

Speak to friends and neighbours and get a recommendation of who they’ve used.

Otherwise it’s a lottery.

Pub, local cricket or football club, someone will know a good one.

Depends what’s wrong some just fit new, but don’t repair, others repair but don’t fit.

Don't go with any of the big companies unless you like rip off prices

in the end I went on valiants website, looked up their list of approved fitters who were local, and searched for companies that were close to my postcode. I then looked at their websites to determine who was a sole trader and not. Then I researched any feedback about them online.

Then I got them in. And they were good.

i have had no luck with recommendations (can never get hold of them). I have used various websites like trustedpeople etc.. where you post your job. Whenever I've used these I've felt the guys are trying it on with pricing / and then not been overly impressed with the job done (I could do better if I had the time). Possibly I'm unlucky

I have used various websites like trustedpeople etc..

Yeah I kinda think that they can't be very good if they need to advertise (ie, they pay to get a listing, there is little or no actual checking of their ability to do a good job and there are loads of rumours about false reviews being left on them). All the good tradesmen I know are booked up weeks/months in advance.

Similar with recommendations, I've then found they're too busy or they've been recommended for some big job and they're really not interested or far too expensive for a small task. Nice Instagram pics of fancy work they've just done as part of a renovation in a posh house tends to give an idea of the cost. Though I like a bit of social media / web site and email awareness, though yahoo/hotmail email addresses put me off also. Do they ever read them? Doesn't provide much of a professional image. Same with a listing that's just a mobile number. No website or anything.

Neighbours - looking at the people one had to do boiler and knowing they do things on the cheap, I had doubts they're even Gas Safe registered. New flue, looked modern install. When they sold up couple years later, next owner had it all ripped out and replaced the flue.

British Gas - rip off and waste of time. Only interest is selling a new boiler at inflated prices. Servicing is simply a quick inspection by monkeys who press buttons on their computer that tells them what to do. If something really needs doing they have to send a proper engineer, who then has to order parts (basic common parts) so yet another day waiting in. Even then one issue I had they had to call someone with an actual clue back in the office who told them immediately what the problem was from a simple description.

Used check trade last time we needed a plumber, worked out fine in the end. Could try a request on the LFGSS forum on wither the home diy or home owning thread https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/156860/

I phone up my home insurance and they find me one.

Do you have home emergency cover on your insurance?

If you've got a Toolstation near you there will probably be a board with loads of local tradesmen's business cards on it, otherwise you could find your local plumbers merchant and see who they recommend?

Search "heating engineer" as well. Some differentiate between the two trades

I had to get a boiler replaced the week before Christmas in sw london. I always use someone I have some collateral with, so ask the local agent who is good. Never had a problem, you probably pay a bit more but the job was done well.

Have you looked under the sink?

What issues are you having?

https://www.mybuilder.com/

(Full disclosure, the site owner is a friend of mine.)

I know a very good plumber, done lots for me. Gas registered and very friendly.
North London based.
Email Me if you want his details
j.carn at mail. Com

Similar with recommendations, I’ve then found they’re too busy or they’ve been recommended for some big job and they’re really not interested or far too expensive for a small task. Nice Instagram pics of fancy work they’ve just done as part of a renovation in a posh house tends to give an idea of the cost. Though I like a bit of social media / web site and email awareness, though yahoo/hotmail email addresses put me off also. Do they ever read them? Doesn’t provide much of a professional image. Same with a listing that’s just a mobile number. No website or anything.

So, you want him to pay for a website that doesn’t display fancy work, have a manned landline/office, available now and not charge very much?

Wave a £50 note out your window , that will get you an estimate.

Bit cheap, you'd need a couple of them to attract someone!

OP, have you tried the classic facebook post asking?

I rang a few nearby ones from https://www.checkatrade.com/ , worked out fine.

just to expand on my last boiler breakdown experience.

SSE had to wait 3 weeks for an engineer (freezing cold house, with a 3 year old and 1 year old and not happy wife). Engineer turns up, says entire flue needs replacing at £1k. Caps boiler off. Next time an engineer (the one guy that does this work in the area) can make it is 4 weeks.

Find the valiant guy who is local, call him Friday lunch time, he pops in on his way home, takes a quick look, says he thinks it is a failed rubber seal allowing gases to flow back into the boiler on the 90 bend, replaces seal, has a chat. Done in 30mins, for a £60 call out charge.

I think recommendations are great if you are in no rush and can wait several weeks / months not really useful in an emergency unless you are super lucky

In my current house...

The first one I used came as a recommendation from a work colleague. He fitted a new towel radiator in my bathroom. The work he did looked fine, but when I looked he hadn't properly supported the pipework under the floorboards - I improved the support myself and it only took a couple of minutes to do so.

The second one I used I found based on google for local plumbers - he was based only a couple of streets away. He fitted a new ballcock in my cold water tank. Again the work was fine, but I felt £120 for 15 minutes work was a bit much.

The third one I used I found via Checkatrade and he fitted a new boiler for me a couple of years ago. He did a superb job and I'd definitely use him again. He quoted a fair price for the work and even sorted out a couple of other small jobs at no extra cost while he was there.

Keep it local and look for established, family-owned firms who have a local reputation to defend.

Blimey - 22 posts and no one has said plumberstrackworld.com......

Damn, all I've got here is a 'Yikes'. This seems much harder than it should be...!

jim25

Member
I know a very good plumber, done lots for me. Gas registered and very friendly.
North London based.
Email Me if you want his details
j.carn at mail. Com

Thanks, I'll send an email now! Just checking - is that at 'mail' dot com or is that typo for 'gmail'?

Cheers

Wave a £50 note out your window , that will get you an estimate.

Naturally, living in London, my drapes are made out of spare £50's - I'll leave the window open.

/massive sarcasm