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Why are Plumbers So Expensive?

Residential Plumbing

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When we go fill our vehicle up with gas, it’s expensive. When we go to the doctor, we’re always surprised of how expensive it is. Rising prices are a reality. For plumbing specifically, you don’t hire a plumber very frequently. It might have been five years ago when, when you had the plumber in your home last time. So your perception of what it’s going to cost today might be based on what it cost five years ago or 10 years ago.

There’s a wide range of expertise out there when it comes to plumbing. So, you may not be comparing apples to apples all the time. A plumber that’s in a one truck operation, that’s just working out of his home is probably going to be less expensive, but he may not be insured! He may not be available. He may not have warranties on the project. So, make sure that you’re comparing apples to apples whenever you’re thinking of pricing. Just because a company gives you a quote twice as much, doesn’t mean that they’re ripping you off. The question to ask is what’s included in that cost and making sure that you break that down and understand what the value points are.

And we’re currently in a time where demand is high for plumbers, and there’s just not many skilled people out there to do the work. And so therefore that raises the costs of a company to provide that service because there’s just such a high demand and not much supply of competence. So, they have to train people and all those costs get rolled into the business. So that does increase the cost as well.

A company that wants to keep good, competent plumbers on hand has to pay them enough that they’re happy.

So…is this is a good time to become a plumber?

Absolutely. At Wisler Plumbing and Air we have an apprenticeship program. So you don’t have to have experience to come to work for us. We’re looking for humble, hungry, and smart people to join our team. And we provide training for them and get them in a career that’s going to be very fulfilling for years to come.

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Both techniques are part of our initiative to take sewer line repair to a trenchless technology. The conventional method would be to dig up the yard and bust up concrete floors in the basement and do a lot of damage just to get to the existing sewer pipes. It’s a real ugly solution to a very real problem.

We’ve worked hard over the past 18 months to use new technology and take as much of that work as possible to a trenchless system.

Both pipe lining and pipe bursting are trench-less technologies with each name actually describing what is happening beneath the surface.

Pipe lining is a very specialized process where we pull a new liner into the existing pipe, and then we blow that liner up and it basically creates a new clean sewer pipe right inside the old one. We generally use that process right inside the home.

While pipe lining can be used outside the home under the ground, pipe bursting is probably a little bit more economical for that kind of solution.

Pipe bursting consists of taking a really heavy cable and a hydraulic ram, pulling a new pipe into the same space that is there with the existing pipe. So when we pull that new pipe through, we are bursting or breaking the existing pipe that is there and pulling a new polyethylene line into that space. There is no existing pipe left when we’re done pipe bursting. And again, pipe bursting is generally used for main sewer lines outside of the home. You end up with a hole in the ground on each end, but no trench to back-fill and repair.

This is great technology for replacing a sewer pipe that’s already there. You can replace it without digging that whole trench from the house to the curb.

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There are several benefits to a career in plumbing, and at Wisler Plumbing and Air, we’re always hiring. If you’re interested, you can check out WislerJobs.com. Keep reading for a few of the reasons you might want to consider it.

Stability

Plumbing is a very stable career. I don’t want to say it’s economy proof, but it’s definitely economy resistant. We provide essential services.  That’s creates a lot of stability, no matter what is going on in the world.

We’re Problem Solvers

When you go into someone’s home, it’s usually because they’re experiencing a problem. They’ve got a leak or no hot water. Maybe the toilet isn’t working. It can be a very scary and frustrating situation for a homeowner.

When you solve their problems, you get to be the hero. You can take someone’s major concern and resolve it. It’s a direct impact that changes lives in that moment.

It’s Hands-On

Plumbing is very hands-on and is typically an outside job. Some can’t imagine sitting at a desk inside all day, so the trade can really speak to those who don’t like to be cooped up.

And Ever-Changing

Unlike a factory job where you do the same thing over and over, plumbing is ever-changing. Each home is a little different, each client is a little different, and there are new technologies coming out regularly within the industry. That’s a tremendous learning opportunity. When someone is learning, generally speaking, that increases their value and income potential. So that can be very exciting as well.

Like I said at the top, we’re always hiring. And most of our plumbers come to us with zero experience. We teach them the trade and increase their value at a career level, then they reap the income rewards.

If you’re looking to get into the trade, go to WislerJobs.com and start the process there. For anything else, call us at 540-483-9382.

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At Wisler Plumbing and Air, we choose the best products we can get our hands on for our sewer and water mains. Once you put them in the ground, you don’t want to be digging them up frequently. There are several options, all with pros and cons, when it comes to main line materials.

When we’re talking about a main line, we’re referring to the sewer line that goes from your house to the street or septic tank, and the water line that comes from the meter at the street or from the well to your home. For the most part, those lines are underground. We use trenchless technology for both water and sewer lines. That can be pipe bursting, pipe lining, and then we pull water lines through the yard.

When it comes to water line product, the first one is what we call a poly pipe, which is a flexible black polyethylene pipe. We use the top PSI version, so that means it’s much thicker and more resilient to rocks, cuts, and leaks.

Another type of water line pipe is copper. It’s not frequently used, but it is a good pipe. It’s just much more expensive and doesn’t offer a tremendous value over the poly pipe. Some advantages are that it’s metallic, so it would be less susceptible to crushing or kinking. With poly pipe, if you get a really heavy rock or you’re driving over it repeatedly, it might crush because it’s a plastic product. However, the advantage to that is not having to excavate, because as it turns it the ground, it can bend and ply to different contours.

For sewer lines, there is SDR 35, which is a very thin wall. Many times, city sewer systems will use that pipe. There is Schedule 40 PVC, and then we have the HDPE pipe, which is a heavy-duty polyethylene. And if we do pipe lining, that’s done with wool, epoxy, and polyethylene.

The advantage to the SDR 35 is it’s less expensive and it’s easier to handle because it’s thinner and lighter. But it can be compromised much easier with rocks and can get holes. It’s also not a glued joint. It’s a gasket joint, which means roots can grow into those and cause problems.

With a Schedule 40 PVC, it’s much more rigid and not going to collapse. It’s going to be sturdy enough to handle going under driveways or sidewalks where there’s traffic. And it is a glue joint. So, if it’s installed properly, you won’t have root issues. It is probably one of the more expensive products that is used for sewer lines, so one of the disadvantages is just the sheer cost of it.

Some of the advantages to the epoxy lining system is that it’s seamless, so it doesn’t have fittings or anything in it. That causes the flow rate to be very high. One of the cons is that you wouldn’t want to put it in unless you can’t gain access.  You probably would just use pipe bursting or excavation to do that.

As far as the HDP pipe, which we use for pipe bursting, a disadvantage to it is that it’s not as rigid as the Schedule 40, but it’s still better than the SDR 35. It is fused, so you have to have special equipment to be able to put together that pipe. We heat it up and actually fuse it together instead of gluing it. It’s very resistant against roots; there are hardly any cracks to it. It’s also flexible, so we can pull it in and match the contours of the sewer line.

All in all, you need to be able to rely on the professional that’s coming to your home to look at your situation and assign the correct products. A lot of times, you might benefit as a consumer by going with the cheaper option. The materials are a very small portion of the overall cost. So, we’re going to use the best materials: the highest PSI poly pipe for water lines, Schedule 40 PVC for excavation jobs, and HDP pipe for our pipe bursting.

Like I said in the beginning, when you put them in the ground, you don’t want to dig them up. We choose the best products possible for sewer and water mains.  If you have any questions, you can reach out to the team at Wisler Plumbing and Air at 540-483-9382.

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“Flushable” wipes might be very convenient in the short-term, but they probably won’t be in the long-term. Many are advertised as flushable, but they’re still not healthy for your plumbing system. If you Google it, you’ll see that even public sewage disposal systems have had to adapt in the recent years to take on a high level of fiber-type material that’s in the sewage.

A septic system works because of bio material that breaks down biodegradable materials like toilet paper. Wipes are generally much stronger and thicker than toilet paper. So yes, they may be flushable, but it’s not toilet paper. They’re going to sit in the storage tank, and if you’re using a lot of them, they’re going to build up and cause problems.

They aren’t too common in the United States yet, but one thing to consider is a bidet. They have tremendous benefits, especially around hygiene. Using a bidet is cleaner than toilet paper, and if you’re caring for someone sick or elderly, they can be very handy.

I think of a client I had one time that had a cancer patient in their home that was constantly getting sick. They were using a lot of wipes and causing problems with their system. If you’re dealing with that, you definitely want to look into other solutions. One of them might be a bidet, or if you need to use wipes, put them in the waste basket instead of flushing.

If you’re interested in a bidet, you can reach out to us at Wisler Plumbing and Air. We generally use what’s called a bidet seat, which essentially transforms your toilet seat to second as a bidet. If you’d like more information, you can call us at 540-483-9382.

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A sewage backup is one of the worst things that could happen to someone’s plumbing system, short of a huge water rupture that just floods the entire home. What makes sewage worse than a water rupture is all the nasty stuff in it. It’s very likely disease-ridden and full of bacteria and viruses. Plumbing systems are designed around making sure sewage is safely contained and ensuring there’s no crossover into the drinking water or living space. If you’ve ever heard the saying, “Plumbers protect the health of the nation,” that’s why.

First, take it seriously.

If you have a sewage backup, do not procrastinate. It is a serious issue that should not be taken lightly. It can become a very expensive issue to resolve if it gets worse. For instance, if you saw a small amount of water around the basement’s floor drain, you’d need to get it checked out before it became 10” of water.

Next, decide whether to repair or replace.

Sometimes a backup isn’t fixed by running a snake or cable down the line to get it clear. You’ll find yourself in the situation where you have to decide whether to repair or replace the sewer line. It might seem like a no-brainer to repair, but what if it backs up again in a year? Then you’ve wasted money. Fortunately, there are several options when it comes to repair and replacement.

We can do a pipe lining in the basement or front yard in some situations, preventing us from having to bust up the floor or ground. If someone has a finished basement and a pipe underneath is causing the problem, sometimes we can do a pipe lining without having to bust up all the concrete. The other possible solution might be pipe bursting, where we dig holes at either end of the pipe. Then we put in a cable and pull a new sewer line through. This is really advantageous because we don’t have to dig up all the dirt and damage the landscaping or sidewalk.

Of course, then there are the traditional ways of excavating or busting up someone’s floor, which we’ve done for many years. This is one of the more invasive ways to deal with the issue, but sometimes you don’t have another choice. The cost might make this a no-brainer, especially if we don’t have to dig very deep.

Regardless of what decision you make, these are all very complex, difficult jobs. You need to make sure to hire someone skilled, experienced, and competent. That’s the best way to give you peace of mind that the job is done correctly. While house shopping, you might want to ask whether the sewer line has been replaced. You’ll generally be able to see the condition of the HVAC system, roof, water heater, etc. But because the sewer line is out of sight and out of mind, it’s easily skipped over. I’ve actually seen homes put on the market solely because the sewer line needed to be replaced. If that information isn’t disclosed, it’s definitely something you want to find out before buying a home.

If you want an inspection, we’ll find out pretty quick whether there’s a problem by running a camera down the sewer line. To learn more, reach out to Wisler Plumbing & Air by contacting us online or giving us a call at 540-483-9382.

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