Every vetting question, red flag and triage symptom already published on this site, for all 4 trade categories, on one printable page.
Plumbers
From how to hire a plumber and its emergency triage page.
Vetting questions (8)
- What is your state license number, and is it currently active?
- Do you carry general liability insurance? Can I see proof?
- Will you provide a written, line-itemed estimate before any work begins?
- Are permits required for this job, and will you pull them in your name?
- What is your warranty on labor and parts?
- Do you charge a flat rate or by the hour, and what is your dispatch fee?
- Will you protect flooring and clean up before leaving?
- How quickly can you start, and do you offer 24/7 emergency response?
Red flags (5)
- ⚠ No license number, or a license that does not appear in your state's contractor lookup.
- ⚠ A verbal estimate only — never sign a verbal quote on plumbing work.
- ⚠ "Cash only" pricing or large up-front deposits (more than 10–20%) before materials are ordered.
- ⚠ Pressure to skip permits on water heater, sewer, or gas line work.
- ⚠ Wildly low quote that comes in 30%+ below the next two — usually means unlicensed help or omitted scope.
Triage by symptom (5)
What to do before a pro arrives.
| Symptom | What to do right now |
|---|---|
| Burst pipe with active flooding | Shut off the main water supply at the meter immediately. Call a 24/7 plumber. Most arrive within 60–90 minutes in major metros. |
| Sewer line backup into the home | Stop using all drains. Open windows for ventilation. Do not flush. A camera-equipped plumber is needed within hours to prevent black-water damage. |
| No hot water (gas leak smell) | Leave the home, shut off the gas at the meter if safe to do so, and call your gas utility before any plumber. |
| Frozen and bursting pipes (winter) | Shut main water off. Apply a heat lamp or hair dryer to the frozen section, never an open flame. Call an emergency plumber to assess for hidden burst points. |
| Water heater leaking from the tank | Cut power (electric) or gas, shut off the water inlet on the heater. Tank failures usually mean replacement within 24 hours. |
Electricians
From how to hire a electrician and its emergency triage page.
Vetting questions (8)
- What is your state license classification (journeyman, master)?
- Do you carry general liability insurance and workers' comp?
- Will the work be permitted and inspected by my municipality?
- Can you provide a written, line-itemed estimate?
- What is your warranty on labor and on the breaker / panel manufacturer parts?
- Will you bring the panel and circuits up to current code, even if not strictly required?
- How long will the power be off, and can you schedule around medical equipment if needed?
- Are you familiar with my service utility's coordination requirements for panel upgrades?
Red flags (5)
- ⚠ Refusal to pull a permit on a panel upgrade, EV charger circuit, or service entrance work.
- ⚠ No proof of insurance or a license the state board cannot confirm.
- ⚠ Cash-only pricing.
- ⚠ A quote that omits inspection fees or claims "we don't need an inspection."
- ⚠ A pro who plans to use aluminum wire on a residential branch circuit (banned in most jurisdictions).
Triage by symptom (5)
What to do before a pro arrives.
| Symptom | What to do right now |
|---|---|
| Sparking outlet or visible flame | Cut power at the breaker for that circuit immediately. If the panel itself is sparking, leave the home and call 911 + your utility before an electrician. |
| Burning smell from the panel | Cut the main breaker. Leave the panel cover closed. Do not investigate yourself. A licensed electrician needs to assess within hours. |
| Partial power outage (some circuits dead) | Most often a tripped breaker or a failed connection at the meter. Call your utility first to rule out service-side issues; if it is on your side, call an emergency electrician. |
| Outlet that buzzes or feels warm | Cut the breaker for that circuit. This is an early-warning sign of a loose connection that can ignite over time. |
| Storm-damaged service entrance | Leave the area, call your utility immediately, and document with photos. The repair of the meter base usually requires utility-electrician coordination. |
HVAC Pros
From how to hire a hvac and its emergency triage page.
Vetting questions (8)
- What is your state HVAC license number, and is it active?
- Do you carry general liability insurance and workers' comp?
- Will you perform a Manual J load calculation before sizing equipment?
- Are you certified to handle the refrigerant in my current and proposed system?
- What is your warranty on labor, and what is the manufacturer parts warranty?
- Will you pull the necessary permits and arrange inspection?
- Are you familiar with the current federal IRA and state rebates for heat pumps?
- What is your dispatch fee, and is it credited toward the repair?
Red flags (5)
- ⚠ A replacement quote with no Manual J calculation — almost always undersized or oversized.
- ⚠ A pro who will not show EPA 608 refrigerant certification.
- ⚠ "You need a new system" with no diagnosis of the underlying repair.
- ⚠ No written quote, no model numbers, no AHRI certificate for the matched system.
- ⚠ Refusal to coordinate available rebates and tax credits in writing.
Triage by symptom (5)
What to do before a pro arrives.
| Symptom | What to do right now |
|---|---|
| No heat in freezing weather | Check the thermostat batteries and breaker first. If those are fine, call a 24/7 HVAC tech — frozen pipes become a secondary emergency within hours. |
| No cool in extreme heat (vulnerable household) | Move at-risk family members to a cool space. A common cause is a failed capacitor — typically a same-day fix. |
| Burning smell from vents | Shut the system off at the thermostat and breaker. Could be a seized blower motor or wiring fault. Do not run the system until inspected. |
| Carbon monoxide alarm sounding | Leave the home immediately, call 911. After the fire department clears the home, an HVAC tech needs to inspect the heat exchanger before re-use. |
| Refrigerant leak (oily residue, hissing) | Shut the system off at the thermostat. Refrigerant leaks should not be allowed to run dry — that destroys the compressor and turns a $400 fix into a $4,500 fix. |
Handymen
From how to hire a handyman and its emergency triage page.
Vetting questions (8)
- Do you carry general liability insurance? Can I see proof?
- What is your hourly rate and minimum, and what is included in materials?
- Will you give me a written estimate for the job, or only an hourly?
- Which jobs on my punch list will you refer out to a licensed specialist?
- Do you bring your own tools, or do I need to provide anything?
- How do you handle disposal of old fixtures and debris?
- What is your warranty on workmanship?
- Are you bonded for any larger projects?
Red flags (5)
- ⚠ A handyman who quotes plumbing past a fixture swap, electrical past an outlet swap, or any structural work without a licensed sub.
- ⚠ No insurance.
- ⚠ Cash-only pricing with no receipt.
- ⚠ Heavy up-front deposits before any work begins.
- ⚠ No willingness to walk the punch list before quoting.
Triage by symptom (5)
What to do before a pro arrives.
| Symptom | What to do right now |
|---|---|
| Storm-damaged door or window | A handyman can board up and weatherize within hours; permanent replacement is scheduled separately. |
| Lockout (after locksmith) | A handyman can re-key, replace, or upgrade locks once you are back inside. |
| Fallen ceiling fan or light fixture | Cut the breaker. A handyman or electrician can secure and rehang within 24 hours. |
| Broken stair tread or handrail | Block the area off. Repair within 24–48 hours to prevent injury. |
| Garage door spring snap | Do not try to operate the door. Most handymen subcontract spring work to a garage-door specialist for safety. |
License check
Before any of the above, look up the contractor's license with the state that issued it — see 13 state lookup tools.