How to choose a reliable plumber

A good plumber is one of the most useful contacts you can have, and one of the hardest to find in a hurry. This guide walks you through what to check before you book, so you are not making decisions while water is coming through the ceiling.

Work out what kind of plumber you need

Plumbing covers a wide range of work, and not every trader does all of it.

• General plumbing: leaks, taps, toilets, radiators, bathroom fittings and pipework.
• Gas work: boilers, gas hobs, gas fires and anything connected to a gas supply. In the UK, anyone who works on gas appliances must be on the Gas Safe Register. A plumber who is not registered can still do the water side of a bathroom, but must not touch the gas.
• Heating systems: boiler replacements, central heating design and repairs. Much of this is done by heating engineers rather than general plumbers.

Being clear about the job before you call saves you from being told, on the day, that the trader cannot do half of it.

Check credentials you can actually verify

Do not rely on a logo on a van. The checks below take a few minutes and are free.

• Gas Safe Register: if any part of the work involves gas, ask for the engineer's Gas Safe ID card and check the registration number on the register. The card lists the types of work the engineer is qualified for, so check that the category you need is covered.
• WaterSafe: this is an approved contractors' scheme for plumbers who have been trained in the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations. It is not compulsory, but membership is a reasonable sign that the plumber understands the rules on connecting to the mains supply.
• Public liability insurance: ask whether the plumber has it and for how much. A reputable trader will not be offended by the question.
• Company details: if the business is a limited company, you can check that it exists and is active at Companies House.

Ask the right questions before you agree anything

A short conversation on the phone tells you a lot about how the job will go.

• How do you charge: an hourly rate, a fixed price for the job, or a call-out fee plus time? Ask what the call-out fee covers and whether it includes the first hour.
• Is the quote a quote or an estimate? A quote is a fixed price for a defined piece of work; an estimate can change. Get the difference in writing.
• Are materials included? If not, will you be charged trade price or something else?
• What happens if the job takes longer or reveals another problem? Agree that you will be told before any extra work starts.
• Is the work guaranteed, and for how long? Ask for the guarantee in writing.

Write down the answers. If the plumber later tells you something different, you have a record of what was said.

Get more than one quote for anything non-urgent

For a burst pipe you will take whoever can come first. For a new bathroom, a boiler replacement or re-piping, get at least three written quotes. Ask each one to break down labour and materials so you can compare like with like. A quote that is much lower than the others is worth questioning rather than simply accepting: it may leave out something the others have included.

You can find plumbers near you on Annuvell Local. Each listing shows checked contact details and a Request Quote option, so you can send the same description of the job to several businesses and compare the replies.

Know your rights

Two pieces of consumer law are worth knowing.

• Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, services must be carried out with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable time, and for a reasonable price if no price was agreed in advance. If the work is not up to standard, you are entitled to have it put right or to a price reduction.
• If you agreed the contract at home, over the phone or online rather than at the trader's premises, you normally have a 14-day cooling-off period in which you can cancel. If you ask for urgent work to start within that period, you may be charged for the work done, but the trader should have told you about the cooling-off right.

Keep every message, quote and invoice. Paying by card or bank transfer rather than cash gives you a clearer record.

Warning signs

• Pressure to decide on the spot, or a price that is only available today.
• A refusal to give a written quote, a landline number or a trading address.
• Cash only, with no receipt.
• Reluctance to show a Gas Safe card when gas is involved.
• Very vague answers about what the guarantee covers.

None of these on its own proves anything, but two or three together are a reason to look elsewhere.

Next steps

Write down what you need doing, decide whether it involves gas, and check the relevant registers before you call anyone. Then request quotes from a few plumbers, compare what each one includes, and choose the one whose answers were clearest rather than simply the cheapest. Once you have found a plumber you trust, keep their number: the next emergency will be easier.