Why flexible hoses fail
A flexible hose connects a tap to the water supply under a sink or basin, and a cistern has one too. HDB's minor repairs page says fixtures and fittings such as pipes, water taps and cisterns wear out over time. Under the Lease Agreement, home owners maintain the flat's interior, including the fixtures and fittings installed.
None of the official sources on this page explain why a flexible hose bursts or say how long one lasts, so treat any fixed lifespan or list of causes you read elsewhere with care. What counts is the condition of the hose under your own sink: check it, and replace it when it shows wear.
What to do when a hose bursts
HDB's pipe care guide says to shut the stopcock at the water sub-meter if there is a leak, and HDB's sink guide also names the ball valve below the basin, both turned clockwise.
- Shut off the water. Turn the ball valve below the sink or basin clockwise. If it will not close, or a wet socket is beside it, turn the stopcock next to the water sub-meter clockwise instead.
- Stay clear of electrics. If water has reached a socket, plug or power strip, leave it alone and follow the safety note.
- Mop up. Soak up the water and move things off the floor and out of the cabinet.
- Take photos. Photograph the hose, its ends and the fitting it connects to.
- Book a replacement. Keep the valve closed until a new hose is fitted.
If the water comes from a pipe rather than the hose, see what to do when a pipe bursts.
Signs of a failing hose
PUB's leak tips suggest looking for drips, water stains, mould or peeling material under the sink. PUB also lists unusually high water bills and the sound of water dripping at night when no appliances are in use. To test, turn off all taps and appliances that use water and watch your water meter for at least 10 minutes. If the dial moves, there is a leak.
Two practical checks of your own, not rules from any source: feel the cabinet floor for damp, and look for rust at the hose ends. If you find a sink hose leaking, close the ball valve and arrange a replacement.
Water under a sink is not always the hose. The trap and waste pipe can leak too, so see kitchen sink leaking underneath to find which part is wet.
Replacement intervals and isolation valves
No official source sets a replacement interval for flexible hoses, so there is no number of years to plan around. Look at the hoses whenever you clean under the sink, and replace one that shows damp, rust or drips.
Know your shut-off points before anything goes wrong: the ball valve below the sink or basin, and the stopcock at the water sub-meter, which HDB's pipe care guide says to shut to cut the water supply when there is a leak. Find both in advance, so a flexi hose burst does not leave you searching while water spreads.
Flexible hose replacement: who may do it and what it costs
PUB's Plumbing Works page lists replacing or removing a flexible hose connected to a tap as simple plumbing works, so a handyman may do it without a PUB licence. The list also covers any flexible hose after a cistern's ball valve, and replacing or removing any tap or mixer. Repairing or replacing other water pipes, concealed or exposed, is work for a PUB Licensed Plumber. Since 2018, it has been an offence to engage a plumber not licensed by PUB for regulated works.
If the tap itself is worn, see tap replacement. Unsure whether you need a plumber or handyman? See how they compare.
10 companies publish a flexible hose replacement line, all priced per job, to replace one sink, basin or cistern hose. Their published rates run from S$40 to S$110 per job, as printed.
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published flexible hose replacement rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published flexible hose replacement rates from 10 companies run from S$40 to S$110 per job, to replace one sink, basin or cistern hose. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.
See 10 published flexible hose replacement rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anytime Plumber.sg | Replace Sink/Basin/Cistern flexible hose | From S$40 per job | anytimeplumber.sg |
| GD Plumbing | Replace Sink/Basin/ Cistern flexible hose | From S$40 per job | gdplumbing.com.sg |
| Home Plumbers Singapore | Replace a sink, basin or cistern flexible hose | S$40 to S$60 per job | homeplumbers.com.sg |
| Sin Plumbing Singapore | Replace Sink/Basin/Cistern flexible hose | From S$40 per job | sinplumbing.com |
| Uncle Plumber | Replacement of sink/basin/Cistern flexible hose | From S$40 per job | uncleplumber.sg |
| Ace Plumbing Specialist | Replace sink / basin / cistern flexible hose | From S$90 per job | aceplumbing.sg |
| EZ Plumber SG | Or cistern flexible hose | S$100 per job | ezplumber.sg |
| Best Plumbing | Replace Sink/ Basin/ Cistern flexible hose | From S$110 per job | bestplumbing.com.sg |
| SR Power Plumber Pte. Ltd. | Replace sink / basin / cistern flexible hose | From S$110 per job | srpowerplumber.com |
| Summer Plumbing Service | Replace Sink/ Basin/ Cistern flexible hose | From S$110 per job | sgplumbing.com.sg |
Eight of the 10 lines are printed as "From" prices, so treat them as starting rates. Ask whether the price includes the new hose and any transport charge.
NEXT STEP
See plumbing companies in the directory with their published prices, the areas they say they cover and their sources.
Compare plumbersWhen to stop and call a professional
Get help if:
- Water has reached sockets, plugs or the DB box. Keep away and call a Licensed Electrician, or 995 for fire, smoke or injury.
- The leak comes from a pipe in the wall or under the floor, not the hose. Call a licensed plumber.
- Water is reaching the flat below. Tell your neighbour, and see ceiling leak from upstairs.
- The valve will not close, or water still flows after you close it. Shut the stopcock at the water sub-meter and call a licensed plumber.
Check plumbing costs for related work, or compare plumbing companies by area.
Questions
How long does a flexible hose last?
No official source gives a figure. HDB says fittings such as pipes, water taps and cisterns wear out over time, and home owners maintain the fixtures and fittings in their flat. Check your hoses whenever you clean under the sink, and replace one that shows rust, damp or drips.
Do I need a PUB Licensed Plumber to change a flexible hose?
No. PUB's Plumbing Works page lists replacing a flexible hose connected to a tap as simple plumbing works, which a handyman may do without a PUB licence. Work on other water pipes, such as a pipe in the wall, needs a PUB Licensed Plumber.
Should I turn off the main water supply?
Not if the valve under the sink closes. The ball valve below the sink or basin is enough to stop a burst hose. If it will not close, HDB's sink guide names the stopcock next to the water sub-meter as the other place to turn off the water, clockwise.
Can a leaking hose raise my water bill?
Yes, if it drips. PUB's leak tips list unusually high water bills as a sign of a leak. To check, turn off all taps and appliances that use water and watch the meter for at least 10 minutes; if the dial moves, there is a leak. The high water bill guide has more checks.
Should I replace the hoses on both taps at once?
Not automatically, but ask the plumber or handyman to check both while they are there. No official source sets a rule. If the second hose shows rust, damp or drips, replacing it in the same visit saves another booking. The published rates cover one hose, so ask the price of a second.
What should I tell the plumber when I book?
Tell them where the hose is, whether the valve under the sink closes and whether water is still flowing. Send photos of the hose, its ends and the fitting. Mention any water that reached the floor or the flat below, and ask whether the price includes the new hose.
Prices come only from the sourced company rates in the HomezyPro directory, shown with each company and its source.
Practical guidance for planning a home job in Singapore. Company prices come from the HomezyPro directory, each linked to its source; rules and safety points link to the agency or manufacturer that sets them. This is not a site inspection, a quote or professional advice for your home.
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