References for a plumber serve a different purpose than references for a general contractor. You’re not evaluating a months-long relationship — you’re evaluating technical quality, reliability, and honesty. A past client who can tell you whether the job was done right, whether the price matched the quote, and whether the plumber left the site clean is giving you the most reliable signal you can get before hiring.
The challenge is that most homeowners either skip references entirely or ask the wrong questions. Here’s how to get real information from a reference call.
“Ask every reference one question above all others: did you have to call them back? If a plumber’s work holds up and their clients never need a callback, that’s the best endorsement there is. If a reference pauses before answering that question, you’ve learned something important.”
— Archie, licensed plumber and owner of Deep Water Plumbing, a residential plumbing company in the Greater Toronto Area, with 14 years in the trade
Table of Contents
How to Ask for References the Right Way
Can you give me three references from jobs similar to mine, done in the last year?
Specificity is what makes a reference useful. A plumber who did a bathroom rough-in three years ago may be a very different tradesperson than the one who showed up last month. Ask for recent references, and ask for ones that match your job type — drain work, fixture installation, water heater replacement, or whatever your specific situation is.
What a good answer looks like: Three contactable references for comparable recent jobs, given without hesitation.
Red flag: Only offering references from years ago, from family members, or from jobs completely unlike yours.
Can I see photos of completed work?
Plumbing isn’t always visible after the fact — but there’s often something to show. Neatly installed supply lines, well-supported pipe runs, properly vented drain systems, clean connections at fixtures — a plumber who takes pride in their work often photographs it. Ask if they have a portfolio, even an informal one on their phone.
Questions to Ask the References
Once you have the names and numbers, here’s what to ask when you call.
What was the job, and how long did it take?
Start with context. What type of plumbing work was done, and what was the estimated versus actual timeline? A job that took three times as long as quoted is worth understanding, even if the result was fine.
Did the final price match the quote?
Budget overruns in plumbing are common — pipes behind walls reveal surprises, old fittings don’t cooperate, material costs change. Ask the reference whether the final bill matched the original quote, and if not, how the difference was handled. Were they notified before the price increased? Was there a written change order?
Did you have to call them back for any issues after the job was done?
This is the single most telling question. A callback means the work failed or was incomplete. A plumber with few callbacks is doing quality work. Ask how the plumber responded if there was a callback — did they come back promptly, at no charge, without an argument?
Did they leave the site clean?
Plumbing work can be messy — cut pipes, old fittings, water on the floor, drywall dust if a wall was opened. Ask whether the plumber cleaned up after themselves. It’s a small thing that signals professionalism across the board.
Did they explain what they were doing and why?
A good plumber communicates. They explain the problem, the solution, and the options. They tell you what they found and what it means. A reference who says “I had no idea what they were doing until I got the bill” is describing a communication problem that may affect your experience too.
Would you hire them again?
The simplest and most predictive question. Listen not just to the answer but to how fast it comes. A genuine yes arrives immediately. Any hesitation is worth noting.
Is there anything you wish you’d known before hiring them?
Open-ended questions uncover things references wouldn’t otherwise mention — a tendency to start late in the morning, a communication style that some found abrupt, a preference for one type of solution when others might be more appropriate. It invites honesty in a way that yes/no questions don’t.
Checking Reviews Alongside References
Plumber-selected references are inherently curated. Balance them with independent sources:
Google reviews — look at the overall pattern, not just the best and worst reviews. How does the plumber respond to negative ones? Professionally or defensively?
HomeStars — a Canadian platform specifically for home service professionals, with verified reviews tied to completed jobs.
Houzz — useful for plumbers who do renovation work, as it often includes project photos alongside reviews.
Look for recurring themes across multiple reviews. One negative review about communication could be an outlier. Three reviews mentioning the same thing is a pattern.
What Good Looks Like
A plumber who earns strong references will have clients who:
– Got exactly what was quoted, or were notified before any price changed
– Never had to call back for a repair failure
– Found the plumber easy to reach and communicate with
– Would hire them again without hesitation
That’s your benchmark. Anything short of it deserves follow-up questions.
Related Questions
- Questions to Ask a Plumber Before You Hire One
- Questions to Ask When Getting a Plumbing Quote
- Red Flags When Hiring a Plumber
- What to Do If a Plumber Does Bad Work
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