Updated: June 2024 by Joe Rantino
When something goes wrong with your plumbing, it can be tempting to get the job fixed as cheaply as possible. But before you start googling DIY tutorials, or contacting a random handyman on Marketplace, you must understand the risks involved with not trusting the job to a licensed plumbing contractor.
When it comes to plumbing repairs, the maxim ‘pay cheap, pay twice’ couldn’t be truer – especially if the unqualified handyperson you choose to save a penny manages to completely botch the job. At best, you’ll pay to repair the repair. At worst, the dodgy repair might lead to an astronomical plumbing emergency.
Plumbing is a job that needs to be done right the first time to avoid further issues and damage to your property.
Is it Illegal to Carry Out Plumbing Work Without a License?
Plumbing regulations vary across Australian states and territories, so before attempting to DIY a plumbing issue, you need to know the law in your state.
According to the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2017, plumbers in NSW need a license to do any plumbing, draining, or gas fitting work. This means that plumbers in Sydney need to be licensed to do your plumbing work. In addition, carrying out work yourself or allowing an unqualified and unlicensed person to do it may be illegal.
The Australian Plumbing Code states that any work to sewer or drinking water systems must be carried out by a qualified plumber. Jobs that must be carried out by a domestic or commercial plumber in Sydney include:
- On-site wastewater systems
- Sanitary drainage/sewage
- Stormwater drainage systems
- Drinking water, hot water and laundry systems
- Heating and ventilation systems
- Installation of new appliances
What are the Risks of Hiring a Plumber Who Isn’t Licensed?
When looking for a licensed plumber, Sydney residents have many options. But the truth is that there are unethical tradespeople working without the necessary licences – and that puts you at risk in multiple ways.
Unexpected Costs
Hiring an unlicensed plumber can end up costing you much more in the long run. Sometimes a bargain price means sacrificing quality. And sometimes it means dodgy repairs that will cost you much more to fix. As the saying goes, ‘You get what you pay for.’ Employ the services of a licensed plumber from the start and get the job done right for a fair price.
Liability and Insurance
Licensed plumbers have certain requirements and standards that we need to meet. Plumbers also need to have liability insurance to protect their customers and themselves. Give yourself some peace of mind. Hire a licensed plumber who has your best interests in mind. If in the event something unexpected happens, this ensures you won’t be held liable.
Conversely, by attempting to fix plumbing problems yourself, or getting an unqualified person to do the job, you are taking a huge financial risk. If something goes wrong, there is a very real possibility that your insurance company will investigate the root cause of the issue, determine that you failed to consult a professional and made the issue worse yourself, and throw your claim out!
Property Damage
The plumbing industry is heavily regulated because even a small mistake has the potential to turn into a big problem! There is a standard that plumbers must meet to make sure we are properly trained and equipped to handle a variety of plumbing jobs. Otherwise, even just one broken pipe can end up causing a lot of damage to your home! Cleaning up a botched plumbing job is no fun for anyone and water damage can impact the value of your home. And if the repairs are not covered by insurance, they’ll have to come out of your pocket.
What About Commercial Premises?
All the risks of unlicensed plumbing that apply to homeowners also apply to commercial property owners and landlords. In fact, businesses may be subject to additional regulatory obligations and failure to comply can have significant consequences. Penalties, business disruptions and customer complaints are just some of the ways you could be impacted by failing to maintain a safe and hygienic plumbing system.
Work with the fully licensed commercial plumber Sydney business relies on to keep their plumbing systems in good working order.
What’s Involved in Becoming a Licensed Plumber?
In New South Wales, a plumber’s qualifications must be verified in order to legally work as a plumber and gasfitter. No matter the scope of the plumbing work, NSW Fair Trading is strict with its requirements.
After completing a plumbing apprenticeship and Certificate III in Plumbing, Sydney plumbers need to register themselves. To become licensed, a plumber will need a Cert IV in Plumbing and then apply for their license. There are multiple categories for specific plumbing work, so a plumber will need to apply for each licence that applies to them.
These licences need to be renewed to ensure that your plumber is up-to-date and current.
How Do I Check if a Plumber is Licensed?
You can check plumber credentials on the NSW Fair Trading website in their registry of contractors and tradespeople. Search using the plumbing company’s name, license number and suburb. You may ask them for this information before searching the registry.
Of course, Gladesville Plumbing Services is properly licensed. Check the registry for yourself! We are the licensed plumber Sydney residents rely upon for a job well done!