What Plumbing Can I Do Without A Licence?

May 30, 2022

A common question we're often asked at Tony Brown Plumbing is, “what plumbing can I do without a licence?” But this isn't a straightforward question to answer. In fact, it very much depends on where you live and what the job entails. However, no matter how big or small the job, there's no substitute for hiring a professional plumber to do the work for you.

Male Plumber Changing A Showerhead — Tony Brown Plumbing & Gas Services in Grafton, NSW

What plumbing can I do without a licence?

There are a number of jobs that can be done without a plumbing licence, including:

Installing new drop valve washers in toilet cisterns
Changing toilet seats
Replacing bathroom floor grates
Replacing tap washers or jumper valves in taps
Changing showerheads
Changing residential water filters
Clearing sinks, showers or basins
Cleaning blocked gutters or downpipes
Turning water on/off
Connecting hoses from washing machines to existing hot and cold taps.

As you can see, a lot of these jobs are simple and do not require specialist tools or equipment. Anything more complicated, such as installing central heating systems and connecting rainwater tanks, should never be attempted by a layman and could actually be illegal.

What could happen if you don't follow the plumbing laws in your state?

If you decide to do your own plumbing work, or you hire someone without the necessary licences, you need to know there are consequences to your actions. For example:

If you damage any equipment or even your home, you will not be covered by insurance.
Any warranties you have will be voided
The damage and mess caused will cost a lot of money to fix
You could face a minimum $32,000 fine if unlicensed work is identified under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018.
If you're trying to sell your house and searches reveal your plumbing work isn't licensed, you may face delays or even put the potential buyer off altogether.

What should I do?

No matter your plumbing issue, it's always best to contact a licensed plumber. They'll ask what the issue is and may even visit your property to inspect it. If it's a quick fix, they may recommend you do this yourself to save time and money, but at least you'll have peace of mind that you aren't breaking any laws or putting yourself in danger.

How do I know if a plumber is licensed?

Another important factor to consider is that the plumber you hire is licensed to undertake the work. The last thing you want is for an underqualified plumber to be carrying out work on your home because if something goes wrong, you'll have to spend even more money getting the problem fixed.

You can check that a plumber is qualified for the work you need to be done by asking to see their plumbing licence or registration card. Make sure the classes of work listed on the back of the card match the type of work you intend to hire them for. Any qualified plumber will be more than happy to show you their licence, so if the plumber you've contacted won't do this, they probably aren't who they say they are.

For more information on how the team at Tony Brown Plumbing can help you, give us a call on 0419 998 068.