Find Plumbers Near You | Compare Local Plumbing Companies Cost

Plumbers’ hourly rates range from as little as $45/hour to as much as $180/hour. Some charge a flat rate according to the task, such as installing a hot water heater, or fixing a leaky pipe.

So how much will you need to pay to hire a plumbing company for your job? Here’s what you need to know to find the best plumbers near you.
plumber fixing a sink in bathroom
The worst time to look for a plumber is when you desperately need a plumber!

Does that mean you should have a plumber on stand-by? Once you’ve spent time vetting to ensure they’re qualified, trustworthy, and won’t drain your bank account?

Having a plumber in your network is ideal. But let’s be honest, how much time have you spent looking for a plumber when you didn’t need one?

Fill out the form to compare prices and estimates from local plumbers.

Unless you’ve used a plumber in the past, your first move when water runs where it shouldn’t is probably an online search.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know what services plumbers offer and how much they charge—before your toilets start backing up?

Now you can with our guide to plumber’s services, including average prices for the most common residential plumbing jobs.

How Much Does a Licensed Plumber Cost?

You’ve heard the commercial about going to the dentist, right? The one where the woman claims she’s afraid of the bill, not the drill? Homeowners have the same fear about plumbers—the bill.

Plumber installing shower

Until you need one, it’s difficult to predict how much a plumber will charge for services.

One thing is certain, you’ll pay more for an emergency visit than a scheduled plumbing remodeling job. And plan on a higher fee if you call a plumber after hours, or on a weekend.

Beyond that, you’ll either make assumptions based on national averages or contact a plumber directly and ask for a price list. Hint: You’ll still only end up with estimates.

If you’re fine with only estimates and averages, this is the average hourly rate for a plumber in the United States: $20.63.

Pay close attention to the word average because there are several variables that go into your bill for plumbing services. For example, if your plumber finishes your job in 1 hour, you’ll pay more than $20.63.

Here are estimates of hourly rates for a few common plumbing services:

  • Drain clearing – $70
  • Sewer line clearing – $125
  • Weekend/Night calls – $75 per hour
  • Remodeling plumbing services – $45-65

Keep in mind the hourly charge for a weekend or night service call may include a fee for the call in addition to the hourly charge. Also, the hourly rate for a plumber who does a scheduled remodeling job is for one man and a truck. Parts aren’t included in any of these rates.

Common Services by Plumbing Companies

Most homeowners can wield a plunger and push a simple clog through the pipes. The average person shouldn’t do much beyond plunging or pouring a dose of drain cleaner in the sink. Call a plumber instead!

Here are some of the common jobs you’ll call a plumber to do in your home:

  • Drain clearing
  • Sewer repair
  • Leak detection and repair
  • Hot water heater repair/replacement
  • Garbage disposal repair
  • Sump pump replacement
  • Pipe repair and installation
  • Plumbing fixture installation

After reading this list of plumbing services, you may have a greater appreciation for plumbers and the rates they charge, especially if you’ve never been too successful with a plunger.

How Much Do Plumbers Charge to Install Toilets?

You turn off the water and then it’s out with the old and in with the new, right?

Toilet Installation

Not so fast! While many people can take out an old toilet and install a new one, there’s more to the process than turning on off the water and yanking out the old throne.

After turning off the water, you still must drain and disconnect the old fixture. You’ll also replace the wax ring seal. And inspect the flange.

Only then can you set the new toilet. Of course, you’ll test the new toilet too and ensure all the parts work properly. If your head is swimming with too much information, you’re not alone.

And you know all about Murphy’s Law so plan on at least one unexpected leak. Now you understand why most people prefer calling a plumber.

Plan on investing around $370 for the installation of a new toilet. The single biggest factor in toilet installation cost is the type, model and style of the toilet.

Cost to Install Bathtubs

Since we’re already working in the bathroom, let’s go ahead and talk about replacing the tub.

Bathtub installation is never as simple as they make it look on those DIY shows. They drop the new tub in place in one scene and minutes later the homeowner relaxes in a bubble bath while drinking champagne.

Plumber Installing Sink

Here’s a reality check: Bathtub installation, on average, takes between 6-9 hours. This doesn’t include the 2-3 hours it takes to remove the old tub.

When you begin your search for plumbers near you, you’ll likely find they charge between $500-$1600 for bathtub installation. This is for plumbing labor, not the cost of the tub, the tub drain assembly, or the faucet.

How Much Do Plumbers Charge to Install a Water Heater?

If your hot water heater up and calls it quits, you’re in a bit of a fix unless you enjoy cold showers.

Most people shouldn’t attempt installing a new hot water heater. We get it. Who doesn’t enjoy saving a few bucks on home repairs?

Pay the plumber! You’ll pay between $750 and $1500. And save yourself from working on one of the more dangerous appliances in your home.

Hot water heaters contain several gallons of extremely hot water. They have pressure-controlled tanks—surely, you’ve heard stories of hot water tanks turning into rockets and shooting through ceilings?

Also, if yours is a gas hot water heater, it’s connected to a natural gas line.

Enough said. Let’s move on to something less dangerous.

Plumber Charges to Install Sinks

You’ve dreamed of that farmhouse sink for years and finally, you have it sitting in the box. In the middle of the kitchen floor.

If you’re not sure of your next step, call a plumber. For around $190 – $350, you can wash dishes in your new sink tonight.

Tempted to do the job yourself? Sink installation may require cutting pipes, creating secure fittings, and using special tools.

Calling a plumber for the job guarantees you won’t end up with leaks and potential damage to walls and cabinets.

New Garbage Disposal Installation Cost

Did you know the first garbage disposals were called electric pigs?

Back in 1927, an architect from Racine, WI came up with the idea and marketed them under the company, InSinkErator.

If you want your own electric pig A.K.A. garbage disposal, you’ll pay around $275 – $350.

Included in this figure is the cost of the unit, installation, and clean-up.

How Much Do Plumbers Charge to Fix Pipe Leaks?

Once you get tired of listening to the torturous drip of a leaky faucet, the plumber can’t get there fast enough.

Pipe leak repair costs on average $275 but as with most plumbing repairs, there are a variety of things that may cause the job to be higher including:

  • Cause of the leak
  • Location of the leak
  • Water damage to fixtures, walls, or flooring

If the leak is outside, it’s either above ground or underground. Underground leaks require more labor and you’ll pay accordingly.

Find Plumbers Near You

No time is a good time for plumbing problems. That said, it’s always helpful if you have at least an idea of what repairs may cost. Hopefully, our article helped you understand plumbing services and their costs.

Whether you have a plumbing emergency or need a plumber who can install new kitchen or bathroom fixtures, we can help. Contact us today for help finding plumbers near you who can provide you with a quote.

Across America, there are more than 139 million homes, providing safety and security to those who live in them. Proper maintenance for your home is vital if you want it to remain safe and comfortable. It’s a good job, then, that the 500,000-plus plumbers working in the US are here to help do just that!

When something goes wrong with your home’s plumbing it can be very inconvenient but it could be downright dangerous. So what do plumbers do and how can they help you?

Whether you’re having a plumbing emergency or are looking for help with a routine plumbing job, one of these experts can help. Read on to find out the type of systems plumbers work with and some of the essential services that they provide.

List of Services Plumbers Offer:

If you’re wondering ‘what does a plumber do?’ you need to understand the different plumbing systems at work in your house.

On average each person in America uses 80 to 100 gallons of water a day so a lot of water passes through our homes. There are three main systems that manage this.

1) The Potable Water System 

Your potable water system brings water into your house. It supplies your kitchen, bathroom, and any other water sources.

Because of this, it’s important that the potable system is made of food-grade piping and avoids contamination.

2) The Sanitary Drainage System 

The sanitary drainage system safely moves wastewater and other waste products away from your home via the septic system. Issues that occur within this system, such as sewer line backup, can be very unpleasant and pose a serious risk to the health of those living in your home.

3) The Stormwater Drainage System

Your stormwater drainage system drains water around your home to prevent damage from leaks or flooding. This may involve guttering to carry water away from your roof or groundwater drainage.

Stormwater drainage systems vary depending on the complexity of your property. Homes with lots of garden space will need more developed systems than apartment blocks in cities, for example.

Commercial vs. Residential Systems

When answering the question ‘what is a plumber?’ it’s worth noting that some plumbers specialize in commercial properties. Commercial buildings often have more complex and extensive plumbing systems. However, both commercial and residential properties will need regular maintenance.

As you can probably imagine, any range of problems can occur with these systems and a plumber can help fix them. Let’s take a look at some of the key services that the plumbing profession provides.

Bathroom Maintenance and Installation

The bathroom is the place that most people picture when they think of a plumber for obvious reasons. There are two plumbing systems at work in this room.

Depending on the job, plumbers tend to charge between $45 and $100 per hour for bathroom work that doesn’t require extra equipment.

Specific jobs, such as toilet installation or bathtub installation and repair can be more expensive. Having a new bathtub installed can cost anything between $1,000 and $4,500!

If your tub is looking a bit the worse for wear, getting a repair will be a lot cheaper than replacing it altogether. Reglazing your tub will only set you back $300. A plumber will be able to advise you whether or not this option will work for you.

Dehumidifier Installation

Dehumidifiers are great for improving the air quality in your home. They remove excess moisture, allergens, and pollutants from the air.

However, it is important that you get an expert plumber to install them properly. They are delicate systems. A poor quality installation could result in leaking and mean that the air expelled is contaminated.

Drain Cleaning

This is an essential part of plumbing maintenance but reaching your pipes and cleaning them without causing damage can be tricky.

Plumbers will be able to clean your pipes safely and diagnose any additional problems, such as blockages. In fact, most plumbers will already have equipment with them so that they can clear a blockage then and there.

In some cases, a plumber may need to use hydro jetting to clean your drain. The cost of this varies depending on the length of the pipe that needs hydro jetting.

Emergency Plumbing

Sometimes plumbing problems become emergencies and when this happens you need help immediately.

This is why a lot of plumbers provide emergency services for problems such as burst pipes or uncontrollable backflow. These services may be more expensive but they’ll prevent extensive damage throughout your home.

Faucet Installation and Repair

Trying to do a DIY job when installing a new faucet can really come back to haunt you. You may find that you have a dripping tap or that it leaks around the bottom. Worse still, removing a faulty faucet is a lot harder than installing one.

This is why it’s important to get an expert on the job.

They’ll be able to diagnose issues with an existing faucet or install a new one in no time at all. This can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Frozen Pipe Repair

In winter, frozen pipes are a common problem and these can cause serious issues within your plumbing system. Freezing may weaken your pipes and result in cracks or leaks.

A plumber needs to unfreeze a pipe gradually in order to prevent further damage to it. Once this has been done, they will inspect your pipes for additional damage. If necessary, they will replace or repair sections so that your pipes remain in good working order.

Kitchen Plumbing

A huge range of plumber work can take place in your kitchen from sink declogging to sink repair to garbage disposal installation.

Installing garbage disposal requires a lot of specialist knowledge. Each system needs construction and wiring before installation. This is why many plumbers work alongside electricians to ensure that they install yours safely.

System Inspections and Repairs

Having regular inspections of your plumbing systems can stop minor problems from escalating. Plumbers know exactly what signs to look out for during an inspection.

They will also bring specialist equipment, such as video cameras, to inspect your pipework internally. This is great for spotting clogs before they become full blockages.

Sewer Cleaning, Repair, and Replacement

Your sewage system carries all the wastewater away from your home. For this to work hygienically, you need your sewage pipes to be in good working order.

It’s a good idea to get professional help with your sewer lines, whether you’re laying a trenchless sewer or replacing part of your pipework. Not only is this unpleasant work, if you don’t do a thorough job this could result in some seriously unpleasant leaking in your home!

Sump Pump Installation and Repair

Sump pumps keep the basement levels of your home safe from flooding and any additional groundwater leakage. Installing a sump pump is a big job but it protects you from a huge range of problems, especially in the winter.

If your home has suffered from flood or leak damage, a plumber will also be able to help remove the excess water in your home safely. They’ll check for damage caused by the water and may give you advice on how to repair this.

Heater Installation and Repair

Whether you plan to heat your home using a boiler, water heater, or tankless water heat, a plumber will be able to help you install this. These are complex pieces of kit and getting professional help installing them will save you time troubleshooting problems later.

Additional Plumbing Services

There is no end to a plumber’s work inside your home. Some other essential plumbing services include:

  • Waterline and water main installation and repair
  • Water testing
  • Water softener installation and repair
  • Water treatment system installation and repair
  • Well drilling, well pump installation and well repairs
  • Septic system installation and repairs
  • Laying of water pipes
  • Fixing low water pressure in your home
  • Backflow testing and repair
  • Sauna installation and repair

Getting installation help from a plumber also means that, if something goes wrong in the future, repairing the problem won’t take long. Repair jobs are often quicker (and therefore cheaper) if the plumber is already familiar with your plumbing system.

Get Estimates From a Licensed Plumber Near You

As you can see, the short answer for ‘what do plumbers do?’ is, quite simply, A LOT! They will be able to help you to fix a huge range of problems within your home and will do this safely.

So what are you waiting for? Get in touch today for a plumbing quote near you. We’re here to help!

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