Plumbing Costs: Compare & Save

Please note that price information in this article was based on data from 2011, and may now be outdated. 

Anyone who has experienced a blocked toilet, a tap that won’t stop dripping, a broken pipe or a hot water system that is no longer hot will know the importance of a good plumber. In emergency situations, they are lifesavers and worth their weight in gold!

Plumber hourly rates
An average job is $70 per hour and includes run-of-the-mill tasks such as toilet installation in new homes or renovation projects. A premium rate of $80 per hour is charged for tasks that are less savoury such as drainage and sewer problems – we don’t want to think about what’s involved here! Prices can climb to a maximum of $100 per hour. All rates include labour and use of necessary equipment and some rates will include “standard” parts, but most fixtures are considered added extras.

Common plumbing tasks & costs

Plumbing work is often not about aesthetics,that is, what looks good, but rather function.
In terms of residential work, plumbers may work on new projects or existing properties. The most commonly requested plumbing tasks include hot water tank installation, unblocking drains and kitchen and bathroom plumbing. The total price they charge obviously depends on the extent of the work required and the time involved.

• Hot water tank installation – For a hot water tank to be installed, prices start at $200, while the premium end of the scale is a whopping $1250! In NSW, this work will cost you on average $480, while in Victoria it’s just $280 and Queenslanders pay $489. But who wouldn’t pay this money for the luxury of a hot shower or bath to start or end the day?
• Unblocking drains – Unblocking drains from whatever lurks down there is a nasty job – and ranges from $150 for a budget job, to $220 on average and up to $430 at the premium end of the scale. For this, Victorians pay the least – $185 on average, closely followed by Queenslanders on $187 then NSW at $300.
• Kitchen & bathroom plumbing – When it comes to kitchen plumbing, the average rate is $250, while for bathroom plumbing the average is slightly higher at $330. Bathroom plumbing has proven to be more costly in our research – $950 for a premium bathroom job versus $550 for a premium kitchen job.

Plumber rates by state
So who pays the most along the eastern seaboard for plumbing services? Victorians pay more for a plumber than residents in any other state – forking out 10 per cent more than the national average of $70 per hour. Hourly rates for Queensland and New South Wales are actually below national figures.

What to look for
It’s important to ask your plumber for their plumbing license, a written quote detailing all inclusions, references and positive customer testimonials, if they have public liability insurance and a valid ABN.