How Do I Find the Best Plumbing Services for a Burst Pipe?

How do I check that a plumbing service for a burst pipe is licensed?

If you have already taken the first-hour steps for a burst pipe and closed your main water shutoff valve, the next job is choosing who fixes it.

Checking a plumber's license is a lookup you do yourself, on your state's plumbing board or licensing agency site, before the plumber arrives. Ask for the license number and the business name on the phone first.

1. Ask for the license number and the business name.
2. Look both up on your state's plumbing board or licensing website.
3. Confirm the license status is active, and that the name matches the invoice later.

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners licenses and regulates the plumbing trade in that state, one example of how a state lookup works. California's Contractors State License Board lets consumers check a contractor's license status the same way.

What insurance should a plumbing service for a burst pipe carry, and how do I ask for proof?

Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and check that it is current before the plumber starts work. The FTC and the Better Business Bureau both tell homeowners to confirm a company is properly insured.

• Ask for a copy of the certificate of liability insurance.
• Check that the dates on it are current, not expired.
• Check that the insured name matches the company name on the invoice.

Workers' compensation for the plumber's crew is also worth asking about, though no single rule covers every state. Ask whether the crew is covered before anyone starts work in your home.

How can I tell if a plumbing service really works 24/7?

Do not take a "24/7" badge on a website at face value. Call the after-hours number yourself and ask these three questions before you decide the plumber really is available around the clock.

1. Who answers the phone if you call at 2 a.m.?
2. Is the after-hours number the same line as the daytime number?
3. What is the estimated arrival time, in writing?

Vague answers to any of these three questions are a reason to keep calling around.

What should I ask a plumbing service for a burst pipe before it visits?

Before you agree to a visit, ask for the callout fee, the hourly rate, any after-hours surcharge, and whether the license and insurance are current. Vague or evasive answers to any of these are a reason to call someone else.

1. What is your license number?
2. Can you send a current insurance certificate?
3. What is the callout fee?
4. What is the hourly rate?
5. Is there an after-hours surcharge, and how much is it?

A plumber who answers all five clearly, before the visit, is easier to trust than one who puts off every question until arrival.

How do I get the callout price and contract in writing before work starts?

No dollar figure for a fair emergency callout is given here, because no government or university source confirms one. Instead, get every part of the price in writing before work starts, and treat a refusal as a warning sign.

• The callout fee
• The hourly rate
• Any after-hours surcharge
• Materials
• Disposal
• What is charged if no repair is done

An Alabama Attorney General settlement with one plumbing company required the company to always give a written estimate ahead of time, and to disclose after-hours fees before an appointment was made. That settlement applies to that one company only; it is an example of a fair term, not a rule everywhere.

Prices vary by region. Your state consumer protection office can tell you what is normal for your area. See what burst pipe repairs typically cost for cost context.

What are the warning signs of a scam or price-gouging plumber?

Scammers often approach you first, at your door or by phone, then push for a fast decision and ask for cash. Any one of these signs is a reason to slow down and check before you agree to anything.

• The plumber contacts you first, at your door or by phone, rather than you calling them.
• You are pressured to decide right now.
• You are asked to pay cash or send a wire transfer.
• No price is put in writing.
• The license or insurance cannot be verified when you check.

The Federal Trade Commission's home repair scam guidance describes this exact pattern: someone knocks on your door or calls you, and you should check licenses and insurance, get written estimates, and never pay by cash or wire transfer. If you need help after a flood or storm, see how to avoid contractor scams after a flood.

Never pay cash or by wire before the job is done

No. The FTC says not to pay by cash or wire transfer. The Alabama Attorney General settlement described above barred the plumbing company from taking full or partial payment, or even collecting credit card information, until the job was fully done.

Should I get more than one estimate when a pipe is flooding?

Yes, get a second estimate in writing if you can. Do not let quote-shopping delay shutting off the water if it is still running.

The FTC advises getting three written estimates, and the Better Business Bureau says not to stop at just one. Both apply any time you hire a plumber, not only in an emergency.

• If the water is still running: shut it off first, then call around for quotes.
• If the water is already off and the leak has stopped: get a second and a third written quote before you choose.

What if a plumber shows up unannounced after a storm or flood?

Treat an unannounced visitor as a reason to check, not to sign. Verify the license and insurance, and get the price in writing, before anyone starts work.

The FTC's home repair scam guidance describes scammers who knock on your door or call you, often after a storm, offering a "free inspection." Ask for identification, a license number, and a written price before you let anyone begin.

Can I cancel a contract I signed at my door?

Under the FTC's cooling-off rule for door-to-door sales, a buyer can cancel certain sales contracts made at home within three business days of signing. Whether your specific repair qualifies depends on the details of the sale, so read the FTC page itself before you rely on this.

What if no plumber can come for hours?

If the water is off and the leak has stopped, you can wait with the water off. If the water is still running and you cannot stop it, call a second plumber now.

If you have not already shut off the water, see how to shut off your water in an emergency. If your pipes are frozen but have not burst, see finding the right plumbing help for frozen pipes instead.

Are there state rules on price gouging during a declared emergency?

Some states limit price increases only after an emergency is declared. West Virginia is the example confirmed for this article.

During a declared emergency, the West Virginia Attorney General caps prices for contracting services or cleanup at no more than 10 percent above the price from 10 days before the declaration. This is one state's rule; it applies only during a declared emergency, not every day.

Check your own state attorney general's page for its specific rule before you assume the same cap applies where you live.

How do I report a bad or fraudulent plumber?

Report a bad plumber to your state plumbing board, to the Federal Trade Commission, and to your state attorney general's consumer protection division.

• State plumbing board: use its complaint process. Texas, for example, takes complaints through a fillable PDF form.
• Federal Trade Commission: report the scam if you spot one.
• State attorney general's consumer protection division: West Virginia's division, for example, takes price-gouging complaints at 1-800-368-8808.

When you report, write down the company name, the phone number, the license number if you have it, the amount paid, and the date.

If your homeowners policy might cover part of the repair, see whether homeowners insurance covers water damage, and see how to file a water damage insurance claim to see what records to keep.