A burst pipe at 2:00 AM doesn't leave a voicemail. The homeowner calls the first plumber who answers, and by morning the job is gone. That's why an answering service matters more for plumbers than for almost any other trade: your best-paying calls come at the worst times. This guide shows what a good service has to do, which questions to ask before you sign up, and what the options cost.
The two kinds of calls a plumber gets
Most of your calls fall into two groups. Emergencies: water coming through the ceiling, no water at all, a sewage backup. These can't wait, and the caller wants a person who takes them seriously right now. Routine jobs: a water heater check, a slow drain, a quote for a remodel. These callers are happy to book a time, as long as someone answers and gets back to them.
A good answering service treats these two groups very differently. It puts the emergency through to you and books the routine job, so you only get woken up when it's worth it.
What it has to do
- Answer every hour, because pipes burst at night, on weekends and on holidays.
- Spot an emergency from what the caller says, like "leak", "flood" or "no water".
- Put urgent calls through to you right away, and send the rest as a short written lead.
- Get the address and check that it's in your service area.
- Book routine jobs like water heater checks and drain cleaning into your free times.
- Handle Spanish-speaking callers, if you have them in your area.
$99 a month. Cancel anytime.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Can I set my own urgent words, like "leak", "flood" and "no water"?
- What happens with an urgent call at 2:00 AM? Does it reach me?
- Does it book into the calendar I already use?
- What does it cost if a storm doubles my calls this month?
- Can it answer several calls at once?
- Can I keep my number and forward only the calls I miss?
What it costs
Live answering services charge for people's time, so they cost more per minute. AI services are cheaper and answer instantly, day and night. Here are the public prices of the best-known options:
| Service | Who answers | Starts at | Books into your calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cally24 | AI | $99 a month, 240 minutes | Yes |
| Ruby | Live people | $250 a month, 50 minutes ($395 for 100) | Optional scheduling |
| Smith.ai | AI, live backup | $0 for 25 calls; Pro $150 for 75 calls | Calendly and more |
| Rosie | AI | $49 a month, 250 minutes | From the $149 plan |
| Dialzara | AI | $29 a month, 60 minutes | From the $99 plan |
| Goodcall | AI | $79 a month, 100 callers | Google Calendar |
Prices checked October 25, 2026 on each company's public pricing page. Prices change. Sources and the math for 100 minutes are in what an AI receptionist costs.
A night with Cally
It's 2:10 AM. A homeowner calls because water is pouring from under the kitchen sink. Cally answers in your business's name, asks whether water is coming out right now and gets the address. It recognizes the emergency and puts the call through to you, with the details on your phone before you even say hello.
At 7:30 AM, someone calls about a water heater that makes a strange noise. Cally asks the same questions, sees it's routine and books a free time on Thursday. You see it in your calendar when you start your day.
How Cally24 handles plumbing calls
Cally answers in your business's name and asks what you'd ask: what's wrong, whether water is coming out right now, the address and the best number. Urgent calls are flagged and put through to you; everything else is booked or sent to you as a lead by email, in your dashboard and as a phone alert. Cally only promises arrival times you've agreed to, so callers aren't told someone is on the way unless you said so. It costs $99 a month with 240 minutes included.
Plumber's setup checklist
- Services listed: repairs, drains, water heaters, remodels
- Urgent words set: leak, flood, burst, no water
- Service area set
- Calendar connected, with gaps for emergencies
- Forwarding on for unanswered calls
See Cally for plumbers, pricing, or hear your own receptionist, built from your website in 30 seconds.
Common questions
Can Cally give prices for jobs?
If you want it to. Add your call-out fee or starting prices in your dashboard. If you'd rather quote in person, Cally tells callers you'll give a price after a look.
Will Cally send someone out at night?
No. Cally never promises a visit. It flags urgent calls and sends them to you right away. You decide what happens next.
What does Cally do when a caller wants a plumber today?
Cally checks your calendar for free times today. If there are none, it takes the details and flags the call so you can decide.
