Ask around. Ask your friends, ask your neighbors and get referrals. Nothing is more powerful than the testament of someone who has had a local plumber in their home and can speak to his/her capabilities.

Draw up a shortlist of plumbers using a local directory. Online directories will provide you with contact information, reviews and the plumbers' websites, so you can make sure they are suitable.

How do you determine if it is an emergency? Look at the source of the problem. If water is not moving and the sink is just full of water that isn't draining, you haven't found a real emergency. If the faucet in the sink will not stop running, and the water isn't draining, it may turn quickly into an slow drain.

Offers 24-hour service. They are called emergency Trustworthy plumber for a reason. If your pipe broke in the middle of the night, you can't just turn off your water source until the next morning when a plumber is available. Search the internet for plumbing that offers 24-hour services in your area, or look them up at the directory listing. Surely one or two companies exist in your community.

The number one thing to look for is emergency services. You never know when a pipe will burst or a toilet will overflow. It is not always during business hours, and you certainly cannot wait hours until a Local plumber is ready to come to your home in the morning. You need someone who will be responsive when you need fast help, which is why you should look for a company that provides emergency hours. You may have to pay an extra fee, but it is usually cheaper than having to pay for mold elimination down the road after letting standing water stay in your house for days.

Watch what you put in your drain. Many commercial cleaners and solvents contain harsh chemicals that can damage your septic system. Always use an EPA-approved green drain cleaner. Be careful never to put grease, fat, or oils into your garbage disposal.

Hourly fees are another thing you want to check out before you hire a plumber. Call around and get a few estimates for a job. Ascertain if the plumber is willing to sign a quote and give you a price warranty before he begins working. You should also find out if the plumber will require you travel time to and from your job and how they will compute that time and prove it to you. Giving you a precise price may be challenging, but any plumber who can't give you a comprehensive explanation of how you will be billed with an estimate of the cost should be avoided.