How much does an emergency plumber cost?

26 January 2022

General

Nobody likes when pipelines in their homes are damaged or stop working. Sometimes you need to take quick action before damaged pipelines burst and flood your home. Given how many electronic appliances a house typically has, this can represent a serious danger. It is always wise to have a plumbing emergency number on your mobile phone in case you need it. Pipeline issues are fairly common, and it’s best to be prepared.

 

What is an emergency plumber?

An emergency plumber is someone you can hire to deal with plumbing emergencies. Plumbing issues can damage homes and destroy goods as well as be dangerous. That’s why hiring an emergency plumber is necessary when you find yourself in an emergency situation.

You can hire an emergency plumber for various plumbing emergencies such as water leaks, burst pipelines, sewer backups, or water heater problems. While common plumbing issues such as a clogged drain can be fixed with household tools, these plumbing issues require expert assistance and specialized tools.

How to Find a Hidden Water Leak

 

Are emergency plumbers more expensive?

Is hiring an emergency plumber more expensive? Well, it depends on the severity of the situation. If you call an emergency plumber during odd hours, he is probably going to charge more than what he would have charged you during the day. Emergency plumbing services are generally more expensive.

Depending on the plumbing emergency and plumbing agency, they might charge you twice what they would charge you during regular business hours. Not all plumbing emergencies are equal; some require more tools and sometimes more workforce. If you find yourself in an unfortunate plumbing emergency, be prepared to spend more money. Plumbers are often working on another job when they are called for a plumbing emergency.

 

What would be considered a plumbing emergency?

Plumbing emergencies are more inconvenient compared to usual plumbing issues. Here are examples of emergency plumbing situations:

  1. Bursting of a pipe
  2. Clogged drains
  3. Overflowing toilet
  4. Water heater issues

1. Bursting of a pipe

The bursting of a pipe is a serious emergency as it can lead to flooding. If the pipeline bursts at night, you cannot wait until the morning as it will engender more problems. You should immediately take action and call your plumber so that he can locate the burst pipeline and replace it for you.

2. Clogged Drains

Clogs are typically not a big deal and you should first try to deal with a clogged drain yourself. However, sometimes it’s not possible to fix the drain yourself by using a plunger. In this case, you should call an emergency plumber to deal with the situation. There are many reasons why your drain might be clogged.

3. Overflowing toilet

This plumbing issue can often be fixed using household tools such as a plunger. However, that doesn’t work all the time. If you cannot find the cause for the toilet overflow, then it’s time to call an emergency plumber. Until the plumber arrives, you should try DIY methods to prevent damage to the bathroom’s floor.

4. Water heater issues

Nobody likes when there’s no water in the shower, especially in winter. If there’s no hot water in the pipeline, it can be a gas issue or an electric issue. You should hire an emergency plumber to fix this issue.

Why Am I Running Out of Hot Water?

 

What factors determine average plumbing costs?

The average plumbing costs for emergency plumbing services vary depending on different elements such as:

  1. Plumber experience
  2. Hourly vs. flat fees
  3. Union fees
  4. Commercial vs. residential plumbers
  5. After-hours, weekend, holiday plumbing cost
  6. Call-out fees
  7. Other factors

1. Plumber experience

The cost of emergency plumbing services can vary depending on whether you hire a master plumber, journeyman, or apprentice. An apprentice plumber works under the supervision of a master plumber for five years to acquire skills and experience in plumbing. On the other hand, a journeyman is much more experienced and can fix major plumbing issues on his own.

If a journeyman emergency plumber is charging you $250 per hour, a master plumber and their apprentice tend to charge more given that a master plumber is supervising the work of the apprentice.

2. Hourly vs. Flat fees

Not all emergency plumbers charge an hourly rate. Some emergency plumbers charge a flat fee depending on the severity of the plumbing emergency. The fee will remain the same irrespective of the time taken for the plumbing job. Flat rates are usually charged for less complicated tasks such as unclogging your drain. The emergency plumber will charge you hourly if the task is complicated and time-consuming, such as a burst pipeline.

3. Union fees

In Quebec, all plumbers are part of the CMMTQ if they are legitimate professionals who have the credentials to accomplish plumbing projects. A fraction of the cost of the emergency plumbing charges go to this organization.

4. Commercial vs. Residential Plumbers

Where a plumbing emergency occurs matters a lot for the plumbing costs. The plumbing cost for a clogged toilet in an office will be different from a clogged toilet in a home. Plumbers charge more for commercial plumbing. Residential and commercial emergency plumbing requires different tools and different kinds of expertise. That’s why a residential plumber probably won’t take up commercial plumbing projects and vice versa.

5. After-hour, weekend, and holiday plumbing costs

Plumbers can charge you twice as much depending on the time of the day you hire them. The same goes for the day. If you are hiring a plumber for an emergency on the weekend, it’s a given that he will charge you more than what he would have on a business day. Similarly, hiring a plumber on holidays such as Christmas will cost you more money. It goes without saying that rates go up after business hours. If you call an emergency plumber during the night or evening, he will charge you 1.5 to 2 times more money.

6. Call-out fees

Factors such as maintenance, trip fees, or call-out fees will affect the final bill. Depending on how much distance the plumber has to travel to reach your home, the final bill will reflect the distance traveled. Plumbing agencies charge these call-out fees differently. Some might charge a flat fee that will be fixed regardless of the distance the plumber has to travel to reach your home. Other plumbing agencies have gotten rid of the call-out fee and instead charge a minimum fee.

7. Other factors

Depending on the severity of the plumbing emergency, many factors can come into play when determining the final bill for the service. The plumber might have to replace certain parts of the pipeline, which costs more than simply fixing the pipeline. These parts can be cheap or expensive, depending on the parts.

Other plumbing services, such as sewage pipe fixing, come with the additional task of cleaning. You can either get the plumber to clean the sewage pipe or hire a cleanup crew, depending on the price.

Emergency Plumbing Services

 

How much does an emergency plumber cost in Quebec?

The cost of an emergency plumber will vary depending on where you’re located. Typically, emergency plumbing services in Quebec will cost you anywhere from 250 to 350 $ per hour. Don’t be surprised if the bill ends up being more than that, as various other factors can come into play when determining the final bill.

 

Need Emergency Plumbing Services?

Pro-Drain has 20 years of experience in the field to meet all your residential, commercial or industrial plumbing needs. Our experts are qualified to offer you the best solution quickly, safely and efficiently. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment with one of our experts, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We are happy to offer our services 24/7 to meet your needs at all times. Our plumbers offer fast, courteous and personalized service in the greater Montreal area and its surroundings, whether you are on the South Shore or the North Shore.

 

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