Do you have to let a plumber fix their own bad work before hiring someone else?

No national rule on this was found, and contracts and state laws differ. A written chance still makes sense unless damage is urgent. It starts the FTC's order of escalation, and California's board asks about notice to the contractor.

Should a second plumber put the first plumber's mistakes in writing?

Ask for plain findings: what they saw, what they did, the date, the price and photos. Skip opinions about the first firm. A second opinion written this way is easier to use if the dispute goes further.

Can you stop paying a plumber who will not come back?

The FTC says not to make the final payment until you are satisfied. Say why in writing. An unpaid bill can have consequences, though, and California and Washington both warn homeowners about liens. Read the lien page if a notice arrives.

Gone wrong / Call the same plumber back or Hire someone new

Call the same plumber back or hire someone new?

When a plumber did bad work, call the same plumber back first and put it in writing. Hire someone new if the damage is urgent, they stop answering or you no longer trust them.

Updated November 4, 2026. Sources are listed at the foot of this page.

Find your line

If the leak came back within days and the office still answersCall the same plumber backRecent work is easy to show, and the FTC puts the contractor first.
If water is doing damage now and they cannot come todayHire someone newDamage will not wait on a dispute. Take photos, then tell the first firm in writing.
If you have not made the final paymentCall the same plumber backThe money still in your hands gives them a reason to return and finish.
If two written requests got no replyHire someone newKeep copies of both. They show the firm had its chance.
If the person would not show a license, proof of insurance or a contractHire someone newThe FTC lists that refusal among its warning signs.
If a second plumber says the first job can be put rightCall the same plumber backSend those written findings. The first firm may fix it once it sees them.

Dated toilet and wall-hung sink beside a pipe — A dated toilet and sink, mid-renovation.

What do you gain and lose with each choice?

	Call the same plumber back	Hire someone new
Speed	Depends on their calendar, so ask for a date	Whoever answers, once credentials check out
Cost today	Ask in writing whether the return visit is free	Expect a new service call or trip fee
Evidence	Photograph first, because a return visit changes things	Ask for findings in writing with photos
Final payment	Hold it until the work is right	Still hold it while the dispute is open
Who answers for the fix	One firm answers for both visits	New firm answers only for its own part
If it goes further	Shows you tried them first	Keep the first firm's paperwork and photos

Sources for this table: FTC home improvement advice, Contractors State License Board, 2023 price summary

What would make this urgent tonight?

Water is running now: use the main shutoff first (how to decide). If you cannot find or turn it, do not force it; ring the emergency line at your water utility.
Water near outlets or panels: stay out of the water, touch nothing electrical while wet, and phone 911 or the power company once you are somewhere dry.
Gas or rotten-egg smell after the visit: leave first, on foot, with no switches and no phone inside. Once well away, call 911 and the gas utility. A plumber is not the first call.
Sewage indoors: keep people and pets away, avoid contact, and call the plumber. On septic, also call the local health department, which can guide clean-up.
The first firm will return but wants more money: get the reason and the price in writing before agreeing.

What will fixing it cost, and who pays?

No dated figure for what a callback should cost was found. Ask before anyone returns whether there is a charge, and get the answer in writing. Treat this as general information and not legal advice; your contract and your state's rules may change who owes what.

If you bring in someone new, service call fees ran $100 to $350 and leak repair $150 to $450 in a 2023 survey summary. That Bob Vila summary was last updated June 2023 and leans on HomeAdvisor data. National numbers can go stale and prices differ by area, so ask for a written estimate.

The FTC says to hold the final payment until the job is done and you are satisfied. Keep the second plumber's invoice. It may become the number you claim in small claims court.

Fingers holding a small white and brass valve — A small valve held up during a kitchen renovation.

Who answers for the bad work, and how do you check the next plumber?

The first firm answers first. The FTC's order is the contractor, then the attorney general or a local consumer office, then dispute resolution. California's licensing board asks, as read November 2026, whether you formally notified the contractor, so a dated letter or email helps. See where complaints go.

Before the next plumber starts, have the license confirmed by your state or county, and see proof of insurance. Checks differ by place. California has a license look-up. Washington's look-up covers registration, bond, insurance and certification. In Texas a state board licenses plumbers. Your state may differ, so start at state rules.

Washington's labor department adds that registration reduces risk but guarantees nothing. Ask the next firm for a written scope too.

Words to use

"The problem came back two days after your visit. Can someone return by Friday, and is there any charge?"

"Please confirm that in writing. The final payment stays on hold until this works."

"Another plumber will be called on Thursday unless this is fixed first."

"Please write down what you find, with photos, before changing the first plumber's work."

Also asked

Do you have to let a plumber fix their own bad work before hiring someone else?: No national rule on this was found, and contracts and state laws differ. A written chance still makes sense unless damage is urgent. It starts the FTC's order of escalation, and California's board asks about notice to the contractor.
Should a second plumber put the first plumber's mistakes in writing?: Ask for plain findings: what they saw, what they did, the date, the price and photos. Skip opinions about the first firm. A second opinion written this way is easier to use if the dispute goes further.
Can you stop paying a plumber who will not come back?: The FTC says not to make the final payment until you are satisfied. Say why in writing. An unpaid bill can have consequences, though, and California and Washington both warn homeowners about liens. Read the lien page if a notice arrives.

Next decision in gone wrongComplain to the company, the board or the attorney general?

Sources

FTC, How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam Hold final payment; check license and insurance
FTC advice on scams after weather emergencies Refusing to show papers is a warning sign
California license look-up Checks a California contractor's license
Contractors State License Board, Filing a Complaint Formal notice question in California
Washington contractor look-up Registration, bond and insurance in Washington
Washington Labor & Industries, Hiring a Contractor Registration guarantees nothing
Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners Who licenses plumbers in Texas
Bob Vila, How Much Does a Plumber Cost? Service call and leak repair ranges, updated June 2023