Your plumber can charge a wide variety of fees depending on the specific problems that he handles.  Budgeting for these fees and service costs can be quite tough, especially since you never know when your plumbing might go on the fritz.

As a means of helping you prepare for repairs and the like, we’ll go over the cost of common plumbing services.  We’ll also cover some helpful resources pertaining to plumbing, financing, and other home repair services.

Breaking Down Plumbing Costs

Plumbers perform a wide variety of tasks, so to keep things concise, we’ll be breaking down the costs of their most sought-after services.

Drain Unblocking

Out of all the services plumbers are known for, unclogging drains and removing blockages is certainly the most popular.  As simple as it may seem, unclogging a drain or pipe can be quite troublesome depending on the type of blockage present.

Since most plumbers charge both a service fee and an hourly rate, you’ll want your plumber to take care of the problem as soon as possible.  On average, having a drain unclogged will run between $120 and $200 with the latter cost usually being attributed to more troublesome jobs.

Plumbing Repairs

Plumbing repairs usually involve water lines, pipes, and in some cases, fixtures such as toilets, sinks, and tubs.  If you happen to have a leak but you’re unsure of its exact location your plumber may also need to conduct a thorough inspection.

Once the issue is found, your plumber will provide you with a quote and begin working on the broken pipe or water receptacle in question.  Keep in mind, while inspections may be free, standard hourly rates may still apply, which puts most jobs in the range of $200 to $300. 

Septic Tank Cleaning

If your home is equipped with a septic tank of any kind, you’ll eventually need to have it emptied and cleaned out once it is filled.  This can take several hours, but most plumbing companies will charge a flat fee and a per-liter rate instead of standard hourly increments.

The flat rate charged by a plumbing company usually includes a standard service fee between $300 to $400.  When you add this rate to the per-liter fee, the cost of most septic tank cleanings comes out to $900 – $1,500.

Overall, the average hourly rate of plumbers in New Zealand is between $90 and $120 with plumbers often charging more based on the amount of experience they have.  

Though the fees and costs associated with plumbing services may seem exorbitant, a good plumbing job will always be worth the extra investment.  This is because a proper repair or installation can help you avoid future repairs and expenses.

It’s worth noting that while plumbing services themselves are not covered, an insurance policy can help you shoulder the cost of damages caused by a broken pipe or plumbing system.  To find a policy that suits your needs, we’d recommend working with a reliable insurance broker.

Now that we’ve covered the costs of the most common plumbing services, we hope you’ll have an easier time preparing a budget for your plumbing service.  Until such time, we’d recommend keeping this article bookmarked so you’ll always have a good reference.