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The average cost to hire a plumber is typically between $45 and $200 per hour, with a common average rate around $125 per hour. This cost can vary based on your location, the plumber's experience, and the complexity of the job. Rates are often broken down by experience level: an apprentice may charge $45 to $90 an hour, a journeyman $60 to $110 an hour, and a master plumber $80 to $200 an hour. While hourly rates are standard, some plumbers may charge a flat fee for routine projects or offer project-based pricing. It's also common for plumbers to charge a minimum service or trip fee. For reference, some typical flat-rate costs for common jobs include: drain unclogging ($220), leaky faucet repair ($270), burst pipe repair ($400), toilet repair ($300), and water heater repair ($600). Note that these rates are for standard service hours; emergency, holiday, and after-hours calls will cost significantly more.

If you experience the telltale sign of wax ring failure, which is leaking water, replacing the faulty ring takes one to three hours, depending on accessibility. This is an exacting and time-consuming job, as several components must be removed for the plumber to access the ring. Once replaced, however, wax rings require little to no maintenance and last 30 years or longer.

No, your toilet tank should not empty completely when you flush. Although the water level will dip a lot after you flush, it shouldn’t be totally empty. If your tank is empty, you might have issues with your fill valve, float ball, or toilet trip lever. You should check all of your toilet parts to ensure they’re working correctly and make any necessary adjustments.

Yes, you’ll need to replace your toilet’s wax seal any time you move the toilet. This is because movement of the toilet will break the seal, rendering the remaining wax useless. Thankfully, replacing a wax seal is fairly easy, and the seal itself only costs $2 to $10 at most home improvement stores.

When replacing a wax seal you typically also have to replace the closet bolts that secure the toilet to the flange. These are usually about 2.5" - 3" long and have to be cut once the toilet is secure. Cutting them usually makes them too short to reuse.