Hiring the wrong plumber costs more than hiring the right one. A botched repair, a missing permit, or a plumber who disappears mid-job can turn a straightforward fix into a much bigger problem — and a much bigger bill.
Victoria has no shortage of plumbers. But not all of them are licensed, insured, or committed to doing the job right. Whether you need a drain cleaning, a hot water tank replacement, or a full Poly B repipe, taking twenty minutes to vet your plumber before you book can save you thousands down the road.
Here are the 8 things we tell every homeowner to check — and the red flags that should make you walk away.
8 Things to Check Before Hiring a Plumber
1. Licensed in BC
Every plumber working in British Columbia must hold a valid licence. You can verify this through the BC Housing Licenced Contractor Registry — it takes less than a minute. If a plumber can't give you a licence number or doesn't appear in the registry, that's the end of the conversation. Unlicensed work can void your insurance, fail inspections, and create serious liability if something goes wrong.
2. Insured
A legitimate plumbing company carries both general liability insurance and WorkSafeBC (WCB) coverage. Liability insurance protects your property if something goes wrong on the job. WCB coverage protects you from being held liable if a worker is injured in your home. Ask for proof of both — any reputable plumber will provide it without hesitation.
3. Pulls Permits
Any plumbing work that involves modifying your water supply, drain, or waste lines requires a permit in Victoria BC. A plumber who tells you a permit isn't necessary — or suggests skipping it to save time or money — is putting you at risk. Unpermitted work can cause problems with insurance claims, home inspections, and resale. A good plumber pulls the permit on your behalf and schedules the required inspection.
4. Provides Written Quotes
A verbal quote is not protection. Before any work begins, you should have a written quote that outlines the scope of work, materials, timeline, and total cost. It should also note what is and isn't included. If a plumber won't put it in writing, you have no recourse when the final invoice doesn't match what you were told.
5. Strong Google Reviews
Check their Google Business profile. Look at both the overall rating and the content of recent reviews. A company with dozens of recent, detailed reviews from local homeowners is a much safer bet than one with a handful of generic ratings from years ago. Pay attention to how the company responds to negative reviews — that tells you a lot about how they handle problems.
6. Upfront Pricing
You should never be surprised by an invoice. A trustworthy plumber gives you a clear price before the work starts and communicates immediately if anything changes the scope. Plumbers who quote low and then pile on charges once they've started are a common source of complaints — and a pattern you can avoid by insisting on upfront, written pricing.
7. Local to Victoria
A local plumber has a local reputation to protect. They're accountable to the community they live and work in, and they're far more likely to stand behind their work than someone who drives in from out of town and you'll never see again. Local plumbers also understand Victoria-specific issues — our water chemistry, municipal permit processes, older home construction, and the plumbing challenges that come with Island living.
8. Stands Behind Their Work
Ask about the warranty. A plumber who is confident in their work will offer a warranty on labour — not just the manufacturer's warranty on parts. If something goes wrong within the warranty period, they come back and make it right at no additional cost. If a plumber hedges on warranty details or won't commit to anything in writing, that's a clear signal to look elsewhere.
Red Flags to Watch For
Beyond checking for the right things, watch out for the warning signs that a plumber isn't worth your time or money:
- Unusually low quotes — a price well below other quotes usually means corners are being cut, permits are being skipped, or the final bill will be higher than the estimate
- Cash only — legitimate businesses accept multiple payment methods and provide proper invoices
- No written quote — if they won't put it in writing, there's a reason
- Won't pull permits — this is a non-negotiable for any work that requires one
- No online presence — no website, no Google reviews, no business listing; a company with nothing to show has nothing to verify
Any one of these should give you pause. More than one together, and you should move on to another plumber entirely.
"We had a homeowner call us last year in a tough spot. She'd hired someone to repipe a section of her home — no written quote, no permit, just a handshake and a low price. Partway through the job, the plumber stopped showing up. Wouldn't return calls. She was left with open walls, disconnected water lines, and no way to hold him accountable.
We came in, assessed what had been done, pulled the proper permits, and finished the job right. It ended up costing her more than it would have if she'd hired a licensed plumber from the start. That story isn't unusual — we hear versions of it all the time. Taking a few minutes to vet your plumber upfront is always worth it."
Frequently Asked Questions
Book With The Smell Good Plumbers
Licensed, insured, and local to Victoria. We provide written quotes, pull every permit, and stand behind every job with a warranty on labour. No surprises — just quality plumbing.
0% financing available through Financeit · Serving Victoria, Langford, Saanich, Oak Bay & all of Greater Victoria