Plumbing Financing for Good & Bad Credit

The majority of solo plumbers do not provide financing. More and more, however, carry card machines so that the customer can pay with a credit or debit card, so using a credit card to finance your repairs may be a straightforward answer.

The larger companies like Mr. Rooter and Roto-Rooter usually offer financing by partnering with a recognized lender providing a variety of borrowing options.

How much does it cost to hire a plumber?

You can probably hire a handyman to do a little plumbing for about $45 per hour but a licensed professional will charge somewhere between $80 and $130, sometimes as much as $200 per hour. Be aware that in some states it is illegal for anyone except a licensed plumber to carry out plumbing work, and that includes the homeowner.

Don’t forget that there may be a travel charge (though some pros just charge extra for the first hour to cover this), plus the cost of materials on top of this hourly rate. Labor is usually the major part of any plumbing job, so the more time-consuming and difficult the task is, the more it is going to cost. It is always a good idea to get a quote before the job starts.

If your plumbing issue is an emergency, you may need to pay additional fees for hiring them out-of-hours or on a holiday. Many plumbers charge time-and-a-half, double-time, or even triple-time for these emergency events.

Here are some advisory prices from HomeAdvisor to give you a guide to the cost of fixing some common plumbing problems:

• To fix a leak – $150-$700
• Sump pump installation – $650-$1,800
• Shower installation – $1,200-$5,500
• Faucet installation – $150-$1,000
• Sewer camera inspection – $300-$500
• Water main installation – $600-$2,400
• Fixing a toilet – $150-$300
• Unclogging a drain – $125-$300
• Water purification system installation – $850-$2,600
• Well pump repair – $350-$1,350

As you can see, prices can vary widely. That is another reason for getting that all-important quote before work begins.

How can I finance plumbing repairs?

Commonly, five forms of finance are available to pay for plumbing:

• A personal loan: Taking out a loan from a bank or alternative lender is an easy way to pay for a big plumbing job, particularly if you have a good credit history. The lender gives the borrower a lump sum which is paid back, plus interest, in (usually) monthly installments over the term of the loan – frequently between 2 and 5 years, though shorter terms are available.
• A home equity line of credit: A HELOC works a lot like a credit card. The lender gives you a credit limit based on your home equity which you draw from as you need it, making regular repayments. HELOC providers can often offer high credit limits and low interest rates because your home secures the loan. However, this means that if you have difficulty making the repayments your home is at risk.
• A home equity loan: Like a HELOC, a home equity loan uses the equity you have in your property as the collateral for the loan. Once again, this means a home equity loan is a relatively inexpensive way of financing a home improvement project but if you default you could suffer foreclosure and lose your home.
• A credit card: As mentioned above many plumbers accept credit cards now. This provides a simple way to spread the cost of a plumbing job, particularly if you can qualify for a 0% credit card.
• In-house financing: Some of the big plumbing companies offer financing in the form of a personal loan, usually through a partner lender. If you consider this option, make sure you research what is available to you through another personal loan lender, as you may find that their interest rates are high to reflect the fact that many people are desperate to get the work done.

What’s the best way to finance plumbing work?

The best way to finance a plumber depends on the size of the job and your situation. For a small job, cash or a credit card may be the best option. For more involved plumbing work, a personal loan would suit you best.

If you can, steer well clear of payday loans and other emergency funding options. The amount of interest they charge can be staggering and they can often make it almost impossible to get out of debt.