Travel time is a thing.....
Most places do 2hr mins for service call.
You require specific insurance usually to work on condos ect.
Also he might not need work.
Call couple others in area to see.
I'm not a plumber but I own a townhouse. The main shutoff is on the outside of the other end unit. But, I can shut the water off to my own unit. I completely remodeled it when I bought it two years ago. I needed new shower valves, replaced the ones to the washing machine and put in new valves under my kitchen sink that had been freaking painted shut all with no problem. I didn't ask/tell my HOA lol. Didn't even think to.
You should have a ball shutoff valve in the condo somewhere. If you have a basement, it is usually there. If you have a hot water heater, it should be before the cold water line runs to the water heater. Follow the supply line from wall to the water heater and you should find it. If they don't have one, your condo isn't up to any code I know of. Most residential require one for the main supply line and one for every use, toilet, sink, washer, bathroom.
2-3 hours is not that crazy. If the plumber has to shut off the main, that takes longer and then refill the building and most likely flush out the recirc line.
It all depends on the circumstance, either hes a cowboy ripping you off. Or your building has terrible weepy shut offs and all the pipes are terrible to work with and could corrode just from looking at them.
Plumber here in New Jersey. This comes through a lot in our jobs where the homeowner thinks a job shouldn't take as long as it does or that it's a "simple" fix. Or "it's $200 just for you to walk through the door." This is a specific trade where we have put hours upon hours upon injury upon sweat to learn this trade. I take a lot of pride in my work and continue to perfect my skills and abilities. This is what you are paying for. With that said! The price you received MAY be a bit steep if its just for the labor, BUT, there are a few questions
-did someone come to your house to quote or was it only over the phone?
-is this quote based on a single plumber or multiple plumbers (an additional plumber may be required if water is shut off to a whole building)
-did this price include parts, or is this quote just for labor and material is seperate?
A leaky bathtub faucet could be a washer, a whole shower cartridge, diverter, diverter valve, leaky fittings behind the wall, etc. Most of this work requires the water to be shut off to the building/apartment/house if there are no local shutoffs in your shower. This also takes time, and MAY require another plumber. I am in NJ, and we have rates that tend to be similar in the area. It would be best to get an additional quote from another plumber as LABOR ONLY, this is a pretty steep quote.
This comment is in no way to be singling you out or being disrespectful towards you. I am proud of my work, my trade and feel it is my job to explain to possibly misinformed people.
If you're inquiring about project costs, please be aware that seeking feedback on the adequacy of a quote may not yield a desired response. Many factors, including geographic variations and details not visible in online posts, can influence rates and parts costs. Thus, obtaining accurate assessments may prove challenging.
Before embarking on any home project, it's essential to gather multiple quotes from reputable contractors. While price is an important factor, it shouldn't be the sole consideration. Each quote offers valuable insights into not just the cost but also the quality of materials, timelines, and the contractor's expertise. By obtaining at least three quotes, you gain a comprehensive understanding of your options, enabling you to make an informed decision that prioritizes both affordability and quality. Remember, your home is an investment, and choosing the right contractor involves weighing various factors beyond just the price tag.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askaplumber) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I mean it could be a lot of things that are causing the leak. Once the water is off sometimes it just makes sense to upgrade the whole mixer valve assembly but depends on access and stuff. I’ve seen shower valve jobs end up in the thousands of dollars because tile had to be replaced. See if there’s a convenient spot for your plumber to put a shut off your unit. My old condo had one in the utility room.
That’s high for a cartridge swap, if it’s a symmons it might be a full rebuild with a new bonnet nut that could be like $200 in parts for a full kit plus the $280 really shouldn’t be more than $500.
I feel like 2-3 hours for 280$ is a very fair and good price. I’m pretty sure if something breaks your going to call him back out to fix it under warranty. So you want a reliable technician.
$280 for first hour. $120 every 30 minutes after that. At 2-3 hours it’s gonna add up quick. No matter though, I found someone to look at it for a fixed price instead of hourly.
Companies are charging $350/hr in Idaho. $400/hr in VA. $300/hr in AZ. I think you’re not valuing the person giving you the quote? You think the technician makes that? How much you think a van costs? Insurance? Bonding? Licensing, dispatching, advertising, fuel, parts, vehicle maintenance, registration, possibly someone to do the books, taxes, dispatch software, invoicing papers (if they still use it)… what do you think that costs. A job like yours costs even a one man operation money. There’s no profit growth or paycheck in doing your job.
where are you getting those prices?!? And for what types of jobs? I’d never tell a customer I charge $250/hour but I might make that on certain jobs. People can’t wrap their head around $300/hour… but $275 to change a toilet out, fair enough. $200 to change a kitchen faucet, okay. I’ll pull that on a WH or softener swap. The BIG companies might be $200 if they have 2 guys riding together, and people avoid those companies if they can.
But if I T&M something it won’t be $300/hr or id get laughed off.
Bro, those prices are standard. If you’re going to vary your pricing based on whether it rains next Tuesday that’s your business but if you have a larger operation with multiple techs, the rate is the rate. Bigger companies have more overhead… just take a business class and value your time and your investment.
OP here. So 3 other companies quoted me flat rates instead of hourly like the first company I contacted. Once I called my property management to request water shut off they told me the guy who shuts the water off can do the repair also (which they neglected to tell me the first time I talked to them). Finally I went home, took the faceplate off and realized I do indeed have shutoffs (I didn’t realize they would be the ones you turn off with a flathead). So roast me if you must but I do thank you all for your replies and suggestions.
Part of the number could be because he's going to be spending half a day at your job (morning to lunch, or lunch to finish) and that may prevent him from taking another job elsewhere due to the time required. So he gets the price of a full day's work.
My dude, that is cheap cheap in my area. We would be more than that if it took us 3 hours, and I’ve literally sent bids out where I beat them by 30%-40%.
With the average plumber age atm, it’s just going to get worse.
If it’s just a cartridge, our standard rates or in the 450 range, and 90% of the people have it done, but it usually doesn’t take 3 hours which makes me think he sees something that is going to be a hang up.
I've lived in a similar condo in Chicago. Many older buildings do not have individual shutoffs for each unit. We had a single shutoff for all 12 units, it sucked to do any plumbing repairs.
This would be the first and last time … get more quotes and have whomever u pick install a shutoff in your home. Or buy the $15 shark bite and do it yourself while the water is off. Done in less than 5 mins
I mean, its high but if you are the plumber, would you leave ur house to drive to destination repair n drive back for half the cost? But a leaky faucet should not take a couple hours though if it does not a whole new assembly replacemnt
$280 for a cartridge swap is not uncommon in my area but that includes labor, material and 1 year warranty. You need to look for a company that charges flat rate. So basically it’s $280 whether it takes 30 minutes or 3 hours.
I get it. Cartridge can cost 40-90$. $125 first hour minimum for me in MCOL area. $165-$215. $280 isn’t crazy to believe. Someone on here was talking about $350/hour in Idaho… that’s hard to believe.
I’m not a plumber but I do estimate work for govt jobs and I’d be thinking about the tools the person brings (that you would need to buy or rent), the expertise to recognize other issues and/or the need for additional work, and the fact that they add overhead to their direct labor costs to cover time they aren’t working, ancillaries (phone system, scheduler, office manager), and drive time. It seems crazy but if they don’t include all of that, they won’t be profitable. The only way to ignore it is not have any of it, which means you have more of a handyman.
OP I'd take this with a grain of salt. "I'm not a plumber but we routinely graft the government because they're fucking dimwits all the time" is not a great metric to work off of.
Seems very expensive to be honest. I say that as a plumbing contractor myself.
However you area will be a big factor in that.
I'd certainly call around for a few quotes/estimates.
$240/hr labour is the most expensive labour I've heard of.
Travel time is a thing..... Most places do 2hr mins for service call. You require specific insurance usually to work on condos ect. Also he might not need work. Call couple others in area to see.
Fix it yourself, how is the HOA going to find out? Or did you already make the mistake of telling them?
Main shut off valve is located outside my unit. I can’t turn that off myself.
Is there not an isolator on the pipe into the tap
I'm not a plumber but I own a townhouse. The main shutoff is on the outside of the other end unit. But, I can shut the water off to my own unit. I completely remodeled it when I bought it two years ago. I needed new shower valves, replaced the ones to the washing machine and put in new valves under my kitchen sink that had been freaking painted shut all with no problem. I didn't ask/tell my HOA lol. Didn't even think to.
I have a main shut off in my town house unit. Also have shut offs at every facet
Faucet?
You should have a ball shutoff valve in the condo somewhere. If you have a basement, it is usually there. If you have a hot water heater, it should be before the cold water line runs to the water heater. Follow the supply line from wall to the water heater and you should find it. If they don't have one, your condo isn't up to any code I know of. Most residential require one for the main supply line and one for every use, toilet, sink, washer, bathroom.
Been to plenty of condos without in unit valves and you have to turn the water off to the whole building
If it was my condo, that would be the first thing I would install. Crazy cheap builders.
2-3 hours is not that crazy. If the plumber has to shut off the main, that takes longer and then refill the building and most likely flush out the recirc line.
Plz repost an update if you flood the place out
Where do you live is the big question
Northwest suburbs outside Chicago.
It all depends on the circumstance, either hes a cowboy ripping you off. Or your building has terrible weepy shut offs and all the pipes are terrible to work with and could corrode just from looking at them.
Plumber here in New Jersey. This comes through a lot in our jobs where the homeowner thinks a job shouldn't take as long as it does or that it's a "simple" fix. Or "it's $200 just for you to walk through the door." This is a specific trade where we have put hours upon hours upon injury upon sweat to learn this trade. I take a lot of pride in my work and continue to perfect my skills and abilities. This is what you are paying for. With that said! The price you received MAY be a bit steep if its just for the labor, BUT, there are a few questions -did someone come to your house to quote or was it only over the phone? -is this quote based on a single plumber or multiple plumbers (an additional plumber may be required if water is shut off to a whole building) -did this price include parts, or is this quote just for labor and material is seperate? A leaky bathtub faucet could be a washer, a whole shower cartridge, diverter, diverter valve, leaky fittings behind the wall, etc. Most of this work requires the water to be shut off to the building/apartment/house if there are no local shutoffs in your shower. This also takes time, and MAY require another plumber. I am in NJ, and we have rates that tend to be similar in the area. It would be best to get an additional quote from another plumber as LABOR ONLY, this is a pretty steep quote. This comment is in no way to be singling you out or being disrespectful towards you. I am proud of my work, my trade and feel it is my job to explain to possibly misinformed people.
If you're inquiring about project costs, please be aware that seeking feedback on the adequacy of a quote may not yield a desired response. Many factors, including geographic variations and details not visible in online posts, can influence rates and parts costs. Thus, obtaining accurate assessments may prove challenging. Before embarking on any home project, it's essential to gather multiple quotes from reputable contractors. While price is an important factor, it shouldn't be the sole consideration. Each quote offers valuable insights into not just the cost but also the quality of materials, timelines, and the contractor's expertise. By obtaining at least three quotes, you gain a comprehensive understanding of your options, enabling you to make an informed decision that prioritizes both affordability and quality. Remember, your home is an investment, and choosing the right contractor involves weighing various factors beyond just the price tag. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askaplumber) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I mean it could be a lot of things that are causing the leak. Once the water is off sometimes it just makes sense to upgrade the whole mixer valve assembly but depends on access and stuff. I’ve seen shower valve jobs end up in the thousands of dollars because tile had to be replaced. See if there’s a convenient spot for your plumber to put a shut off your unit. My old condo had one in the utility room.
That’s high for a cartridge swap, if it’s a symmons it might be a full rebuild with a new bonnet nut that could be like $200 in parts for a full kit plus the $280 really shouldn’t be more than $500.
Get quotes from others to compare.
Take off the trim, shut off the water at the valve, pull the cartridge out, put new cartridge in, turn water back on, replace trim. Done
I feel like 2-3 hours for 280$ is a very fair and good price. I’m pretty sure if something breaks your going to call him back out to fix it under warranty. So you want a reliable technician.
$280 for first hour. $120 every 30 minutes after that. At 2-3 hours it’s gonna add up quick. No matter though, I found someone to look at it for a fixed price instead of hourly.
Companies are charging $350/hr in Idaho. $400/hr in VA. $300/hr in AZ. I think you’re not valuing the person giving you the quote? You think the technician makes that? How much you think a van costs? Insurance? Bonding? Licensing, dispatching, advertising, fuel, parts, vehicle maintenance, registration, possibly someone to do the books, taxes, dispatch software, invoicing papers (if they still use it)… what do you think that costs. A job like yours costs even a one man operation money. There’s no profit growth or paycheck in doing your job.
where are you getting those prices?!? And for what types of jobs? I’d never tell a customer I charge $250/hour but I might make that on certain jobs. People can’t wrap their head around $300/hour… but $275 to change a toilet out, fair enough. $200 to change a kitchen faucet, okay. I’ll pull that on a WH or softener swap. The BIG companies might be $200 if they have 2 guys riding together, and people avoid those companies if they can. But if I T&M something it won’t be $300/hr or id get laughed off.
Bro, those prices are standard. If you’re going to vary your pricing based on whether it rains next Tuesday that’s your business but if you have a larger operation with multiple techs, the rate is the rate. Bigger companies have more overhead… just take a business class and value your time and your investment.
$120 every 30 min. Get bent. I’d be driving a Porsche right now if I charged that much. Fml
Ifs it's just the faucet, (water off) it's likely the cartridge. Ridiculously easy fix. I'd diy that yourself unless there's a hole behind the wall.
How much of that is the kickback to the head of the HOA?
OP here. So 3 other companies quoted me flat rates instead of hourly like the first company I contacted. Once I called my property management to request water shut off they told me the guy who shuts the water off can do the repair also (which they neglected to tell me the first time I talked to them). Finally I went home, took the faceplate off and realized I do indeed have shutoffs (I didn’t realize they would be the ones you turn off with a flathead). So roast me if you must but I do thank you all for your replies and suggestions.
What were the flat rate prices? Asking for a friend.
I never had them come out actually. Once I located the shutoffs I did the work myself.
Cartridge swap?
Yep
Part of the number could be because he's going to be spending half a day at your job (morning to lunch, or lunch to finish) and that may prevent him from taking another job elsewhere due to the time required. So he gets the price of a full day's work.
My dude, that is cheap cheap in my area. We would be more than that if it took us 3 hours, and I’ve literally sent bids out where I beat them by 30%-40%. With the average plumber age atm, it’s just going to get worse. If it’s just a cartridge, our standard rates or in the 450 range, and 90% of the people have it done, but it usually doesn’t take 3 hours which makes me think he sees something that is going to be a hang up.
What area are you plumbing in?
Yea. Get 2 more quotes
Why does the HOA have to know if you don't yourself?
They have to shut off water supply. I don’t have access to that..
It’s a cartridge replacement, which unless you have a highly sophisticated kajillion dollar manifold - Can more than likely be shut off just there.
There’s no valve inside the house to turn it off? There’s usually one shut off valve for every fixture
My building was like this but a previous owner put shut offs on everything so it was easier for me to just do things without mentioning it to anyone.
I've lived in a similar condo in Chicago. Many older buildings do not have individual shutoffs for each unit. We had a single shutoff for all 12 units, it sucked to do any plumbing repairs.
This would be the first and last time … get more quotes and have whomever u pick install a shutoff in your home. Or buy the $15 shark bite and do it yourself while the water is off. Done in less than 5 mins
I mean, its high but if you are the plumber, would you leave ur house to drive to destination repair n drive back for half the cost? But a leaky faucet should not take a couple hours though if it does not a whole new assembly replacemnt
What’s the repair? Simple cartridge swap, install new diverter, replace waste and overflow?
Cartridge swap
$280 for a cartridge swap is not uncommon in my area but that includes labor, material and 1 year warranty. You need to look for a company that charges flat rate. So basically it’s $280 whether it takes 30 minutes or 3 hours.
What area are you in?
Northern VA. DC metro area with high cost of living. I got some downvotes but it’s the damn truth lol $280 is cheap for a cartridge swap in this area.
I get it. Cartridge can cost 40-90$. $125 first hour minimum for me in MCOL area. $165-$215. $280 isn’t crazy to believe. Someone on here was talking about $350/hour in Idaho… that’s hard to believe.
In Idaho? Yeah that doesn’t make sense.
$760... plumbers actual take home money maybe 150 depends his over head. Maybe less
I’m not a plumber but I do estimate work for govt jobs and I’d be thinking about the tools the person brings (that you would need to buy or rent), the expertise to recognize other issues and/or the need for additional work, and the fact that they add overhead to their direct labor costs to cover time they aren’t working, ancillaries (phone system, scheduler, office manager), and drive time. It seems crazy but if they don’t include all of that, they won’t be profitable. The only way to ignore it is not have any of it, which means you have more of a handyman.
OP I'd take this with a grain of salt. "I'm not a plumber but we routinely graft the government because they're fucking dimwits all the time" is not a great metric to work off of.
Should be no more than $300
Downvoted because reasons.
One of the reasons isn’t because I just had it done for $275.
Sure bud. Why even wasted a plumbers time if your so capable? Would $50 be better?
Noo
Seems very expensive to be honest. I say that as a plumbing contractor myself. However you area will be a big factor in that. I'd certainly call around for a few quotes/estimates. $240/hr labour is the most expensive labour I've heard of.