Plumber

You called about one thing. Here’s how to tell a real heads-up from an upsell, and what to say when the pitch starts.

Flat rate for the simple stuff, hourly or a written project price for floods and big jobs. Either way, get it in writing.

Calling a plumber at 3 AM costs more, and that’s fair. Tripling the bill isn’t. What’s reasonable for after-hours plumbing, and what to do so you don’t panic-pay.

Had a helper show up instead of the plumber? What to ask on the phone and at the door, and how to check a plumber’s license in Nassau and Suffolk.

Same clog, same 30 minutes, different price because of your zip code. How to spot the nice-house tax, what’s fair to charge more for, and New York’s credit card surcharge rules.

A plumber who walks onto your rug in the same boots he wore to unclog someone else’s toilet is telling you something. Here’s the Clean Boots Checklist.

Going away this winter? Leave the heat on. How to keep pipes from freezing on Long Island, where to shut off the water if one bursts, and cheap gadgets that buy you time.