What plumbing work can homeowners do?
As a homeowner or occupier, you can carry out certain basic plumbing tasks at your home. Another person can also carry out these basic tasks for you provided there is no payment involved.
Plumbing work that can legally be undertaken is limited to:
- maintenance, repair or replacement of a shower head;
- maintenance or repair of a tap (other than a thermostatic mixing tap);
- replacement of a cistern washer;
- replacement of a water filter cartridge; and
- clearing a blocked fixture or waste pipe by using a plunger.
Other than the above tasks all water supply, sanitary and drainage plumbing work must be carried out by a licensed plumber or permit-holder.
Who should I hire for licensed plumbing work?
Hiring a licensed plumber ensures that you have engaged a sufficiently trained and qualified person in relation to the standards that plumbing work must be carried out to.
Using a licensed plumber minimises the:
- risk of contamination to our drinking water supply;
- likelihood of water borne diseases;
- possibility of serious tap water scalding injury;
- leakage of wastewater or sewage into the ground; and
- uncontrolled discharges entering the environment.
When major plumbing work, involving the installation of new fixtures, new drainage installations or replacement of water heaters is carried out at your home, your licensed plumbing contractor must give you a certificate of compliance within five working days of completing the work.
The certificate of compliance is your six-year guarantee that the plumbing work has been completed in accordance with the plumbing standards.
How do I determine if a person is licensed to carry out plumbing work?
It is an offence for someone who does not hold a plumber's licence or permit to advertise or imply that they do. This includes people who are not authorised to carry out specific types of plumbing work.
All licensed plumbing contractors, tradespersons and restricted plumbing permit holders are required to carry their licence or permit card and must show it to you on request. The licence or permit card indicates the type of plumbing work the person is allowed to carry out.
You can also check your plumber has a current licence on the Online Licence Search
What is a drainage plumbing diagram?
Drainage plumbing diagrams are used by homeowners, licensed plumbing contractors and others to determine the layout of drainage plumbing on a property. Knowing the layout of drainage plumbing can assist:
- to identify where additional connections to existing drainage plumbing may be made;
- to ensure that new buildings or extensions do not interfere with existing drainage plumbing;
- to ensure that any excavation works do not disturb the drainage plumbing;
- to assist in the repair of drainage pipework; and
- when clearing blocked drains.
Drainage plumbing diagrams are available for a fee at www.dpd.demirs.wa.gov.au.
What if a problem arises?
You can make a complaint to Building and Energy about faulty building and plumbing work. Usually issues can be quickly resolved by through open discussion with your contractor, so this must be attempted in the first instance.
The personal information you provide in this form will be used by the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS) to investigate your plumbing work complaint in accordance with the applicable building services Acts and associated subsidiary legislation, as defined in s.3 of the Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011 (WA) and/or prescribed in the Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Regulations 2011 (WA).
Providing the information requested in this form is voluntary. If you choose not to provide the information requested, we may not be able to assist you with your complaint.
We may share the information you provide in this form with other business areas in LGIRS, other government or regulatory agencies, local government authorities, judicial bodies and courts, and any other third parties where authorised or required by law, for enforcement, verification, compliance, policy, educational and/or audit purposes.
Please see the LGIRS Privacy Policy on our website for more information about how we handle your personal information, how you can request access to, or correction of, your personal information and who to contact if you have a privacy enquiry or complaint.
If the complaint only relates to plumbing work and the plumbing work was completed within the last six years, a complaint may be lodged using the Plumbing complaint form.
Plumbing and building work
If the rectification of plumbing work may require consequential damage to a building you will need to consider lodging a building service complaint instead of a plumbing complaint. Plumbing disputes involving other building services can be lodged using the Building service and home building work contract complaints form.
Contractual complaints
Do not use the Plumbing complaint form if your complaint is of a contractual nature, such as a monetary dispute or other contractual issue.
For contractual complaints, please contact Consumer Protection to discuss their dispute resolution options on 1300 304 054 or at consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au
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