Your home or business is a private space that you can’t invite someone to unless you know them personally or have been verified and recommended to you. When you have a minor or major plumbing issue, the first person that rings your mind is a plumber. Your primary concern is if the person you’ve hired to fix the plumbing mess does his/her job perfectly. Here are some tips for choosing qualified Melbourne plumbers, the services they offer and the types of tools they use to maintain, repair, and install plumbing fixtures.
What type of work does a plumber do?
When sourcing plumbing services, most people confuse three terms: general plumbers, plumbing contractors and specialty plumbers. However, not all plumbers are created equal. Here are the key differences about these three professionals that you probably didn’t know:
- A general plumber
When you have a clogged drain, leaky faucet, or faulty sewer, the first person to call is a licensed plumber. You depend on them to install, fix, or maintain your plumbing systems. These professionals are trained to handle minor and major plumbing issues related to homes and businesses.
- Plumbing contractors
Unlike general plumbers, Melbourne plumbing contractors are trained and licensed individuals or companies that deal almost exclusively with new installations/ constructions, remodels, and renovations. They also oversee plumbing tasks involving water supply, septic systems, and many more.
- Specialty plumbers
Specialty plumbers are trained and licensed to perform specific tasks related to their areas of specialization. For example, such a plumber could only be dealing with sewer lines, drains, and sinks. They aren’t like gas plumbers who specifically install and repair gas leaks. So, when hiring such a professional, you should accept that they can’t handle all tasks a general plumber would.
Which types of services do plumbers provide?
Melbourne plumbers are your first go-to professionals when you run into an emergency. They partake everything from toilets to overflow, to clogged drains and sinks, to burst pipes. The good news about these plumbers is they are officially trained and apprenticed under a plumbing contractor to receive their training. They install or fix common plumbing fixtures like:
- Toilets
- Faucets
- Bathtubs
- Showers
- Shower drains
- Hot water dispenser
- Water filtration
A plumbing contractor is responsible for:
- Performing more complex projects a plumber wouldn’t.
- Constructing or remodeling home waste disposal systems
- Installing gas connections and water heaters that use gas or electric power
- Installing gas control valves
- Installing back-flow blockers
- Taking up the role of plumbing consultancy during the home or business’ planning stages. They ensure your plumbing fixtures comply with the local building codes
- Providing final inspection of plumbing work
The types of tools licensed plumbers use today
Modern-day plumbing is all about using the latest technology and equipment to ensure plumbing systems work effectively. Beware of plumbers who still use outdated tools. Making such a decision may lead to permanent damage to your plumbing systems. The next time you want to determine if the plumber you intend to hire is qualified, find out if they if they have the following tools and know how to use them:
- Carbon monoxide testing equipment
- Hydro-jetting drain cleaners
- Gas leakage detection meters
- Hot water system temperature testing gadgets
- Pressure testers
- Drain cameras
- Sewer jetting
Remember, these technologically-advanced tools need to be used with care. Unlike conventional tools, these ones make the modern-day plumber’s work easier. It’s not like in the olden times when a plumber relied on a sulfur-like odor or gas bubbles to detect a leak. A gas leakage detection meter can sense leaking gas from a distance, keeping you and your household safe from accidental fires or suffocation. Only a fully apprenticed plumber can use these tools for their intended purposes and come up with satisfactory results.
Having a plumbing problem is the last thing you want as a business/ homeowner but knowing who to choose should be your biggest worry. By understanding how a general plumber, plumbing contractor and specialty plumber differ, you won’t have a problem knowing who to call.
Fortunately, Melbourne 24-Hour Plumbing understands the urgency of your plumbing quagmire. From blocked drains, burst pipes, hot water systems, leaking taps, to gas plumbing, we’ve got you covered. All you need to do is call us today on 1300 931 384 if you’re from Melbourne and need our services.