If your home or business has plumbing problems, you can’t just handle it yourself. You need a reliable professional to take care of the issue. Depending on the size of your home or business, you might need a plumber that comes in regularly to maintain and fix things like leaky pipes and toilets. Or, maybe you have one or two small issues that only require occasional maintenance. If so, you might not need a full-time plumber at all. Instead, you could just use an auxiliary plumber once in a while. Or perhaps you have enough space for a regular full-time plumber who comes in regularly to maintain and repair your plumbing system? Before taking the plunge and hiring a full-time plumber, though, make sure they’re actually needed and won’t cost more than they’re worth with hidden fees later on down the road. Finding an auxiliary plumber doesn’t have to be difficult either. Here are some tips for locating one easily:

Don’t just search for plumbers.

If you’re just starting out with searching for a plumber, you might be tempted to just search for plumbers near me. This is not the best idea if you want a reliable plumber. Instead, search for plumbers that have experience serving your area and are certified by industry standards. Look for plumbers who work on a regular basis, as opposed to one-time fixes for broken pipes in the past.

Ask your neighbors and builders

One way to find a local plumber is to ask your neighbors and builders. Most people know someone that’s either a plumber or knows someone that’s a plumber because it’s such an essential job. The best thing about this method is that you get multiple opinions on who the best choice might be. If you don’t know anyone in the building, look at the website of the builder. Ask if they have any affiliated businesses they could recommend to you. There may be somebody nearby that’s affiliated with them and would provide quality services at a lower price than if you found a full-time plumber yourself. Another option for finding a plumber is to see what types of ads are placed around town on billboards, bus stops, and other areas in your area. If there are any signs advertising for plumbers in your city or neighborhood, that’s another sign of potential service providers in your area.

Hire a home service provider

One of the best ways to find a plumber is by hiring a home service provider. These companies often offer more than just plumbing services, but their rates tend to be more competitive for what you’ll receive. In addition, depending on the company, you might even get free estimates and advice about other services that your household needs.

Check online sites like Yelp, Google and Yellow Pages

The first place to look for a plumber is online. Yelp and Google both have sections specific to plumbers. You can also use the yellow pages for local listings as well. If you’re looking for a service that might be a little more specialized, like an electrician, you can find them on these same websites too.

Call local plumbing companies

You can start by calling local plumbing companies and ask them if they have any auxiliary plumbers or if they can recommend someone. They might not be able to help you out personally, but they should be able to point you in the right direction. If that doesn’t work, try doing a quick search on the internet. You might be surprised how many plumbers are listed in your area!

Visit local hardware stores, home improvement stores and repair shops

One of the best ways to find a plumber is to visit local hardware stores, home improvement stores and repair shops. You’ll be able to talk directly with the people who are familiar with the needs of small business owners like yourself. These types of places might offer more reasonably priced services as well.

Have a licensed professional come to your home for an onsite assessment first

Before you decide to hire a plumber, you should have them come to your home for an onsite assessment first. The assessment will let the professional see what repairs are needed and how much they might cost. This way, you can make sure that you’re getting the best deal for your money.