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Plumbers are expensive because their highly specialized trade requires thousands of hours to master. But hiring a plumber is usually less expensive than not fixing a plumbing problem.

Additionally, they make house calls, so they invest in vehicles, tools, equipment, and gas to bring their services to you. They also carry insurance and have other overhead expenses. Meanwhile, labor shortages in the field also contribute to premium pricing.

You can find inexpensive plumbers by asking for multiple bids from multiple plumbers and going with the least expensive option. However, finding inexpensive plumbers is often a mistake. If you have a family member or friend in the trade, they may work at a lower rate for you. Remember that plumbers have highly specialized skills developed over years of training and experience; their fees reflect their skill, overhead, and demand.

Plumbers offer multiple ways to pay, including cash, check, credit, and digital payment methods. You’ll have the opportunity to pay at the time of service or they can invoice you as well. If you’re having a water heater installed, you’ll often have to cover the cost of the water heater up front. The choice is usually up to you. Ask how they bill when you get a quote.

Although a plumber charges about $70 an hour, that’s not actually what they take home. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, plumbers make a mean hourly wage of $31.34 or anywhere from $17.91 to $48.65 per hour. However, it varies around the country. For example, in Massachusetts, a plumber makes about 14% more than the average, while in New York, they make only slightly more than average, or $18 to $52 per hour.

Although not all pipe leaks are an emergency, they might be. So it’s best to call an emergency plumber to inspect the leak immediately. Cleaning up a burst pipe costs more than a plumber's emergency rates. Some leaks might never worsen, while others could indicate a more severe problem. For example, they can cause structural damage and promote mold growth.

Almost all plumbers will provide you with free estimates and quotes. However, if you want them to do an inspection first, they’ll usually include that in the price of the project. Estimates include a quick look at the problem if it’s not typical. Over the phone, you can only expect to get a range of prices for common problems like clogged drains.