"Had a guy once who was supposedly trained, but he still managed to flood half my driveway before figuring out the right angle."
Haha, sounds familiar... I've seen certified guys stare blankly at a clogged drain like it's rocket science. Honestly, give me someone with a bit of practical sense over paperwork any day.
I've seen certified guys stare blankly at a clogged drain like it's rocket science.
Haha, totally get what you're saying. As a first-time homeowner, I've quickly learned that "certified" doesn't always mean "competent." Had a guy once who spent 20 mins explaining the drain issue to me... then asked if I had a plunger he could borrow.
I get what you're saying, but honestly, certification isn't always the issue. I've had my share of clueless "pros," sure, but I've also seen plenty of certified plumbers who knew exactly what they were doing. Sometimes it's less about their actual skill and more about how clearly they communicate what's going on.
Like, last year we had a pretty nasty flooding situation on our street because the drains backed up after a heavy storm. City sent out a crew, and at first glance, I thought they were just standing around scratching their heads. Turns out, they were actually assessing the blockage further down the line—something that wasn't immediately obvious to us watching from our porches. Once they pinpointed the issue, they cleared it out pretty quickly.
Not saying your experience wasn't frustrating (trust me, I've been there), but sometimes these guys are just trying to figure out the best approach before diving in. And yeah, occasionally you'll get someone who's certified but still inexperienced or just plain lazy. But in my experience, that's more the exception than the rule.
Also, side note: if a plumber ever asks you for your plunger, that's definitely a red flag. Had a tenant once call me because the plumber I hired showed up without basic tools. Needless to say, I didn't hire that guy again...
Haha, totally agree with you on the plunger thing—major facepalm moment. As a licensed plumber myself, I've definitely had those awkward moments where it looks like we're just staring blankly at the problem (we're actually mentally mapping pipes, promise). Communication is key, though; whenever I take a minute to explain what's going on, people usually relax a bit. Props to you for being patient and giving them the benefit of the doubt...not everyone does!
Had a similar issue on my street last spring. Heavy rains hit, and suddenly the whole road was ankle-deep in water. Turns out, leaves and debris had completely blocked the storm drains. I grabbed a rake and cleared what I could, but it was obvious the city hadn't maintained them properly in ages. Honestly, it's frustrating when basic maintenance gets overlooked—especially since we're paying taxes for exactly this kind of thing. Sure, plumbers and city workers have their methods and mental checklists (respect for that), but sometimes a little proactive communication or even a heads-up from the city would go a long way. After that mess, a few neighbors and I started regularly checking and clearing the drains ourselves. Not ideal, but better than waiting around for someone else to handle it...