Many people say that prevention is better than a cure.
The same thing may apply to securing the services of plumbers.
It is always better to maintain the plumbing than to repair them when it has already busted a leak.
With the weight of a leaking pipe on one's shoulders, it is easy to get sucked into hiring just any plumber to fix the damage than hiring someone who is qualified and thorough with the job.
This train of thought is ideal but many homeowners do not have the time and inclination to maintain their pipes and other plumbing fixtures.
The thought of looking for a plumbing specialist may not even cross a person's mind unless there is a leak or a water pipe emergency.
References from neighbors, family and friends may be the best way to go when out looking for plumbers.
Although not all of these people may have a good recommendation or may not have any idea who to recommend at the moment, there may be one or two who has a plumbing specialist on their phone book.
In case of emergencies, one may not be as picky as one would like to be but it is advisable to be always on hand to monitor the plumber during work as well as to ask how much the labor and materials may cost before any repair is started.
A homeowners association may also have someone who specializes in these services on hand for emergencies.
Some associations actually charge their members for such services, having a plumber on call.
Others have a short list of professionals to choose from which may be approved by the homeowners every year.
Having a builder friend or acquaintance may also help since contractors usually deal with plumbers when constructing a building.
The problem with this type of recommendation is that the specialist may have a lot of pending work and will not be able to accommodate emergencies.
It is also useful to make sure and be clear with regards the actual cost of the materials and labor before allowing the professional to start working on the emergency or the job.
Unscrupulous individuals may answer vaguely or appear confused with regards the cost and then charge an arm and a leg when the job is done.
Others will quote just the material cost and then hit you with the labor cost after the job is finished.
Reliable professionals will most likely give a ceiling price or a rough estimate which should be close to the actual price.
If the damage is not clear until the wall is uncovered, the plumbing specialist may need to view the actual damage before quoting a price.