Day-to-day restaurant operations are stressful enough, and the last thing you want to do is worry about the plumber you hired. Plumbing issues are never a fun thing to deal with at your restaurant, but they are a common enough occurrence that finding the right plumber can make plumbing maintenance less of a headache if they are good at their job. It can also cause an even bigger headache if you find one that is not qualified. You don’t have to be in the dark when hiring a plumber for your restaurant. Here are a few tips to ensure you are contracting an ethical and experienced plumber for your restaurant.
Specialization Is Key
Not all plumbers are the same, and not all commercial plumbers are the same. Just because a commercial plumber has experience working in a retail space does not mean they have experience working in a food space. For example, if you need a gas line installed or repaired, a commercial plumber who mainly repairs office plumbing may not be equipped to do that installation. Always ask any prospective plumber what their specializations are. If they have experience working in commercial kitchens and restaurants, they are a better bet than someone who has not. When speaking with a potential plumbing company, ask them what types of jobs they have done in restaurants and what restaurant owners are their clients.
Ask for References
An honest plumbing company wants to connect you with people who are going to vouch for our work. Ask them to reference some of the restaurants they have worked for, and then give those restaurant owners a call. Ask the restaurant owner what job the plumbing company did for them and what they thought of the final product. A plumbing company that wants your business should be willing to offer at least two relevant references that back up the quality of their work. Great service is not something a company ever wants to hide. Think about it: if someone asked you for a reference to cater your food at an event, you would be thrilled to give them a reference who would tell them what a great job you did. If they don’t want to give you a reference, don’t work with them.
Check Online Reviews
Getting references from a prospective plumbing company is a great step, but most businesses aren’t going to go out of their way to tell you about unhappy customers. You need to check online reviews to get a clear aggregate of clients’ thoughts on their service. A plumbing company with legitimate reviews will have at least 20 of them, and those reviews should give details about the job that was done and why the customer was happy. The more detail and variety you see in online reviews, the more likely those reviews are legitimate. Every company in the industry, long enough, will have some bad reviews in it. Look at those bad reviews and see what common issues you find. Also, look at how they responded to those bad reviews. Good plumbing companies will respond to bad reviews and attempt to fix the issue. Work with plumbers who have a track record of good reviews but respond well when they mess up.
Understanding of Code Compliance
Restaurants have special health and safety codes that other businesses that don’t work with food have to deal with. The plumber you hire should be aware of those health and safety codes. A bad plumbing job can make you noncompliant with local health and safety codes. Hire someone who knows the strict standards you and your state have for your restaurant.
Get Multiple Quotes
Don’t hire the first plumber you speak to. Talk to at least three different plumbing companies before hiring one. The main reason for doing this is not to find the cheapest price but to understand the fair market price for a job. Cheaper service is often not better, and it, in fact, is often a sign of inexperience or poor quality. A plumbing company charging significantly less than its competitors is a red flag you wouldn’t catch if you only talked to one plumber. Talking to multiple plumbers also gives you a bit more negotiating power. A good plumber knows their worth, but you can always negotiate on the margins.
Managing a restaurant is stressful enough, so you don’t want to worry about your plumber doing a bad job. Find a plumber who specializes in restaurant work and understands code compliance. Ask your plumber for references, check online reviews, and get multiple quotes. Take these steps, and you will ensure you hire the right plumbing company for your restaurant.
