Eventually, we all have to call a plumber and plumbers can be expensive; there is no way around that. However, there are a variety of ways to improve the value you get for your money.

Don’t make the mistake of shopping for your plumber primarily based on the plumber's hourly rate. This can be very misleading. It is far better to look at overall customer satisfaction, even if the rates may be higher than average.

When you call a professional plumber for a simple household repair, he does not charge on the basis of how complicated the job might be, but it is based on his time and overhead expenses. So, there is a certain minimum he must charge on every call, no matter how simple the job might be.

Hourly rates can be misleading for a couple reasons. An important thing to consider is, as with most jobs, experienced plumbers usually charge more per hour. They have encountered many more kinds of plumbing issues and have had more time to discover the most cost-effective and efficient solutions. They are more equipped to know the best solution and be able to implement the solution correctly on the first try. Saving $40.00 to $80.00 on the hourly rate for a "solution" that has to be redone within a few months is not a bargain.

Next, consider that the hourly rate should reflect reliability. If you take time off, or rearrange your work schedule to meet a plumber who shows up late or not at all, it costs you. Plumbers who have scheduling and communication practices that don't leave you hanging are probably going to be worth the higher hourly rate.

Most service companies will quote an hourly rate over the phone, but does that really tell you anything? Is it accurate? What any home owner really wants to know is, "How much will it cost me to fix my problem?"

To answer that question, the service company needs to know a few things. First, what is the exact nature of the problem, which can be difficult to describe with certainty over the phone. Second, how long it will take to fix it. Quoting an hourly rate is more like providing a rough estimate. Yet how often have you seen home repair jobs drag on for hour after hour with "the meter running"? Too many variables come into play, including the exact nature of the problem, the availability of parts to fix the problem, location and others.

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