Cost
Most solo plumbers pay between $550 and $1,600 a year for general liability with completed operations. Here's what drives the number — and why plumbing costs more to insure than most trades.
Plumber insurance costs more than base general liability for most other trades — mainly because water damage claims tend to be larger and slower to surface than a typical property-damage claim. Water damage is to plumbing what fire risk is to electrical work: the severity driver behind the premium. Here are typical ranges for the most common coverage types:
Unlike a scuffed wall or a scratched fixture, a bad joint or fitting can leak undetected for weeks before anyone notices. By the time it's discovered, the water damage claim — floors, drywall, cabinetry, sometimes mold remediation — is often far larger than the value of the original job. Carriers price plumbing GL with this tail risk in mind, which is why plumbing premiums tend to run comparable to or above what electricians pay for their fire and shock exposure.
This is the single biggest factor specific to plumbing. Repipe work, water heater installs, and slab-leak repairs carry the highest completed-operations exposure because the failure point is often invisible until real damage has occurred.
This is the biggest driver of your base GL premium. A plumber doing $75,000 a year in service calls pays significantly less than a contractor doing $400,000 in new construction rough-in. Carriers use revenue as a proxy for exposure.
New construction and commercial plumbing generally cost more to insure than residential service work — larger scopes, more parties on a project, and higher potential damages if something goes wrong on a multi-unit build. Backflow testing, gas line work, and sewer/septic work can also carry their own rating factors given the contamination and explosion exposure involved.
Adding employees increases your premium because it increases your exposure — and workers comp becomes a separate, required line in most states. Subcontractors affect your rate too, depending on how much of your revenue they represent.
If you add inland marine (tools and equipment) coverage, the premium is based on the total value of your gear — pipe threading machines, drain cameras, jetters, and pumps. A hydro-jetting rig alone can meaningfully move this line.
Most plumbers start with $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate. New construction GCs and commercial property managers often require $2M/$4M, which costs more but is frequently a job requirement.
Because completed operations claims can be costly, your prior claims history — especially any water damage claims — matters more to plumbing underwriters than it does for many other trades.
Annual policies cover all your work for the year and are almost always more cost-effective than per-job coverage. They also make producing certificates of insurance easy — one policy covers every client, GC, and home warranty company you work with all year.
The best way to know your exact premium is to request a quote. Our licensed agents will ask about your revenue, the type of work you do, your employees and subcontractors, and your equipment — then shop multiple carriers to find the best fit, including the right completed operations language for your exposure.
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FAQ
Most solo service plumbers with no employees pay between $550 and $1,150 a year for general liability with completed operations. Adding tools and equipment coverage typically brings the total to $750–$1,600 depending on your equipment value.
Completed operations exposure. A bad joint can leak undetected for weeks, and the resulting water damage claim is often much larger than a typical property-damage claim. Carriers price plumbing accordingly — comparable to or above what electricians pay for fire risk.
Generally yes. New construction and commercial projects carry higher exposure — larger scopes, more parties, higher potential damages. If you do both service and new construction, your carrier will blend the rate.
It can. Backflow testing and gas line work carry contamination and explosion exposure, and sewer/septic work can carry pollution exposure. Tell us about this work and we'll make sure your policy language and pricing reflect it.
Most plumbers start with $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate, which satisfies most residential clients and GCs. New construction and commercial projects often require $2M/$4M. We can quote both.
Licensed agents build your custom quote — typically same business day. Review, enroll, and get your COI instantly.