5 Things To Watch Out For When Your Pipes Go South

Now that things are starting to warm up here in Amarillo, we can finally get out and enjoy the sunshine and fair weather. That would be ideal, wouldn't it? Unfortunately, quite a few of us here in town are not able to frolic in the sunshine.

You know why? It's because we're a little too busy trying to deal with the aftermath of last week's deranged winter storm. You know....busted pipes and water damage.

It's a big problem when pipes burst. And it's enough to bring a tear to any homeowner on a normal day. You can only imagine the chaos unfolding in Texas right now. Hundreds of homes with burst pipes and plumbers booked up for weeks out.

Oy vey.

You don't want to find yourself in those dire straights do you? Or if you have, you don't want to have it happen again, right? Well, Amarillo. Let's talk about what you can watch out for right now. 

The sooner you catch a problem with your pipes, the quicker you can move to fix it. And that's the best thing you could possibly do (apart from actually calling the plumber to come out).

But that brings me to the main point of this whole post.....Plumbers. Plumbing repairs. The whole thing.

This is the time as a consumer, you've got to be smart about your money. I mean, even the District Attorney is warning the public about phoney plumbers making the rounds. Just keep in mind that If something sounds too good to be true.... guess what? It most definitely probably IS. Now, these things might sound like common sense, but read them anyway. Refresh your mind and stay sharp.

1. Money Up Front 

Perhaps the biggest and most important thing and if this is all you take away, let it be this one. No credible plumber will ever charge you the full amount up front for repairs. If you happen to find yourself in this situation, politely move on and find another qualified person for the job. There may be initial costs but they should total no more than 10-15% of the job.

2. That Out-of-Town Phone Number

Believe it or not there are plenty of folks who travel the country to do work after storms many times local companies will hire these folks on temporarily to help with work load and get to you faster. But if you're dealing with a plumber who is out of the local area code all together... might be time to move on. You want someone here locally in the Amarillo area who can come back if follow up work needs to be done in the future.

3. They "Forgot a tool"

Generally speaking most plumbers will have everything they need to work with on them or in their work vehicle. while it is normal to have to order parts, It's not normal for a good plumber to be without tools, if they need to charge you for tools or tool rental... watch out.

4. The License

A good reputable plumber will also be licensed by the State of Texas and is also required to carry insurance should something go wrong with the job. beware of those who say "I'm not licensed but I know what they know" They usually don't. You can always check with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners on a plumbers' credentials

5. Trust Your Gut

If something isn't right... you don't have to accept the estimate. Momma always said shop around. Get that second opinion, It's your home it could save you thousands. and if you're working with an insurance company, the same rule applies, You have the right to choose who works on your home.

May all your troubles go down the drain!