Get Quotes from Top Plumbers in Mesa, AZ

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Plumber in Mesa

Residents of Mesa pay $4.72 per 748 gallons of water used. Using the national average of 300 gallons per family daily will still see your water bill below $60 monthly. If you received any water bill far in excess of this amount, then it is time to invite a qualified plumber for routine maintenance to help check for undetected leakages. This decision would not only save you some good money but also help the city conserve water. However, before you hire a plumber in Mesa, ask the following questions to ensure you are handing your job to the right professional:

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Mesa?

Plumbing works in Mesa that require a plumbing permit or cost more than $1,000, including materials and labor costs, can only be performed by a contractor who has obtained a specialty plumbing license from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ARC). Undertaking such plumbing works without a specialty plumbing license is unlawful and punishable by a minimum fine of $2,000 and other court-ordered penalties. Besides being duly licensed, plumbers who work on fire-related systems, such as fire sprinklers, are further required to register with the Mesa Fire Prevention Department.

In order to apply for a plumbing license, interested individuals are expected to meet certain requirements. These requirements include being 18 years or older, acquiring practical plumbing experience for a minimum of four years, and passing a proficiency examination. After meeting these licensing requirements, interested applicants can proceed to obtain a license application form, submit the completed form, and pay the relevant licensing fees to the ARC.

Applicants should note that plumbing licenses are categorized into three types, which are residential, commercial, and dual plumbing licenses, and only one license type can be obtained per application. Interested persons can contact the ARC at (602) 542-1525 for more information, inquiries, or assistance with obtaining plumbing licenses.

Residents of Mesa can also verify a plumber's license by exploring the ARC's online contractor search portal or by contacting the Registrar at (602) 542-1525.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Mesa?

Plumbers in Mesa charge varying fees for their plumbing services, and these fees are typically determined by the type of plumbing work they are expected to do, the cost of required materials, and the labor involved. In order to get a better idea of the charge range for your plumbing work, it is recommended that you compare bids from at least three plumbers. Doing this also helps you find a plumber that fits your budget.

A plumber in Mesa earns an annual average wage of $53,810. Below is a breakdown of the average hourly wages for plumbers in Mesa compared with plumbers in other parts of Arizona and other major cities in the country:

Mesa Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$25.87
Arizona Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$25.45
New York City Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$35.78
Los Angeles Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$29.04
Houston Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$26.71
Miami Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$22.66
Atlanta Plumber Hourly Average Wage
$26.53
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Do You Comply with the Mesa Building Code for Plumbing?

Mesa adopted the 2018 International Plumbing Code with a few local amendments. The 2018 International Plumbing Code, together with the local amendments, constitutes the Mesa Plumbing Code. This Plumbing Code regulates all plumbing works across Mesa, including installations, replacements, repairs, and alterations of plumbing systems. The Code also stipulates the minimum standard of quality and types of plumbing materials and equipment to be used in various plumbing jobs. Generally, the Plumbing Code aims to protect the safety of city residents with respect to their usage of plumbing systems within the city.

Plumbing systems regulated by the Plumbing Code include water distribution and supply systems, irrigation systems, sewage drainage systems, and pipe systems and connections. Residents should note that failure to comply with the provisions of the Plumbing Code is unlawful and punishable by a maximum fine of $2,500, a maximum imprisonment term of six months, or both a fine and imprisonment. It should also be noted that each violation constitutes a separate offense.

Therefore, when planning a plumbing work, it is crucial to engage a plumber who is aware of the Plumbing Code and its provisions that relate to your project. Doing this ensures that both you and the plumber are in compliance with local laws and also protects you from code violations and applicable penalties. Additionally, complying with the Mesa Plumbing Code increases your safety and reduces your exposure to plumbing hazards related to your plumbing work. For assistance with Code compliance or general inquiries, you can contact the Mesa Development Services Department (DSD) at (480) 644-4273.

Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by Mesa Code?

A construction permit is required before the commencement of any plumbing work across Mesa. This construction permit is classified into residential construction permit and commercial construction permit, and the applicable permit depends on the type of building where the plumbing job will be performed. For example, a residential construction permit is required for plumbing jobs performed on residential buildings. However, a permit is not required for certain plumbing works, such as:

  • Stopping leaks in water or vent pipes, provided the pipes are not replaced or removed.
  • Repairing leaks in fixtures, pipes, or valves, provided no fixture, pipe, or valve is replaced.
  • The reinstallation or removal of water closets.

Applications for plumbing permits are generally initiated and submitted online through the Mesa online permitting system. This portal offers one-stop access to building-related matters and also contains general information that residents can utilize to ensure their construction or home improvement project is compliant with city requirements. Plumbing plans and related documents, if required, can also be submitted through this online permitting system.

After obtaining the relevant construction permit, residents or their plumbers must schedule an inspection with a building inspector. This inspection is required before your plumbing work can be certified by the Mesa Development Services Department (DSD) as completed and compliant with city requirements. You can call the 24-hour inspection line at (480) 644-2428 to request or schedule an inspection. Alternatively, you can request an inspection online through the Mesa online permitting system.

Note that you will be required to register a user account or log in to your already registered account before you can utilize the Mesa online permitting system. For more information on permit applications, inspection scheduling, and related processes, residents can contact the DSD at (480) 644-4273 between 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Mondays - Fridays.

What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?

Plumbers across Mesa undertake various plumbing jobs, including installing, repairing, replacing, and inspecting plumbing systems across the city. However, while they may offer various services, plumbers in the city typically specialize in performing either residential or commercial plumbing jobs. Therefore, it is essential to confirm that any plumber you intend to hire specializes in performing the type of plumbing job relevant to your planned plumbing project. Doing this ensures you employ a skilled and experienced plumber and increases your chances of receiving satisfactory service delivery.

Note that plumbers in Mesa typically charge different fees depending on the plumbing work they are handling. Nevertheless, listed below are the cost estimates for some common plumbing services in Mesa:

Bathtub installation
$600 - $2,000
Drain clearing
$110 - $140
Drain line video inspection
$235 - $270
Fixtures, faucets, and pipe installations
$140 - $250
Plumbing remodeling
$3,500 - $5,000
Septic system installation
$5,500 - $8,000
Toilet installation/replacement
$135 - $150
Water softener installation
$900 - $3,000

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Mesa?

Household leaks waste over 90 gallons of water per day in several homes across the country. Not only can such leaks potentially damage your building, but they can also increase your monthly water costs. Therefore, it is essential that you address any noticeable plumbing leak in your home and other related plumbing issues as soon as possible. Doing this can help you optimize your water usage, protect you from plumbing hazards, and even save about 10% on your water bills.

While it is recommended to fix any noticeable plumbing issue in your home as quickly as possible, some plumbing issues require more urgent attention than others. For instance, a clogged toilet will typically require quicker attention than replacing a water heater during summer. Nonetheless, before engaging a plumber, it is recommended that you confirm this plumber is duly licensed and specializes in fixing your kind of plumbing emergency.

To confirm a plumber's licensing status, you can explore the Arizona Registrar of Contractors' online contractor search portal or contact the Registrar at (602) 542-1525. Similarly, you can confirm a plumber's area of specialization by asking relevant questions and requesting references from recent clients. You can also ask colleagues, friends, and neighbors or utilize third-party consumer websites like Better Business Bureau and Yelp to find emergency plumbers near you. These third-party websites typically contain reviews from former clients, which you can use in making more informed decisions.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in Mesa?

In order to maintain their licenses, plumbers in Mesa are required to satisfy certain bond and insurance requirements. These include filing a bond with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ARC) and maintaining active workers' compensation insurance if they have employees. However, obtaining general liability insurance is optional, and plumbers in Mesa are not required to maintain this type of insurance. Nonetheless, it is recommended that you engage plumbers with general liability insurance, as this insurance safeguards you from financial costs resulting from accidents or injuries during your plumbing work. Considering that more than 20 fatal occupational injuries were recorded among contractors across Arizona in 2019, ensuring you have a financial safeguard to address costs related to such injuries during your plumbing work is essential.

To confirm if a plumber has the necessary insurance coverage and has complied with bond requirements, you can request that this plumber provide documentary proof. Additionally, you can contact the ARC at (602) 542-1525 to confirm if a plumber has complied with bond requirements and contact the Industrial Commission of Arizona at (602) 542-4661 to confirm if a plumber has obtained workers' compensation insurance. For inquiries on whether a plumber has general liability insurance, you can further contact the insurance company from which the plumber claims to have obtained insurance coverage.

How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Plumber in Mesa

Planning any home improvement project, including plumbing projects, requires some due diligence on your part to ensure that you do not fall victim to contractor scams or get defrauded of your money. As such, it is recommended that you take precautionary measures to protect yourself from home improvement scammers in your area. These scammers mostly represent themselves as licensed contractors but use fake, expired, or stolen license numbers to prove they are licensed.

Other scam techniques include giving a highly discounted bid, offering unsolicited bids, insisting on cash payments, avoiding written contracts or claiming written contracts are not necessary, and requesting high deposits. For example, in April 2019, a Mesa homeowner was scammed of $15,000 by an unlicensed contractor for a remodeling project. This contractor claimed to be licensed but fraudulently used the license number of a duly licensed home improvement company, requested the $15,000 as a deposit, and did not complete the project.

In order to protect yourself from such scams during your plumbing work, you can take the following steps:

  • Consider bids from at least three different plumbers. This way, you can find out when a plumber is offering unreasonably low or high bids.
  • Ensure your intended plumber is licensed. You can utilize the online contractor search portal maintained by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ARC) or contact the Registrar at (602) 542-1525
  • Confirm that your intended plumber has not recently conducted any plumbing scam or handled a plumbing project without a license. You can explore the ARC's online list of unlicensed contractors to find out if your plumber has operated without a license in the past two years. You can also contact the ARC at (602) 542-1525 to confirm if the plumber has been recently involved in a plumbing scam or any disciplinary proceedings.
  • Insist on a written contract. Ensure the agreement between you and your plumber is in writing. This contract should include the nature of your plumbing project, the responsibility of the plumber, the estimated project completion time, and the agreed pay. If the plumbing project involves a lot of money, it is advised that you engage a qualified attorney to draft and review this agreement.
  • Avoid paying high deposits upfront. Ideally, any deposit you pay should be a small percentage of the agreed total pay, preferably not more than 10%
  • Make payments in check, with a credit card, or money orders. Avoid making cash payments, as cash payments are harder to trace and easily disputed.
  • Keep a record of the project. For example, you should keep documents related to the project, such as payment receipts and written bids.

If you have been scammed by a plumbing contractor, you can report this contractor to the ARC. You can either report online through the ROC customer portal or request a printed complaint form, complete this form, and submit it as directed on the form. For more inquiries or assistance with reporting a plumbing scam and home repair scams generally, you can contact the ARC at (602) 542-1525.

It is important to note that reporting a plumbing scam does not guarantee that you will be reimbursed. Nonetheless, you can pursue your reimbursement by filing a small claims case against the fraudulent plumber at the Maricopa County Justice Courts. However, this court has limited jurisdiction, and you can only request a maximum of $3,500 in small claims cases filed before this court. Therefore, it is recommended that you consult a qualified attorney for legal advice and better legal options before filing a small claims case, particularly if you would like to request more than $3,500.