Plumber or handyman?

Plumber vs handyman: side-by-side comparison

PUB requires a licensed plumber for regulated plumbing work, but its simple plumbing works list names jobs that a handyman without a PUB licence may also do. The table sets the main household jobs from that list beside two that are not on it. A licensed plumber may do every job in the table.

The table is a summary. PUB's list also covers bathtubs, shower trays, floor waste outlets, floor trap gratings and the flushing mechanism inside a cistern. PUB says work outside the list must be done by a PUB Licensed Plumber, so the last two rows are not handyman jobs.

Should you call a plumber or a handyman?

Look for your job on PUB's simple plumbing works list. If it is there, a handyman or a licensed plumber may do it. If it is not, it is regulated water service or sanitary plumbing work, and PUB says it must be done by a PUB Licensed Plumber. Since 2018 it has been an offence to engage a plumber not licensed by PUB for regulated works, so check before you book.

Handyman plumbing makes sense for the simple jobs on the list, such as replacing a tap or clearing a blockage in a floor trap. If the handyman finds that the fix involves a water pipe that is not on the list, or the toilet bowl itself, stop and book a licensed plumber for that part. Our guide to what needs a licensed plumber goes through the full list in plain words.

Jobs that need a licence

PUB's plumbing works page sets out two kinds of regulated work. Water service plumbing works are the laying, installation, alteration, repair or replacement of water pipes, tanks, taps and fittings in the drinking water supply. Sanitary plumbing works deal with sanitary discharge pipes and sanitary appliances such as a toilet, urinal or sink. Apart from the simple works on PUB's list, both need a PUB Licensed Plumber.

For flats, HDB's renovation guidelines for water and sanitary plumbing works say a PUB Licensed Plumber must install, fix, replace or remove a toilet pan, and must do any work on a water pipe or discharge pipe. HDB also notes that a handyman without a PUB licence may do simple plumbing works.

So can a handyman fix a toilet? Only some parts. Clearing a blockage in the toilet and replacing the cistern's flushing mechanism are on PUB's simple plumbing works list. Replacing the toilet bowl is not. See toilet bowl replacement cost if you are planning that job.

Jobs either can do

These are the main jobs on PUB's simple plumbing works list, in plain words. Either a licensed plumber or a handyman without a PUB licence may:

• replace or remove a tap or mixer
• replace a shower hose, showerhead, washing machine hose or flexible hose connected to a tap
• replace the pipe between a stop valve and an instantaneous water heater
• install, replace or remove a washbasin or sink, including the trap below it
• replace a floor trap grating or cover
• clear a blockage in a floor trap, toilet or sanitary appliance

See our pages on tap replacement and choked drain for those two jobs. A handyman may not carry plumbing parts or tools for every job, so ask before the visit.

Cost and accountability

The price depends on the job, the parts and the company, so compare quotes for the same scope of work. See plumbing costs by job for the prices companies publish, or use the plumbing cost estimator to plan before you call.

For work that needs a licence, check the plumber in PUB's online listings of Licensed Plumbers. PUB says you can also find Licensed Plumbers through the Singapore Plumbing Society or your Town Council.

Which one should you choose?

Neither is right for every job, so use the list: a handyman for the simple works on it, a licensed plumber for anything off it. For a mix of jobs, such as a new tap and a leaking pipe in the wall, book a licensed plumber for the regulated part and ask whether the same visit can cover the rest. Browse licensed plumbers in the directory, or read handyman or specialist for more on choosing between the two.

Questions