Not all plumbers are equal. Use this checklist to ensure you hire a licensed, insured, and reputable professional.
In NSW, all plumbing work must be performed by a licensed plumber. You can verify any plumber's licence on the NSW Fair Trading website. Ask for their licence number before they start work. An unlicensed operator performing plumbing work is breaking the law — and any work they do may not be insured, warrantied, or compliant with the Plumbing Code of Australia.
There are different licence classes: a Contractor licence allows them to contract directly with you, while a Tradesperson licence means they must work under a contractor. Ensure the person quoting has the appropriate licence class for the work.
A professional plumber should carry public liability insurance (minimum $10 million is industry standard) and workers compensation insurance (if they have employees). Ask to see their certificate of currency — a reputable plumber will provide this without hesitation.
If an uninsured plumber damages your property or is injured on your site, you may be liable. This is not a theoretical risk — it happens regularly with unlicensed operators and sole traders without adequate coverage.
Google reviews are the most reliable indicator of a plumber's quality of work and customer service. Look for: volume of reviews (more reviews = more consistent track record), recency (recent reviews reflect current standards), and specific detail (generic reviews may be fake).
Be wary of plumbers with no online presence, very few reviews, or reviews that all appeared at the same time. A business with 100+ genuine reviews over several years has demonstrated consistent quality.
Before any work begins, you should receive a written quote that includes: scope of work (what exactly will be done), materials to be used, total cost including GST, estimated timeframe, and payment terms. Verbal quotes are difficult to enforce if a dispute arises.
Be cautious of quotes that are significantly lower than others — this often indicates shortcuts, inferior materials, or hidden costs that will appear later. The cheapest quote is rarely the best value.
A confident plumber guarantees their work. Ask about: labour warranty (how long they stand behind their workmanship), parts warranty (manufacturer warranty on materials used), and what happens if something goes wrong within the warranty period.
O'Brien provides a lifetime labour guarantee on all work performed. If our workmanship fails at any point, we return and rectify it at no cost. This is only possible because we are confident in the quality of our work and the materials we use.
Warning signs that a plumber may not be reputable: they cannot provide a licence number, they want cash only with no invoice, they pressure you into immediate decisions, they have no fixed business address or phone number, they cannot provide references or have no online reviews, they quote without inspecting the job, or they demand full payment upfront before starting work.
Visit the NSW Fair Trading website and use their licence check tool. Enter the plumber's name or licence number to confirm it is current and valid for the type of work being performed.
For non-emergency work over $500, getting 2–3 quotes is reasonable. Compare scope of work and materials, not just price. The cheapest quote often excludes items that others include.
Standard call-out fees in the Central Coast and Sydney range from $80–$150 for a diagnostic visit during business hours. This typically includes the first 30 minutes of assessment time.
Get a Quote from O'Brien Plumbing
Licensed, insured, reviewed — and we stand behind every job.