If you’re having trouble with a leaking pipe, you’re probably wondering how much a repair is going to cost you.
We can tell you that the only way to get an exact cost estimate is to have a licensed plumber come to your home and take a look at the leak.
However, we can provide you with a few factors that will affect the cost of your repair, so you can get an idea of how much it will cost to repair your leaky pipe.
A few factors that will affect the cost of you repair include:
Below, we’ll look at each of these cost factors in more detail, so you can get a better idea of how much your leak repair will cost.
If you’d prefer to have a professional provide you with an upfront, accurate price estimate, feel free to reach out to us at any time. Or, head here to learn more about the leak detection and repair services we offer.
One of the biggest factors that will affect the cost to repair a leaking pipe is the location of the pipe.
There are two location factors to consider:
1. Whether the pipe that’s leaking is a secondary line or the main line.
Secondary drainage lines are any drainage pipes connecting your appliances to the main sewer line.
Secondary water lines are any water pipes connecting your appliances to the main water line.
Repairing a secondary line will be less expensive than repairing a leak in the main sewer or water line because the main line is usually buried deeper and is harder to access.
2. How hard the leaking pipe is to access
Leaks that are harder to access will take more time and may require additional tools, which usually means they will cost more to diagnose and repair. For example, if a pipe is leaking under your home’s foundation or behind a wall, a plumber will need to cut into your home’s foundation or wall to access the pipe. This additional labor and potentially additional tools will likely increase the cost of your pipe repair.
The older your piping is, the more expensive your repair will likely be.
Why?
Well, as pipes start to age, they start to wear out. So, the older your piping is, the more likely that larger sections will need to be replaced rather than just repaired. However, when we’re talking about pipes, an “old” pipe is relative to the type of piping you have.
For example, copper can last 70+ years, whereas PVC piping usually only lasts about 25-40 years. The type of pipe material you have will be determined by the type of pipe it is (supply vs. drain), your geographical location, the year your home was built, etc.
That being said, the cost of replacing parts of your piping will also depend on the type of piping you have.
The leak detection and repair method a plumber has to use to detect and repair your leak will impact the overall cost.
For example, if the pipe under your sink is leaking and a plumber can visibly locate the leak and fix it, your leak will be fairly inexpensive.
However, there are a handful of ways that plumbers can detect a leak that isn't immediately visible to the human eye.
For example, a plumber may use:
The price will fluctuate depending on the equipment used and difficulty associated with each method.
Before a plumber starts on your leak detection and repair, they should give you an estimate on the cost so that you’re not shocked by a large bill if a plumber does need to use excavation to reach your leaking pipe.
After your pipe has been repaired, there may be additional cleanup and/or restoration costs that can increase the overall out-of-pocket expense of your pipe repair.
For example, if a plumber needs to cut into a wall to access a pipe, that wall will need to be repaired, painted, etc. If a plumber needs to dig into your yard to access a pipe, you will need to restore the landscaping.
Of course, any cleanup or restoration costs will not increase the actual cost you pay for your pipe repair but will increase the total amount of money you will spend out of pocket.
Typically, the more experienced a plumber is, the more they will charge for their service.
However, this is not a cost factor you want to try and save money on. Hiring a well-trained and experienced plumber is probably the most important factor to ensuring that your pipe is repaired correctly.
To find a quality plumber in your area, look for someone who:
If you have a leak in one of your home’s pipes, you want to hire a team you can trust to provide you with an accurate diagnosis of the issue and a safe and reliable pipe repair. At Red Cap, homeowners across Southwest Florida trust us to repair, install, and maintain their home’s plumbing systems, and we would love the opportunity to turn you into a trusted customer as well.