Emergency Plumbing Cost
Whether it’s a blocked toilet, a boiler on the brink or a gas leak, sometimes a plumbing job just can’t wait to be fixed. That’s where an emergency plumber comes in handy. Emergency plumbers are typically on call 24/7 and can be called out to tackle a variety of unprecedented plumbing jobs that either cause an inconvenience or a potential hazard. The average emergency plumber will charge more than the standard plumber call out fee but continue reading for a full breakdown of the costs associated with emergency plumbing jobs.
Emergency Plumber Job Prices
It is hard to pinpoint the exact costs for an emergency plumbing job as there are many individual factors that can influence the cost from location, time of callout, and the difficulty of the job. However, the table below details the average cost you will be expected to pay for each type of emergency plumbing job.
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EMERGENCY PLUMBING JOB
|
AVERAGE COST |
|
Broken Pipe |
£100 to £150 |
|
Blocked Sink |
£100 to £180 |
|
Boiler Pressure Issues |
£150 to £250 |
|
Blocked or Overflowing Toilet |
£100 to £250 |
|
Boiler Breakdown |
£150 to £300 |
|
Blocked Drain |
£175 to £300 |
|
Gas Leak |
£100 to £600 |
|
Hot Water Tank Repairs |
£300 to £400 |
Labour Cost and Time Scales
As previously mentioned, the cost of an emergency plumbing repair is dependent on the individual issue, location, difficulty of the job and if any additional materials are required. Like regular plumbing jobs, emergency plumbing jobs will require a call out fee although this is 2 to 3 times the rate of a standard call out charge.
Regular plumbers charge between £40 to £60 for their call out fee in contrast to emergency plumbers who charge between £100 and £200. The call out fee usually covers the first 30 to 60 minutes of a job, with every hour thereafter charged between £40 to £60 per hour. Every plumber charges their job differently so make sure to check with your plumber how long their call out fee covers and what their hourly rates are, so that you are able to get an average total cost for the job.
Most emergency plumbing jobs can be fixed within a couple of hours. However, those that are more complex may take more time to complete. Blocked sinks and toilets, and boiler pressure issues tend to be the easier jobs and can be fixed in 30 to 60 minutes. Gas leaks/repairs and boiler repairs can take 1 to 2 hours to fix whereas blocked drains and broken pipes can take up to 3 hours to complete. The most time-consuming job is a hot water tank repair which can take anywhere from 3 hours to replace the tank to two days depending on the type and extent of the issue.
Cost Factors
Before hiring a tradesperson, you will need to consider a number of factors that can affect the cost of the emergency plumbing repair. These include:
The Plumber You Choose
Although we have outlined the average cost to hire an emergency plumber, it is down to the individual tradesperson to set their own rates. Plumbers may charge per job or per hour so it best to check with your plumber what pricing structure they use to get an idea of the total cost.
Type of Job
The cost of a job is wholly dependent on the type of job undertaken and the severity of the issue. For example, blocked toilets and sinks are generally easier and quicker to fix so will therefore cost less than having a boiler replaced. If any additional problems arise, this will also take more time and possibly require extra materials, adding on supply and labour costs.
Accessibility
A straightforward job includes the ability to access the problem easily. If accessibility is an issue, then this could add an extra cost. An easily accessible leaky tap is easier to fix than, for instance, a burst pipe underneath the floorboards.
The Plumber’s Location
Many plumbers operate within a certain area which is included in their fee. If they have to travel further, they may charge a surcharge for mileage.
Home Insurance
Some home insurance policies may cover your emergency plumbing repair. It is advised that you check your policy to see what it covers as it might be cheaper for you to make an insurance claim to help cover part of the costs.
Types of Plumbing Emergency jobs
Sometimes it can be difficult to decide when it is time to call out an emergency plumber as there are many things to consider. Some of the emergency plumbing jobs and when it is time to call an emergency plumber out include:
Blocked or Overflowing Toilet
Everyone experiences a blocked toilet every now and again where a toilet will not flush, doesn’t refill or is slow to drain. A blocked toilet is usually the result of a build-up of limescale, trapped air, too much toilet paper or cracked pipework. Although in most cases this is not a serious problem and can be either fixed by yourself or by a plumber, other times it might need the services of an emergency plumber.
You should call an emergency plumber if you notice the toilet overflowing, only have access to one toilet, or if you are unable to unblock the toilet yourself as they can damage pipework if left unrepaired. Most blocked toilets are easy to fix and can take between 30 minutes to an hour to and usually cost between £100 to £250 to resolve. For blockages that are harder to access, for example in the wastepipe, then this can take up to 4 hours to unblock and can raise the total cost up to £400 using an emergency plumber’s hourly rate.
Blocked Sink
Like a blocked toilet, a blocked sink is quite common as many items such as food, hair, limescale and soap can build up and block your drain. If left, a blocked sink can not only be an inconvenience and cause a bad smell, but it may also damage your pipework.
It may be time to call in an emergency plumber if your sink continues to drain slowly, you are unable to clear the blockage with either a plunger or drain snake, or if any fluid regurgitation occurs. Depending on the severity of the blockage, most sink unblocking takes between 30 minutes to an hour and should cost in the region of £100 to £180.
Boiler Issues
Most boilers have a lifespan between 10 and 15 years, so if your boiler is under 10 years old and is having any issues then it could be a serious problem that should be checked by a professional as soon as possible. Boiler issues such as losing boiler pressure, gas/ water leaks, or lack of hot water or heating can be due to incorrect installation or poor manufacturing.
It is time to call an emergency plumber if you notice any gas or water leaks, hear any hissing noises, or are inconvenienced by a lack of hot water or heating as this can cause a serious damage to your home and health.
To repair a boiler, an emergency plumber may charge anywhere from £100 to £300 depending on the issue and severity of the problem.
If it is a particular part, or even a new boiler or radiator that you may need to repair the issue then here is the average supply costs for each boiler part:
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BOILER PARTS
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SUPPLY COSTS |
|
Boiler Flue |
£50 to £150 |
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Boiler Timer |
£50 to £150 |
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Boiler Control Panel |
£60 to £250 |
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Gas Valve |
£70 to £250 |
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Radiator |
£15 to £700 |
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Boiler Heat Exchanger |
£300 to £600 |
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Boiler |
£400 to £2000 |
Gas Leak
Gas leaks are one of the most serious issues that will need to be fixed immediately by an emergency plumber. Not only does it pose a potential hazard towards your health, but it can also result in a fire or explosion which could lead to significant property damage or death. Gas leaks usually happen due to old worn out or incorrectly fitted appliances as well as pipework damage.
The common signs of a gas leak include a sulphuric or rotten egg smell, hissing sounds or you could start to feel dizzy and begin to have headaches.
Depending on the severity of the gas leak, you should expect to pay between £100 to £600 to call out an emergency plumber to fix the issue.
It is advised that if you think you have a gas leak you should shut off your gas supply (if safe to do so) as soon as possible, and to open doors and windows to aerate the home. Once you have done this you should leave the property and should not attempt to use any electrical appliances or switches as it could ignite the gases causing a fire or explosion.
