Two plumbers quote the same hourly rate. One job ends at $240 and the other at $520, and neither of them lied about the rate. The difference is everything that was not mentioned on the phone.
None of the charges below is dishonest in itself. A business has to cover travel, parking and the cost of getting rid of your old hot water tank somehow. The problem is finding out about them when you are handed the invoice. These are the nine to ask about before a plumber sets off for your place in Sydney.
1. The call-out fee
A flat charge for turning up, before any work is done. In Sydney it is commonly $80-200 on top of the hourly rate. Some plumbers do not charge one and build travel into the rate instead. Neither approach is wrong, but on a 40-minute job the call-out fee can be half the bill. Ask: is there a call-out fee, and what does it cover?
2. The minimum charge
Many plumbers charge a minimum of one hour however short the job is, and some charge the first hour at a higher rate than the rest. Ask what the minimum is and whether the first hour costs the same as the second.
3. After-hours loading
The big one. Rates of $250-400 an hour are common after hours, and higher still on public holidays. Ask what the rate is right now, at this hour, on this day, rather than what it is in general. Our guide to after-hours plumber rates covers what is fair.
4. Parts markup
Parts cost more from a plumber than from a hardware shop, and that is reasonable: they stock them, carry them and guarantee them. A markup of 15-25 per cent over the supplier’s price is normal. Ask how parts are priced and whether they will be itemised.
5. Equipment charges
A drain camera, a high-pressure jetter or leak detection gear is sometimes charged as a separate line. Ask whether the equipment the job needs is included or extra. A CCTV drain inspection, for example, is typically $220-350 on its own, and usually included when it is part of clearing a blocked drain.
6. How time is rounded
An hour and ten minutes can be billed as 70 minutes, an hour and a quarter, or two hours, depending on the plumber. Ask what the billing increments are.
7. Parking, tolls and travel
In the CBD, North Sydney and near the beaches, parking can cost real money, and some businesses pass it on along with tolls. Ask whether travel costs are extra. If you can offer a driveway or a visitor space, say so.
8. Disposal
Taking away an old hot water unit or a toilet costs the plumber a tip fee. Ask whether removal and disposal are in the price.
9. Making good
A plumber fixes the pipe. Patching the plaster, replacing the tiles and repainting are usually not included, and often not something a plumber does at all. If a wall or floor has to be opened, ask what state it will be left in and who repairs it.
What a clear quote looks like
A good quote, even for a small job, tells you:
- the hourly rate that applies now, and the minimum charge
- whether there is a call-out fee
- how parts are priced
- anything extra: equipment, disposal, parking
- what happens if more work is found once the job is under way
That last point matters most. A quote is an offer to do a defined job for a set price, and once you accept it the business generally cannot charge more unless you agree to extra work. An estimate is a best guess. The ACCC sets out your rights under the Australian Consumer Law, including the right to services that are provided with due care and skill.
For larger jobs in NSW there is a second protection: residential work worth more than $5,000 needs a written contract. NSW Fair Trading explains what it has to contain.
How we price
So you can hold us to it: our emergency rate is $120-160 an hour at any hour, with no separate call-out fee. Travel and the first 30 minutes of diagnosis are included, time is billed in 15-minute increments after that, and parts are charged at supplier cost plus 15 per cent. You get a written quote before work starts, and if more work is found the job stops while you decide.
The pricing page lists typical prices for the common jobs and has an estimator, and our guide to what an emergency plumber costs in Sydney goes through the numbers job by job.