Plumber near me
Finding a plumber is easy. Finding a good one under time pressure is the hard part. Here's how to do it in a few minutes.
Free to call. We route you to an independent licensed plumber in your area — PlumbLinker does not perform plumbing work.
Verify the license first — it takes two minutes
Nearly every state licenses plumbers, and nearly every state offers a free online lookup. Ask for the license number, then check it. A legitimate plumber will give it to you without hesitation; hesitation is itself the answer.
What you're confirming: the license is active, it's in the right state, it covers the work being done (gas fitting is often separate), and the name matches the company on the invoice.
Search for “[your state] plumbing license lookup” and use the official state government result — typically a contractors board, department of labor, or department of professional regulation. Avoid third-party sites that charge for what states publish free.
Red flags worth walking away from
- Refuses to give a license number, or gives one that doesn't check out
- Demands large cash payment up front before any work
- Won't put the estimate in writing or send it by text
- Pressures you to decide immediately on a large repair
- Quotes a repiping or sewer replacement without inspecting or running a camera
- Unmarked vehicle, no company name, no written invoice
- The price changes substantially after work has already started
Green flags
- Gives the license number before you ask
- Provides a written or texted estimate with the work itemized
- Explains what they found and shows you — photos, camera footage, the failed part
- Distinguishes clearly between what's urgent and what can wait
- Offers a temporary fix tonight and a scheduled permanent repair at standard rates
- Carries proof of liability insurance and will show it
How to compare quotes without wasting the night
In a true emergency you often can't get three bids — and you shouldn't try while water is running. But for anything above roughly $1,500 that isn't actively causing damage, a second opinion is worth the delay.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Water actively damaging the home | Take the first available licensed plumber. Stop the damage. Argue about the permanent repair later. |
| Stabilized, large repair quoted | Get the emergency stabilization done, then get two more quotes for the permanent work in daylight. |
| Sewer line replacement quoted | Always get a second opinion and always ask for camera footage. This is the single most over-sold job in plumbing. |
| Whole-house repipe quoted | Second opinion, minimum. Genuine repipes are usually preceded by a pattern of leaks, not one incident. |
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a plumber is licensed?
Ask for the license number and check it on your state licensing board's free online lookup. Confirm it's active, in your state, and covers the type of work. Don't accept a photo of a card as proof — check the number itself.
How much should a plumber charge per hour?
Hourly rates commonly run $75–$200 during business hours depending on the metro area, with after-hours rates well above that. Many companies now use flat-rate pricing per job instead, which is generally better for you — the price is known before work begins.
Should I use the cheapest plumber I can find?
Not on emergency work. The cost of a bad repair — a leak that resumes inside a wall, or a water heater installed without proper venting — dwarfs the difference between quotes. Verify the license, get it in writing, and treat an unusually low quote as a question rather than a bargain.
What questions should I ask before hiring?
What's your license number? Are you insured for this work? Is the estimate written and itemized? Is this a permanent repair or temporary? What happens to the price if you find more damage? Is there a warranty on parts and labor, and for how long?
Plumbing emergency right now?
One call routes you to an available licensed plumber in your area. Free to call, 24 hours a day.
Call (888) 876-3092PlumbLinker is a referral service. We connect you with independent licensed plumbers — we do not perform plumbing work ourselves.