Whether you have just moved to the area or have moved from one neighborhood to another, always be sure to hire a professional plumber before you need them. You do not want to be ankle-deep in water following a plumbing disaster and be struggling to find a plumber at the same time.
It is never fun to call a local plumber you found in the top of a search listing in an emergency only to realize after the work is done that not only did you pay too much for the work, despite it being an urgent matter, but you also hired someone who did an inferior job.
A safe bet is to connect with some of your new neighbors or ask your family members for recommendations. If a particular local Portland plumbing company has met their needs, the chances are that they will meet your plumbing needs, too.
Still, always gather a few other local company names and contact information. You want to call each company, not just send an e-mail or fill out an online contact form to inquire of a particular plumbing company's services. You want to test out a company's level of customer service.
If someone answers the phone personally versus reaching a voice mail greeting, that says a lot. You do not want to be in an actual plumbing emergency and have to wait after leaving a message for someone to call you back.
Ask whoever answers a bit about their general rates. Most plumbers will charge extra for emergency calls, so be sure to ask about these, too. Of course, it helps to see what past customers have to say about the company.
Read as many online reviews as you can, but always give exceedingly good or bad reviews some leeway. If the majority of the reviews are positive, that is a good sign. With a little work, you will find your new plumbing company.