How to Choose an Emergency Plumber in Sydney, Before You Actually Need One
The last thing you want to do is to select a plumber when the water has already risen. That is a list of things to remember when it’s a calm day in Sydney.
When it comes to plumbing emergencies, there’s an uncomfortable reality: you need to hire someone when you need them the most and you’re not the one with the most experience. Water is flowing over the kitchen counters, in one hand a phone, in the other a towel, whoever responds first will likely win the job. That’s how people end up overserved, underserved, or worse. The fix is easy, and virtually no one does it: select your emergency plumber on a peaceful Tuesday afternoon, before anything breaks. So what does a genuine one look like?
Start With the Licence, and Actually Check It
Plumbing, draining and gasfitting are licensed trades in New South Wales because it’s important, poor work by these tradespeople can cause damage to buildings or cause harm to people. All plumbing contractors in Sydney are licensed under NSW Fair Trading, and this is what most people don’t know: anyone can check any plumbing licence online, and it takes less than a minute. You can check any specific trader by their name or licence number on the Service NSW licence check, and see if the licence is valid, what types of work the licence is valid for, and who the licence holder is. A true operator will display the number on their website and vehicles. When a business hesitates when asked for it, that is the answer.
The Four Questions Worth Asking Before You’re Desperate
The tone of voice used when reading a phone message at 2pm can be used to predict the tone at 2am. During business hours, call your shortlisted plumbers and ask:
“Is there any call-out charge?”
Some companies come for a fee, others come for free and price based on what they find. Neither model is lying, but you do want to know beforehand, so you’re not at the mercy of some surprise call-out that removes one glitch from a stressful night.
“Can you give me a set price before you begin the job?”
The correct answer is an unequivocal yes, and the answer is, “Assess first, quote in writing, begin on your approval.” The reason bill shock exists is that there are vague rates for the hours and no limit.
“Are there additional fees for after-hours work?”
There are companies that charge a night and weekend fee, and others that charge a flat rate. Again, both are valid, but you need to hear them clearly said.
“Do you make written reports for insurance?”
Water damage is one of the most prevalent types of home insurance claims in Australia, and your insurance provider will have to obtain a licensed plumber’s report on the cause of the failure. This is a routine of a professional outfit.
~$5,000Insurer QBE estimates the average household water-damage claim in Australia runs into the thousands of dollars, with severe claims far higher. Where you land on that range will depend on the plumber you hire and their response time. |
Response Time Beats Everything Else
Damage accumulates minute by minute when pipes are open, a single failed flexi hose under a vanity can allow up to 1,500 litres of water to pour out an hour. So the question isn’t simply “are they good?”, it’s “how fast can they get here?” Choose operators who actually run the service in your local area, not all over Sydney, who speak to you on the phone 24 hours a day and will give you a realistic time of arrival, not a pretty lie. To prove whether 24/7 is marketing or not, dial the number late one evening and find out.
Red Flags That Should End the Conversation
Some red flags, experienced by others the hard way: no quotes in writing; pressure to agree to big jobs, full repipes, excavation, that night, without seeing anything; asking for a large up-front payment before any work is done; no reviews anywhere, no licence, no ABN; and prices that are dramatically lower than all other competitors, which is the appetiser before a much bigger bill. Just as you would do with any tradesperson: verify, ask, compare.
Then Save the Number Where You’ll Find It
The last step only takes 10 seconds, and almost no one does it. When you’ve got a Sydney licensed and straightforward emergency plumber you want to call, store the number in your phone somewhere that’s easy to locate, such as EMERGENCY PLUMBER, or on the fridge for when you’re not there. Repeat the above step for the location of your water main. The families who escape the scourges of plumbing aren’t lucky, they made their selection beforehand.
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