Guide to Plumbing Costs & Estimates in Canada

On average, most plumbers will charge an hourly rate between $58 to $260 per hour. You can expect to pay a higher rate for a licensed professional plumber. They will cost anywhere from $104 to $170. If you opt to hire a handyman for your less complicated projects, this will cost around $58.

Plumbers will charge for travel time in one of the following ways:

A general rule for all plumbing projects that require labour, is that the more difficult, complex and/or inaccessible the job is, the longer it will take to complete and the more it will cost. While apprentices or journeymen are likely able to complete simple jobs, complex projects require a master plumber.

The largest cost considerations are your location, the materials needed, and the complexity of the job. You will also have to factor in the cost of supplies needed to complete your job. Remember to get all of this in writing during the quote process so you know the price break down before you agree to have the plumber start working.

Before trip fees and materials, the average rate is $91 to $156 per hour. Rates can vary, with some coming in as high as $260 and as low as $58. Included in this hourly rate is the plumber’s wage, insurance premiums, union dues, overhead, equipment, vehicle maintenance and lease, and tools.

If your plumber offers a flat-rate, this will usually run somewhere between $130 to $520 for simple service calls, such as fixing a toilet or faucet or unclogging a drain. The more complex a job is, the more time it will take and parts and labour charges will be higher.

A master plumber will cost you an additional $30 to $97 per hour. It is likely they will be there to oversee the work of apprentice or journeymen contractors.

The cost of a journeyman runs between $20 to $44 per hour, with a median wage of $32 per hour. An apprentice will typically make about half of what a journeyman makes. These costs are for their wages only. Your final bill will reflect their wages, plus overhead, insurance, tools, equipment, vehicle expenses and advertising.

Emergency situations are the most typical kind of call plumbers receive outside of their regular working hours. Off-hour repairs are always more expensive as compared to making an appointment during regular business hours.

Weekend, holiday and after-hours work will cost you a higher hourly rate or flat fee, or a combination of the two fees.

Most charge time-and-a-half to triple their hourly rate depending on when the call comes in. One may charge time-and-a-half for evening work, double-time for weekends and triple-time for holidays. This cost will depend on which company you hire. Be sure to get quotes and ask about additional charges for doing work outside of regular hours.

Service calls cover a wide range of common services. These can include clogged drains, fixture repairs, and leaking pipes. The fees associated with service calls can range from $130 to $455. This price usually includes the first hour of work.

Trip fees depend on your location and the distance the plumber will need to travel to get there. Trip fees can range from $65 to $390. Unlike a service call, this fee is not included and is in addition to labour charges.

The cost of minimum fees and trip charges help offset the time and materials used when travelling to and from job sites. Much of the time a plumber spends on a project they will be travelling to a jobsite and a supply house to pick up materials for your project.

The below list comprises the most common projects and the price ranges for the plumbing costs. The pricing data has been provided by HomeAdvisor and made to reflect Canadian prices.

A plumbing issue may leave you with other messes to clean up. Depending on your project, you may need to hire an additional company to help repair water damage. It’s possible you may also need new carpeting, drywall repairs or electrical work done to your home to get it back to where it was before your plumbing issue. Here are some additional services and costs you should consider for your project and budget.

Replacing your plumbing can cost anywhere from $455 to $2603 or more, depending greatly on the size of the project and how difficult it is. Below is a further breakdown of plumbing replacement projects and their costs.

The most common fixtures to replace include sinks, faucets and toilets.

A water pressure regulator reduces the pressure from the main line running into the home. It keeps pressure surges from damaging your home’s pipes. The cost of replacing a regulator is between $325 to $455. The part itself is around $65, the rest of the cost is labour and time. It can take about three hours to install.

A p-trap is more commonly known as a sink trap. Sink traps are required by building codes to keep sewer gasses from entering your home. Replacing the p-trap in your sink will cost between $260 and $423. The costs vary due to your location, for example, urban areas with higher costs of living will pay a higher installation price.

A water shut off valve is required by code and necessary to work on most home plumbing issues. The first step in many plumbing repair projects is shutting off the water. To replace your main water shut off valve, you can expect to pay between $227 and $325. Most of this cost is labour as the materials will cost under $30.

Well-maintained brass, cast iron or steel stacks will last anywhere from 70 to 100 years. PVC stacks are much easier to work with, however they will only last 30 to 40 years. Depending on the accessibility and length, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,952 to $5,206 for a stack replacement.

Issues with plumbing can go from minor to very serious quickly. When you notice a problem, it’s important to get it taken care of as soon as possible so further damage isn’t done to your home. When you need a plumber, be sure to start on HomeStars to find the right company for your project.