Handyman vs. Plumber: Who To Use For What Job?

 

When a ‘wet’ job needs doing around the home, it’s often hard to know whether you should get a plumber or a handyman in to fix it. Of course, a plumber is trained to carry out extensive and small jobs, whereas a handyman may only be capable of tackling small plumbing tasks.

What’s The Difference Between a Plumber and Handyman?

The main difference between a plumber and a handyman is that a plumber must be licensed in 46 of the 50 states. That’s why plumbers are recommended for significant jobs such as heating or boiler repairs or fitting equipment. The term ‘handyman’ is broader and generally refers to someone who is available to carry out a wide range of home repairs and home improvement tasks. As a general rule, when trying to decide whether a plumbing task is suitable for a handyman, it’s best to think about whether the average person would be able to complete the task safely and to a good standard without any formal training. So, jobs such as replacing a washer or installing a washing machine would generally be ok for a handyman. Usually, there are no specific requirements necessary to provide handyman services. However, it is still best to check documentation, reviews, and insurance status before committing to having any work carried out by a handyman.

 

Why Hire a Plumber Over a Handyman?

You’ll generally find that a plumber charges a higher call-out fee than a handyman, so if it is a job that a handyman can do, that’s usually your best option. And if you’re lucky, you may find that when you’re searching for a handyman online, you’ll find one that is also a trained plumber.

If you hire a plumber, you will probably pay more, but you’ll have the peace of mind that the person carrying out the work is qualified. You can sometimes find plumbers offer special rates for specific jobs, so if you particularly want to hire a plumber, it’s worth asking.

A licensed and trained plumber will not only have the necessary qualifications, but they will also be up to date on regulations and laws to ensure work is carried out in line with health and safety.  A licensed plumber with broad industry knowledge and experience will leave your property safe and compliant. They will also diagnose complex problems and issues with your plumbing system and advise on the best course of action. A handyman will not be able to do that

The risks of employing a handyman for a complex plumbing task are many, and you could end up seriously out of pocket. So for major plumbing jobs, it’s always better to find a local licensed plumber.

Shop Around Before Committing

When finding a professional to carry out work in your home or rental property, you should always seek at least three quotes before agreeing to any work. This is to ensure you know you are paying a fair price. For smaller plumbing jobs that you think might be suitable for a plumber or a handyman, ask both. It will give you a good idea of the difference in price between the two, and you may find that you only have to pay a little more for a plumber.

Make sure you’re clear in describing the job – or the symptoms if you don’t know what needs doing. If you know there is a problem but don’t know its cause; you should always call a licensed plumber.

Ask if they clean up

In many cases, a plumber will not clean up any damage caused in getting to the problem. This might include a plumber removing a section of the ceiling to gain access to pipes or taking tiles away to locate a leak. Under the terms of the contract, you will be liable for repairing the damage. If the job is suitable for a handyman, they will usually put right any such damage. Depending on the time it takes to make good, they may offer this as an additional service or charge extra.

 

None of us want to spend more than we have to on things like home repairs. If you have a minor plumbing job but not the tools or know-how to do it yourself, a handyman is likely to be your cheapest option. For bigger jobs, it’s best to find a reliable local plumber and be prepared to pay the going rate to get the job done correctly. Poor plumbing work can be hazardous and could lead to water damage that would be severe and costly.

ChoreRelief is the place to find plumbers, handyman services, and many other tradespeople in one place. Download the app for free and input details of the job you need doing. You can choose to send details to plumbers, handymen, or both. You can select a price range you’re willing to pay and then sit back and let us do the donkey work for you. No need to ring around for quotes. No need to repeat yourself to numerous tradesmen.

Only tradesmen with availability and who are prepared to do the work within your given price range will contact you so you’ll know from the outset what the job will cost, and there will be no nasty surprises.

Download the app today, so you’ve always got the tradesmen you need in your back pocket to cope with emergencies and unexpected plumbing problems.

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