How to get great plumbing service for a fair price
Whether it’s for routine maintenance or an emergency, here are some tips on how to get the best deal for good work.
Maybe you’ve finally had it with that drippy faucet, slow-running drain, or balky toilet.
Or maybe it’s more urgent: Your dishwasher flooded the kitchen, or there’s an ominous water stain on the ceiling beneath the upstairs bathroom.
Whether it’s for routine maintenance or an emergency, you need to find a good plumber. Start by checking ratings from other consumers — nonprofit Delaware Valley Consumers’ Checkbook’s plumber ratings are available free until April 5 at Checkbook.org/Inquirer/plumbers.
It’s important to choose a plumber carefully — some of the services Checkbook evaluated were rated “superior” overall by 90% or more of their surveyed customers. But for other companies, reviews included words like overcharged, rude, messy, and dishonest.
After you identify high-quality, reliable companies, shop for price. Ideally, you’ll get prices from three companies.
Checkbook has evaluated plumber prices for decades and finds big cost differences for the same work.
For example, to supply and install an InSinkErator Pro Series 750 garbage disposer, prices among area plumbers ranged from $440 to $1,200. To supply and install a specific Bradford White 50-gallon gas water heater, prices ranged from $1,550 to $3,750.
Even for small jobs, it’s worth your time to shop around. Fortunately, many top-quality plumbing companies charge low prices.
Getting quotes for plumbing installation or remodeling work is straightforward, but it’s often difficult to get accurate pricing for repairs in advance.
For each company you call, provide an exact description of your problem.
Ask each company how it computes labor rates (including minimum charge and what that covers and price per hour after the minimum).
Try to get an estimate of how long the job will take.
When the plumber arrives, review the labor rates you were provided. This will eliminate misunderstandings and may enhance timekeeping accuracy.
Clear the area. You don’t want to pay the plumber to remove junk from under your sink.
Don’t let conversations with the plumber go beyond what is needed to understand the work being done. The plumber is on the clock until he or she writes up the ticket.
If you have a large remodeling job — a new kitchen or bathroom, for instance — getting several bids is especially critical. Not only are thousands of dollars at stake, the percentage variation in prices on such major jobs is larger than the variation on smaller installation jobs. For remodeling or other large jobs, get a contract that includes:
A fixed price for all work.
Exactly what you want done, including makes and model numbers of all fixtures. Also detail who will break up the floor, cut holes in the wall, patch floor and walls, hang the sink, perform the carpentry, and haul away debris.
Location of fixtures and where pipes will run. Sometimes a few inches can make a big difference in the difficulty of a plumbing job. If you have not spelled out what you want (ideally in a sketch or plan), you may meet a lot of resistance when you want your sink installed just a little to the left to make room for a wastebasket.
Assurance that the contractor will secure required permits and inspections.
When work will begin and approximately how long it will take.
A warranty. For remodeling work, materials, and workmanship, this should be at least one year.
Arbitration clause. While this request might put off some companies, a company accustomed to doing sizable jobs will see it as a possible cost-saver for both parties, should a dispute arise.
Arrange to pay as little as possible until all work is completed to your satisfaction; this gives you leverage in case dissatisfactory work must be redone.
If possible, pay by credit card. If you are dissatisfied, you can dispute the charge through your credit card company.
Delaware Valley Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices. It is supported by consumers and takes no money from the service providers it evaluates.