Top 13 Questions to Ask Your Plumber Before Hiring
O'Boys Heating & Air
March 17, 2025

As a homeowner, it’s important to have a list of reliable home service professionals that you can call when something goes amiss with your home. One that you definitely can’t do without is a plumber. We’re going to share with you some key questions to ask any potential plumber to know if they’re the ideal hiring choice for you.

1. How Much Experience Do You Have?

One of the very first things that you’ll want to discover is how long the company has been in business. Typically, companies that have been around for decades offer top-quality services and have returning, satisfied customers (check out their reviews).


Fact: Our team at O'Boys Plumbing, Heating & Air has over 25 years of experience in the industry and hundreds of 5 star Google reviews!

2. What Plumbing Services Do You Offer?

It’s important to find out what a potential plumber’s service offerings are. You want to ensure that they can provide services to meet all your needs. From basic plumbing installations and repairs to installing sump pumps and performing leak detection services, you want a plumber that can do it all.


At O'Boys Plumbing, Heating & Air, we offer:

Water filtration services

Water softener systems

Water heater services

Radiators

Gas pipes

Pipe installation

Drain Repair

Drain Cleaning

Trenchless Pipe Repair

Leak detection

Sump pumps

And more!

3. Do You Offer Emergency Services?

One really important question is to verify that they offer emergency plumbing services. You never know when you may experience a plumbing emergency. Having a plumbing professional that you can call when you do can make all the difference in the world. From minimizing water damage to reducing your stress levels during an unfortunate situation, having an emergency plumber that you can rely on is an absolute must.


Fact: When you enroll in O'Boys Plumbing, Heating & Air maintenance plan, you get a 50% discount off normal emergency fees and we promise to be there within a day!

4. Do You Offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee?

One of the best ways to ensure that you’re hiring a company that you’ll love is to ensure they have a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. These companies make it a priority to meet your needs and ensure they do so in a safe and effective manner. This guarantee can go a long way in giving you peace of mind when it comes to hiring a potential plumbing company.

5. Do You Offer Other Home Services?

While not a definitive requirement, hiring a plumber who offers other home services can be very convenient. Other services can include things like air conditioning and heating repair, installation, and maintenance. Only having to remember one company to call when you experience a problem with anything from your plumbing system to your HVAC system can be super convenient.

6. Is Your Company Family-Owned?

While being a family-owned business isn’t a make-it-or-break-it factor, it can help to add more weight to your decision on what plumbing company you choose. Businesses that are owned and run by families offer great customer service and are more in touch with what’s going on with your services. Many will portray that family-like feeling when interacting with you instead of just treating you like another number on the board.


Fact: When you choose O'Boys Plumbing, Heating & Air — you are choosing a family-owned business.

7. Do You Have Any Warranties?

A reliable plumbing company that offers its customers superior workmanship will have no problem offering a warranty. In fact, they’ll promote the fact to showcase the high standard of their work compared to other less reputable companies in the area. Before hiring any potential plumber, be sure to ask if they offer a warranty on the products they install.

8. Do You Provide Upfront Pricing?

When a plumbing company offers competitive, honest pricing, they’ll be able to give you a quote before they start their work. You should get a breakdown of the costs for the work that needs to be done before it gets completed. Make sure they stand by their initial quote and don’t introduce any hidden service or part disposal fees later on.


Fact: You will always know the price of the job before we start any work. And pro tip! Comfort Care plan members receive free inspections, discounts on service and upgrades, and priority scheduling.

9. Do You Offer Maintenance Services?

While having a plumber who can respond quickly when an issue occurs is essential to your overall well-being, it’s also necessary that they offer top-quality maintenance services. Things like drain clearing and plumbing inspections are a necessity to help catch potential problems with your plumbing system before they turn into bigger and costlier issues to deal with. Ask any service provider what maintenance services they offer, and if they have a maintenance club that you can join.


Tip: Join today! Check out our Cozy Home Club maintenance plan for savings and priority scheduling.

10. Do You Have Great Online Reviews?

Knowing what other people are saying about a prospective plumbing company can give you a lot of insight into the services that they offer. When questioning your potential hire, make sure that you ask if they have online reviews and on what websites.


You’ll want to read over some of those customer reviews to get a real feel for the quality of service and professionalism that they offer their customers. Companies that have a lot of five-star reviews tend to be the most reliable to hire.


Tip: Check out our Google Reviews and hear from our customers, today!

11. Will Your Company Pull Permits for the Work?

While small plumbing repair and installation services don’t need any attention from the local code office, larger jobs likely will. It can be helpful to ensure that your plumbing professional will take care of pulling permits for the work that needs to be done.


Most local municipalities will require that a licensed plumber apply for the permit in order for you to receive it. A plumber who’s up-to-date on local codes will have no problem pulling permits, explaining the process, and telling you the usual fee for the job.

12. Are You Licensed or Registered?

Those who perform plumbing jobs in the state of Minnesota must be registered or licensed with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). This helps to ensure that they have the proper experience to do their job correctly. Make sure that whatever company you hire is registered or licensed by DLI. You can verify their registration or license number on the DLI website

13. Do You Have Insurance?

Anytime that you’re hiring a service professional to perform work at your home, you should verify that they have insurance coverage. Even the best plumbers in the country make mistakes from time to time. Unfortunate events can happen and lead to costly damage. It’s best to ensure that your chosen plumber has an adequate amount of insurance coverage to handle any damage that could happen to your property.

Reliable Plumbing Service

O'Boys Plumbing, Heating & Air offers licensed and insured reliable plumbing service for the Blaine, MN community. We can also help with all your heating, air conditioning, and drain needs. Simply call us today to book your next service appointment with one of our helpful plumbing professionals!

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