Key Takeaways
- A plumber is a tradesperson who installs and repairs the pipes and fittings that bring clean water in and carry used water out — taps, water pipes, toilet bowls, sinks, floor traps and water heaters.
- In Singapore, PUB splits plumbing into 2 types: water service work (drinking-water pipes, tanks, taps) and sanitary work (discharge pipes, toilet bowls, sinks). Both are regulated.
- Regulated plumbing must be done by a PUB Licensed Plumber, and since 1 April 2018 it has been an offence to engage an unlicensed one for it. Simple works, such as replacing a tap, are exempt.
- Not every pipe in an HDB flat is yours. You maintain the sanitary branch pipes inside the flat; the Town Council maintains the main sanitary pipes.
- A dripping tap repair costs S$60 in Singapore and takes about 30 minutes with Urban Company.
The Wet Patch in Ang Mo Kio
It’s Saturday morning in your 5-room flat in Ang Mo Kio, and a damp patch is spreading from under the kitchen sink. The family group chat has 3 opinions: call a plumber, a handyman, or the Town Council. Each is right for a different leak.
What Is the Meaning of Plumber?
A plumber is a tradesperson who installs, repairs and maintains a building’s water pipes, drainage pipes and the fittings attached to them. The word comes from plumbum, Latin for lead — the metal that early water pipes were made of.
In everyday Singapore use, a plumber is the person you call when water is going somewhere it shouldn’t. Legally, the word carries more weight here, because much plumbing work can only be done by a plumber PUB has licensed.
What Are the 2 Types of Plumbing Work in Singapore?
PUB divides plumbing into water service work and sanitary work, and the split explains most of what a plumber does.
| Water service plumbing | Sanitary plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| What it carries | Clean drinking water supplied by PUB | Used water leaving the flat |
| What it covers | Water pipes, tanks, taps and fittings | Discharge pipes, toilet bowls, urinals, sinks |
| Typical jobs | Leaking pipe, tap replacement, water heater connection | Choked floor trap, toilet bowl replacement, relocating a toilet |
| Who does regulated work | PUB Licensed Plumber | PUB Licensed Plumber |
PUB states that all regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works must be carried out by Licensed Plumbers, except for a defined list of simple plumbing works that handymen may do. It also says Licensed Plumbers must follow its technical, safety, water-quality and water-conservation rules, and are responsible for lodging the regulatory submissions to PUB.
What Does a Plumber Do in an HDB Flat or Condo?
Most home plumbing jobs are repairs to fittings, plus pipe work during a renovation.
- Leaks — a dripping tap, a leaking basin or a weeping pipe joint
- Chokes — kitchen sinks, floor traps and toilet bowls
- Toilets — a cistern that keeps running, a cracked seat, a full bowl replacement
- Water heaters — connecting an instant or storage heater to the supply
- Renovation work — laying, rerouting or extending water and sanitary pipes
Chokes deserve a special mention because most can be tried yourself first — see what to try before calling anyone for a choked toilet bowl.
For HDB flats, the plumbing works listed in HDB’s guidelines do not need a permit from HDB, but are subject to its technical terms and conditions — covering sinks and basins, baths and shower trays, toilet pans and pipes. Condos follow the same PUB rules, with the management corporation (MCST) in place of the Town Council for common pipes.
Which Pipes in an HDB Flat Are Actually Yours?
You are responsible for the pipes inside your flat; the Town Council is responsible for the main pipes that serve the block. That one line decides whether you call a plumber or the Town Council.
HDB’s guidance says you maintain the sanitary branch pipes in your flat, and the Town Council maintains the main sanitary pipes. For leaks in your own water pipes, HDB advises engaging a licensed plumber, and tells you to shut the stopcock at the PUB water sub-meter to cut the supply first. If low water pressure is down to a faulty booster pump, that is a Town Council matter, not a plumbing job.
A leak from the ceiling is different again. HDB treats a ceiling leak between 2 flats as a shared responsibility of the owners, and says leaks from common property should go to the Town Council.
Plumber vs Handyman: Who Do You Call?
Call a handyman for the simple swaps PUB allows; call a licensed plumber once the job touches the pipework itself.
| Job | Handyman | Licensed plumber |
|---|---|---|
| Replace a tap or mixer | Yes, PUB-listed | Yes |
| Replace a shower hose or showerhead | Yes, PUB-listed | Yes |
| Replace a cistern’s flushing mechanism | Yes, PUB-listed | Yes |
| Clear a choked floor trap or toilet bowl | Yes, PUB-listed | Yes |
| Replace a sink or washbasin | Yes, PUB-listed | Yes |
| Lay, alter or reroute water pipes | No | Yes |
| Relocate a toilet bowl | No | Yes |
Some of the top half is fair DIY too. Swapping a showerhead or a tap washer is a reasonable first try with basic tools. Anything that means cutting into a pipe, or moving where water enters or leaves the flat, is a licensed plumber’s job.
How Do You Check a Plumber’s Licence?
Search the plumber’s name on PUB’s online Find a Licensed Plumber service before the work starts. PUB also suggests the Singapore Plumbing Society and your Town Council as places to find one.
PUB adds a point worth knowing before you get a quote: it charges no fee for the regulatory submissions a Licensed Plumber lodges, so any fee for them is the plumber’s own commercial charge. Its advice is to agree the scope and cost up front and ask for an itemised quote. For how plumbing quotes are built, see why plumber quotes in Singapore vary so much, and for what to check before you book, read how to choose a plumber in Singapore.
With Urban Company, you book in the app by the hour, not by task, and the professional arrives within 30 minutes of booking. To see every current job and price, see the full plumbing service list and book a plumber in Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of plumber?
A plumber is a tradesperson who installs, repairs and maintains the pipes and fittings that bring clean water into a building and carry used water out. The word comes from the Latin for lead, which old water pipes were made of. In Singapore it also means someone licensed by PUB for regulated work.
What does a plumber do in Singapore?
A plumber fixes leaking taps and pipes, clears chokes, replaces toilet bowls, sinks and water heaters, and lays or reroutes water and sanitary pipes during renovation. For regulated work, a PUB Licensed Plumber must follow PUB’s technical, safety and water-quality rules and lodge the required submissions to PUB.
Do plumbers in Singapore need a licence?
Yes, for regulated work. PUB requires all regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works to be done by a Licensed Plumber, and since 1 April 2018 it has been an offence to engage an unlicensed one for them. Simple works, such as replacing a tap or clearing a blockage, are exempt.
How do I check if a plumber is licensed in Singapore?
Use PUB’s online Find a Licensed Plumber search, PUB’s own register of the plumbers it has licensed. Ask for the plumber’s name and licence details before the visit and check them there. PUB also points homeowners to the Singapore Plumbing Society and their Town Council as places to find one.
What is the difference between a plumber and a handyman?
A handyman can do the simple plumbing works PUB lists, such as swapping a tap, a shower hose or a cistern’s flushing mechanism. A PUB Licensed Plumber is needed for regulated work beyond that list, such as laying or altering water pipes, or relocating a toilet bowl and its sanitary piping.
Who fixes a leaking pipe in an HDB flat?
It depends on whose pipe it is. HDB says you maintain the sanitary branch pipes inside your flat, while the Town Council maintains the main sanitary pipes. For a leak in your own water pipes, HDB advises engaging a licensed plumber. Leaks from common property go to the Town Council.
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