Plumber leak repair cost

The cost of fixing a leak depends mostly on access. A visible drip at a fixture is a small job. A leak hidden in a wall, beneath a slab or in a buried line costs more, because finding it, opening up, repairing, testing and closing again all take time. No dollar range we can cite turned up, so none is printed here. A written quote follows a visit. See our guide to leaks and burst pipes for the rest.

How much does it cost to fix a water leak?

The honest answer is a spread, with the low end for an exposed fixture or accessible pipe and the high end for hidden, buried or slab leaks. Published cost guides put wide ranges on all of these, and they vary by region and by year. For a real number at your house, a local plumber needs to see where the leak is and what is in the way.

What puts a job at the low end:

• A fixture or supply line you can see. A leaking angle stop, supply line, trap or hose bib.
• A short, accessible section of pipe in a crawlspace, garage or open ceiling.
• A plumber who is already on site for another job.

What pushes it to the high end:

• The pipe runs behind drywall or a ceiling, which has to be cut open and patched.
• The pipe is under a slab or under a driveway. See slab leak repair or repipe and the page on concrete slab leak repair cost.
• The pipe is old and the repair next to the failure is likely to be followed by another leak. Then a bigger replacement is worth pricing.
• The leak is not yet found. Detection time is its own line.
• After hours. Emergency visits are priced higher than a booked visit.

What does leak detection cost on its own?

Detection is billed as a separate step when the leak is hidden, and it covers the time and equipment used to find the leak. It can be a flat fee or hourly, and a few plumbers apply it as credit toward the repair. It depends on the property, the access and the tools used. Ask how the fee works before you book.

What is in a detection price:

• The visit, including travel and a minimum charge.
• Tests, such as a meter check and a pressure test.
• Equipment time: listening gear, a thermal camera, a moisture meter or a drain camera. See acoustic leak detection and infrared water leak detection.
• A result you can use: a marked spot, photos and a short written summary of the finding.

Do some of the work yourself to cut the time. The meter test in our guide to leak detection with a water meter tells the plumber if the leak sits within the house or out on the street line, and EPA WaterSense says household leaks waste about 9,400 gallons a year for an average family, so it is worth the ten minutes.

How do plumbers price a leak repair?

Most use one of three methods: a flat price for a defined job, time and materials by the hour, or a quote built from a standard price list with line items. A good quote names the method, lists what it covers and says what happens if the job turns out different. Get it on paper ahead of the work.

How to read the structure:

• Flat price. You know the total, and the quote should define the scope. Check what is excluded, such as wall patching or permits.
• Hourly plus materials. Ask for an estimate of hours, a cap or a point where the plumber stops and calls you.
• Itemized. Good for comparing, since you can see the trip charge, the labor, the parts and the extras.
• Trip or diagnostic fee. A common first line. Ask whether it is credited to the repair.
• Wall, floor or slab repair. Often not included. A plumber may fix the pipe and leave the drywall to another trade.

In California, a contractor who takes jobs over a set dollar amount must hold the right state license, and the state contractor board offers an online license lookup. Request the plumber's license number and verify it. For a general idea of the rules for home work contracts, the Contractors State License Board's website has a consumer section.

What does a gas line leak repair cost?

Gas leak work is its own category, priced differently from water, because it is regulated and needs a permit and a test. We do not give a figure. Gas odor means you get out, ring SoCalGas (1-800-427-2200) from somewhere safe, and add 911 if danger is present. Nobody should be collecting quotes while the smell lingers.

After the emergency is handled, a plumber with the right state license examines the piping, repairs or replaces the faulty part, tests it and arranges any permit and inspection. The price depends on the pipe material, how much is accessible, how much of the line is involved and whether the work is outside, inside or under a floor. Our page on gas line pipe pricing explains the factors in more detail.

How much does it cost to fix a leak outside, under a slab or in the yard?

Outdoor and buried leaks cost more than visible ones, since the crew must find the line, dig or break concrete, make the fix and put the surface back. Under a slab, a plumber may repair in place, reroute the line overhead, or replace the line. Each costs differently, so get the options in writing with the reasons.

What changes the price:

• Depth and surface. Soil is easier than concrete, and lawn is easier than a driveway or a patio.
• Length of line affected. A short spot repair versus a replaced run.
• Access. Gate width, slope, a hillside lot or a pool nearby.
• Restoration. Who patches the concrete, the lawn or the irrigation?
• Permits. Larger repairs and repipes may need one. Burbank uses its Building Division, and Valley homes inside Los Angeles use LADBS.

For irrigation lines, our page on sprinkler system leak detection applies. For buried supply lines, see underground water leak detection.

If a car leak brought you here, this page is about home plumbing. A car leak is a job for an auto mechanic.

How do I compare two leak repair quotes?

Line them up and weigh the scope of each, not only the bottom line. Look at the diagnosis, the repair method, the materials, the exclusions and the fallback if the leak is somewhere unexpected. A lower price that leaves out the wall patch or the permit may cost more in the end.

A quick checklist:

1. Same problem? Did both plumbers find the same leak and agree on the cause?
2. Same fix? Spot repair versus replacement of a run.
3. Same materials? Copper, PEX or other pipe, and the type of fittings.
4. Permits and inspection. Included or extra?
5. Restoration. Who closes the wall or the concrete?
6. Warranty terms. Ask what the plumber offers in writing. We make no promise on a plumber's behalf.
7. Timing. When will the water be back on?

For a quote on paper, start at our quote page and we book the local visit.

Other services we arrange are on the home page.

Questions people ask

What will a leaking pipe repair cost?

Location and duration drive it. A pipe in plain view costs less than one in a wall or slab. We have no sourced price to publish, so ask a nearby plumber for a written quote showing the trip charge, labor, parts and exclusions.

Do I pay for leak detection separately?

Frequently, when the leak is hidden. Detection pays for the time and tools needed to find it. A few plumbers deduct it from the repair if you hire them. Ask how the fee is set, what you receive and what happens if no leak is found.

What does a gas line leak repair run?

We cannot quote a figure we could not source. Gas work calls for a contractor holding a California license, a permit and a leak test. Should you smell gas, go outside, ring SoCalGas (1-800-427-2200), and use 911 if there is danger. Quotes come once the emergency is handled.

Does a leak under a slab cost more?

Usually, since someone has to find the line, open concrete, repair or reroute, and restore the floor. The choice between a spot repair and a reroute changes the price. See our pages on slab leaks for the options, and get each option priced in writing.

Can a small leak wait?

Rarely. A small leak wastes water, damages materials and can grow. According to EPA WaterSense, one drip per second adds up to over 3,000 wasted gallons yearly. If it is a gas smell, it cannot wait at all. A small, accessible water leak can be a short job, so book it early.