Why Do Plumbers Charge So Much?
If you suddenly have a burst pipe or your toilet goes kaputt, the chances are that you won’t be able to fix the problem yourself. You’re going to need to hire a trained professional who can safely and securely put things right. But that comes with a cost and it isn’t always cheap. When things go wrong with your plumbing, it can be the stuff of nightmares as there is a very close association between hiring a plumber and breaking the bank but why do plumbers charge so much?
When you take into consideration everything that a plumber has to cover with the fees he or she charges you, it’s easy to understand why they are so expensive to hire. Everything from intensive training through to tools, travel and even staff needs to be factored in.
Many people are under the impression that plumbing is one of the easier trades to learn but this couldn’t be further from the truth. If that was the case then anybody would be able to take a quick course and take care of their own plumbing needs, right? But it’s not.
Plumbers have to go through years of training that may include college courses, an apprenticeship and even time learning how to run a business, if they’re going down this route. All of this time and effort comes at a cost and no plumber will have been earning a huge wage while they trained. If you were going to hire a lawyer, for example, you would be willing to pay a high hourly rate owing to the training and education that professional had to go through; plumbers are no different.
In addition to this, you must take into account that your plumber needs to travel and this might be a considerable distance. Imagine your plumber has to travel for 45-60 minutes to reach you for a job that takes them no longer than half an hour; would you only expect to cover that 30 minutes of their time? Many plumbers are working 12 or more hours each day but half of this time could be spent travelling from job to job, the higher hourly rate makes up for this and also goes towards the cost of maintaining a vehicle.
One of the things that a lot of people don’t take into account when hiring a plumber is that this tradesperson needs to invest in a lot of equipment. A vast range of supplies and tools need to be on hand for any plumbing job and your plumber needs to continually purchase and maintain these. In a lot of cases, specialist tools are needed and these don’t come cheap. Moreover, with continued use, a plumber will need to regularly replace their tools to ensure they are working to their best.
You might not think so, but plumbing can be a dangerous career. One of the main reasons for this is that plumbers will regularly come into contact with dangerous materials such as chemicals, waste, bacteria and mould, to name a few. Would you be willing to deal with these things for minimum wage? Probably not!
However, plumbers are wise to these hazards and so take special precautions to avoid making themselves or other people sick and yet again, this comes at a cost. Moreover, your plumber may have to work in dangerous spaces such as lofts without support structures so the cost of hiring your plumber also covers these risks.
Can You Negotiate With Plumbers?
It is possible to negotiate a price with your plumber but you must be mindful of the costs we have just discussed when doing this. You want to get the best price possible for the work without putting the plumber out of business. Of course, not all plumbers are going to welcome the idea of being haggled but there are some things you can do to increase your chances of getting a lucrative deal.
- Aim to get quotes from more than one plumber. You can use this to your advantage by then letting plumber A know that plumbers B and C are offering a better price and they may be willing to provide you with a better deal in order to obtain your business.
- There are websites where you can advertise your plumbing work and tradespeople will bid amongst themselves, allowing you to find the best price.
- Many plumbers will also charge you for the cost of materials but it can often work out cheaper to buy these yourself and ask your plumber to charge only for labour.
- You can promise a referral if the work is good in return for a discounted price. Many plumbers will be willing to do this as it secures further business for them.
How Much Does It Cost For A Plumber To Come Out?
According to national averages, you can expect to pay between £40 and £60 an hour to hire a plumber to come out to your property. However, if you call them for an emergency then this price may double.
You must also consider that the type of job you request will influence the price. If you call a plumber out to install a new toilet pipe, this is going to cost vastly less than having an entire new bathroom installed. For bigger jobs, you may be charged by the day as opposed to an hourly rate which currently stands at around £347 per day.
Do Plumbers Do Free Estimates?
For the most part, a plumber will be happy to provide you with a free estimate for the work you require. However, what you need to keep in mind is that, if a plumber comes to your home to assess the work and provide a quote, they’re still using their time and this costs money. While the estimate may be free, the cost of the work may be higher to account for this.
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Conclusion
Plumbers are notorious for being expensive but there are some good reasons for this. Not only can this be a dangerous job but it also takes a lot of time and effort to learn the special skills it takes to work in this trade. Furthermore, plumbers must account for travel and expenses which can seriously mount up over the course of the working week. So, while it might seem like a lot of money, perhaps now it makes more sense.