Risks Of Hiring An Unlicensed Plumber

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According to 2023 statistics, 537,411 individuals employed in the plumbing industry within the US are licensed. Unfortunately, not every person that advertises and acts as a plumber is licensed, so thousands of unlicensed plumbers operate alongside the licensed plumbers.

It can be tempting for homeowners to take the quick and cheap route by hiring an unlicensed plumber however this decision can come with significant risks and potential consequences that you will want to avoid. From subpar workmanship to potential legal liabilities, the drawbacks of hiring unlicensed individuals can far outweigh any initial cost savings.

In this article, we’ll explore the risks involved and how to ensure you find a licensed plumber to care for your plumbing needs.

What Are The 4 Risks Of Hiring An Unlicensed Plumber?

Here are the 4 major risks of hiring an unlicensed plumber to fix your plumbing issues at your home or business.

1) They Don’t Have Insurance

One of the biggest risks of hiring an unlicensed plumber is that they don’t have insurance. Although this might not seem like a big issue, it is. If anything happens to the plumber while they are doing repairs, you could receive an unexpected lawsuit. If your plumber is unlicensed, you could be liable for their medical bills and damages.

However, if you hire a licensed plumber, you won’t have this worry, because licensed plumbers are required to have liability insurance, and this ensures you won’t need to settle any lawsuits over a plumbing repair job.

2) Poor Quality Repairs

In many instances, unlicensed plumbers cannot match the skills of licensed plumbers because they have not done the proper training and certification courses to become qualified. Unfortunately, this often leads to unlicensed plumbers completing unsatisfactory work.

Additionally, unlicensed plumbers are typically not up to date with your city’s building codes and they are unlikely to understand the structure of your city’s plumbing requirements.

If the work completed is not up to code this can cause problems not only for you but possibly for your neighbors and your surrounding community.

3) Increased likelihood Of Fraud

If you hire an unlicensed plumber, you face an increased likelihood of fraud. This is because unlicensed plumbers don’t operate within the established plumbing ethics and codes of conduct. In addition, unlicensed plumbers often don’t have an employer or supervisor to report to, so they can often make their own rules and disregard regulations and laws if they feel they cannot be caught.

Unfortunately, unlicensed plumbers are more likely to defraud individuals and business owners.

4) Increased Likelihood Of Lives Being Put At Risk

Few people realize the immense dangers that lie with hiring an unlicensed plumber. Although hiring one is tempting, you could put yourself, your family members, your colleagues, or your neighbors at risk of injury or death.

Since many unlicensed plumbers aren’t properly trained to navigate the many plumbing issues that could arise, you might only be left with a partially fixed water or gas pipe and this could lead to the following dangers:

• Flooding
• House fires
• Skin burns from fires.
• Sewer leaks and potential disease infections.
• Chemical leaks and poisonings
• Electrocutions.

These are just a few of the issues that could arise if you take the risk of hiring an unlicensed plumber.

How Can You Find A Reputable Plumber?

Now that you know the risks of hiring an unlicensed plumber, you’re likely curious about how to find a licensed one that is reputable and reliable. If you’re seeking a plumber, you can look at the considerations below you need to remember.

1. Get multiple quotes: It’s an excellent idea to obtain multiple quotes. Getting numerous quotes will help you get the best service and price for your repair job.
2. Check the reviews: One of the best resources you can consult when hiring a plumber is website reviews and testimonials. These will tell you the past experiences people have had with the plumber you’re interested in hiring.
3. Examine their licensing and insurance: The best way to identify whether a plumber is licensed or unlicensed is to ask for their licensing and insurance information. Based on this, you can make a decision.
4. Ask questions: Before hiring a professional plumber, ask them as many questions as possible about their experience as a plumber and past jobs similar to your repair needs. This will help you weed out the licensed from the unlicensed plumbers.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to find a professional plumber that is experienced, qualified, and skilled to handle your plumbing problems.