How do I find a qualified well pump contractor in my area?
A common question that many visitors to our website have is, “Where can I find a company like Oakville Pump Service in MY area?” This is a legitimate question. People want honest, competent, responsible and considerate companies to work with and, sometimes, it seems like a challenge to locate one in your area. In this blog we’ll give you a few tips to help you in your search for a local company that can help you with your submersible well pump, booster pump and water filtration needs.
TRADE INDUSTRY SEARCH
Every state has a groundwater association that can help in your quest! The National Groundwater Association has a directory of it’s members from every state. Follow the directory link then scroll down until you find your state’s ground water association and then click through the link. Your state’s ground water association typically has a resource to help you locate the well/pump contractors near you and understand what their qualifications are at a glance. The Water Quality Association can help you find a quality contractor for your water purification/filtration needs. In addition, companies that are a member of the American Water Works Association are typically interested in staying current with and contributing to the betterment of the water industry as a whole!
Several of prominent/quality pump manufacturers have tools to help customers locate qualified companies in your area. They aren’t just trying to sell you their equipment either! They have a vested interest in directing you to competent/qualified pump companies in your area because these manufacturers know that their equipment will last longer, work more efficiently and they will have fewer warranty claims/higher customer satisfaction if the equipment is installed properly. These manufacturers frequently vet and provide training to the people on their lists and they are worth checking out. Here are some directories that can help you in your search for a qualified contractor to work on your water system:
Franklin Water Professional Locator
NARROWING YOUR SEARCH
Check out the companies from the industry trade links above. Take time to read several of the reviews, a few 5 star, some 1 star and the reviews in between. Check out their website and find out what licenses they have. Remember, working effectively with pumping equipment means understanding the fields of electricity, plumbing, wells and groundwater! In our estimation, you want a company that has licenses and experience in the fields of plumbing, electrical and well drilling/pump/mechanical realms. Plumbing companies that also install pumps often do a great job connecting pipes so they don’t leak, but struggle in the other areas and may not know how to troubleshoot electrical problems, set up a VFD or help select the most efficient pump for your well. Plumbers also tend to struggle in identifying issues with the well/well casing that may need to be addressed. Care should be taken with well drillers that also install well pumps. “Why? This sounds like the perfect combination…” you might be saying. In our experience helping customers these companies cut as many corners as possible because everything is hidden underground. Poor water quality, premature pump failure and pumps stuck in casings that are too small or crooked go hand in hand with this type of contractor. When you have one contractor drill the well and another install the pump they realize that they will be looking at each other’s work and that it better be top tier!
OPS has multiple license classifications that you can review here. While OPS has licenses to drill wells, WE DON’T DRILL WELLS, but we do recommend some great well drillers in the area. OPS has a plumbing license as well, but we won’t install sinks or hot water heaters. Our focus is on installing the best equipment for our customer’s well pump needs and these licenses are all in order to serve that purpose, not dominate in every industry we are associated or affiliated with.
As you review the licenses of companies in your area, many counties/states will offer a web portal where you can check to see if the licenses are valid/current. Circle the companies on your list that have the plumbing/electrical/well licensing aspects covered and who focus on the well pump aspect of contracting and not the plumbing or well drilling (unless those are the focus of your project.
TIRE KICKING
The next thing is to call the potential companies on your list and ask about their rates, warranty policy and availability to work on your project. Establishments that offer quality/competent services will give you their rates up front and won’t play games with you, don’t be surprised if they are busy, the best companies usually are backlogged! Some companies quote very low rates to reel you in, but then frequently have some “gotcha” fees that they may not disclose. If it sounds too good to be true, it is! Don’t play games with potential quality companies by calling them and telling you can get something cheaper somewhere else or asking for estimates that you aren’t serious about following through with. This approach may simply get you a reputation as a tire kicker. Customers that are serious about the work they need done and don’t kick tires, tend to get prioritized and fair pricing because they aren’t wasting tons of time beating the bushes for elusive deals.
Red & Green Flags
If you call and say “I don’t have water and I think there is a problem with my well pump.” Don’t be surprised if a quality company tells you they don’t know how much it will cost to fix your well pump! There are many different components and sizes of wire, pipe, pump and, until they troubleshoot the situation and identify the problem, they can’t possibly know how much it will cost to fix. A company that want to send a technician to throughly troubleshoot the problem before giving you a quote or estimate is a Green Flag. Red flags should go up if you call and a company starts throwing prices to fix a system they have no information on or they use scare tactics to sell you something, bid them goodbye and move to the next company on your list.
We hope that this brief explanation will help you in your search to find one of the many good pump contractors in your area!