Written by Amanda Casteel · COO Reviewed by Johnny Casteel · CEO · Master Plumber Updated July 2026 VA Plumbing Lic. 2710075081 · Contractor Lic. 2705180998
Quick answers
- VA $75 daytime (waived with repair); DC/MD $150 daytime; after-hours $150 VA / $250 DC-MD.
- No fuel surcharges or surprise truck fees — flat rate you approve before work.
- Every visit: find the main shutoff first, listen to everything, full plumbing inspection, options in writing.
- Free neighborhood estimate if our truck is already on your street; free second opinion with a written quote.
Who this is for
Use this before you book — or when shopping competitors — so you can ask the same fee and scope questions we answer in writing here.
The fees, up front
Virginia: $75 standard dispatch/diagnostic — waived if we do the repair; $150 after-hours. DC & Maryland: $150 standard; $250 after-hours. That’s it. We price by flat rate — you approve a fixed price per repair option before work starts, so the meter isn’t running in your crawlspace.
When the visit is actually free
1) We’re already in your neighborhood — see our truck, call us, and we’ll schedule a free while-we’re-in-the-neighborhood estimate. 2) Free second opinions — show us another company’s written quote and we’ll assess it free. Sometimes we confirm they were right; we’ll say that too.
What happens when we arrive (step by step)
1) Introductions and expectations — confirm who is home, what was promised, and how much time you have. 2) Find your main water shutoff before anything else — every visit. 3) Listen to everything, not just the booked symptom. 4) Full plumbing inspection included — heater, visible piping, pressure, fixtures. 5) Options in writing with flat-rate prices — nothing starts until you approve. 6) Inspection findings are yours with no pressure — if you only want the faucet fixed, we fix the faucet.
Why we wrote this page
Other sites hide price until a tech is in your basement. We publish fees, real price ranges (see our costs guide), and this playbook. Ask competitors: What’s the dispatch fee? Waived with repair? Flat rate or hourly? What does the visit include?
What goes wrong
Approving open-ended hourly work without a diagnosis
Ask for flat-rate options after findings. Slow careful work should cost the same as fast work.
Comparing teaser website prices to real invoices
Use our published ranges and fee table — then ask what puts your job where it sits in the range.
How we know
- · Written by Amanda Casteel (COO), reviewed by Johnny Casteel (CEO · Master Plumber) — Cherry Blossom Plumbing (VA Plumbing Lic. 2710075081).
- · Grounded in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC service patterns — July 2026 published ranges and field notes.
Last updated July 2026
Starting prices (NoVA)
These are our actual installed ranges for the DC metro, July 2026. Not national averages, not teaser rates. Low end = straightforward access; high end is real too. Every range includes the permit when one is required. Final flat-rate is confirmed after on-site diagnosis.
Virginia daytime diagnostic is $75, waived with repair. DC and Maryland daytime $150. After-hours $150 VA, $250 DC and MD. Free neighborhood estimates. Free second opinions with a written competitor quote.
- Gas line repairfrom $350
- Gas line installfrom $750
- PRV / main shutoff valve$650 – $1,400
- Daytime diagnostic (VA)$75 — waived with repair
FAQs
Is the DC/MD $150 fee waived with repair?
The published waiver applies to the Virginia $75 daytime diagnostic. DC/MD daytime is $150 as listed — ask when you book if a credit applies to your job.
Do you include a full inspection every time?
Yes on plumbing service calls — and we’ll ask whether you want options on anything the inspection finds.
How do I get a free second opinion?
Request service and mention free second opinion — have the other company’s written quote ready.
Next step
Ready for help in Arlington or Northern Virginia? We diagnose first, explain options in flat-rate terms, and never upsell what you don't need.