As a homeowner, it’s good to be able to handle some basic plumbing issues on your own. For instance, you should know how to unclog a toilet using a plunger, and perhaps even how to remove the P-trap to diagnose a stopped-up sink. Sooner or later, though, even the handiest of homeowners come to an issue they cannot solve on their own. When this happens, the best thing to do is simply call a licensed plumber.
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For homeowners in Lafayette Indiana, there are plenty of qualified plumbers to choose from. The question is, how can you tell when you have found a plumbing company that will be really reputable, and do an excellent job for an affordable price?
We’re happy to provide some insight into choosing the best plumbing services in the Lafayette Indiana area, including West Lafayette.
Seeking the Best Plumbing Company: Our Tips
If you’ve never had to call a plumber before and aren’t quite sure where to begin, we can offer a few quick tips:
- First, ask around. A good place to begin is by checking in with your local friends, your neighbors, and your co-workers. Ask if any of them have hired a plumber lately, and if so, what their experience was like. Ultimately, personal recommendations tend to be your best bet for locating the best plumber.
- Check online reviews. Whether or not you get a personal recommendation, you’ll also want to check online reviews. Reviews on Google, Facebook, and Yelp are not infallible, but they can generally paint a pretty accurate picture.
- Get multiple quotes. Unless you are in a situation where you need emergency services, we recommend calling around to a few different shops in the Lafayette Indiana area. Compare multiple quotes to see who offers the best value.
- Pay attention to customer service. Finally, remember to tune in to the level of service you receive. If you talk to a plumber or a sales representative, make sure they are willing to answer your questions in a friendly, respectful way. If not, you have every reason to continue your search elsewhere.
With these tips, you can begin narrowing your list of qualified Lafayette and West Lafayette plumbers.
What to Look for in a Plumbing Company
Not all plumbing companies are created equal. There are a few things you should look for any time you’re hiring a home trade professional.
Licensing
First and foremost, always double check that the plumber you hire has a valid license to operate in Indiana. (Often, plumbers will include their license number on their website, but if you don’t see it, you can always ask.) We’ll come back to this in a moment, but for now, just bear in mind that licensing is essential for ensuring a qualified plumber.
Pricing Info
When you ask a plumber for an estimate, you should expect them to give you an honest answer. The last thing you want is to get hit by surprise costs and hidden fees, once your project is completed. If a plumber beats around the bush or won’t give you clear pricing information, that’s reason enough to look elsewhere.
Customer Service
As we mentioned above, you have every right to work with a plumber who will treat you respectfully. If you talk to a plumber and don’t like the kind of service they extend to you, by all means, continue searching.
Range of Services
Do you specifically need a plumber that will offer emergency services? Are you looking for someone who specializes in installing tankless water heaters? Don’t hesitate to inquire about a plumber’s specific areas of expertise.
Experience
We also think it’s important to look for a plumbing company that has many years of local experience. More experienced plumbers are likely to have strong reputations in the community, so take note of things like BBB accreditation, membership in the local Chamber of Commerce, etc.
What Makes Plumbing Licensing So Important?
We mentioned above that you should always ensure your plumber has a valid license… but what exactly makes licensing so important?
In order to obtain a license, a plumber must pass some thorough examinations, proving both their technical skill and their familiarity with local codes and ordinances. When you choose a licensed plumber, you can be sure you’re working with someone who has real expertise and qualification.
Additionally, if a dispute ever arises with your licensed plumber, you can take it up with the licensing board; you always have an avenue for holding your plumber accountable.
By contrast, with unlicensed plumbers, there is really no way of confirming their skill or their integrity. What’s more, if a dispute arises with an unlicensed plumber, you won’t really have many good options for resolving it.
The bottom line: As you seek a plumber’s services in Lafayette Indiana, licensing should be one of the first things you look for.
How We Ranked the Top Plumbers in Lafayette Indiana
In just a moment, we’ll share our picks for the top plumbing companies in the Lafayette and West Lafayette area. But first, here are the factors we took into consideration when creating these rankings:
- Licensing. We have only included plumbers who hold valid and up-to-date licenses.
- Number of reviews. We weighted our rankings toward plumbers who have a lot of generous customer feedback.
- Affiliations. We’ve tried to honor plumbing businesses that are accredited with the BBB or that maintain membership with the local Chamber.
- Special awards. When applicable, we have taken into consideration special honors and distinctions, such as local awards for customer service.
- Years of experience. Years in business is another factor that we have weighted heavily in our rankings.
- Reputation. As best we can tell, none of these plumbers have lawsuits or code violations tied to their license.
- Average rating. We’ve only included plumbing businesses that average 3.0 or higher on google and Yelp.
With our criteria outlined, we can now move into our rankings for the top Lafayette plumbing business options.
The Top Plumbers in Lafayette: Our Picks
1) Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling
Summers is one of the top plumbing contractors in the greater Indianapolis area, which very much includes the W and E Lafayette areas. Not only can this company help you with your water heater and other common plumbing issues, but they also provide a range of services in HVAC installation and repair. Some additional things we like about the company include a portfolio of rave reviews, attesting to their business integrity and customer service; a commitment to transparent, up-front pricing; and more than 40 years of experience in the home service business. Please contact the company directly, or hit up their website, for additional information.
2) Snuffy's Plumbing Service
Snuffy’s is a Lafayette institution and a business that many homeowners have entrusted with their plumbing maintenance needs. The business has been around since 1981, and they provide a full range of plumbing repair services in the W and E Lafayette areas. The company is really known for its high standards of service, and for the time they take talking with homeowners, explaining the options, and answering any questions. Also take note of the huge portfolio of rave reviews. To learn more about Snuffy’s services, spend a minute at their website.
3) Anderson Plumbing
Anderson Plumbing is another local business that has a sterling reputation in the greater Lafayette community. The Anderson team actually has more than 100 years of combined experience, which makes them a great choice for your next project, whether that’s adding a water softener or troubleshooting a water heater. You can scan their business reviews for evidence of the great job they do on behalf of local home and business owners. We’ll also note that this is a proudly veteran-owned company, and that they provide free in-home estimates for anyone who lives in Lafayette Indiana. Get more details by visiting the Anderson website, and reach out using their business phone number if you want to hire them for a project.
4) Peterman Brothers Heating, Cooling, Plumbing
Here’s another example of a Lafayette business that can handle just about any project. Peterman Heating is standing by to address any issue with your pipes and drains, your water heater, your HVAC system, your furnace, and beyond. In addition to its breadth of services, we want to highlight the company for their upfront pricing and for the great deals/promos they offer on their website. The business has been around since 1986, and they have a great reputation in E Lafayette and beyond. To hire them for your project, visit their site or dial their phone number.
5) Brenneco Plumbing
Here’s another Lafayette Indiana plumber with a great track record in the community. In addition to emergency repair services and general maintenance, they can actually help with most any home plumber project, from light remodeling work to drain cleaning. They have some commendable reviews, and they serve a pretty wide area in the broader Lafayette community. To get their phone number or enlist them for a project, visit their website.
6) Royal Plumbing LLC
This business gets its name from their mission to “treat their customers like royalty.” Based on their positive reviews, we think they live up to that mantra. They also make our list for their experience, their trustworthiness, their commitment to personalization, and their reputation in the Lafayette Indiana business community. They can also provide their expertise on an emergency basis, as needed, so keep them in mind if your water heater breaks down after-hours. You can learn a lot more about this business, or hire them for your project, by visiting their website and/or seeking their phone number.
7) Mr. Rooter
To be fair, Mr. Rooter is a franchised company as opposed to a local institution. Even so, we think they’re worth considering. This is especially true if your next project involves drain cleaning, which is really where this company shines. Mr. Rooter is committed to the local community (they are operated entirely locally), they uphold transparent pricing standards, and they offer their availability 24/7. This is definitely a business to keep in mind the next time your water heater breaks down or you come across some other pressing project. To get their phone number to enlist their expertise in the Lafayette Indiana community, visit their website today.
8) Schomer's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
Another business that does an excellent job with plumbing and HVAC concerns, Schomer’s has loads of good reviews and a positive image in the local community. Their experience is impressive: These plumbers have been serving the Lafayette Indiana community since 1953. They are fully licensed and insured, and happy to address your needs 24/7. We are happy to include them on our list, and invite you to visit their website to access pricing info, phone number, etc.
9) Hughes Plumbing
This company doesn’t currently have a website, but you can get their phone number with a quick Google search. We’re including them because they have a lot of reviews, with an average that’s virtually a perfect 5.0. They have a great track record of customer service in the Lafayette area, so again, give them a call at their business phone number.
10) Ralph Bud Gentry Plumbing
Here’s another local plumber with a great reputation, though oddly, not a website. Use Google to locate their phone number, and be sure to take note of their generous portfolio of reviews.
Additional Tips About Finding a Licensed Lafayette Plumber
We hope our top 10 list is helpful to you as you seek the best home service professional to assist with your water heater installation, kitchen sink repair, or other plumbing repairs. Additionally, consider a few common FAQ.
Is there a directory of licensed home service professionals who work in the Lafayette area?
We’re glad you asked! To find home service technicians who have an up to date license, take a second to view our directory.
Will my plumbers offer me a free in-home estimate?
Not all companies offer this, but many will. It never hurts to ask. (Make sure you inquire when you first call to set up your appointment.)
Do all plumbers provide tankless water heater installation?
These days, tankless water heaters are very common, so most home service companies will be able to assist. Even so, it never hurts to double check. Be sure to ask when you first call for your appointment.
Good luck as you seek a home plumbing company that can help you with your project in the Lafayette, Indiana community!
