How to Choose a Plumber in Washington

How Do You Check a Plumber's License in Illinois?

Ask for the number, then check it yourself. Illinois requires a license for anyone who plans, installs, repairs or maintains plumbing, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). It also requires all plumbing advertising to include the license number. A company that cannot give you one is a company to skip.

Verify it in three steps:

1. Ask for the license number before you book.
2. Enter it in IDPH's public plumbing license lookup.
3. Confirm the name matches the person or company, and that the license is current. Licenses renew by April 30.

This page does not state a license number for any company, so run the lookup yourself for every company you call, ours included. IDPH also warns that showing a wrong number or sharing one can bring a misdemeanor charge, so a number that does not match is a serious flag.

What If an Apprentice Comes to the Door?

Ask who the sponsor is. IDPH says apprentices must be sponsored by a licensed plumber or an approved program, and full licensure takes 48 to 72 months of work as an apprentice. An apprentice on a job can be normal. Nobody being able to name the licensed plumber behind that apprentice is not.

What Should You Ask Before You Hire?

Use these questions. Each has a reason, and a good plumber will answer them plainly.

Ask for a certificate of insurance if the job is large. A plumber who is registered and insured can send one.

Does This Plumber Fit This Job?

A valid license is the floor, and the right questions change with the work. Use the row that matches your job:

What Does a Fair Quote Look Like?

A fair quote lists the work, the parts and what it excludes. It states whether the price is a flat number or an estimate that can change, and what triggers a change. Compare two quotes line by line, not by the bottom number.

Third-party figures give a frame. A published estimate for licensed Illinois plumbers is $75 to $130 per hour, and the Illinois repair average is $350, mostly $150 to $700 (thecostin.com, 2026). Those are estimates, not our quote. A price far below them leaves a question about what is missing. Our plumber cost guide for Washington covers what moves the number.

What Should the Paperwork Say in Illinois?

On home repair work above $1,000, get a signed contract. The Illinois Attorney General's guidance says the contractor should present the state's Home Repair Consumer Rights document at that level, and that the contract should show:

• The contractor's full name, address and phone number
• A description of the work
• Start and estimated completion dates
• The total cost, including any estimate charges
• The payment schedule: down payment, later payments and final payment

The Attorney General also says you have three business days to cancel a contract signed at your home, and up to 15 if you are over 65. The FTC adds the license number and any verbal promises to that list, and says to hold the final payment until the work is done. Ask for writing on smaller jobs too. A text with the scope and price is better than a memory of a phone call.

What Are the Local Rules on Permits?

Ask who handles the permit, because it signals how a plumber works. In Washington, permits last six months and are renewable, plumbing contractors register with the city and rough-in plumbing must pass inspection before the walls close. The city inspection line is (309) 444-1122, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Confirm the current rules with the city, because they change.

A plumber who skips inspection leaves you carrying the risk when you sell or file an insurance claim.

Which Red Flags Should Make You Walk Away?

Some signs are enough on their own:

• No license number in the ad or on the phone, or a number that fails the lookup
• Demanding full payment up front for a repair, or cash only with no receipt
• Pressure to decide on the spot, or a big jump from the phone price at your door
• A refusal to put the scope and price in writing
• Skipping the permit on work that needs one
• Unsolicited door-to-door offers after a storm. Verify the license number before you let anyone start.

How Do You Read Reviews Without Being Fooled?

Read what happened, not the stars. Look for reviews that name a problem and describe the fix, repeat customers, and how the company handled a mistake. Read the lowest rating too, since one bad review tells you how a company responds to complaints.

For context, our Google profile shows 4.8 out of 5 from 16 reviews, 15 of them five-star and one one-star. Customers have written about Sunday and Saturday calls, about us explaining how to prevent the next problem and about reasonable pricing. Those are past events, not promises, and you should weigh them like any other review.

How Do You Pick a Plumber Before Something Breaks?

Do the checking on a quiet day. A wet floor is a poor time to compare companies, so build a short list now:

1. Pick two local names. Ask neighbors and read reviews with the method above.
2. Run both through the license lookup. Write down each number and the renewal status.
3. Note the hours. Google lists ours as 7:15 AM to 6:15 PM every day. Ask any company what happens outside its posted hours.
4. Save both numbers in your phone. Keep them with the location of your main shutoff valve.
5. Stop the water first when the day comes. With the main off, you have time to make a calm call and ask for the license number again.

What We Look For in a Good Match

On a first call we want to hear what you see, what is broken and what you have already tried. Then we explain the likely cause, say what we would check and give a clear, upfront quote before work starts. If the problem is bigger than you thought, we say so and show you why, using a sewer camera inspection or photos of the pipe.

If you live near the river in East Peoria and have had a sewer backup, ask any plumber whether the line, a backwater valve or a pump is the right answer. For the full list of what we do, see our plumbing services.

Trade-Offs Worth Weighing

• Small crew or large company. With a small crew you are more likely to see the same faces, but its schedule fills fast in bad weather. A large company may have more people available and less knowledge of your house.
• Nearest or best fit. A close plumber saves travel on a simple repair. A sewer line or a repipe can justify a longer drive for the right tools.
• Low price or full scope. A low quote is fine when the scope matches. Ask what it leaves out before you count the savings.

Run the Same Checks on Us

Call (209) 563-1400, ask every question on this page and tell us what is going on. Whether you need plumbing repair or a drain cleared, you get a clear, upfront quote before work starts.