Why is it that some people find the idea of contacting a new plumber to do a job, just a little bit worrying? There have being a spate of documentaries on the TV and stories in the media about "Cowboy" plumbers, sad tales of people losing their money. Yes, there are rogues out there but in truth they are few and far between.
Do independent research using the Yellow pages, search engines and local business listings. Beforehand, make a list of what you are seeking in a plumber on Long Island. For example, years of experience, what services they provide, whether or not they have emergency service, areas of expertise, types of jobs they perform (residential, commercial, industrial) etc. Look for local plumbing service companies that are a match.
This one could be a toilet problem. You recall that the toilet tank in the ladies washroom developed a crack last year. Even though it was only a hairline crack over the course of a holiday shut-down you arrived to find quite a large amount of water making its water heater way across the tiled floor and out onto the carpet.
If you still are not lucky in finding a good local plumber, contact your local plumbing store, they can help you in recommending a reliable and Trustworthy plumber in your area as they deal with them every day.
Preventative care is what is needed here such as using commercial products for unclogging a drain and wrapping your pipes and having them insulated. You may also want to invest in drain covers for your drains to catch hair and grease before it becomes a problem that warrants the call to your Local plumber. If you have pipes outdoors that have hoses, before fall sets in, disconnect these hoses and bring them indoors. This is just some of the preventative maintenance that can be used.
There's water all over the floors and the basement is flooding, it is time to call someone to help with your plumbing situation. With water going everywhere, you don't have time to look around and figure out what happened and how you can fix it. When a problem arises that creates damage to your home or the area around it, you want to make the call for help. Let an expert come in, attempt to stop the flow of water, and begin to diagnose the problem.
Once the work has been completed, ask for a breakdown of the bill before it's paid. That way, you know what you're paying for and it stops the plumbers asking for more money down the line.