Tips for hiring a plumber
Far too often we hear about plumbing stories that can only be akin to a horror movie. However, that need not be your reality, before undergoing any plumbing maintenance and repairs there are a few key pointers that you can use in order to ensure that you are safeguarded as a customer and that your dream kitchen and bathroom materialise.
08/10/2018
We’ve all heard horror stories about plumbing and generally, you will only appreciate good plumbing once you are experiencing issues with your plumbing. The best way to try and eliminate any plumbing issues is to make sure that you choose a reputable professional plumber. Below are a few tips from Candice Gomes, Sales Director - Grohe Dawn Water Technology:
1. Reputable plumbers will be registered with the Plumbing Industries Regulation Board (PIRB). This will allow the plumber to issue a Certificate of Compliance[*] for work completed – which provides you, the customer, with recourse if things go wrong. The plumber needs to show his/her PIRB card as proof. There is a website and app on the PIRB website to check the number for integrity purposes. https://pirb.co.za/pirb-member-search/ - you can contact the PIRB on 0861 PIRB Plumber (0861 747 2758).
2. Additionally, reputable plumbers will also register with the Institute of Plumbing (IOPSA). While this is voluntary this gives consumers additional peace of mind, as this ensures that work completed is inspected by the PIRB inspectorate. Non-compliant work that is not corrected leads to deregistration of the respective installer. There are various contacts available per region which can be found on the following website: http://www.iopsa.org.za/
3. Ask if the plumber has insurance. This is to ensure that in the event of possible incidents the plumber will be liable and the consumer protected. Insurance that the respective plumber should have should include public liability, defective workmanship as well as product liability.
4. Check if the company has references – if they are credible this should be no problem. Also check their website for additional information and information about current work that they are busy with. Also good to refer to again are the following websites: http://www.iopsa.org.za and https://pirb.co.za/pirb-member-search/
5. Ask friends or family who has recently had work done if they can recommend anyone – then investigate the plumber’s compliance and points noted above.
If you are still not comfortable you can continue your search of a plumber by making use of the IOPSA and PIRB websites.
*The City of Cape Town’s Water Department is the only organisation that can issue a Certificate of Compliance for work done in the Western Cape. Hence the general assumption that the Plumbing Industries Regulation Board (PIRB) is a national option to issue the certificate. It is also important to note that being a member of the PIRB is not a mandatory requirement to practice as a plumber and does in no way imply that if a plumber is not part of this body – his/her work is not professional.