One of two things can happen when you hire a sewer line or underground drain cleaning service:
First, they clean your drains, you pay a fair amount, and everyone goes home happy.
Or they mess up the service, resulting in more problems than you originally had. Oh, and they also drain your bank account on the way out.
Needless to say, choosing the right drain cleaning service is crucial.
The question is: how exactly do you pick the best one from the one’s out to screw you over?
Stay tuned because Drain Magic is here to help you with that. In this article, we’ll explore five tips to help you hire the best cleaning service for your drainage system.
5 Tips for Choosing the Best Drain Cleaning Service Company
Not all drain cleaning services are created equal. While some genuinely care about helping clients in need, others are not. Instead of unclogging your blocked drains, siphoning money off your pockets matters to them more.
That said, below feature the tips for selecting the best sewer line or underground drain cleaning service for your needs:
#1 Ask the right questions
First and foremost, asking questions is the primary acid test to qualify for drain cleaning services.
Why?
Performing drain cleaning services is not a simple task— we can attest to that.
It requires expertise and experience. Unless the service provider has both, they are not qualified to work on your drains. Asking questions challenges their knowledge and puts their credibility to the test.
But here’s the thing: you have to ask the RIGHT questions.
These are the three things you must investigate as you throw questions:
- License. These government-issued permits authorize an individual or business to render drain-cleaning services.
- Certifications. Certifications indicate that the company has met certain knowledge, skill or experience standards in the field. Unlike licenses, which are often compulsory, certifications are voluntary credentials that demonstrate expertise.
- Knowledge. As professionals, drain cleaning service providers must know more about the field than anyone else. Try asking them leading questions that test their level of expertise.
We crafted a list of 10 essential questions to ask drain experts to verify their command of the field. Feel free to check it after going through this article.
#2 Look for experience
You’ve heard the saying, “experience is the best teacher,” right?
That means having years of experience under a service provider’s belt equates to better service.
Of course, you can hire the new kids on the block to save a few hundred bucks. However, this puts you at risk of receiving mediocre service. Experienced teams are more likely to complete tasks without errors, resulting in less headache and financial burden on your end.
So, how do you assess if you’re dealing with an experienced team?
Here are some tips:
- Ask them. Interview them about how long they’ve been in business. You can also ask them to provide references from previous customers.
- Check the company’s website. Most companies list their years of experience on their website, giving you an easy bird’s eye view.
Also, body language and speech reveal layers regarding their experience.
For instance, experienced drain cleaning contractors can diagnose and fix the problem quickly and efficiently. They also offer a warranty on their services and keep in step with the latest trends and equipment.
#3 Check online reviews
Digital marketing makes business information readily available with a few clicks.
While many companies include their reviews on their website, they mostly keep only the positive ones. Some may even fake their reviews to manipulate leads into closing a deal. This presents you with a biased overview of their real-life performance.
If you’re wondering about a drain cleaning service’s reputation, check public online reviews. You can view unfiltered business reviews with Google Business Profiles (GBP). For example, this is what Drain Magic’s GBP reviews look like:
Meanwhile, Yelp, Angi (formerly Angi’s List) and Glassdoor are good review sites for companies without GBP integrations.
#4 Explore their arsenal of services
Another no-nonsense tip to qualify drain cleaning company is to check their offered services.
Here’s why.
Usually, homeowners only know what’s wrong with their underground drains after a professional inspection. For instance, some clogged drains might are caused not by grease deposits but by root intrusion or dislodged pipes. In that case, there’s no sense in hiring a company that only specializes in drain cleaning and not higher-level services.
Ideally, your drain cleaning company must also offer other plumbing solutions. Aside from drain cleaning and maintenance, Drain Magic also provides other services should the need arise.
Here’s a quick list of our services:
- Water jetting
- Pipe installation
- Pipe relining
- Pipe bursting
- Sewer camera inspection
We render these services for both water and sewer lines.
#5 Get a thorough estimate for your needed service
Finally, let’s say your preferred company’s credentials, reviews, experience and services check out. What now?
The only thing left is to ask for a thorough estimate of your required services.
Receiving a general cost estimate pales in comparison to a detailed quote. True experts are willing to provide the latter and paired with an explanation if you ask for one.
Before committing to a drain cleaning company, ask for a detailed quote. Moreover, feel free to call another provider for a second opinion if their initial recommendations do not convince you.
With these five tips, you can find a company that fits your needs and budget.
Are you looking for drain cleaning services? Don’t settle for anything less than the best.
Drain Magic is the number one partner of South Central Pennsylvania homeowners in their pipe repair and replacement projects. If you live around the area, don’t hesitate to call us for a FREE in-home estimate.
