Taking on a plumbing project can be a costly investment in your property. Make sure you hire the right team to help you.

Here are eight questions to ask as you prepare for your project.

1. Is your plumber licensed and insured?

We are fully licensed and insured, so you can trust that our team follows all necessary building and plumbing codes and we are covered in case of an accident. Our insurance coverage provides peace of mind for both you and our team. Upon request, we are happy to provide documentation of our insurance.

Check our license #995136 here: CSLB License Check. We hold both the A-General Engineering Contractor and C36 Plumbing License.

Note that If your project affects public works (i.e. public assets)—like connecting to a city water or sewer line—hiring an A-General Engineering Contractor is required. Freedom Underground specializes in such work, ensuring we meet all regulatory requirements.

2. Does your plumber have experience with your project type and with the local city, county, and/or utility provider?

Experience with local requirements can speed up repairs, and upgrade projects as well as shorten the time to obtain permits. Freedom Underground specializes in underground plumbing, and septic system projects across the various cities and counties in the Bay Area. We have a reputation as a premier underground plumbing provider.

Even if your repair does not require a permit, we know the local building codes and will resolve your plumbing challenge effectively and in accordance with codes and best practices. While many plumbing companies focus on drain cleaning or general services, we believe in specializing. Our extensive experience in underground plumbing positions us as valuable guides and partners for our customers. Let us prove it to you. Call us at 408-693-6018 to schedule a free estimate for your project.

3. Does the company have a history of similar projects in your area?

A well-established plumber should have a strong local reputation. We have been serving the Bay Area since 2014, and our Founder, Freddy Porras, has over 20 years of hands-on experience in the industry.

Read our customer reviews on our website, or check us out on Yelp and Google. When we come out for an estimate, we encourage you to ask us about our experience with your specific type of project and in your city or county.

Plumbing contractors that have been around for a while should have favorable reviews from the community. We have been around as a company since 2014 and our Founder, Freddy Porras, has been in the industry and our area for over 20 years.

4. What is the warranty policy?

Any contractor worth hiring should stand behind their work. At Freedom Underground, we offer a lifetime lifetime warranty on our workmanship. Ask us about our Warranty, we stand by our work.

5. Will the plumbing contractor obtain the permits and schedule the required inspections for the project?

If your project does not involve public works, permits may not be required, though they are often a good idea. Some customers choose to save time and money by completing projects without permits, but when public works are involved, permits are mandatory.

For any permitted project, the entities responsible for approval can vary. If you include permits as part of your project, Freedom Underground will manage the process, including obtaining permits and scheduling inspections. The permit process can sometimes be a hassle but we are very experienced in the process. We will keep you informed along the way.

6. Does the plumbing contractor charge for estimates?

Most of the estimates we provide at Freedom Underground are free. However, more detailed consultations, video inspections, or accessing a home’s crawl space may incur a charge. We will always let you know in advance if there is a fee. Additionally, if the estimate leads to a project, we will credit the inspection costs toward the final service.

Unlike some companies, we do not charge a “trip” or “visit” fee just to show up.

7. How much will this cost?

You should always expect a written, upfront project cost estimate. If there are any potential risks associated with the project—such as issues that cannot be determined until after excavation—those risks should be discussed and clearly outlined in the contract.

At Freedom Underground Plumbing, we provide a comprehensive and transparent estimate, ensuring you understand the full scope of the project, including any potential variables.

8. What will the timeline be? When can you Start? When do you think the project will be completed?

The timeline for your project should be clearly defined and agreed upon when the contract is signed.

At Freedom Underground, we understand the importance of staying on schedule, especially when plumbing issues disrupt your home. We aim to complete projects as efficiently as possible, depending on the scope of work and any unforeseen challenges.

While external factors, such as specific city requirements for parts or materials that may not be locally available, can cause delays, we take your timeline seriously. We work closely with you to set clear expectations from the beginning, and we provide regular updates if any issues arise.

Our payment structure reflects our commitment to keeping your project a priority. For smaller projects, we typically do not collect payment until the project is completed. For larger projects, no payments are collected until significant progress has been made. This ensures that we remain motivated to deliver high-quality work on time.

The one exception is for projects that have significantly high parts or materials costs, such as water projects requiring 4″ or larger diameter metal or C900 pipe. In these cases, we will let you know before we start work that we will need to collect a payment on the first day we work on your project.