Plumbers — find a local pro, plus pricing & licensing
Burst pipes, slow drains, water heaters, leaks — local plumbers handle the stuff you can't ignore. Below: a plain-English guide to costs in 2026, what to ask before hiring, state-by-state licensing, and the towns where plumbers are already listed on Great Local Pros.
What plumbers actually do
The most common services plumbers are hired for, with typical residential price ranges in 2026.
Leak detection & repair
Pinpointing hidden water leaks behind walls, under slabs, or in supply lines. Typical visit: $150-$450 plus repair cost.
Drain cleaning
Snaking, hydro-jetting, or rooting stubborn clogs in sinks, tubs, toilets, or main sewer lines. Typical: $125-$450.
Water heater install / repair
Tank replacement (40-50 gal): $1,200-$2,500 typical. Tankless install: $2,500-$5,500. Repair: $150-$650.
Pipe replacement / repiping
Localized pipe replacement: $300-$1,500. Whole-home repipe: $3,500-$10,000+ depending on home size and material.
Sump pump install
$650-$1,800 for a primary sump-pump install; battery backup adds $400-$900.
Faucet, toilet, and fixture repair
$150-$450 typical service-call range for fixture replacement or rebuild.
Garbage disposal
Replacement: $200-$500 including disposal unit.
Sewer line repair
Spot repair: $1,500-$4,500. Full line replacement / lining: $4,000-$15,000+.
Gas line install / repair
Requires licensed gas-fitter in most states. Typical install: $500-$2,000.
Bathroom & kitchen rough-in
For remodels and additions. $1,500-$5,000 typical scope, varies widely by complexity.
What does a plumber cost in 2026?
National median ranges for the most common residential jobs. Your local pricing will vary by region, season, and access — always get a written quote.
| Job | Typical price range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Service call / diagnostic visit | $75 – $200 | Often credited toward repair if work is performed same-visit. |
| Cleared toilet / sink clog | $125 – $450 | Hydro-jet for tough clogs adds $250 – $500. |
| 40-gal tank water heater (install + unit) | $1,200 – $2,500 | Tankless: $2,500 – $5,500. |
| Replace burst pipe section | $300 – $1,500 | Plus drywall repair, varies by access. |
| Sewer line repair (spot) | $1,500 – $4,500 | Trenchless lining costs more but avoids landscape destruction. |
| Whole-home repipe (1,500 sq ft) | $5,000 – $12,000 | PEX runs cheaper than copper. |
| Emergency / after-hours surcharge | +50% to +100% | Most plumbers charge a flat after-hours minimum on top of standard rates. |
Ranges sourced from public industry surveys, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics OES wage data, and homeowner-cost aggregators. Last reviewed 2026-05-26.
Is your plumber licensed? State-by-state lookup.
Plumbers are state-licensed in most U.S. jurisdictions. Below is the official licensing body for each state plus a direct link to the public license-lookup tool. Always verify before any major project — it takes two minutes and is the single best fraud-prevention step a homeowner can take.
| State | Licensing status | Issuing body | Verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State-licensed | Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board | Verify → |
| Alaska | State-certified | Alaska Department of Labor — Mechanical Inspection | Verify → |
| Arizona | State-licensed (ROC) | Arizona Registrar of Contractors | Verify → |
| Arkansas | State-licensed | Arkansas Department of Health — Plumbing Section | Verify → |
| California | State-licensed (CSLB C-36) | California Contractors State License Board | Verify → |
| Colorado | State-licensed | Colorado State Plumbing Board | Verify → |
| Connecticut | State-licensed | CT Department of Consumer Protection | Verify → |
| Delaware | State-licensed | Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Plumbing | Verify → |
| Florida | State-certified or registered | Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board | Verify → |
| Georgia | State-licensed | Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board | Verify → |
| Idaho | State-licensed | Idaho Division of Building Safety — Plumbing | Verify → |
| Illinois | State-licensed | Illinois Department of Public Health — Plumbing Program | Verify → |
| Indiana | State-licensed | Indiana Plumbing Commission (PLA) | Verify → |
| Iowa | State-licensed | Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board | Verify → |
| Kansas | Municipal — varies | Municipal — varies | Verify → |
| Kentucky | State-licensed | Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction — Plumbing | Verify → |
| Louisiana | State-licensed | Louisiana State Plumbing Board | Verify → |
| Maine | State-licensed | Maine Plumbers' Examining Board | Verify → |
| Maryland | State-licensed | Maryland State Board of Plumbing | Verify → |
| Massachusetts | State-licensed | MA Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters | Verify → |
| Michigan | State-licensed | Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes | Verify → |
| Minnesota | State-licensed | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry — Plumbing | Verify → |
| Mississippi | State-licensed (>$50,000) | Mississippi State Board of Contractors | Verify → |
| Missouri | Municipal — varies | Municipal — varies | Verify → |
| Montana | State-licensed | Montana Board of Plumbers | Verify → |
| Nebraska | Municipal — varies | Municipal — varies | Verify → |
| Nevada | State-licensed (NSCB) | Nevada State Contractors Board | Verify → |
| New Hampshire | State-licensed | NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification | Verify → |
| New Jersey | State-licensed (Master Plumber) | NJ Division of Consumer Affairs — Plumbers Board | Verify → |
| New Mexico | State-licensed (CID) | New Mexico Construction Industries Division | Verify → |
| New York | Municipal — varies (NYC requires Master Plumber license) | Municipal — varies | Verify → |
| North Carolina | State-licensed (NCBELP) | NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors | Verify → |
| North Dakota | State-licensed | ND State Plumbing Board | Verify → |
| Ohio | State-licensed (Commercial); residential municipal | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board | Verify → |
| Oklahoma | State-licensed (CIB) | Oklahoma Construction Industries Board | Verify → |
| Pennsylvania | Municipal — varies (Philadelphia requires Master Plumber) | Municipal — varies | Verify → |
| Rhode Island | State-licensed | RI Department of Labor and Training — Plumbing | Verify → |
| South Carolina | State-licensed (LLR) | SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation | Verify → |
| South Dakota | State-licensed | SD State Plumbing Commission | Verify → |
| Tennessee | State-licensed (>$25,000) | TN Board for Licensing Contractors | Verify → |
| Texas | State-licensed (TSBPE) | Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners | Verify → |
| Utah | State-licensed (DOPL) | Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing | Verify → |
| Vermont | State-licensed | Vermont Office of Professional Regulation — Plumbers Board | Verify → |
| Virginia | State-licensed (DPOR) | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation | Verify → |
| Washington | State-certified | WA Department of Labor and Industries — Plumber Certification | Verify → |
| West Virginia | State-licensed | WV Division of Labor — Plumbing | Verify → |
| Wisconsin | State-licensed | Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services — Plumbing | Verify → |
| Wyoming | Municipal — varies | Municipal — varies | Verify → |
Information sourced from each state's public licensing agency. Always confirm on the state's official .gov site before hiring. Last reviewed 2026-05-26.
Questions to ask a plumber before you hire
Bring this list with you on the call or to the on-site estimate. A reputable pro answers every one of these without hesitation.
- Are you a licensed plumber in this state, and can I see your license number?
- Are you bonded and insured? Can I see proof of liability and workers' comp coverage?
- Is the estimate I'm getting a flat-rate quote or an hourly time-and-materials estimate?
- What's your warranty on labor — and what does it cover specifically?
- Will you pull the required permit, or am I responsible for that?
- Is the part you're installing OEM or a generic replacement?
- If you find additional issues once you open the wall, will you stop and re-quote, or just continue and bill me?
- What's the after-hours / weekend rate if this turns into an emergency?
Want the full checklist plus 25 more questions covering 29 trades? Download the free 58-page consumer guide (PDF) — no email required.
Red flags: common scam patterns in the plumbers trade
A short list of warning signs we compiled from public Better Business Bureau complaint patterns and state attorney general consumer-protection bulletins.
- Door-to-door pitches after a storm offering 'free inspections' — legitimate plumbers don't knock on doors.
- Quotes that drop dramatically from initial estimate to 'today only' price.
- Unlicensed handyman doing licensed-trade work (state-licensed plumbing is required in most U.S. states for any pressurized water or gas work).
- Cash-only requirements with no written estimate or receipt.
- Pressure to start work immediately without a signed contract.
- Refusal to provide a written warranty in writing.
- Unusually large up-front deposits (above 10-30% depending on job size).
If you experience contractor fraud, report it to your state attorney general's consumer-protection office and file a complaint with the licensing board. The FTC also tracks these under reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Towns where plumbers are already listed
These pilot cities have verified plumbers you can call today.
Browse plumbers by state
Pick a state to see plumbers listings — and to claim the top spot in your town.
Why use Great Local Pros to find plumbers?
Hyper-local match
We list plumbers by the towns they actually serve — not a 60-mile zip-code radius like the national lead-gen platforms.
Zero per-lead fees
Plumbers on this site aren't paying $30 to $120 per click to reach you. That cost isn't built into their quote.
Independent local shops
Most plumbers here are 1 to 5 person businesses based in your town, not national chains routing work to subcontractors.
Built for small towns
Angi, Thumbtack, and HomeAdvisor optimize for big metros. We optimize for the 13,700+ towns under 60,000 population.
Run a plumbers business?
Most towns on Great Local Pros don't have anyone listed yet for plumbers. Claim your spot and be the first name local searchers find.
Five questions to ask any Plumbers pro — and 53 more pages of advice.
This guide includes a full page on hiring Plumbers: the right questions, the warranties to insist on, what's a fair price, and the red flags that mean keep looking. Plus 56 more pages covering 28 other local trades.
Every Plumbers listing on this site is paired with the guide so you can hire with confidence.
- 25-question master list to bring on every call
- 20 red flags that mean walk away (one page)
- One full page on each of the 29 trades
- What's fair to pay — by trade and by region
- What to do if the job goes wrong (with court-ready steps)