Plumber Cost

• Plumbers' rates vary significantly by location. In some areas plumbers charge $45 -$75 an hour; in other regions the hourly rate can be $75 -$150. Most plumbers charge a two-hour minimum or a service call fee of $75 -$150, and some plumbers charge a flat fee per job instead of an hourly rate. Either away, exact costs will depend on the complexity and type of work done. For example, it can cost $50 -$200 to have a plumber repair a toilet by replacing the tank mechanism, wax ring (underneath the toilet) or flange (under the wax ring).
• Costs start at $85 -$150 for unclogging a drain or toilet if it's a simple cleanout with outside access, but it can cost $150 -$300 for dismantling a sink or toilet and snaking/drilling the drain line or $300 -$600 for more complex projects, where multiple lines need cleaning or if the cleanout requires roof-vent access (which means two plumbers, one on the roof and one operating the equipment on the ground). Replacing a toilet can cost $50 -$350 for a basic toilet and $50 -$150 for installation, for a total cost of $100 -$500. However, designer or specialty toilets can cost $500 -$3,000 or more, and installation costs increase for a complex project, if parts or lines leading into the toilet need replacing, or if extra labor is required to haul a heavy one-piece toilet upstairs.
• If a kitchen isn't already set up for a garbage disposal, running the pipes to add one can cost $100 -$450; the disposal itself can be another $50 -$2,500. A plumber typically charges $200 -$500 to install a standard utility sink if the basic hook-ups and vents are already in place, or $500 -$1,300 or more if adding the basic hook-ups; the utility sink itself can cost another $50 -$900 or more.
• Having a plumber install a water heater starts at about $200 -$400 for labor only for a traditional tank model; it can be $300 -$700 for a heat pump water heater; and $400 -$1,600 or more for a tankless water heater if the supply lines or venting need replacing or other significant changes are required. These are just installation costs; the water heater typically costs $100 -$1,000 for a traditional tank system, $200 -$1,200 for a tankless one and $600 -$1,200 or more for a heat pump model.
• If water in a crawlspace or basement is a problem, expect to pay $250 -$600 parts and labor to have a plumber install a basic sump pump.
• Plumbing for new house construction can cost $200 -$800 per fixture in low-cost, rural areas or $800 -$1,100 or more per fixture in high-cost urban areas, with a toilet sink and bathtub each considered an individual fixture; a house with 10 fixtures could cost $2,000 -$11,000. Tearing out old pipes and installing copper pipes in a 1,500-square-foot 2-bedroon home can cost $2,000 -$15,000 or more, depending on location, the size and condition of the crawlspace under the home, the amount of wall to be torn out and other factors.

• Get several estimates (in writing if possible). Ask for recommendations from family, friends, neighbors or co-workers, or at the local home improvement or hardware store. For larger projects, search for local members of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association.
• Ask about relevant experience. Request and check references; verify that they are properly bonded, insured and licensed. State regulations vary, but typically there are different qualifications required for licensing as a journeyman plumber, residential specialty plumber, backflow specialty plumber or other categories.
• Check for any complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau. CIDNetwork.net lists tips for choosing a plumber.

More Articles in Home & Garden - Plumbing: General

• How Much Does Utility Sink Cost
  
  
• How Much Does Installing a Gas Line Cost
  
  
• How Much Does Replacing a Toilet Cost
  
  
• How Much Does Replacing a Water Heater Cost
  
  
• How Much Does a Tankless Water Heater Cost
  
  
• How Much Does Toilet Repair Cost
  
  
• View All Home & Garden Topics