Are you facing leaked pipes? An overflow toilet? No hot water?
These problems, and others like them, are some of the most common things homeowners face. Most people oftentimes just have two common approaches to solving them. They’ll either reach out to a plumbing service provider that’s easy to find, or they’ll figure out a DIY approach until there’s an absolute need to call the experts.
What’s wrong with the second approach is that some people may not realise how quickly plumbing problems can get out of control. Believe it or not, things can go from bad to worse pretty quickly, and the plumbing cost will be more than the initial expense. But if you reach out to a plumbing company without some thought into the matter, guess what?
The cost of plumbing may still take a toll on your bank balance. So, to tackle this problem head-on, you must be familiar with the ins and outs of common plumbing problems, different services plumbers offer, plumbing repair costs, and some tips to reduce the plumbing cost. And all this is exactly what we’re going to go through in this article.
There’s lots of ground to cover, so let’s begin!
Common Plumbing Problems People Face
Our house requires some maintenance, repair, or replacement work from time to time. If your pipes aren’t in order, this work and oftentimes be related to plumbing.
There are quite a lot of plumbing problems one can face, and having a great understanding of what they are and what caused them can help you fix them in a budget friendly way. So, with that in mind, here are some plumbing problems you should be aware of.
1. Clogged Toilet or Drain
One of the most common problems that can incur significant plumbing cost is having a clogged drain or toilet. Believe it or not, this is one of those problems that’ll get out of hand before you know it.
As for drains, this problem can occur when something like hair, soap, shampoo, or more gets caught up in the pipes and blocks the water flow. For toilets, this happens when something that isn’t dissolvable gets flushed.
2. Leaking Pipes
This is another one of those problems that, if left unattended for too long, will amp up the plumbing work cost pretty quickly. Most people don’t know this, but a leaking pipe can lead to significant problems like damage to walls and floors.
It’s important to know that such leakages can cause damage to the pipes. Common factors that cause such damage may be pipe deterioration or shifting. High water pressure can also damage pipes, causing them to leak.
3. No Hot Water
Not having running hot water is another problem that can drive up the average plumbing cost. This problem is often caused due to leaks that keep the water heater from functioning effectively.
But that’s not all. Sometimes, mineral deposits within the water heater can also keep it from giving you hot water. In some cases, scales can build up around the heating elements, which would lead to no hot water.
4. Low Water Pressure
If you’re living in an old house, you’ve probably faced this problem before. For most people, it might not seem like a big deal, but it’s one thing that’ll amp up the plumbing service cost.
Low water pressure can be caused when minerals or sediments build up inside the pipes, which reduce the water flow. But, this problem can also be caused due to leakage or a water main break.
5. Plumbing Emergencies
One of the things that’ll amp up your plumbing cost is emergencies. However, such emergencies will only occur when some of the other problems we’ve mentioned are left unattended.
For instance, if someone notices their toilet overflows occasionally but chooses to leave the problem unattended, it can lead to their entire bathroom being flooded, which may incur a hefty plumbing cost for bathroom renovation.
Different Services Plumbers Provide
Before we get into the cost of plumbing details, look at what a plumber can do for you. Doing so will help you better understand what a plumber can and can not do for you. The different services a plumber offers can be used for maintenance, repair, or even replacement purposes.
In addition, some plumbers can also provide emergency services that are quite useful when the good old DIY approach isn’t a viable option. Common examples of such emergencies can include flooding, leakage prevailing through walls, and more. Some of the many services a plumbing company can offer include:
- Pipe repair or maintenance – the service provider will fix any leakage or damage to pipes or replace them altogether if needed.
- Installation – a plumbing company can install a new system if the condition of the current one is not feasible, but the plumbing cost for this is high.
- Tap repair or maintenance – a plumber can also help repair, maintain, or repair leaking faucets or pipes.
- Unblocking – the service provider can also help you unclog drains or pipes that are reducing your water pressure.
- Water heater – a plumbing company is also of aid when it comes to fixing any problems you may be facing with your water heater.
- Gas – in addition to providing services related to water pipes, a plumber can also install and repair gas pipes.
- Inspection – if you’re not facing any problems but stay proactive, a plumber can perform an inspection to check if everything is working smoothly.
- Fixture installation – an expert plumbing company can also provide fixture installations. This includes a new skin, toilet, shower, and more.
- Sewer cleaning – a plumbing service provider can also offer sewer cleaning as it impacts your water line.
- Garbage disposal – an expert plumbing services provider can help repair or replace your garbage disposal.
These are some of the services a plumbing company can offer. However, it’s important to remember that the availability of these services may vary from one provider to the other. In addition, the home, bathroom, and kitchen plumbing cost may also vary. To make your plumbing repair problem free, it’s important to choose a provider that offers all or most of these services.
Plumbing Services Cost In Singapore
When it comes to plumbing services cost, it’s important for you to know that the cost varies based on different factors. Common examples of such factors may include things like the hourly rate and the extent and type of work required. In addition, the cost of plumbing may also vary among different companies.
Regarding the hourly rate for a plumber, recent statistics have shown that it can be around S$20 per hour. What it essentially means is that a plumber were to work on your pipes or other things like a water heater or taps for one working day, the total cost of the service could be around S$160.
The hourly rate serves as a feasible starting point for understanding the cost of plumbing. But, it’s equally important to look at the cost of different types of services a plumber can offer. Let’s dive into that now.
Water Heater Replacement
It’s common for water heater users to experience element or thermocouple-related problems. An element is used in an electric water heater, whereas a thermocouple is used in a gas heater. In severe cases, these components may need to be replaced. In addition, you may need to replace the entire water heating unit too. The plumbing cost for these is mentioned below:
| Type Of Replacement | |
| Element replacement | S$270 to S$400 |
| Thermocouple replacement | S$270 to S$400 |
| Water heater replacement | S$1290 to S$1390 |
Leaks
The average plumbing cost for leaks can vary depending on the type and extent of the leak. Such leaks can prevail in fixtures or different types of pipes. These pipes can either be concealed, accessible, underground, or may even be located under a slab. Fixing such leaks is essential, as the problem can worsen if left unattended. The plumbing cost for repairing leaks in fixtures and pipes is mentioned below:
| Type Of Leak | |
| Fixtures and accessible pipes | S$200 to $540 |
| Concealed pipe | S$600 to $1000 |
| Underground pipe | S$1010 to $1615 |
| Under-slab pipe | S$800 to S$5380 |
Clogs
Clogs are another severe problem that can decrease your water pressure and, if prolonged, cause damage to the pipes as well. Clogs in pipes can occur when due to a build of minerals in the pipes or due to things like hair getting stuck in the pipes. As for toilets, clogs can prevail when undissolvable items get flushed. The plumbing cost to fix them varies among providers but is generally around:
| Type Of Clogs | |
| Toilet clog | S$130 to S$470 |
| Drain clog | S$200 to S$400 |
| Sewer clog | S$530 to S$2017 |
Gas Leakages
This is another problem that a plumbing services provider can fix. Gas leaks, or any signs of them, are not to be taken lightly as they can lead to a fire or have negative effects on your health if you’ve been exposed for too long.
These leaks can prevail over inaccessible or concealed pipes. The cost of plumbing for fixing a gas leak in an accessible pipe is around S$160 to S$335. However, the plumbing cost of a gas leak in a concealed pipe can be around S$537 to S$1008.
Other Repairs and Plumbing Inspection
As mentioned, a plumbing services provider may offer other repairs, such as fixing your garbage disposal. The cost of plumbing for such services can be around S$500 to 700. In addition, the plumbing installation cost for a running toilet can be up to S$300 and may start from S$160.
If you’re experiencing low water pressure, the cost of plumbing can be around S$484 to S$800. The variations in these prices depend on the extent of damage and the work required to fix them. The cost for plumbing inspection can be around S$270. It’s important to remember that the exact form you need depends on your specific circumstances.
Tips For Cost-Effective Plumbing Services
Now that you’re aware of the different plumbing problems, services, and prices, let’s look at what you can do to save some money on plumbing work cost. Plumbing might seem like something you only have to do once in a while. Given this, most people don’t think of the plumbing cost as a major problem.
However, remember that these issues can prevail at any given moment. That said, knowing and implementing some plumbing cost-saving tips can come in handy. Some of the key tips to keep in mind include:
- Clean your drains – when food or other debris gets stuck in the drain, it can lead to a blockage in the pipes and can also contribute to their degradation, which then requires repair or replacement. To avoid this, keep your drains clean on a regular basis.
- Check for cracks or leaks – another way to keep the plumbing cost low is to regularly check for cracks or leaks. Doing so will help you identify problems as soon as they start, and you’ll be able to address them without breaking the bank.
- Routine maintenance – one of the best ways to keep the cost of plumbing a house low is to develop a maintenance routine for your pipes. You check for any problems and clean your pipes every two to three months.
- Fixture upgrade – another thing you can do is change fixtures like taps and faucets. This will cause initial expenses, but the costs will be lower than having to get old ones repaired on a regular basis.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to plumbing, the costs can get out of hand pretty quickly. Some of the common plumbing problems people face include clogged drains, water heaters not functioning properly, overflowing toilets, pipe leakage, and more.
A plumbing services provider can help you address these problems and even install new fixtures. But, the cost of plumbing in Singapore depends on your unique circumstances.
Use RSF Waterproofing For Plumbing in Singapore!
RSF Waterproofing is a reliable plumbing services provider in Singapore. We cater to various plumbing emergencies and repair, maintain, and replace pipes or fixtures. We also offer other comprehensive solutions such as waterproofing and handyman services with guaranteed quality. Contact us to learn more!