Plumbing — Florida homeowner answers

The plumbing problems Florida homeowners actually search, answered honestly: what each symptom means, what the work typically costs, what Florida law requires, and how to avoid getting burned. When you're ready, your request goes to ONE license-verified pro — never sold, never flooded.

Licensing in Florida

Florida licenses this trade at the STATE level (DBPR / CILB (CFC)). Hiring unlicensed for this work is illegal for the contractor — and risky for you: no permit rights, no insurance backing, no recourse.

Basis: FL Stat. 489 (DBPR state licensing)

Typical Florida costs (curated 2026 estimates — not bids)

Water heater replacement (tank): $1,200–$2,800

Tankless water heater: $3,000–$6,000

Whole-home repipe: $4,000–$12,000

Drain cleaning (single drain): $150–$650

Main sewer line clearing: $250–$1,100

Slab leak detection & repair: $1,500–$7,500

By county

Lee County Pinellas County Sarasota County Charlotte County Hillsborough County Manatee County

Top problems

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Covered: Lee · Pinellas · Sarasota · Charlotte · Hillsborough · Manatee | Local numbers appear only when the sample is large enough to protect privacy. | How verification works