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Plumbing equipment and plumbing professionals are everywhere, so it can be a bit overwhelming trying to figure out where to go when you’ve got a problem. Is your clogged drain severe enough to warrant a call to a local plumber? Is your leaking pipe as bad as it seems? Do you have enough money in the bank to cover the cost of a plumber?
These are all important questions and they can lead people to make choices that are suboptimal, bordering on scams. The good news is that our team is here to help. Not only can we be your local plumbers in Clearwater, but we can also offer you advice that will save you money and keep your plumbing system in better shape.
Just follow along to learn about some of these disastrous plumbing scams and how you can better avoid them.
Chemical Drain Cleaners: The Biggest Scam
Every grocery store has a plumbing aisle, and it’s riddled with bottles that have colorful labels on them. These bottles are named with catchy names or given cool slogans that make them seem more effective than they actually are. The bottles claim wild things like how they can alleviate drain clogs in minutes, or how they can leave your home smelling fresh and clean after you use them.
But in reality, drain cleaning chemicals are a net negative for your home. Not only are they ineffective in most cases, only slightly alleviating drain clogs while causing nasty fumes to rise in your bathroom or kitchen, but they’re also detrimental to your plumbing system and the health of your pipes.
These chemicals can be caustic or acidic, eating away at the lining of your pipes until they leak or break apart. They’re not a replacement for a plumber and in many cases, they’re a scam.
Unlicensed Plumbers
Plumbers come licensed in three categories–apprentice, journeyman, and master plumber. Apprentices are only allowed to work with a master plumber as they’re still learning the trade. Journeyman and master plumbers are able to complete work on their own and their license proves they’ve gone through training and experience.
If you’re paying a plumber who doesn’t have any of these certifications, or who’s an apprentice without someone surveying their work, you might be in the middle of a scam. Plumbers need to be experienced and licensed to perform work correctly, and this is a huge red flag if you’re hiring an amateur without these credentials.
Asking for Payment Before Work Is Completed
Most plumbers will give you an estimate before the work they provide, or if it’s a large project they’ll simply ask for a deposit. But any plumber who asks you to pay for work before you’ve received an estimate and time to think it over is one that is likely trying to scam you.
Plumbing is a service. Most plumbers worth their salt will know that they should complete the work before they charge customers and provide a receipt. Anyone who wants money before anything is done is likely trying to pull a fast one or is a bit overconfident in their abilities.
Go With Your Gut
Make sure you go with your gut when these situations come up. If they don’t feel right, or if you feel like you’re getting pressured into work that doesn’t fit your bill–then say no!
You can always trust The Clean Plumbers. It’s time to contact the one with the bubbles on the trucks!