Hiring a plumber can feel like a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you need a professional, especially in emergencies. On the other, you’re worried about being stung with a high bill. There are several reasons why plumbing costs can be high – and none of them in our case has to do with being greedy tradespeople trying to rip you off.
1. Years of training and a diverse skillset
A registered plumber has been through approximately five years of study and training to qualify. Tuition fees aren’t cheap, and for good reason – it’s a complex job that requires a unique skill set.
To be successful as a plumber, you need business and administrative skills, physical strength and manual dexterity, ability to operate heavy and technical machinery, quick and effective diagnostic skills (especially when working under pressure) and a sound level of algebra, geometry, and other math skills.
2. Emergency services
Often, plumbing problems are urgent and time-sensitive – and don’t always happen between 9 and 5. This means plumbers are always ‘on’ and are often called outside business hours. This kind of service in any profession comes with added costs. Telling your burst pipe to hold up until morning doesn’t usually work.
3. Cost of materials and tools
Plumbing requires materials and tools to do the job. They’re essential, but for the right tools they can be expensive!
The biggest expense for a novice plumber is building a tool kit, which can cost up to $50,000 for a van, basic tools and general business overheads. Add on more (lots more) for corporate contracts that require bigger operating machines and the cost of office supplies and equipment repairs every year, and you’re looking at a large chunk of money required just to work in the trade.
4. Insurance and registration overheads
Plumbing mistakes can lead to expensive problems, and because of this, the insurance rate for this profession is high. Yes, plumbers need to work fast to fix the problem, but any error could result in a punch to their reputations and their wallets.
On average, plumbers pay a premium between $1700 – $3300 per year for public liability insurance. This provides plumbers and subcontractors protection against third-party injuries and property damage.
Plumbers also must pay to register as professionals in their trade and renew that registration each year. This has a minimum cost of $750 for first-time registrations, then $375 annually.
Professional plumbing worth the pennies
Plumbing is not a profession for the faint-hearted and it takes time, money, and effort to qualify and register. Couple that with ongoing yearly fees, travel expenses, multiple overheads and a skilled, all-hours job, the price of a plumber starts to make more sense.
How much does a plumber, gasfitter or drainlayer cost?
You can view our current plumbing, gasfitting, and drainage prices here.
Master Plumbers Gasfitters Drainlayers Auckland
Campbell Plumbing and Gasfitting are Master Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers and Certifying Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers with the Plumbing, Gasfitting, and Drainlayer Board NZ. We provide certified plumbing, gasfitting and drainage solutions across the Auckland area. For all-in-one plumbing services, get in touch with the Campbell Plumbing team.
Our Master Plumbers are licensed and registered plumbers or training apprentices.