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From the Field
Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Plumber
Seven plain questions that tell you who you are about to let into your house. Any good plumber will answer them without a fuss.
Short answer: before you hire anyone, ask for the license number, the price before work starts, any fee for just showing up, the warranty in writing, and who will be at your door.
- Who it is for: a homeowner comparing plumbers, or hiring one for a cabin or rental they cannot watch.
- What to ask: license, price, fees, warranty, who does the work, how they get paid, and whether the job is one they do.
- When it is urgent: a burst pipe or no water still deserves two questions: the license and the price. Both take a minute.
- Ryan's answers: licensed Master Plumber, free estimate, no trip fee, no diagnostic fee.
1. What is your license number?
A licensed plumber gives you a number right away. You can look it up on the Georgia Secretary of State website, and our guide to checking a plumber's license in Georgia walks through it. Ryan's number is MPR108473.
2. Will I know the price before the work starts?
This is the question that prevents the most arguments. A plumber should be able to tell you what the job will cost, or how the price will be set, before a wrench turns. Ask what happens if the job turns out to be bigger than it looked. A straight answer is "I stop and tell you first." With Ryan, estimates are free and you know the price before any work starts.
3. Do you charge for the visit or for finding the problem?
Some companies charge a fee just to show up, or a fee to diagnose. Others take that fee off the bill if you hire them. None of that is wrong, but you should hear it before they drive out, not after. Ryan charges no trip fee and no diagnostic fee.
Want these answers from Ryan?
Text him what is going on, with a photo if you can. He is a licensed Master Plumber and answers his own phone, so you are asking the person who does the work.
4. Is the work warranted, and will I get that in writing?
A warranty is only as good as the paper it is on. Ask what is covered, what is not, and who you call if something goes wrong. For Ryan's work, the warranty terms depend on the job and are given in writing at the estimate, so you read them before you say yes.
5. Who is actually coming to my house?
Some companies send whoever is free. Others send the owner. Ask who will do the work and whether you can reach that person afterward. When you call Ryan, you get Ryan. There is no call center between you and the plumber.
This matters more than it sounds in the mountains. If the line goes quiet halfway through a job on a well or a water heater, you want the number of the person who did it.
6. How do I pay, and when?
Ask what forms of payment are accepted and whether anything is due up front. Ryan takes cash, check, all major credit cards and Venmo.
7. Is this a job you do?
The best answer is sometimes "no, and here is who does." Plumbing has specialties. A septic tank pumped by a septic company is a different trade than a septic line or fixture repair. A radon specialist is a different trade than a water heater job. A plumber who tells you where their work stops is easier to trust than one who says yes to everything.
Ryan does water heaters, drains and main line blockages, fixtures, water treatment, gas lines, well pumps and pressure tanks, and septic repair. His full list is on the services page. If a problem falls outside it, he will say so.
Questions for wells, septic and cabins
If your home is on a well, ask whether the plumber works on pumps and pressure tanks, because not every plumber does. If it is on septic, ask the same about septic repair, and ask what they want to check first. A backup is sometimes a simple line clog and not a failing tank. Our page on how to tell septic from sewer helps you answer the first question they will ask.
If the house is a vacation rental or second home, ask how you will get updates while you are away, and whether they can work from photos and texts. Ryan prefers text. He works in the mountains where cell service drops, and a text reaches him when a call may not.
“Ryan tells you what he is going to do, why he needs to do it and what it will cost. Then he shows up when he says he will, does the work correctly, neatly and quickly and bills with no surprises. I wish there were more people like Ryan in the world.”
Lindy D., February 2025, Google review
Common Questions
What is the most important question to ask a plumber?
Ask for the license number. It is quick, and you can check it on the Georgia Secretary of State website. After that, ask whether you will know the price before work starts.
Should a plumber give a price before starting?
Yes. You should know the price, or exactly how it will be set, before the work begins. Ryan gives free estimates, and you know the price before any work starts.
Does Ryan charge a trip fee or a diagnostic fee?
No. Ryan charges no trip fee and no diagnostic fee, and the estimate is free.
Is Ryan's work under warranty?
Yes. The terms depend on the job and are given in writing at the estimate.
What if I have an emergency and no time to compare plumbers?
Still ask for the license number and the price. Ryan is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Shut off the water first if you can, then call or text.
Ask Ryan these questions yourself.
Call or text. He will answer each one, and the estimate costs nothing.