What a plumber quotation should list
A written quote should describe the whole job in terms you can check. Before any work starts, ask for each of these points in writing, on the quote or in a message:
- The job in plain words: what will be repaired, replaced or installed, and where.
- Parts: each part with its brand and model.
- Labour: shown as its own line.
- Extra charges: any call-out, transport or after-hours charge, stated up front.
- Making good: who repairs tiles or walls opened to reach a pipe.
- Debris removal: whether old parts and rubble are taken away.
- Warranty: how long it covers parts and how long it covers the work.
- Payment terms: any deposit, when the balance is due and how you pay.
- Licence: the plumber's licence details, where the work needs one.
This list is practical advice, not an official rule. A plumber quote that leaves out several of these points is hard to check or compare.
The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) published a guide on fair trading practices for the renovation industry in 2022. Under transparent pricing, it says quotes should be accurate, clear and itemised, with mandatory charges stated at the outset so there are no hidden costs. The same points are worth asking for on any plumbing job.
Check the licence
PUB says regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works must be done by a PUB Licensed Plumber. The exception is a list of simple plumbing works that a handyman may do, such as replacing or removing any tap or mixer, replacing or removing a shower hose or showerhead connected to a tap, and installing, replacing or removing a washbasin or sink. Installing, changing or relocating a toilet bowl is sanitary plumbing work for a PUB Licensed Plumber, and repairing or replacing any other water pipe, concealed or exposed, is not on the simple list. PUB's Plumbing Works page sets out the full list. See also what needs a licensed plumber.
PUB also explains how to find a licensed plumber. On its Licensed Plumbers page, it says homeowners can find one through PUB's online listings, the Singapore Plumbing Society or their Town Council. Ask each plumber for their licence details when they quote, and look them up in PUB's online listings before you agree. You can also browse licensed plumbers in the directory.
Compare like with like
PUB advises discussing the scope and cost with the plumber first, asking for itemised quotes and getting at least three quotes. It also says it charges no fee for the submissions a PUB Licensed Plumber lodges, so any such fee on a quote is the plumber's own charge. Both points are on PUB's Plumbing Works page.
Once your quotes are in, put them side by side and go down them line by line. Check that each one covers the same job, the same parts and the same making good. Note any charge that appears on one quote but not on another, and ask the other plumbers whether their price includes it. A lower total that leaves out debris removal or a warranty may not stay lower once those are added.
If one plumber quotes by the hour and another gives a fixed price, read hourly rate or fixed price before you choose. There is more on how to compare quotes, or you can try the quote comparison tool.
Red flags
As practical advice, slow down and ask questions if you see:
- A price with no scope, such as a single figure with no description of the work.
- "Extra" charges that are only mentioned on the day the plumber arrives.
- Pressure to pay in full before any work is done.
- No licence for regulated work.
The CCCS renovation guide says a contract should be changed only with the consumer's express agreement.
The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) advises insisting on a written contract, paying progressively by milestones, and photographing defects and making sure they are fixed before full payment, as the CCCS announcement notes. Consumers who meet unfair practices can approach CASE.
NEXT STEP
See plumbing companies in the directory with their published prices, the areas they say they cover and their sources.
Compare plumbersWhat leak repairs cost
Published rates help you check a quote against what companies print for similar work. The table below lists the leak repair lines.
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published leak repair rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published leak repair rates from 11 companies run from S$80 to S$250 per job (middle rate S$80), to repair one leak at an exposed pipe or fitting. The middle figure is a real published rate, not an average. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.
See 11 published leak repair rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Plumbing | Fix leaking tap or faucet | From S$80 per job | allplumbing.sg |
| AquaHero Plumbing | Repair Leaking Copper/UPVC Pipe | S$80 per job | aquahero-plumbing.sg |
| GD Plumbing | Repair toilet bowl leaking | From S$80 per job | gdplumbing.com.sg |
| Huat Plumbing | Water Leak Repair | From S$80 per job | huatplumbing.sg |
| Prima Technologies Pte. Ltd. (Prima Services) | Water Leak Repair | From S$80 per job | primaservices.sg |
| SG1 Plumber Singapore | Leak Copper Pipe Repair (Labor) | S$80 per job | sg1plumber.com |
| Sk Plumber | Stop leaks at the source - copper or UPVC exposed piping | From S$125 per job | sksplumber.com |
| SR Power Plumber Pte. Ltd. | Repair leak at exposed copper pipe or UPVC pipe (labour & material) | From S$190 per job | srpowerplumber.com |
| Ace Plumbing Specialist | Labour & material to repair leak at exposed copper or uPVC pipe | From S$230 per job | aceplumbing.sg |
| Best Plumbing | Labor & material to repair leak at exposed copper pipe or Upvc pipe | From S$250 per job | bestplumbing.com.sg |
| Summer Plumbing Service | Labor & material to repair leak at exposed copper pipe or Upvc pipe | From S$250 per job | sgplumbing.com.sg |
In the directory, 11 companies publish a leak repair line, and all 11 price it per job. Their published rates run from S$80 to S$250 per job, as printed. With 11 companies, S$80 is the middle company's published rate. Six of the 11 print S$80 or From S$80 per job, and the rest print From S$125 up to From S$250 per job. The four highest lines say they include labour and material. The scope as printed is repairing one leak at an exposed pipe or fitting, so check what each price covers before you set it against your quote. If a quote for a similar leak sits well above these rates, ask what it includes.
For other jobs, see plumbing costs, or browse plumbing companies.
Questions
How many plumber quotes should I get?
At least three. PUB advises getting at least three quotes, asking for them to be itemised and discussing the scope and cost with the plumber first, as its Plumbing Works page explains. Then compare the quotes line by line.
Should a plumber charge for a site visit?
Some plumbers do charge for a site visit, so ask before you book. Find out whether there is a call-out or transport charge, how much it is and whether it comes off the final price if you go ahead. Get the answer in writing, on the quote or in a message, so nothing new appears on the day.
Should a plumbing quote include PUB fees?
No. PUB charges no fee for the submissions a PUB Licensed Plumber lodges, so any such fee is the plumber's own charge, as PUB's Plumbing Works page states. If a quote lists a PUB or submission fee, ask the plumber what it covers before you agree to it.
How do I confirm the quoting plumber holds a PUB licence?
Look the plumber up in PUB's online listings, or ask the Singapore Plumbing Society or your Town Council. PUB names these three routes for homeowners to find licensed plumbers on its Licensed Plumbers page. Ask the plumber for their licence details with the quote, and check them before you agree to any regulated plumbing work.
Should the quote include a warranty?
Yes, the quote should set out the warranty in writing. It should say how long parts are covered, how long the work is covered and what is excluded. The CCCS renovation guide also lists a clear exchange, repair and refund policy among its fair trading practices. Keep the quote and receipt in case the problem comes back.
Can the price change after the plumber starts?
It should change only with your express agreement. The CCCS renovation guide says contract changes should be made only with the consumer's express agreement. If the plumber finds more work once the job is open, ask for the change and its price in writing, and agree to it before the extra work goes ahead.
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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