One of those unavoidable parts of life, along with death and taxes, is that sooner or later every homeowner will need the services of their plumber. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the pain to your wallet that can occur when you do have make that call for help.

First of all, consider how you choose a plumber. If you pick your plumber based simply on the hourly rate charged for the work, are you sure that you will be receiving the most professional service for your money? Usually, experienced plumbers do charge more per hour for their work. However, in plumbing, experience truly does count. A veteran plumber has dealt with many more plumbing problems, and has developed a wider variety of solutions, many of which will be far more cost effective in the long run. After all, isn't it better to pay a little bit more once, rather than paying a discount rate for the job and having to "fix" the problem again and again? Quality work can save, both in time and money.

How then should you choose a plumber? It is best to look now, before you have that crisis. Ask friends, co-workers, and other people you can trust about their plumbing experiences. Find out who they would call when they need work done on their plumbing. Customer satisfaction and confidence is much more important than flashy ads or discount service rates. At Heath and Field Plumbing and Heating Service, Inc, we understand the value of reliable service, and we try to earn your trust on every job we perform, big or small.

Secondly, what things can you do to reduce the need for calling a plumber? The most common calls to a plumber involve drains that are not working correctly. Grease and hair buildup are the usual suspects, and with some preventive maintenance, you may not have to scream for help to rescue your kitchen sink. There are some commercial products that can reduce or remove grease buildup from your pipes, and some people have found good success with pouring hot soapy water down their drain on a regular basis keeps their drains grease free. Hair buildup can be prevented with good screens on your drains. If you are unsure what to do, ask your plumber for help. Good quality screens that can be cleaned easily are a bargain compared to having to call a plumber to come snake out your shower or sink.

Another common problem is the intrusion of tree roots into your sewer pipes, causing slow or no flow of sewerage from your home. If the problem is serious, you will have to have a plumber professionally clear your lines, but often the root problem can be handled with chemical treatment. We at Heath and Field do carry products that can help keep those pesky trees from backing up your pipes.

In NH, there is the constant winter time threat of frozen pipes. Frozen pipes can occur with any locations that are not kept warm, which can be tricky with some of our older NH homes. If you are not sure how safe your pipes are, call for a plumber to inspect your situation, and ready your water system for winter BEFORE the crisis happens. Pipes that freeze and then burst can cause massive damage to your property. Again, a little preventive work can save a lot of lost time and money.

Another money saving method when dealing with a plumber is to make sure that all the problem plumbing is fixed at once. Go through your home before calling, and list all the slow drains, leaky faucets and banging pipes. By doing this, you can have your plumber make one visit, which can reduce the cost of multiple trips and the problems of trying to schedule several visits. Also, be organized. Have a written list of the work you need to have done, or at the very least, a list of the symptoms of the problems. Its also a good idea to remove anything from the work area that will slow down the plumber. After all, he will be charging you for the time. Wouldn't you rather have the plumber working for your money instead of having him wait for you to get your stuff out of his way?

Lastly, remember that a good plumber can be your friend in saving money over the long term. Toilets that use excess water, faucets that drip constantly, and leaky pipes that damage ceilings or floors in your home all are preventable wastes of money. Once you have found that plumber you can trust, seek his advice on those non-crisis issues. Money well spent now is a good investment that will pay you back time after time.

We at Heath and Field Heating and Plumbing Services, Inc. stand ready to be your reliable, full service plumber. Check with your friends and neighbors, and then give us a call. Don't be like the little guy at the top of our page who waited just a little too long to call Heath and Field!

Gregg Merritt