What The Price of a Plumbing Service Should Tell You

When looking for a plumbing company to perform any type of repair in your home, you always want to pay attention to how much they are charging. Some services obviously cost more than others, but there is a difference between a service costing more because it is a more complicated job, and a service costing more because the plumber may not be being completely honest with you.

This issue also goes the other way. You may think you are getting a great deal on a service because you've been quoted far under what you expected to pay, but remember the adage "you get what you pay for." Here are some examples of average plumbing costs for common plumbing issues:

How Much Does it Really Cost to Repair a Leaky Pipe?

The cost to repair a leaking pipe can vary greatly depending on the severity and location of the leak. Fixing a broken pipe also comes with some extra costs, as well, that can add up.

The inspection to locate the origin of the leak alone can run you up to $100. Then, once you've found where your leak is coming from, your plumber can perform the necessary repairs, which can range in price from $150 to $350.

Once the job is done, you have another cost to take into account: fixing the hole in the wall that was made to get to the pipe. Depending on where the hole had to be made and how big the hole is, drywall replacement can cost anywhere from $200 to $750.

If you are given a suspiciously low estimate for a pipe repair service, make sure to ask if the leak location and drywall repair are included in that price. It may be that those are separate services that will be added on as an additional charge.

Should a Clogged Drain Cost You That Much?

If you have to ask this question, usually the answer is no. Anyone who tries to charge you anything above $200 to repair your clogged drain is likely trying to scam you.

In fact, in most cases, you can fix a less severe clog by yourself by just plunging the toilet or sink drain. Even for more severe clogs in the line, unclogging a grain is a relatively simple job.

It's important to understand the value of a service like drain cleaning, because a dishonest plumber may try to overcharge you by assuming you don't know how much a drain repair service should cost. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you don't want to hire a plumber who doesn't understand the value of repairing a drain themselves, because you may be sacrificing quality or service to save some money.

How Much Should a Dripping Faucet Run You?

If you have a faucet that drips when it isn’t turned on, it can be caused by a couple of reason. The most common reason faucets drip or leak is that the washer is worn out. Replacing the washer is a fairly simple job that shouldn't cost too much.

All in all, repairing your faucet shouldn’t cost more than $200 or $250, depending on what kind of condition your faucet is in and how involved the job actually is.