# How does one find a good plumber?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-find-a-good-plumber/599015>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 8, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-find-a-good-plumber/599015 "2011-10-08T18:00:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-find-a-good-plumber/599015/1 "2011-10-08T18:00:51Z")

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I consider it a personal failing when I can’t fix something myself, but a small plumbing job in my full bathroom has gotten to the point I can’t fix it.

1. The clog is too bad for me to fix. It’s a bathroom sink.

2. The piping is not typical. Whomever worked on it years ago put some funky stuff together and I can’t replicate it or use standard pipes to put in a normal j-trap setup. It’s too tight a space and other complications.

However, I don’t want to get royally screwed. Is there a good, free internet site that rates plumbers? I used Car Talk to find my mechanic and it has been perfect.

Anyone know a good, reliable place I can find ratings/reviews of plumbers in a region?

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**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-find-a-good-plumber/599015/2 "2011-10-08T20:41:56Z")

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Have you tried calling your local rental property management office? They usually know of a few.

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**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-find-a-good-plumber/599015/3 "2011-10-10T17:34:15Z")

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have you tried a [Zip It](http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-Products-400-Drain-Cleaning/dp/B000BO9204)? It’s the shit in my humble opinion.

ETA: Also get a set of these [sink strainers](http://www.amazon.com/Set-Mesh-Sink-Strainer-Stainless/dp/B002508Q5E/ref=pd_cp_hi_1); they are the same price as getting just one individually.