When my new plumbing company came and said my hot water tank couldn’t be drained because it was old and draining it might ruin it, I said the estimate of $4,000 for a new one was too much.
They’d sent me a large postcard in the mail offering money off on a hot water tank draining, so I called them to see about.
However, when the plumber came a couple of weeks ago and said $860 for a new faucet in my kitchen sink, I wasn’t thinking quickly enough to say no.
Later, I thought it was a lot to pay for one faucet.
What should you do about plumbing repair costs that aren’t emergencies?
Consumer Reports suggest that to combat high plumbing bills, you should always get at least three written estimates before starting any non-emergency work, ask for itemized pricing, and do fixes for minor issues you can do such as unclogging drains or replacing the toilet flapper. Consumer Reports is a testing and advocacy organization.
When I complained to the company about the cost, a customer service representative said they don’t charge as much as the company that charges the highest prices in the area. He said I could get $300 off on my next service call if I’d be willing to give the company a second chance.
One website said, in May 2026, the estimated national average cost to install a kitchen faucet starts at $467 to $773 per faucet. Another website said the national average cost for installing a new faucet is about $195.
The Angi website said a professional kitchen faucet installation costs $162 to $364 based on your faucet type and replacement needs.
I can see that I made a mistake by not getting three estimates. I got mixed up about estimates. The heating and cooling company I deal with charges you a fee to come out and look at your furnace. In the past, they’ve applied that cost to any repairs you need. Now, they don’t do that anymore. You get charged a fee for them to come out, then more for any repairs.
I thought the plumbing company was going to charge me for a service call.
I’ll certainly be getting plumbing estimates in the future. It looks like I made a mistake paying $860 for a kitchen faucet.
