Chances are you didn’t plan for a plumber to be knocking at your door.

But the overflowing toilet, broken water heater, or whatever is keeping your home from functioning properly — your plumbing technician will get it working again in no time.

How do you prepare for a plumber to visit? Here’s what your plumber would like you to do before you welcome them into your home:

1. Give them a heads-up

When you initially contact the plumber, accurately explain to them what’s going on. Don’t just inform them of the strange noise coming from your toilet. Let them know how long it’s been happening, where exactly it’s coming from, and whatever else seems valuable. You don’t need to be an expert, but it’s a good idea to let them know any DIY plumbing tricks you tried, or if this fixture has caused you trouble in the past. The more you explain before they get there, the better prepared they’ll be to handle the problem.

2. Locate the main plumbing fixtures

Do you know the location of your main water valve? How about your water heater? Even if you’re not the handy man or woman of the house, take a stroll and locate the fixtures in and around your home. Unless you want the plumber exploring your home, it’s best to know before they get there so you can save some time.

3. Do a quick clean-up

This one might be a no-brainer, but be sure to clean up the area before the plumber arrives. There are few things more annoying than having to navigate around piles of old boxes and papers or attempting not to damage anything in the vicinity. If it doesn’t need to be there, or you’re worried about any potential damage, move it to a new location.

4. Think about other obstacles

Now’s the time you’ve been waiting for. If you have other underlying plumbing issues or small repairs that you’ve been delaying, perhaps the plumber could take care of these problems while he or she is there. It might end up being cheaper in the long run to get both problems fixed at once.

5. Consider their qualifications

Who did you contact to tackle your plumbing debacle? Be sure the plumber you’re calling is qualified and licensed, and has the proper tools and expertise to handle the problem. Your family friend might have some experience with DIY projects, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he or she is the expert on your particular setback.

If you’re looking for the right plumber, contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. Our punctual plumbers have up-to-date equipment and expertise you can trust to get your home functioning properly again. Give us a call day or night and we’ll be happy to help with plumbing repairs, drain cleaning and other plumbing setbacks.