Frozen pipes in the winter time aren't anything new to plumbers in Minnesota. We see this issue arise every fall around these parts. The problem with a dripping outside faucet in the winter isn't the massive ice rink that can form under the tap, it's the possibility of the pipes freezing and bursting.
If there isn't' anyone you trust who knows a good Trustworthy plumber, check websites that will you show a list of available plumbing experts in your area. You'll find that there are so many web directories that you can use and you just have to know how to utilize these sites efficiently.
In order to summarise, the best plumbers to call out to repair your condition will be the plumbers who are able to get to you the quickest, provide you with a reasonable cost and have the expertise to carry out the job and complete it correctly. Everything else is actually not worth the work.
Ask yourself if you truly have an emergency plumbing situation. Your plumber may try to convince you that the work needs to be done immediately and want to charge you an additional fee for his "emergency" work. If your plumbing is still usable, then it's possible that the repair work could be done later. If so, then you have some time to get additional quotes from other plumbers and compare their fees. Evaluate just how bad your plumbing problem is and decide if delaying repair will cause further damage to adjoining pipes and so on. It is also wise to consider the time it's going to take you to have other plumbers come out and give you their quotes. If your time is valuable, it may be to your benefit to go with the quote from your initial plumber.
Go with your gut feeling and don't hire someone that you are uncomfortable with. You should be confident that he is honest and that his bid for garbage disposal is reasonable and competitive. Watch him closely and make sure that he isn't wasting time just to collect additional money from you. Monitor his actions and evaluate whether he is giving you expert advice or simply "shooting the breeze" with you. Solid advice and intelligent tips from him are what you should watch for.
The number one thing you need to check when hiring a plumber is to make sure they are fully qualified and are certified by the TSSA (Technical Standards and Safety Authority). Most plumbing contractors are also heating contractors, therefore they need to have a valid TSSA number. Having a license is also very important. A license ensures that the plumber is following rules and standards. Do your homework when researching a plumbing contractor and try to get reviews from previous customers. Advice from friends and family who have dealt with a Local plumber is priceless. If you don`t know anyone who has had services from a local plumber recently, online is the next best place to look for reviews of local contractors.
The first step is to avoid anyone who knocks your door offering to do work for you. This is not how professional organisations tend to court businesses and, in most cases, the better professionals will have plenty of work to keep them going without the need to door-to-door.
If these three methods do not work, there are chemical you can buy in the grocery store or home improvement store that break up drain clots chemically. These products are not typically environmentally-friendly and should be used as a last option, but they are effective. Alternatively, you can call your local plumber who always has more tricks and bigger tools to take care of that plugged up drain.