The Cost of a Plumber: Is it Justified?

Justifying the price of anything these days is a chore in itself. The need or desire for the product or service may be a good place to begin. As time permits, research is an invaluable tool in this quest. This may sound a bit strange but if you’re looking for a good plumber talk to anyone but a plumber. A builder or general contractor may be too quick to suggest their “regular” plumber or they may even attempt to mislead you into more work than you need. You can narrow your options quickly by asking an electrical contractor, carpenter or some other tradesman who works closely with plumbers. These references will usually be sincere and without ulterior motives. You should be able to do this in a couple of hours with the yellow pages.

If this kind of time is not available then trust your instincts by listening to the responses to your requests over the phone. Are you speaking to a dispatcher or a technician? Do you hear confidence and a willingness to listen? With this in mind please also try to keep in mind that this is a competitive field when you hear the price of their service call. Most of these costs to show up at your door are close and once there a “good” plumber will get you out of eminent danger with minimal cost. After this a “good” plumber will inform you of the cost to investigate and diagnose. Listen carefully and ask questions as he/she explains the investigation process. This is a good opportunity to disclose information which could minimize time (costs) and a very good opportunity to learn something about your home for future reference.

A qualified plumber spends many hours and dollars maintaining his/her qualifications. And all qualified plumbers are required to adhere to codes and practices that are designed for your safety. By this time in the process I hope that you have ascertained their qualifications because this is where he/she justify their costs. If you are “floored” by what a “good” plumber asks to do a job then divide that in half to pay an unqualified plumber and take the chance of having to do the job twice. Now you’re back to the same price a qualified plumber asked plus whatever damage the first attempt caused.

The plumbing in your house is not something to be taken for granted. Sewer gases can cause illness and death, moisture can cause rot and mold while natural gas and propane can blow you away. I have been a plumber for over 30 years and I take pride in the service I provide. What I can suggest is that people should take some time, do some “home”work and get to know a little about your plumbing. A “good” plumber would be willing to teach some preventative maintenance for a nominal fee. It beats the large expense of repairing neglected systems and it may encourage you to spend some of that saved money with me on a nice kitchen or bath upgrade.