Quick price snapshot
| Your Problem | What It’s Called | Ironclad Price | Austin Range | Ask Why If Over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tub drains slowly / overflow broken | Bathtub drain and overflow repair | $275 | $175-$425 | Over $500 |
What this price usually includes
This page isolates Ironclad’s published number for bathtub drain and overflow repair so you can compare one quote against the Austin market before you book anyone.
At Ironclad, the published reference point is $275. The broader Austin range we track is $175-$425. If you are being quoted over $500, the burden is on the company to explain the access problem, code upgrade, emergency timing, or scope change that pushes it there.
What moves the number up or down
Final pricing usually changes for one of four reasons: access, material grade, code-driven add-ons, or bundled work discovered after diagnosis. A clean quote should spell out which of those is driving the difference instead of hiding it behind vague line items.
Detailed breakdown
Ironclad price: $275 | Austin range: $175–$425
Your bathtub drains slowly even after clearing hair from the stopper. Or the overflow plate is loose, rusted, or the trip lever mechanism that controls the stopper is broken. The plumber replaces the drain assembly, overflow assembly, or both. This is the hardware inside the tub drain, not a clog in the pipe downstream (that’s drain cleaning at $175).
Where your $275 goes at Ironclad:
You pay: $275.00
Credit card processing: - $8.25
Net to company: $266.75
Materials (drain shoe, overflow
tube, trip lever assembly,
plumber's putty, silicone): - $40 (15%)
Technician labor (1 hr): - $48 (18%)
Truck / drive / dispatch: - $60 (22%)
Overhead: - $65 (24%)
Company profit: $53.75 (20%)
What makes it cost more than $275:
- The drain shoe is corroded into the tub. Removing a seized drain fitting from an older tub without cracking the tub requires patience and sometimes a specialty extractor tool. Adds 30-60 minutes of labor. ~$350-$425.
- Access from below is required. If the overflow and drain connections are behind a finished ceiling on the floor below, the plumber may need to cut an access hole. The plumbing is ~$325-$375. Drywall repair is separate ($100-$250).
- Replacing drain assembly AND doing a drain clearing. If the slow drain is caused by both a deteriorated drain assembly and a downstream clog, you’re combining two jobs. Should be ~$375-$425 bundled, not $275 + $175 separately.
What makes it cost less than $275:
- Just the stopper or trip lever mechanism. If the drain shoe and overflow are fine but the stopper mechanism is broken, parts are $15-$30 and labor is 20-30 minutes: ~$150-$200.
The hair clog vs drain assembly problem: If your tub drains slowly, try removing the stopper and pulling out the hair clog yourself first (tweezers or a $3 plastic drain snake from any hardware store). If that fixes it, you just saved $275. If the tub still drains slowly after clearing the visible clog, the problem is either the drain assembly (corroded, restricted) or a downstream blockage. That’s when you call.
How to compare this quote
Use this checklist before you approve the work:
- Does the scope clearly match tub drains slowly / overflow broken or is the company quietly selling a bigger job?
- Are they showing why the quote is above Over $500 with photos, test results, or code notes?
- Are disposal, permit, restoration, and emergency premiums separated so you can see what is real and what is markup?
- If another option exists, did they quote it side by side instead of forcing one path?
If the answer is no, step back and compare against the full Austin plumbing price guide before approving anything.