Your toilet is clogged and overflowing, you now have a huge mess on your hands. Literally. But where will you find a plumbing company willing to come over at 8 p.m. and not charge you an exorbitant fee? How do you choose a great 24 hour plumber?

Once you’ve put on a pot of coffee, and turned off the water valve behind your toilet, start searching the internet for a list of 24 hour plumbers in your area. Once you’ve found a few, follow these tips to choose the right 24 hour plumber to call.

1. Customer service is key in these types of emergencies. You need someone to answer the phone when you call and not just anyone but an actual plumber would be nice! If they advertise being a 24-hour plumber but they don’t answer, move on to the next company. If they do answer but don’t sound happy about it, again, move on to the next company.

2. A fast response is also important. A reliable 24 hour plumber will be at your door as soon as possible. If the person who answers cannot give you a definite time a plumber will be at your house, time to move on.

3. Once at your house, a good 24 hour plumber will be upfront about pricing. After assessing the work to be done, a firm price on the job should be offered and committed to by the plumber and you prior to the start of the job. It’s good customer service on his or her part to make sure you know exactly what the job entails and how much you’ll be paying.

Finally, always make sure the 24 hour plumber you choose is licensed in the state and offers a 100% guarantee on the work being completed. Just as you stand behind your work, so should a reliable plumber. Follow these steps and you’ll be on our way to finding a good plumber!