The question of whether plumbers in Jacksonville charge by the hour or the job is a little complicated. The answer tends to vary depending on the individual plumber and on the job you need done. For that reason, when you contact a plumber for help in your home, it’s important to find out up front how he (or his company) will calculate the fee.
An hourly rate is based on the total hours that the plumber spends working at your home. However, the plumber’s “meter” will often start running with a service call fee or a minimum charge even before the actual work begins – and you can expect to pay extra for a plumbing emergency after hours or on the weekend. Travel time may also be factored into your total bill (especially if you live in an out-of-the-way area).
A flat rate per job covers the entire cost of a specific project, such as replacing your bathtub or installing a dishwasher. It will usually be presented to you in the form of an estimate; you might want to get estimates from several plumbers and compare. For larger projects, make sure that you and the plumber you hire both sign a contract which outlines in detail what his fee will comprise.
Whichever method your plumber uses to calculate the charge to you, you should always clarify in advance the cost of all necessary parts and supplies, as well as his labor.
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