Reliable Plumbing Service In Broward County – Red Flags To Watch For Before You Hire

In Broward County, the hot, humid conditions with abundant rainfall and tropical storms mean a lot of water and regular localized flooding. Due to this, plumbing services in the greater Broward County area need to understand the risks involved in fixing a leak and ensuring that the job they do will stand the test of nature when it calls.

A danger that exists within the plumbing industry is that it is full of fly-by-night companies that are looking to make a quick buck and are not being entirely honest with you as the customer. A licensed plumbing service is the only way to go if you want your plumbing looked after and if you want to have any recourse should something go wrong in the aftermath.

We’ve created a guide to help you identify the red flags of when a plumbing service may not be worth using, and subsequently, what you can look for in a reputable plumbing service.

Zero License Number – Zero Trust

As plumbing is a highly regulated industry in the state of Florida and the tri-county area, a reputable plumbing contractor should have a state-certified or locally registered license to trade, preferably both. Illegitimate contractors know that customers will inquire about licenses, so in truth, they seem to be uncomfortable when questioned about it. Be sure to ask the question, as this could “out” them, at least to you, before you hire them.

Watch for the following tell-tale signs:

• Vague answers when asked about their license
• Claiming to work under someone else’s license
• Deflecting and distracting when asked about their license
• Telling you that a license is no mark of the plumbing contractor’s skill

A reputable plumbing service will simply tell you about their license and offer to show it to you on request. A license number is verifiable, so you will be able to still go and check it out with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DPBR)

A Hard Sell Sales Tactic That Makes You Feel Pressured

Another favorite of any scammer is that they will attempt to “hard-sell” you. This is a tactic applied in sales where a salesperson will apply a significant amount of pressure to you as the customer in order to close the sale. They can do this in a number of ways, but essentially all of them prey on the level of nice person that you appear to be and also your perceived ignorance about the technical ins and outs of plumbing.

Look out for these favorite tactics:

• There is usually some hidden problem that is “massive,” and if you don’t fix it immediately, your home will flood, fill up with sewage, etc. An essential part of this ploy is that it’s in a hard-to-reach area that you can’t see as the customer
• Your problem, which was initially a leaking faucet, seems to require a $5,000 re-piping job
• A simple problem can’t be fixed easily but requires more work to be done
• There’s a general sense that the plumbing service is not trying to set you, the customer, at ease. Even when there is a concerning issue, they try to keep you in a fearful space

An honest plumber will always show you video camera evidence or point out the issues that they believe are causing the problems. They will then discuss options with you and cite the pros and cons of each approach.

100% Payment Upfront

This is a major issue to be aware of, and is often paired with the previous red flag! Remember that if you have made any payment upfront, then you will have departed with your money without receiving anything for it. A plumbing service worth its salt will never ask you to pay upfront. At the very least, they will ask for a small deposit to make the call and then provide you with an updated estimate to repair the issue. Most plumbers will only ask for the remainder of the payment upon completion of the job.

Low Estimate Without Seeing The Problem

Some plumbing services are highly skilled with many years of experience, but nobody is so good that they can tell you what is wrong without performing a proper plumbing inspection. In fact, an experienced plumber will not even attempt to speculate because they know that each installation is nuanced and unique.

Here are some additional causes for concern:

• You’re given an initial “lowball” estimate only for them “discover” (more likely “invent”) a drastic issue that requires immediate repair, conveniently after they have dismantled everything
• There are no items listed in the estimate, so it is given to you just as a vague single price

A licensed plumbing service in Broward County will usually ask for a small call-out fee and then provide you with a fully itemized and written estimate when they are done.

The “Homeowner” Must Figure Out Permits

While it’s prudent to be informed, many homeowners are not professional plumbers, and they do not know the ins and outs required by the regulating authorities when it comes to each specific trade. While you should be informed about what is required for your home, you should not be asked to do the work yourself. In Broward County, large jobs such as replacing a water heater or sewer line require permits from the city.

Here is how and why the tricksters try it this way:

• First, they attempt to get you to pull the permit, as you are the “homeowner” which may seem reasonable
• The reason WHY they do it like this is that whoever pulls the permit is the one liable for repairs if it fails inspection
• After the inspection fails, they will be long gone, and you will have to get another plumbing service in to redress the situation to pass inspection

The Plumbing Service Is Not Insured

This can become a major personal liability to you if you hire a plumber who is not insured. Let’s have a look at the following most important points about plumbing and insurance.

• Florida requires a licensed plumbing service to carry a $100,000 general liability minimum as well as a $25,000 property damage liability
• If the plumber or one of their workers is injured on their site and they are not insured you are viewed as the employer and will be liable for their medical bills and could even be vulnerable to litigation for unpaid wages
• Accidents do happen, and even though it’s rare, a very experienced plumber can have a very bad accident that floods your home and ruins property. If they lack the General Liability insurance to pay for everything, then you may have to turn to our insurance, which brings us to the last point…
• Your insurance may reject the claim, as they will rightfully view the contractor’s insurance to have been liable as per the state law

Smaller Common Sense Checks

We’ve just had a look at the large red flags that indicate that a plumbing service appears to be unlicensed and may take shortcuts. Now, let’s just have a look at a few sanity checks that can ensure you get the best plumbing service in the tri-county area:

• They have a well-maintained and neat, informative website that gives up-to-date contact details
• There are plenty of good online reviews. If there are a lot of negative reviews, then this is a sign that the contractor is perhaps worth avoiding
• Their staff looks more like models hired for a photoshoot than the actual real-world individuals who would work for the company. Not all plumbers are Channing Tatum look-alikes
• They reply to your communication timeously with a plan of action to get the estimate sorted out
• They list their license number on their trucks, website banner, and all marketing material

The Plumbing Magicians of Broward County

If you’re looking for a reputable plumbing service that understands the needs of homeowners in the greater Broward County area, then Magical Plumbing is your plumber of choice.

Initially, we started our plumbing journey in New Jersey, where we are still licensed to operate. With over 20 years of experience in the trade, we have worked on all jobs, big and small, and do our work with pride and the greatest level of care and excellence.

If you need a licensed plumbing service to repair an issue or handle an installation for you, then give us a call at 954-688-9214.