Why overtime fees are the industry norm
Most plumbing and drain companies staff a smaller after-hours crew, so a night or weekend call costs them more to dispatch — and that extra cost typically gets passed straight to the customer as a 1.5x or 2x "emergency" surcharge on top of the normal service price.
What flat-rate, no-overtime pricing actually means
A true no-overtime-fee company prices the job the same whether the call comes in at 2pm on a Tuesday or 2am on a Sunday. The quote you get is the quote you pay — no after-hours multiplier stacked on top once the crew shows up.
How to tell if a quote already has overtime baked in
Ask directly: "Is this the same price you'd charge during business hours?" A company with real flat-rate, no-overtime pricing will say yes without hesitation. If the answer is vague, or they quote a range that depends on time of day, an overtime fee is likely built in.
What this means for a real emergency
A burst pipe or sewer backup doesn't wait for business hours. Knowing the price won't jump just because it's midnight means you can make the call immediately instead of weighing whether to wait until morning to save money — which usually just lets the problem get worse.
We quote the same flat rate 24/7, every day of the year. Call us at (817) 674-4085 any time.