Get Quotes from Top Plumbers in Greensboro City, NC

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber in Greensboro

Residents of Greensboro currently pay about $6 per 748 gallons of water and $4 per 748 gallons of water sewage. With an average home wasting up to 90 gallons of water in a day, it is important for plumbing issues to be fixed once detected to prevent wastage and high water bills. When you detect any plumbing issue in your home, especially issues like leaky faucets, flappy toilets, or burst pipes and clogged drains, make sure you contact a qualified plumber to fix them. You can rely on referrals from friends, family, and third-party websites like Better Business Bureau when looking for a qualified plumber near you. However, you should ensure you do your due diligence by asking the intended plumber the following questions:

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Greensboro?

The licensing of plumbers in Greensboro is regulated by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Per section 87-25 of the North Carolina General Statutes, any individual who carries out plumbing work without being licensed shall be guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor. The Board will have the right to seek a restraining order and injunctive relief from a superior court against such a violator.

The type of plumbing license an individual applies for in Greensboro is determined by plumbing license limitations. Limitation determines the dollar limit of the project that a plumber can handle with their plumbing license. The following are the plumbing limitations:

Any individual interested in carrying out plumbing work within these license limitations must obtain the relevant plumbing licenses from the Licensing Board. Applicants must be 18 years old and must provide proof of completing two years of technical training in an accredited trade school. Also, applicants must prove they have gained experience for four years, training under the direct supervision of a licensed plumber. Applicants that meet these requirements can apply for either a P-I Contractor (Plumbing-Class I), P-II Contractor (Plumbing-Class II), or RLP Contractor (Restricted Limited Plumbing) plumbing license.

After applying for the relevant license, applicants are further required to apply for a North Carolina licensing examination by completing and submitting a license examination application form and paying the required fees to the mailing address indicated in the form. Once the application is received, an eligibility letter will be mailed back containing all information required to schedule the licensing examination with PSI. Upon completion of the exam, applicants will be issued the applicable plumbing licenses, making them eligible to practice in Greensboro. Interested persons can direct their queries regarding the licensing process to the Licensing Board at (919) 571-4183.

Before hiring a plumber in Greensboro, ensure you verify their licensing status. You can do this by utilizing the licensee search tool provided by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Greensboro?

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, plumbers in Greensboro averagely earn about $24 per hour. Some of the factors that influence this plumbing service cost include the type of plumbing work, the required manpower, the cost of materials, the permits required, and the plumber's level of expertise. This is why it is advisable to get quotes from at least three plumbers to help you compare prices with the current market trends before settling for the one most suitable for your needs and budget.

A plumber in Greensboro earns an annual average wage of $51,730. Below is a breakdown of the Average hourly wages for plumbers in Greensboro compared with plumbers in other parts of North Carolina and other major cities in the country:

Greensboro Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$24.87
North Carolina Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$21.69
Los Angeles Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$29.04
Atlanta Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$26.53
New York City Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$35.78
Detroit Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$33.24
Houston Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$26.71
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Do You Comply with the Greensboro Building Code for Plumbing?

The applicable Plumbing Code in Greensboro is the 2018 North Carolina Plumbing Code. The provisions of this Code apply to all installation, alteration, repair, replacement, and addition of plumbing systems in the city. The Code also regulates the minimum standard for public health safety and general safeguards concerning the use of plumbing materials and equipment in Greensboro.

When hiring a plumber near you for a plumbing project, you must ensure they are well-versed with the Plumbing Code provisions relevant to your project. Violating any provisions of the Code will result in an investigation by the Greensboro Code Compliance Division (CCD), and you may be penalized. You can contact the CCD at (336) 373-2111 for more information on the Plumbing Code provisions.

Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by Greensboro Code?

Generally, plumbing permits are required for the installation, alteration, replacement, or additions to plumbing systems in Greensboro. The Greensboro Engineering & Inspection Department (EID) via the Office of Development Services is responsible for handling permit applications and issuing plumbing permits. These permits must be obtained before work commences on any project.

If the application for a plumbing permit is for plumbing works in a residential building, the applicants must download and complete a Residential Building Permit Application form. For commercial building plumbing projects, applicants can download and complete a Commercial Building Permit Application form. All completed forms, together with the applicable plumbing permit fees, must be submitted to:

Office of Development Services
300 West Washington Street
PO Box 3136
Greensboro, NC 27405

Phone: (336) 373-2155

In addition to the form, applicants must submit residential building permit plans and commercial building permit plans online via the EID's plan review & tracking platform. Alternatively, applicants can complete an application for plumbing permits online via the building inspections scheduler platform. New users will be required to register an account to continue with this platform. Lastly, when the EID issues the applicant's plumbing permit, inspections will be required at various stages of the plumbing project to ensure strict compliance with the Plumbing Code.

Applicants can request an inspection online via the building inspections scheduler platform. Otherwise, they can contact the EID's automated inspection scheduling office by dialing (336) 373-2400. All permits, plans, and inspection-related queries can be directed to the Greensboro Engineering & Inspection Department at (336) 373-2155.

What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?

Whenever you hire a plumber in Greensboro to fix emergency plumbing issues like leaky faucets, repair a sewer line, or install an entire plumbing system, you must ensure they have the expertise to handle such work. Plumbers in Greensboro offer an array of services for both residential and commercial plumbing projects. This makes it essential to confirm if your intended plumber has the experience, skill set, and equipment to provide the services you need. In addition, you should also find out how much their services cost to ensure the plumber is suitable for your budget.

The average costs of some common plumbing services that plumbers in Greensboro provide to interested parties include:

Remodel or home addition
$3,911 - $5,056
Toilet installation or replacement
$137 - $147
Clearing drain clog or blockage
$111 - $136
Bathtub installation acrylic tub
$1,716 - $2,098
Drain line video inspection
$231 - $265
Gas line installation
$27 - $39
Septic system installation
$6,593 - $7,833
Septic tank cleaning or pumping for a 1,000-gallon tank
$244 - $287
Sewer line cleaning
$155 - $237
Sewer line installation and repair
$54 - $69
Sump pump installation
$763 - $1,097
Swamp cooler installation
$2,089 - $2,237
Water softener installation
$925 - $1,241.
Well pump installation
$682- $809

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Greensboro?

A leaky faucet in a household drips at the rate of one drip per second, which can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water annually. This water loss is equivalent to water needed to run up to 180 showers in a home. Considering the amount of water lost to faulty plumbing issues, you should ensure water leakages and other plumbing issues like burst pipes, clogged drains, and overflowing toilets are fixed once they are detected. To fix these problems, you can contact a plumber near you.

However, you must ensure such a plumber has the requisite experience and is well-equipped to handle the situation. You can find a qualified plumber near you through third-party websites like Better Business Bureau, Google Reviews, and Yelp. It is advisable to verify the licensing status of any plumber found on these websites before retaining their services. You can use the licensee search tool provided by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors to confirm their licensing status.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in Greensboro?

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020, there were approximately 2.7 million nonfatal work-related injuries across the country, with the construction industry accounting for over 174,000 of these injuries. Even though plumbers in Greensboro are not required to have general liability insurance, it is advisable for you to hire a plumber with an active general liability insurance plan. This is because it affords you protection from bearing the financial cost of accidents or property damage during your plumbing work. As such, ensure you request from your intended plumber a copy of their valid insurance certificate, and also contact the issuing insurance provider to verify if it is active and still valid.

It is important to note that licensed plumbers in Greensboro must maintain a bond of $175,000 for a limited license, $500,000 for an intermediate license, and $1,000,000 for an unlimited license. In addition, plumbers must maintain a valid worker's compensation insurance policy if they have at least one employee. For more information regarding the bond and insurance requirements for plumbers in Greensboro, you can contact the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors at (919) 571-4183.

How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Plumber in Greensboro

As sad as it may sound, individuals pose as plumbers and home improvement contractors to scam unsuspecting residents of Greensboro for their money. This is why you must perform due diligence and take precautionary steps before hiring any plumber for your plumbing needs. In most cases, these scammers offer plumbing services without a valid license or with a fake license. For example, in January 2019, a contractor was sentenced to 28 days in jail and a fine of $3,000 for taking on a home improvement project worth over $100,000 without a valid license.

Apart from carrying out plumbing work without a license, these individuals also utilize other scam methods, such as collecting payment without carrying out the work or abandoning the work midway, door-to-door solicitations, and refusal to sign a work contract. Some of the precautionary steps to help avoid such scams include:

  • Request for previous work references from your intended plumber
  • Consider estimates from at least three different plumbers
  • Confirm the licensing status of your intended plumber
  • Execute a written contract with your plumber
  • Avoid paying the total fee for the project upfront
  • Keep proper records of all documents related to the project, such as payment receipts and the work contract.

If you suspect a plumbing scam or have a complaint, you can report it to the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors by submitting a complaint online. Alternatively, you can submit a complaint to the North Carolina Attorney General's Office by submitting an online consumer complaint form.

However, note that submitting a consumer complaint does not guarantee that you will get compensation. If you want compensation, you can sue the relevant plumber for monetary damages at the Guilford District Court. Before proceeding with your legal action, you should seek proper legal advice from a lawyer who can help you with better legal options you can pursue. You can utilize the member's directory of the Greensboro Bar Association to find active lawyers near you.