One of the most important qualifications that a San Jose plumber can possess is the ability to respond to your problem and solve it quickly because plumbing disasters are usually a matter of some urgency. For example, a clogged disposal makes daily activities like cooking and cleaning very difficult and a clogged toilet is unsightly, smelly and non-functional. Or, if you're dealing with a leak that looks more like Niagara Falls than a steady stream of drips, a speedy response from your plumber can make a huge difference in the size of the water damage and the mess that you have to deal with later. These situations all illustrate why speed is such an important qualification for plumbers.

There are several things that affect how fast a plumber can meet your needs and you should start looking for that ability from the moment you call in for an appointment. For example, when you call around to schedule an appointment, always look for plumbing companies that have real people answering the phones. This ensures that scheduling takes place quickly and it indicated that the plumbing company cares enough about the customers they serve to provide personal attention.

Second, look for companies that are willing to give you up-front pricing. In addition to giving you the price before the work even begins, up-front pricing eliminates the temptation to work slowly that sometimes creeps up in by-the-hour jobs. And third, try to find a company that is equipped with fully loaded trucks. Some loaded trucks can carry hundreds of plumbing parts, which makes it possible for plumbers to fix your problem without taking valuable time for a store run to buy the necessary parts.

In addition to being fast, the plumber you choose should also be affordable. For example, never use a plumber that charges a fee to evaluate your problem. After all, if they do charge you for looking at the problem and then they quote an outrageous price, you'll either end up paying them for their time and no service or paying too much for the repairs you need. As mentioned earlier, up-front pricing is also an important qualification that allows you to compare and contrast different companies and their prices.