Picking the right plumber can be the difference between a smooth repair or a disaster, in this blog we’ll outline the types of plumbers, their charges and what ceritifications to look out for .
Deciding between a normal plumber vs an emergency plumber?
A normal plumber may deal with renovations and bathroom installations or non-urgent repairs
An emergency plumber deals with same-day urgent repairs such as leaks or toilet not flushing
It’s important to know the difference before calling for plumbers, as many plumbers only work normal 9-5 hours
Luckily here at Fixlan we offer 24/7 support for emergency repairs.
How do the charges work?
Emergency plumbers typically charge a call-out fee and then an hourly rate
The call-out fee is justified because the plumber often needs to rush to the job within 45-90 minutes since it’s an emergency, and this can also be out of normal working hours
The call-out fee gives confidence to the plumber that the customer is serious, before the plumber is dispatched and sent to the job
Why do plumbers charge per hour?
Most local plumbers and companies will bill their time based on a plumber’s hourly rate- the amount they charge for an hour’s work.
This is usually because each plumbing job is different and can require different materials, skills and labour time.
Typically, no matter how small the job, they will charge for at least an hour to cover everything.
Plumbers also charge a premium rate for emergencies and jobs that are outside of normal working hours, normally this is via a call-out fee and a slightly higher than normal hourly rate
How do I know a plumber is good?
Luckily, with Fixlan, all our plumbers are vetted and local
“Vetted”- meaning they have had plenty of past job experience and have at least a level 2 Plumbing NVQ , as well as public liability insurance
“Local”- meaning they are local, understand the area well, and are much more friendly and personable, compared to a large company
Overall, our advice is to ensure the plumber has some google reviews or checkatrade or trustpilot reviews online before calling them
