How much does a plumber charge to replace a kitchen faucet in Virginia?

There is no set price for replacing a kitchen faucet in Virginia, and an honest number is a written quote for your sink. What a plumber charges depends on a handful of things you can check yourself before anyone visits: how the old faucet comes out, the state of the valves and lines under the sink, the faucet you choose, and whether anything beyond the faucet is involved. Knowing them lets you compare quotes fairly and spot one that leaves something out.

What sets the price

Getting the old faucet out. Moen says the most time-consuming, and sometimes challenging, step is removing the old faucet, especially when the water supply connections are corroded.^[1] A faucet that has been in place for decades, with crusted mounting nuts behind the bowl, can take longer than putting in the new one. A plumber quoting from photos will often allow for that.

Whether the new faucet fits what is there. Moen faucets typically connect with either flexible supplies with ⅜-inch compression fittings or ½-inch IPS connections, and an adapter may be needed to join a new faucet to the existing supply lines or shutoff valves.^[2] New supply lines and adapters are small parts, but they show up on the bill.

The shutoff valves. If a valve will not close or leaks at its handle, the plumber will usually replace it while the faucet is off. Replacing a stop valve generally starts with shutting off the main water valve and draining the pipes,^[4] and copper lines can use compression, push-to-connect or sweat fittings, and sweat fittings are soldered onto the pipe.^[4] Two valves can add real time.

The faucet itself. A basic two-handle faucet is the quickest to install. A pull-down with a hose and counterweight, a faucet with a side sprayer, or a filtered or touchless model has more parts to fit. A touchless faucet that needs an outlet under the sink, where there is none, also brings in electrical work. DPOR's Board for Contractors regulates individual tradesmen in electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas fitting work, and says that state certification of these trades is mandatory, not optional.^[6]

The holes in the sink. Sinks differ here: Moen, for one, sells kitchen sinks with one, two, three or four faucet holes,^[3] so a mismatch means a deck plate or a cover for an empty hole. Drilling a new hole in stone or quartz is countertop work, often done by a fabricator rather than a plumber.

What else is under the sink. A garbage disposal, a dishwasher hose and a crowded cabinet all slow the work down. Ask whether the quote includes reconnecting them.

Who buys the faucet. Some plumbers price labour differently when they supply the fixture, and their warranty may differ too.

One visit or several. A faucet swap combined with other small plumbing jobs in one visit usually costs less than the same work spread over separate calls, because the trip is shared.

What usually is not on the bill: a permit

Virginia's building code lists, among work that needs no permit: "Replacement of plumbing fixtures and well pumps in all groups without alteration of the water supply and distribution systems, sanitary drainage systems, or vent systems."^[5] A like-for-like faucet swap usually fits that. One exception sits in the same section: "Application for a permit may be required by the building official for any items exempted in this section that are located in a special flood hazard area."^[5] Moving the sink or adding a water line is different: a permit is required for installations or alterations involving the water supply and distribution system, sanitary drainage system, or vent system,^[5] and its fee and inspection become part of the price.

Who you are paying

Two kinds of state licence matter when you hire. Anyone you hire to do the plumbing needs a state plumbing tradesman licence: the Board for Contractors regulates individual tradesmen who engage in plumbing, and that certification is mandatory, not optional.^[6] The business licence depends on the job's value. Under the Code's definitions, a Class C contractor licence covers a single contract or project over $1,000 but less than $30,000, and the Board for Contractors must require a master tradesman licence as a condition of licensure for plumbing contractors.^[8] A small faucet job can come in at or under that $1,000 line, so ask for the plumber's own tradesman licence number as well as any contractor licence. The Board's warning is worth keeping in mind: "A license number in an advertisement or on a business card does not necessarily mean the contractor's license is valid."^[9] Our guide to checking a contractor's licence walks through the lookup.

None of this stops you doing the job yourself. The contractor's chapter does not apply to an owner working on no more than one primary residence they own, for their own use, during any 24-month period,^[7] though the Code adds: "Any person who is exempt from the provisions of this chapter as a result of subdivision 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 14 of subsection A shall comply with the provisions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code".^[7]

Ways to spend less

Do the small things yourself. Clearing out the cabinet, choosing the faucet and testing the shutoffs before the plumber arrives all save time on the clock. If you are comfortable with the work, replacing a kitchen faucet yourself is a common homeowner job.

Rebates are thinner for kitchen faucets than for bathrooms: EPA does not have criteria for kitchen faucets to earn the WaterSense label,^[10] so rebates tied to that label will not apply to a kitchen faucet. Local programs still help with parts; for example, Charlottesville offers a free WaterSense labeled aerator at the Office of Utility Billing at City Hall.^[11] Ask your own water utility what it offers.

What to ask for in a written quote

The Board for Contractors' guide advises: "It is advisable to get at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications so you can compare prices and contractors."^[9] It warns that a bid substantially lower than the others probably means the contractor made a mistake or is not including all the work the others quoted.^[9] It also notes: "Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work."^[9] If you intend to do some of the work yourself, that should be written into the contract too,^[9] and for the down payment its rule of thumb is an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less.^[9] It adds: "If the job requires custom-made items or special orders, a reasonable deposit could be as high as 30% of the total contract value."^[9] A faucet the plumber special-orders can fall under that.

Ask each plumber:

• Is the price flat for the job or by the hour, and is there a trip or minimum charge?
• Does it include new supply lines, adapters and hauling away the old faucet?
• What does it add if a shutoff valve has to be replaced?
• Does it include reconnecting the sprayer, disposal or dishwasher hose?
• What warranty covers the labour, and does it change if I supply the faucet?

Stop and call a pro if

• A shutoff valve will not close, or the only way to stop the water is the main valve.
• Supply connections are badly corroded, or a pipe moves in the wall when you turn a fitting.
• The new faucet needs a new hole in the countertop, or a supply line in a new place.
• You see water damage under the sink. Our guide to why water leaks under a kitchen sink covers the usual causes.

Getting quotes on Loclis

On Loclis you describe the job once and licensed local plumbers quote it. A plumber who needs to see the connections first can offer an estimate visit, and a paid visit's fee comes off the price of the work. Loclis's own fees are on the pricing page. You can also browse faucet and sink pros, find plumbers in Blacksburg, or read more plumbing answers.

Ready for prices? Describe the faucet job and licensed local plumbers quote it.