As a homeowner, you know that it’s one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. However, it can also be among the most expensive. In fact, the average American homeowner spends about $2,000 a year on home repairs and maintenance.
It can be tough to plan for the unexpected, but by using a home repair costs list and budgeting for repairs as best you can, you can be better prepared in an emergency.
To help you do just that, we’ve compiled a list of the most common household repairs and the costs associated with each.
Keep reading to learn more!
- and Replacement
A properly functioning HVAC system is essential to a livable home, particularly in summer and winter. Unfortunately, HVAC systems can be incredibly expensive. The average cost of an HVAC replacement is $7,000.
Now, this number will change depending on the square footage of your home and the quality of the unit you purchase, but you can expect to spend thousands regardless.
The cost of HVAC repairs varies greatly, as the different pieces and parts come at a wide range of prices and difficulty to repair. A small repair, such as replacing a breaker or thermostat, for example, might cost around $200. Whereas a larger, more complex repair, like replacing an evaporator coil, can be over $1,000.
- Water Heater Repair and Replacement
Water heaters are less expensive than HVAC systems to repair or replace, but still come at a rather high price. Because water heaters aren’t all created equal, the price of replacement won’t always be the same.
Tankless water heaters, for instance, are two to three times more expensive to install than a standard tank storage unit. That being said, tankless water heaters last about twice as long. So the additional cost can be worth it in the long run.
You can expect to pay around $3,000 for a tankless water heater, unit and installation included, and about $900 for a tank unit.
When it comes to repairs, the cost will depend on the specific repair you need. Reigniting a pilot light is simple and should only be about $100, but if your water heater is leaking, you could be looking at a bill in the thousands.
- Appliance Repair and Replacement
There are many appliances in your home, from your kitchen to your laundry room, each of which should last years, but will eventually break. If an appliance breaks and can be repaired rather than replaced, you’ll likely be paying between $100 and $400, regardless of whether you need a washing machine or refrigerator repair.
Appliance replacement is a bit of a different story because large appliances like refrigerators are much more expensive than smaller ones such as microwaves. Here is the average cost to replace the most common appliances:
- Refrigerator: $100 to $3,500
- Freezer: $250 to $650
- Dishwasher: $300 to $900
- Microwave: $50 to $200
- Oven: $600 to $3,500
- Garbage Disposal: $100 to $300
- Washing Machine: $250 to $2,000
- Dryer: $200 to $1,700
- Water Damage Repair
A house repair such as water damage isn’t caused by one specific thing. There are a variety of issues that can cause water damage to your home, which means the repair cost will vary.
The national average for the cost of water damage repair is just under $3,000. However, as with the repairs mentioned above, there are simple fixes and ones that are larger and more costly.
Say you had a bad storm in your area and your roof leaked, causing water damage. If nothing but your roof was damaged, you may get by with spending $350 to $1,400. But the more damage the water causes, the higher your costs will be.
If your roof and your ceiling need repairs, for instance, the price could be doubled. Add in flooring and drywall and suddenly you’re looking at spending thousands. This is why, with any repair but especially water damage, catching it early is essential.
- Roof Repair and Replacement
As mentioned above, a roof repair due to water damage will range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars. But the average cost a roof repair, in general, is about $850. This repair can be necessary because of missing shingles, damaged flashing, or ice dams from snow melting and refreezing on your roof.
Where you really see the high price tags is when you start talking about a full roof replacement. The average homeowner in America spends almost $8,000 when replacing their roof.
Thankfully, your roof should last between 20 and 50 years, depending on the material you use, so this expense isn’t a regular occurrence.
- Plumbing Repairs
Estimating plumbing repairs can get a little tricky because not only do you have a variety of fixtures, but certain jobs are much more involved than others, making the prices much higher. This is because you have to account for the cost of the labor of the plumber as well as the price of the materials.
Repairing a leaking pipe, for example, will typically cost between $150 and $350 but repairing a burst pipe can climb to $4,000. Repairing a toilet, on the other hand, comes at the relatively friendly price of $140 to $300, not far from the cost of replacement.
Similar to appliance replacement, because there are so many different plumbing fixtures, there is a wide range of prices for plumbing replacement. The average cost to replace the most common plumbing fixtures are as follows:
- Toilet: $200 to $525
- Sink: $200 to $525
- Faucets: $150 to $350
- Bathtub: $1,000 to $5,000
- Tub Liner: $1,500 to $4,000
- Shower: $1,200 to $5,500
- Main Sewer Line: $3,000
Refer to This Home Repair Costs List When Setting Your Budget
As a homeowner, repairs and maintenance are inevitable. Therefore, when setting your monthly budget, it’s wise to set some money aside that you can use when these expenses arise.
Using this home repair costs list can help you do just that. If you break down that yearly $2,000 price tag on repairs into monthly chunks, it’s about $166 per month. Try to set at least that amount aside if at all possible.
For more tips on caring for your home in the best way possible, take a look at our blog!