Plumbers costs and prices
But what should you expect to be paying a plumber for common jobs around the house?
If you have a rough idea of what you can expect to pay, then you are in a better position to know whether the plumber’s quote is reasonable and the general cost of hiring a plumber.
Try to avoid emergency call-outs
Calling out a plumber is going to be far more expensive at 2am on a Saturday than it is during regular office hours.
Many plumber charge a “first hour” rate which covers their rate for attending the job, and staying for an hour.
Any subsequent hours are charged at a lesser rate, and on top you will be expected to pay for labour and VAT on top. “First Hour” rates are typically around £60 to £80 during normal working hours, £80 to £100 on weekday evenings and as much as £120 to £140 at weekends.
This emergency charge can add considerably to the cost of an emergency job so think whether or not there is something you can do to alleviate the problem until the morning, for example by switching the water off at the mains or putting buckets under the drip.
Hanging on for a few hours could save you considerably.
If you do have to call out a plumber in an emergency, ask them about their charges over the phone before you agree so go ahead so that they do not come as a nasty surprise when the plumber presents you with his bill after the job is complete.
Call out charges do not generally apply when you have pre-arranged for a plumber to come in and install a bath or replace a sink.
Typical prices for routine plumbing jobs
If you are getting a plumber in for a non-emergency job such as swapping over a sink or fitting a new shower, you are in a stronger position as a customer.
You have the luxury of being able to shop around and look for the plumber who is offering both the best rates and the most reliable service.
It’s still wise though to have a rough idea of what plumbers charge for standard plumbing jobs, and how long you can expect the job to take.
For example, the cost for a plumber to supply and fit a new kitchen tap to replace one which is dripping will cost around £120, assuming you haven’t chosen a top end, designer tap.
It will cost around £100 to have a new basin installed in your bathroom if you supply the basin, and £120 for the toilet.
Minor jobs like fixing a dripping tap will cost around £50.
Always confirm the price you are being charged up before agreeing to the plumber coming in.
Larger plumbing jobs costs
When you’re spending larger sums of money to have your whole bathroom replaced or to create a wet room, it’s more important than ever to make sure you know what the project is likely to cost.
Replacing a three piece bathroom suite, like for like, in a standard three bedroom house will set you back anything between £400 and £500, but this sum will be increased considerably if you are configuring the room at the same time and additional pipework needs to be laid, or if you are adding in extras such as an additional shower or top of the range taps.
Very big plumbing jobs, such as fitting a combi boiler for central heating and all the radiators which are needed can cost £5,000 or even more.
If your plumbing work involves work on your gas boiler, you’ll have to make sure you have a fully qualified Gas Safe fitter to work on the job.
How do I make sure I’m not getting ripped off?
The overwhelming majority of plumbers and other tradespeople are trustworthy and reliable, and will complete work to a high standard, but a tiny minority of cowboys throws the whole industry into disrepute.
Firstly, ask around for recommendations from neighbours or friends when you’re looking for a plumber rather than picking a name at random from the internet or phone book.
Then, when you are trying to arrange for work to be done, always ask for at least three quotes from different companies to enable you to make an effective comparison.
It might be worth doing a quick internet search to see if anyone has left reviews about your chosen plumber too, or ask the plumber themselves to provide references.
It can be tempting these days to communicate with your plumber using your mobile to call and text, but this can backfire on you as there is no real paper trail about what was agreed and when.
Always ask for quotes to be submitted in writing through the post or by email, and put your acceptance of any quote into writing too.
What is the right way to pay the plumber?
If you have called out the plumber in the middle of the night in an emergency, they will understand that you’ve not always got cash on hand to pay for the work.
Many will carry hand held terminals to take card payments, and all will accept a cheque.
Some may even leave you with an invoice and expect to be settled as soon as possible.
For larger jobs, a plumber may ask for 10% of the money up front to allow him to buy materials or other equipment he will need, with the balance to be paid when the job is complete.
That’s all very standard practice, just make sure you get a receipt if you are paying in cash.
No reputable plumber will ask you to pay for all of the work before it commences though.
To get an idea of costs - take a look at our plumbing costs guide.
