Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber

1. Who Is the Responsible Master Plumber?

In Texas, plumbing companies operate under a Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Ask who theirs is, and ask for the license number.

Ours is Will Shilling, Texas RMP #18587, with 35+ years of licensed plumbing experience and 33 as a Master Plumber. Work is performed by or under his supervision.

2. Will You Diagnose Before You Quote?

A price given over the phone, before anyone has seen the problem, is a guess. Sometimes a guess is fine. For anything involving a sewer line, a slab, or a gas line, it is not.

Ask whether they will evaluate and explain before recommending.

3. What Are My Options — Including the Cheaper One?

Any competent plumber can tell you the most thorough fix. The useful question is what the range of options is, and what each one actually buys you.

If the only option offered is the most expensive one, that is information.

4. Do You Guarantee It Will Pass Inspection?

This is a trick question, and the honest answer is no. No plumber controls code approval, inspection approval, or utility release — those depend on the authority having jurisdiction.

A contractor who guarantees approval is telling you something about how they handle facts.

5. Are You Really Available After Hours?

Also something of a trick question. Very few plumbing companies genuinely staff every hour of every day, and many who advertise constant availability are simply routing you to an answering service.

We do not advertise constant availability. After-hours service may be available depending on technician scheduling, service location, access, job scope, and current call volume — and we will tell you honestly what we can do and when. An honest “we can be there first thing tomorrow” beats a false promise tonight.

6. What Happens If It Goes Wrong?

Ask about scope in writing, what is covered, and who comes back. Then notice whether the answer is specific or vague.

The Meta-Question

Listen for whether they are more interested in explaining the problem or in closing the sale. A plumber who will happily talk you out of work you do not need is a plumber worth keeping.