Guides
What plumbing, water heater, sewer and heating and cooling jobs cost, from published national ranges, and how to check a contractor's license before you hire.
- Heat pump or furnace?
Published national ranges for replacing a gas or electric furnace, swapping a heat pump, a whole-home heat pump system and mini-splits, with the questions that decide which fits your home.
Updated September 28, 2026
- How to verify a plumber or HVAC contractor
Where to check a plumber's or heating and cooling contractor's license in each state, what to ask about insurance, and what a written quote should include.
Updated September 28, 2026
- How much does a plumber cost?
Published national ranges for a plumber's hourly rate, service call and after-hours visit, and for common jobs like clearing a drain or fixing a leak.
Updated September 28, 2026
- Do you need a permit to replace a water heater, furnace or AC?
What state rules say about permits for swapping a water heater, furnace or air conditioner, in the states we've confirmed from official sources, and what a permit costs.
Updated September 28, 2026
- Sewer line problems: camera, repair or replace
Published national ranges for a sewer camera inspection, clearing the main line and replacing a sewer line, and what to ask before you choose a fix.
Updated September 28, 2026
- Water heater replacement: tank, tankless or heat pump
Published national ranges for replacing a water heater with a gas tank, a tankless unit or a heat pump model, what can add to the price, and what a permit costs.
Updated September 28, 2026
- When to replace your air conditioner
What a new central air conditioner costs on your existing ducts, what upkeep costs, what to ask before you repair or replace, and where tax credits and rebates stand.
Updated September 27, 2026