Hiring a Plumber in Illinois

Plumbing licenses in Illinois

The Illinois Department of Public Health administers the state plumbing program, including plumber licensing and the Illinois Plumbing Code (Illinois Department of Public Health, Plumbing Program). IDPH offers a way to look up plumber licenses. Ask for the license number and check it.

Consumer protection

The Illinois Attorney General's consumer protection division explains your rights for home repair work and takes complaints (Illinois Attorney General, Consumer Protection). Illinois's Home Repair and Remodeling Act requires a written contract for many home repair jobs and requires contractors to give consumers a consumer rights pamphlet. The Attorney General's pages explain the details.

What a written estimate should cover

• The diagnosis and the work to be done.
• Materials and equipment, with model numbers.
• Code items, permits and inspections.
• Access, restoration and cleanup.
• Schedule, payment terms and warranty.

Payment

Be cautious with anyone who asks for most of the money before work starts, or who will only take cash. Progress payments tied to completed work are common for larger jobs.

Permits

Water heaters, sewer replacement and repiping often need a permit. Inside city limits, check with the City of Decatur (City of Decatur, Illinois (water, sewer and permits)); elsewhere, your village or Macon County. The contract should say who pulls the permit.

Digging

For sewer or water line excavation, a JULIE locate request at least two working days ahead is required (JULIE, Illinois One-Call (call 811 before digging)). Ask who will place it.

After a storm

After floods and windstorms, door-to-door solicitors sometimes appear. The Attorney General warns consumers to be careful with them (Illinois Attorney General, Consumer Protection). Take time to check credentials even when the basement is wet.

Questions worth asking

Ask how the problem was diagnosed and whether photos or a camera video are available. Ask which parts of the job need a permit, who schedules the inspection, and what happens if the work uncovers something unexpected, like a second bad section of pipe behind a basement wall. Changes to the scope should be written down and approved before work continues.

Comparing estimates

Line up the diagnosis, scope, materials, code items and restoration side by side. The estimate factors page explains each item.

Related pages: sewer & main line repair, water heater repair & replacement, sump pumps & basement backups, and what shapes an estimate.

Sources: Illinois Department of Public Health, Plumbing Program; Illinois Attorney General, Consumer Protection; JULIE, Illinois One-Call (call 811 before digging); City of Decatur, Illinois (water, sewer and permits).