Plumbing questions answered

Plumbing FAQ: chokes and leaks

Start here if water drains slowly or a pipe starts leaking. Each answer gives the first step and links a guide with more detail.

How do I clear a slow toilet?

Try a plunger first. For water flowing slowly to the discharge pipe, HDB's toilet care guide says to place a plunger over the waste hole and pump vigorously, then engage a licensed plumber if you cannot clear the blockage. To prevent chokes, never flush sanitary pads, diapers or other solid items. See how to unclog a toilet.

What should I do first when a pipe leaks?

Cut the water supply. HDB says to shut the stopcock at the water sub-meter when there is a leak, and to engage a licensed plumber for repairs where necessary. Leaking pipe joints come from use and deterioration over time, or from impact. The burst pipe: what to do guide covers the next steps.

Who repairs a leak from the flat above?

You and the upstairs owner arrange it together. HDB says flat owners are responsible for the upkeep of their own flats, including the floor and ceiling slabs, so for a leak between two flats the owners arrange the repair and split the costs. Talk to your neighbour first, then read ceiling leak from upstairs.

Water heaters

A water heater job can involve two kinds of work: the pipes, and the electrical point, which is work for a Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW). Ask who will handle each part before the job starts.

Who may connect a water heater?

PUB lets a handyman replace "any pipe between a stop valve and an instantaneous water heater"; storage heater pipework needs a PUB Licensed Plumber. The electrical point is LEW work. EMA says electrical work in an HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, the class of LEW approved for loads of up to 45kVA. See water heater installation steps.

Why is there no hot water?

Start with the checks in the no hot water guide. If water pressure is also low, HDB says to inform the Town Council when the cause is a booster pump fault, and to run the tap for a while to let the air out of an air lock.

Licences and responsibility

Two plumber questions come up often: who may do the work, and who looks after which pipe. HDB says water service and sanitary works need a PUB Licensed Plumber, while a handyman without a PUB licence may do simple plumbing works. PUB sets out exactly which works count as simple.

Can a handyman replace a tap or a hose?

Yes. Under PUB's simple plumbing works list, a handyman may replace or remove any tap or mixer, and a shower hose or showerhead, a connecting hose to a washing machine or dish washer, or a flexible hose connected to a tap. Concealed water pipes and toilet bowls need a PUB Licensed Plumber. See what needs a licensed plumber.

Who clears a choke in the main pipe?

HDB says the Town Council maintains the main sanitary pipes, while you maintain the sanitary branch pipes in your flat. If only your floor trap drains slowly, HDB says solid waste building up there can cause a choke: remove the waste, and engage a plumber for repairs where necessary. See main stack choke.

Costs

This FAQ gives no prices, because what you pay depends on the job. Compare published prices on the pages below and ask each company what its price covers.

Where can I see what plumbers charge?

On plumbing costs by job, which shows companies' own published prices, each linked to its source. For a first estimate for your own job, try the plumbing cost estimator. Describe the job clearly and ask the company to confirm what is included before work starts.

Does the quote include parts?

Ask, because it can differ between companies. Some published toilet bowl replacement prices include the bowl itself, so check whether yours does, and whether the price covers removing the old one. Get the answer in writing before you agree. The toilet bowl replacement cost guide explains what to compare.

Where to go next

For more detail, start from the page that matches your job. Compare companies in the directory, read the plumbing guide before you book, and use the leaks FAQ if water is coming through a wall or ceiling.

• plumbers: plumbing companies with their published prices and sources
• plumbing guide: how to plan a plumbing job
• leaks and seepage FAQ: answers on leaks and seepage
• signs you need a plumber: when to call a plumber

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