I’ve been witness to quite a few bad habits in the plumbing industry over the years. One of the most widespread bad habits takes place during the construction of new homes. While bidding out the project, the contractor will generally hire the least expensive plumber. But you usually get what you pay for, and a cheap plumbing system in a new home means that corners are cut somewhere. Contractors are deciding to save money at the expense of longevity and quality. As a consequence, after only 5 to 10 years, the homeowner will end up having to replace some very expensive plumbing items. Spending a little bit more upfront could have led to much more longevity for the new home’s plumbing system.
Another bad habit is when plumbers charge for time and material. In other words, you’re being charged by the hour in addition to paying for parts. That’s fine if you have a very efficient plumber who is able to do a good job in minimal time. In most cases, though, plumbers who charge this way end up having to make a run to the supply house even though they could have had those items ready in the first place. Charging based on time and material ultimately results in unnecessary anxiety and uncertainty for the homeowner.
Next, plumbers often fall into the trap of treating the symptoms instead of treating the actual root of the issue. For instance, if a toilet is leaking or starts to run during the nighttime, the symptom can quickly be remedied by replacing the flapper. But the question then arises, what caused the flapper to go bad in the first place? Maybe it was due to something like an underlying water quality issue. Although it might seem less expensive to just keep replacing the flapper in the toilet, the underlying water quality issue is doing damage to other places like the water heater and faucets (which are much more expensive to replace/repair). Digging deeper and resolving the actual problem is the better thing to do.
When you need your plumber, you need your plumber. It’s not like you can just decide to wait a few weeks if you have a drip or leak. Less expensive plumbers might work out on one occasion, but once you have to reach out to them to take care of an urgent issue, they might be difficult to contact. You might not even be able to reach them by phone at all. It’s inexcusable for someone in the plumbing industry to have the bad habit of being unreachable. Plumbers must be available to answer phone calls and respond in a reasonable time. Whether you need a plumber for new construction or service and repair for your current home, be wary of these all-too-common bad habits across the industry. For guidance and assistance from the team at Wisler Plumbing and Air, contact us online or give us a call at 540-483-9382.
