Choose Brick Street Plumbing & HVAC Services

In a modern home, we have access to a lot of convenient amenities.  One of the most important ones, of course, is plumbing.  Let’s face it – it’s a pretty big deal to make sure that our plumbing systems are maintained.  No one wants to be stuck without being able to flush or without being able to take a shower, right?

With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that finding a local plumber to take care of your needs is paramount.  While we can read articles like this one to get a vague sense of why this matters as well as what to expect, there are a lot of things to cover.  If you’d like to get an idea of how to pick a plumber, make sure to stick around!

 

What do They do?

Of course, the most important thing for us to cover is this: what is the role of plumbers, anyhow?  What sort of services should we expect from them?  Don’t worry, that’s what we’re here to cover!

As far as a basic definition goes, it’s fairly simple: they’re a type of skilled professional who specializes in maintaining, repairing, and installing various plumbing systems.  This is quite important at the end of the day, as it’s how we’re able to ensure we have clean water that’s safe for consumption.

Responsibilities

Now, whether your plumber is in Maryland or anywhere across the country, there will be some basic things to keep in mind. 

One of the primary responsibilities of these professionals is to install new systems, which could include pipes, fixtures, or appliances.  This could be in residential spaces, industrial ones, or even commercial ones – that will largely depend on the specialization of the contractor in question.

As we hinted at above, another aspect of this is maintenance.  You see, they perform regular maintenance tasks to ensure the plumbing system is functioning properly, such as checking for leaks, clearing clogs, and replacing worn-out parts.  If you do end up calling in a local plumber, these are likely tasks they’ll be completing if necessary.

Additionally, they can offer repair services for anything that could need it.  Again, that could include anything from pipes to appliances to fixtures.  Typically, they’ll also want to perform some sort of examination before delving right into this sort of job.

With that, we stumble upon another responsibility they have: troubleshooting.  They identify and troubleshoot problems with plumbing systems, such as low water pressure, clogged drains, or faulty appliances.  Along with that, they can perform tests to make sure all of the systems are working properly.

Skills and Knowledge

Naturally, plumbers are equipped with plenty of skills and knowledge that they’ve honed over time in order to perform the above responsibilities.  Let’s take a closer look at what that might look like, though!

Understanding of codes: While you may not have known this, there are complex systems behind the installation, maintenance, and repair of plumbing – and that’s on a legal level!  Plumbers must be familiar with local building codes, regulations, and standards related to plumbing systems. 

Pipefitting and Pipe Fabrication: This is something that not as many of us are familiar with, comparatively at least.  You see, these professionals need to understand pipefitting techniques, including pipe sizing, material selection, and fabrication methods – all of that can be quite critical both in residential and commercial settings.

Piping Systems: Of course, there’s even more to it than just what we mentioned above.  They must also understand water supply systems, drainage systems, gas systems, and sewer systems.  This is especially important if our plumber also offers HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) services.

Fixtures and Appliances: Obviously, in order to be able to install, maintain, and repair these things, plumbers need to be knowledgeable about them.  This could include toilets, sinks, showers, dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters, as well as air conditioners and ventilation systems in some cases.

Choosing a Plumber

With all of that covered, hopefully you have a better idea of what to expect out of a plumber.  Still, though, the burning question is how can we really choose one?  What sorts of qualifications should we be looking at?

What do You Need?

Before you start searching for a plumber, define your requirements.  This could involve something like figuring out what the nature of your issue is (be that a leaking drain, a clogged toilet, or something else entirely), whether this is an emergency or a repair that could be scheduled, if you need a specific type of plumbing such as hydro-jetting, and whether you need someone who specializes in residential properties or commercial ones.

Referrals and Research

Your next step should be to do some research.  You could ask your friends and family members, or even neighbors, if they have any advice as far as which local plumbers they would recommend.  As far as research goes, don’t be afraid to check out online reviews to see what other, similar consumers have to say about the contractors you’re thinking about.

When you’re doing your research, it doesn’t hurt to verify things like the licenses and certifications of a plumber.  For instance, you could check their license and certification status on your state’s licensing board website, if you’re really concerned about it.  Checking out their website to see what they have listed is a good initial step though.

Additionally, you may want to see what their experience and skill level is.  You can look for plumbers with experience in the type of service you need (e.g., commercial, residential, industrial).  To find out more about this, you could call their customer service, check out their social media, or simply browse their website to see what they have advertised there.

Overall, selecting a plumber doesn’t need to be a stressful process.  While it’s a good idea to take your time and be methodical in your research in instances where you have the opportunity to do so, that doesn’t mean you’ll never find the answer!