How to choose a plumber in Pennsylvania

Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

What should you check first when choosing a plumber?

Whether the plumber is allowed to work where you live. Pennsylvania has no state plumbing license, so the license that matters is the one your city, township or borough requires, if it requires one. The Department of Labor and Industry says these local rules exist in some municipalities, that the state keeps no list of them, and that only the municipality where the work happens can tell you what applies. One phone call to your code office settles it.

Then check four more things: the state registration, insurance, a written estimate, and who will take out the permit. The rest of this guide takes them in order.

How do you confirm a local plumbing license?

Ask the plumber which license they hold and from whom, then confirm it with that office.

  • In Philadelphia, plumbers must hold a city trade license, and the city's online lookup lists every actively licensed contractor along with any licensing violations. The same page links to a list of contractors whose licenses were revoked or suspended.
  • In the suburbs, it varies by town. Lower Merion keeps an online list of licensed contractors that includes plumbers, but says the list is not comprehensive and is not an endorsement. In Upper Darby the township code ties a plumbing firm's license to employing a licensed master plumber, the only person who can apply for its plumbing permits.

If your municipality has no plumbing license, the state registration and the insurance certificate carry more weight.

Is the plumber registered with the state?

For most home jobs over $500, it should be. The Attorney General's office says master plumbers who do repairs, replacements or installations on private homes are contractors under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act and must register. The number starts with PA and must be printed on estimates and contracts. You can confirm it in the Home Improvement Contractor Search, which lists only active registrations, or on 1-888-520-6680.

The office is plain about what registration does not mean. It says registration is not an endorsement of honesty or quality, and that you should also check references, get more than one bid and look for complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

What insurance should a plumber carry?

State registration requires at least $50,000 of personal injury liability cover and $50,000 of property damage cover. Philadelphia sets a higher bar for its master plumbers: $500,000 per occurrence in general liability, $300,000 in automobile liability, and workers' compensation.

Policies lapse. Lower Merion's advice is to always ask for a current certificate of insurance, because certificates expire at different times of the year. The Federal Trade Commission likewise says to consider only contractors who are licensed and insured, to confirm the license with your state or county government, and to ask for proof of insurance.

How should you compare estimates?

On the same terms. The Better Business Bureau suggests contacting several plumbers for detailed written estimates, checking whether each one is a flat rate that includes materials or charges materials separately, and asking about any figure that looks unusually low or high. The FTC says a written estimate should describe the work, the materials, the completion date and the price.

If you plan to buy the faucet, toilet or water heater yourself, ask first whether the plumber will install customer-supplied parts. The BBB notes that some will not, and that if a part you bought fails, removing or fixing it may be your cost, not the plumber's. What plumbers charge gives the published price ranges to measure quotes against.

Who should pull the permit?

The plumber, in most cases. Among the FTC's signs of a home improvement scam is a contractor who asks you to get the building permits. ENERGY STAR's advice for a water heater job is to see whether the company will obtain a local permit if one is needed and understands local codes.

In Philadelphia the rule is written down: a licensed master plumber must oversee permitted plumbing work and have an active license, current city taxes and insurance on file with the Department of Licenses and Inspections. The city's Plumbing Permit page also lists what needs no permit, such as same-material repairs to faucets and valves and clearing stoppages. Ask at the outset whether your job needs one, and expect the permit to be posted before work begins.

Do trade associations or certifications help?

They tell you something, but not what a license does. The BBB suggests looking for membership in organizations such as the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials or the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association. Membership is a private matter between a company and the association; it is not a license, and these bodies do not issue the permits for your home.

What should be in the contract?

For a job over $500, the state requires a written contract signed by you and the plumber, with a description of the work, approximate start and finish dates, the total price and a notice of your three-day right to cancel. On top of that, the FTC suggests that the contract include the contractor's name, address, phone and license number, any promises made in conversation, and no blank spaces. On a larger job, the Attorney General's office says a down payment of about one-third of the price is generally appropriate.

Where can you turn if a job goes wrong?

Start with the plumber, in writing. If that fails, the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection takes complaints through its online forms, and unregistered contractors can be reported on 1-888-520-6680. In Philadelphia, unlicensed work and work without a permit can be reported to the city, and the city's advice before hiring is to get recommendations from people you trust and a few estimates. What Pennsylvania requires of plumbers explains the rules behind each check, and local plumbers are listed on the plumbers directory page.

Sources

  1. Contractor Licensing, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
  2. Frequently Asked Questions: Home Improvement Contractor Registration, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
  3. Home Improvement Contractor Search, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
  4. Home Improvement Contractor Verification, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
  5. Find a licensed contractor and contractor information, City of Philadelphia
  6. Get a Plumbing Permit, City of Philadelphia
  7. Get a Master Plumber's License, City of Philadelphia
  8. Licensed Contractor List, Lower Merion Township
  9. Chapter 265: Contractors, Township of Upper Darby (Delaware County), via eCode360
  10. How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam, Federal Trade Commission
  11. BBB Tip: Hiring a trusted and verified plumber can save you time and heartache, Better Business Bureau
  12. Heat Pump Water Heaters, ENERGY STAR
  13. Submit a Complaint, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
  14. Follow these tips to get ready for pipe repairs, City of Philadelphia, Department of Revenue

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