What St. Petersburg Plumbers Charge in 2026, According to Their Own Websites

Most plumbing cost guides give you a national average or a range from a survey of their own customers. I wanted something more local: the prices St. Petersburg plumbers put on their own websites, gathered in one place so you can save the time you'd spend researching them yourself.

In October 2026 I collected the websites of 56 plumbing companies in and around St. Petersburg, Florida, and recorded every price for plumbing work on the pages I saved.

The short answer:

1. Only 14 of the 56 companies publish any price for plumbing work, including service call fees. Half of the other 42 advertise a free estimate.
2. Where a company publishes a service call or diagnostic fee, it runs from $65 to $149. Two companies drop the fee if you approve the repair, and one includes the first hour of work.
3. Drain cleaning specials cost $89 to $99, with limits such as one drain or a set amount of time. Companies without a special list $199 an hour, $200 to $500, or "from $300".
4. On the five sites with a water heater price, a standard tank heater starts at $1,150 to $1,895 installed. Ask whether the permit and removal of the old heater are included.
5. None of the 56 publishes an after-hours rate.

These are the prices the sites showed on October 14 and 15, 2026, and companies change them. Treat them as a starting point. The final bill depends on what the plumber finds once the work begins.

I'm not a plumber. US Directory doesn't sell plumbing services, and no company paid for this article. I don't name the companies, because the goal is to show the local market as a whole.

How I Collected These Prices

I started with plumbing companies that have a website and showed up in our directory crawl of the St. Petersburg area. I kept the ones where plumbing, drains or water heaters are the main service or a large share of the services, and removed companies outside Tampa Bay, a site that lists every city in Florida, and duplicates of the same business. That left 56 companies. Their sites were saved on October 14 and 15, 2026, up to 13 pages per site and 10 for a typical one: the home page, service pages, specials and contact pages.

I counted a price when a company gave a dollar amount for a specific job or fee, including "from" prices. Coupons like "$50 off", monthly financing payments, membership fees and amounts quoted in customer reviews stayed out. I matched every price against the saved text of the page where it appears. A price on a page I didn't save isn't counted.

Most Plumbers Don't Publish Prices

Of the 56 companies, 14 show at least one price for plumbing work. Two more show prices only for water filters or a monthly financing payment. The remaining 40 show no prices at all.

Among the 42 companies without a plumbing price, 21 advertise a free estimate or quote, and 3 more offer a free inspection or assessment. Five show only coupons, such as $50 off a plumbing repair of $250 or more or $100 off a new water heater installation. With those, you learn the price only when someone quotes the job.

The companies that do publish prices use a few formats. Some have a price list with "from" or "starting at" amounts. Some advertise a flat special for one job, usually drain cleaning. One gives an hourly rate, and five publish a service call or diagnostic fee.

A clog in a bathroom sink and roots in a sewer line are both drain cleaning, and they cost very different amounts. A single price for jobs like that is hard to publish before someone sees the problem.

Service Call and Diagnostic Fees

A service call fee is what you pay for the plumber to come out. Five companies publish one, and each fee covers something different:

Depending on the company, the fee disappears from the bill or pays for the first hour of work. Before you book, ask what it covers, whether it is credited toward the repair, and what makes it go up.

None of the 56 companies publishes an after-hours rate. Two say they charge nothing extra for nights or weekends, a third promises the same prices on weekends and holidays with an asterisk pointing to its terms, and one notes that its prices apply during regular working hours. If your problem can't wait until morning, ask for the evening or weekend price on the phone.

Drain Cleaning: Specials and Regular Prices

Drain cleaning is the job with the most published prices: 9 of the 56 companies list one. Five of them advertise a special for $89 to $99, and each comes with its own conditions. One covers a single drain through an accessible ground-level cleanout, and the same site shows the regular price for that job, $235. Another clears the drain through an accessible cleanout within 45 minutes or 45 feet of cable, once per customer. Two include a free camera check of the line.

The other four companies publish regular prices: $199 an hour with the first hour and the machine included, $200 to $500 for snaking a clogged fixture or a first main line backup, "from $300," and "from $350" for a clogged toilet. Sewer work costs more. A sewer camera inspection runs $200 to $500, and one company lists hydro jetting of the sewer line from $1,995, with a camera check afterward.

Before the plumber starts, ask what happens if the special doesn't clear the clog. Some offers stop at a set time or cable length, so ask how any work beyond that is priced. Ask about a warranty too: one company says plainly that drain cleaning carries no warranty, so a clog that comes back next week may mean a new bill.

Water Heater Replacement

Five companies publish a price for replacing a water heater. The lowest starting price for a standard tank heater ranges from $1,150 to $1,895 installed, depending on the company. One company publishes a full price list, which gives a sense of how the type of heater changes the price:

The five prices also cover different things. The company with the full list includes the permit and hauling away the old heater. Another lists $1,750 and adds that permit fees and code upgrades are extra. A third starts at $1,150 for a basic garage installation with removal of the old heater, and charges separately for a drain pan, a new valve and an expansion tank. The other two don't say. When you compare quotes, ask whether each one includes the permit, removal of the old heater, a pan, an expansion tank and any changes needed to meet the current code.

Toilets, Faucets, Disposals and Leaks

Four companies publish prices for smaller jobs, and three for finding or fixing a leak. Most of these are starting prices:

The most detailed price list names the exact toilet and faucet models included and lists what costs extra, such as a new toilet flange or work on an upper floor. At the other end, one company gives "from $300" for nearly every small job and for sewer line work too, which says little about what your own job will cost. One company also adds $100 to its disposal prices for a long drive or a beach address, so ask whether your location changes the price.

Big Jobs: Repiping, Sewer Lines and Slab Leaks

Three companies publish prices for large jobs, and the ranges are wide. Replacing the water pipes in a whole house with PEX costs $4,000 to $15,000 on one site, which adds that a typical single-story St. Petersburg home of 1,500 to 2,000 square feet lands at $6,000 to $11,000. Another starts at $6,500 for a one-bathroom house and leaves wall and finish repairs out of the price. Replacing old polybutylene pipe runs $4,500 to $15,000.

Replacing a cast iron drain line is the most expensive job in my sample: $8,000 to $30,000, depending on its length and depth and how much slab and flooring has to be opened. Lining a sewer pipe from the inside without digging runs $150 to $250 per foot. A new main sewer line starts at $3,600 for up to 40 feet, with permits and concrete removal extra. A new main water line to the house starts at $1,500. Repairing a leak under a concrete slab runs $2,000 to $6,000.

For jobs this size, ask for a written quote. The final price depends on the length of pipe, access, and what has to be opened and restored.

How These Prices Compare With National Cost Guides

Search for plumbing costs and most results come from cost guides on lead marketplaces and review sites. I put their numbers next to the prices St. Petersburg plumbers publish. One guide, on a consumer review site, gives ranges for Tampa, and another gives national ranges:

Two more guides give numbers for drain cleaning and hourly rates. A Tampa guide on a home services marketplace puts drain cleaning at $163 to $396, with an average of $277, and hourly rates at $75 to $150. A hiring platform's page for St. Petersburg plumbers says plumbers charge $45 to $165 an hour depending on the job.

Service calls and water heaters on local sites land at the low end of the Tampa ranges. The drain specials at $89 to $99 cost less than the bottom of every guide range, while the regular drain prices of $200 to $500 overlap with them. Small jobs go the other way. A new toilet from $615 is above the Tampa range, a sink faucet from $415 is above the national one, and the one published hourly rate for drain cleaning, $199 with machine time included, is higher than every hourly range in the four guides. The most detailed local price list includes a named toilet or faucet model in the price, which may explain part of the gap.

I checked all four guides on October 20, 2026, and they build their numbers in different ways. The home services marketplace says it surveyed its own customers about what their projects cost, and its Tampa page was updated on February 26, 2026. The national guide says it tracks estimates homeowners get from contractors, and its page shows the date September 25, 2023. The review site's Tampa page, updated August 26, 2026, and the hiring platform's page don't say where their price ranges come from. All four sites make money by connecting homeowners with contractors. A guide range blends easy and hard jobs. A price on a plumber's website is what the company is ready to advertise before it sees your home, and it is usually the lowest version of the job.

How to Read a Plumber's Price

"From" and "starting at" mark the price of the simplest version of a job. Everything that makes your job harder adds to it: a second floor, a pipe behind a wall, a part that needs replacing, a long drive. When you see a starting price, ask what it includes and what would raise it.

A flat price for a job tells you the amount before work begins, as long as the job turns out the way the plumber described it. An hourly price depends on how long the work takes. The one company in my sample that charges by the hour bills the first hour together with the service call and then counts time in 30-minute steps. If a plumber charges by the hour, ask how many hours the job usually takes and whether driving time counts.

A special is a fixed price for a narrow version of a job, with conditions like the ones in the drain cleaning section above, and it usually has an expiration date. A coupon such as "$50 off" lowers a price you haven't seen yet, so ask for the full price first and then subtract the discount.

A monthly amount such as "$99 a month" or "as low as" is a payment on a loan. What you pay in the end depends on the term, the interest rate and whether you're approved, so ask for the full price of the job and the total of all the payments. Some companies also sell yearly maintenance plans with member discounts. When you compare prices, add the cost of the plan to the discounted price.

A free estimate means the visit to quote the job costs nothing. Ask whether it applies to your job, because a visit to look at a problem isn't always free: one company in my sample charges a minimum estimate fee of $79 or $89.

What to Ask Before the Plumber Comes

Questions to ask on the phone before you book:

1. What does the service call fee cover? Ask whether it is credited toward the repair and what would make it higher.
2. Is the price flat or hourly? For an hourly price, ask how the time is counted and whether driving time is included.
3. What are the limits of the special? Ask what happens, and what it costs, if the special doesn't solve the problem.
4. What does the price include? Check parts, the permit and removal of the old fixture or water heater.
5. Is there an extra charge for evenings, weekends, holidays or your address?
6. Can I get the price in writing before the work starts? For a larger job, ask for a written quote that lists what is included and what would cost extra.
7. What warranty comes with the work? Ask about parts and labor, and whether drain cleaning is covered.
8. How much do you want up front? A large deposit triggers the Florida rule described below.
9. What is your Florida license number? Drain cleaning alone doesn't need a state license, while most other plumbing work does. I explain how to check a license in How to Check a Plumber's License in Florida.

Florida Rules That Affect What You Pay

Two Florida laws deal directly with what you pay a plumber.

The first covers prices after a declared emergency. When the Governor declares a state of emergency, for example before a hurricane, it is unlawful to charge an unconscionable price in the emergency area for goods and services needed as a direct result of the emergency. The law treats it as evidence of an unconscionable price when the amount grossly exceeds the average price during the 30 days before the declaration and the increase isn't explained by the seller's added costs or by market trends. The rule lasts up to 60 days under the first declaration, and the Governor can extend it (F.S. 501.160). This section gives you no right to sue over it yourself, and whether you have another claim, for example under your contract, is a question for a lawyer. The Attorney General's office and the state attorney enforce it. The Attorney General says violators face civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to $25,000 for several violations within 24 hours. You can report a price to the Attorney General online or at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226) (Florida Attorney General, Price Gouging After a Hurricane). A price a company published before the storm can help show what it usually charges, so a dated screenshot of its website can support a complaint.

The second covers large deposits. If a contractor takes more than 10 percent of the contract price as the first payment for repair or construction work on your home, it has to apply for the needed permits within 30 days of the payment and start the work within 90 days after the permits are issued. The deadlines don't apply if the contractor has just cause or you agreed in writing to a longer period. The rule covers anyone who contracts for the work, licensed or not. If the deadlines pass, the law expects you to send a written demand by certified mail, return receipt requested, asking the contractor to apply for the permits, start the work or refund the payment. If the contractor does none of these within 30 days of getting the letter, the law allows the conclusion that it had no just cause. A contractor who keeps the money with the intent the law describes can be prosecuted, from a misdemeanor when less than $1,000 was paid to a felony for larger amounts (F.S. 489.126).

This section is general information about Florida law and isn't legal advice. If a dispute involves real money, talk to a Florida-licensed attorney.

FAQ

How much does a plumber charge per hour in St. Petersburg?

Only one of the 56 companies I checked publishes an hourly rate: $199 an hour for drain cleaning, with the first hour and the machine included. For other work, its $149 service call covers the first hour, and after that it bills in 30-minute steps. Most companies that publish prices quote by the job. Cost guides put hourly rates at $75 to $150 and $90 to $185 for Tampa, and at $45 to $165 for St. Petersburg.

Is a service call fee normal?

Five of the 56 companies publish one, from $65 to $149. Two of them drop the fee if you approve the work, and one includes the first hour of labor. Half of the companies without published prices advertise a free estimate. Ask about the fee before you book.

What does an $89 or $99 drain cleaning special cover?

Five of the nine companies with a published drain cleaning price advertise a special for $89 to $99. The price covers the job the special describes, for example one drain through an accessible ground-level cleanout, or 45 minutes or 45 feet of cable. Ask what happens if the clog needs more work.

Does the water heater price include the permit?

Sometimes. Of the five companies that publish a water heater price, one includes the permit, one says the permit is extra, and the rest don't say. In St. Petersburg, replacing a water heater needs a permit, so ask.

Why don't most plumbers list prices?

The same job can cost very different amounts: a clogged sink and a root-filled sewer line are both drain cleaning. Of the 56 companies, 42 publish no price for plumbing work, and 21 of those advertise a free estimate or quote.

Do plumbers charge more at night or on weekends?

None of the 56 companies publishes an after-hours rate. Three say they don't charge more at some of those times, and one says its prices apply during regular working hours. A national cost guide says after-hours, weekend and holiday work can be billed at double or triple the regular rate. Ask for the price on the phone before the plumber comes.

Can a plumber raise prices after a hurricane?

During a declared state of emergency, Florida law prohibits unconscionable prices for goods and services needed because of the emergency, judged against the average price in the 30 days before the declaration. A higher price can be lawful when it reflects the seller's added costs or market trends. You can report a price to the Florida Attorney General at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (Florida Rules That Affect What You Pay).

This article is general information about prices and Florida law and isn't legal or financial advice. The prices are the ones companies published on their websites on October 14 and 15, 2026, and a company can change its prices at any time, so check the current price with the company. See also our Terms.

Spotted a mistake, or run a plumbing company in the area and see a price that has changed? I welcome feedback and corrections, and I especially want to hear from licensed plumbers. Email me at [email protected].

Sources

All sources checked on October 20, 2026. US Directory has no financial relationship with any company or organization mentioned here.

• US Directory data: websites of 56 plumbing companies in the St. Petersburg area, saved on October 14 and 15, 2026; every price matched against the saved text of its page on October 20, 2026.
• Florida Statutes 2026: 501.160, 489.126, 489.105.
• Florida Attorney General: How to Protect Yourself: Price-Gouging After a Hurricane.
• City of St. Petersburg: List of Exempted Permits.
• City of St. Petersburg: Private Lateral Rehabilitation Rebate Program.
• Tampa Bay Water Wise: High Efficiency Toilet Retrofit.