Your business’s plumbing may not seem like a big deal now, but it will the moment something breaks. The right commercial plumbing service will not only deal with your emergencies quickly, they’ll also perform maintenance that reduces the number of those emergencies.
Follow these steps to find the perfect commercial plumbing service for your business:
1. Make a list of all the services you’re looking for
Not all commercial plumbers are created equal. Some only provide a few basic services, while others provide comprehensive maintenance and emergency care packages. You need to know what you want from your plumbing service before you can choose the right group.
Some of the most important services to look for include drain and sewer repairs, frozen pipe thawing, water heater repairs and installation, as well as 24/7 emergency plumbing services. If your business includes a commercial kitchen you’ll also want a company that provides hydro jetting services.
2. Ask other business owners for their recommendations
Other successful business owners can often provide the best recommendations for quality services. Always ask people in a similar industry to yours, as they are the most likely to have similar plumbing needs. If you don’t already have a trusted local network of business owners in your industry you can find these people on forums or in Facebook groups.
Be sure to ask why they’re recommending the service as well. You want to know what makes the company they’ve chosen stand out from other services.
3. Research, research, research
There are two aspects to this: creating a list of companies you might want to work with, and finding out which of those companies is actually worth your time.
Your list of potential plumbers should start with recommendations from other business owners, but that’s rarely enough. A quick Google search can give you 5-10 more local services to add to your list. This might sound like too many options, but when you’re making decisions for your business, you can’t be too careful.
Once you’ve got a list of at least 5 potential plumbers, take some time to research those companies. Check out not only the testimonials on their website, but also reviews on third party websites. Type in a Google search along the lines of “COMPANY NAME bad service” to root out complaints. If you notice more than a couple complaints about a specific service, run the other way.
4. Get multiple estimates
Most reputable plumbing companies offer free on-site estimates for the majority of their services. These meetings serve as both a way to figure out what you’ll be spending and to assess the professionalism of the companies you’re considering. They should be able to tell you not just how much money you’ll spend, but also exactly what that money pays for.
Getting multiple estimates helps you get a feel for what commercial plumbing services typically cost in your area, and helps you root out anyone over-charging. You may even be able to get companies to out-bid each other for improved savings.
5. Don’t be afraid of changing your service
Setting up a new commercial pumbing service is annoying and time consuming, but it’s better than sticking with sub-par service. If you’re not happy with the first service you choose, don’t be afraid to switch to a new one the moment your current contract ends. If the service is really bad you shouldn’t even wait that long—you can usually get out of these contracts if the service fails to meet the agreed-upon standard.
