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Avoid The Sticker Shock Of Plumbing Repairs: What Goes Into Your Invoice

admin • Mar 18, 2014

During a plumbing emergency the last thing that you are thinking about is the cost of the repair; instead, you are more focused on limiting the potential damage and getting everything back into working order.  Later on, when the bill comes, you may be surprised at what the costs are and how much you have to pay to get the work done.  Though there are plenty of shady plumbers who will drastically overcharge for the work, there are some common themes that you will see in plumbing invoices.

 

Labor

 

The biggest single cost will almost always be the labor, unless you are looking at a huge remodel or construction project.  Labor costs tend to be high, especially with good plumbers, because it takes thousands of hours to become properly trained and licensed.  Being a plumber is not something that anyone off the street can immediately start doing on their own.  Licensed plumbers spend years as apprentices and journeymen, as well as hours in books and classroom situations to learn their craft, and so the labor costs reflect that training.

 

Surcharge

 

When you call an emergency plumber in Fairfax Virginia , you should be aware that you may have to pay some kind of premium surcharge for the service.  After hours plumbing calls may be more expensive than a traditional call, and if there is any way to wait for the plumber until morning, you will probably save some money.  This goes not just for evening or nighttime plumbing problems, but also calls that you might make on the weekend or a holiday.

 

Materials

 

plumbing parts The final cost that you might be shocked at is the cost of the materials.  The special materials that are used in plumbing repairs have to be able to stand up to water and other corrosive elements, and they are typically bought in small quantities for a specific job.

For this reason the cost of the part for your specific job through the plumber may be higher than the lowest prices that you find on your own; however, with a professional plumber you know that you are getting the best part and the right part from the beginning.

 

There are a lot of things that go into a plumbing invoice, and the initial sticker shock might be a little intense.  By understanding a little bit about what goes into the pricing you should have a better grasp on why plumbers charge what they do.

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