HOW TO HIRE · PLUMBING & HEATING

How to hire a burst pipe plumber in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

A burst pipe repair in Ireland costs €120–€450 per job, typically around €200. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a burst pipe plumber in five steps

  1. Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers burst pipe plumber work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — testing and Maintenance — once repairs are completed, testing the system for leaks is essential.
  2. How does severity of the damage change the price?Poor condition adds preparation before the work itself starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  3. How does location of the burst change the price?Rates sit higher in the cities than in the smaller towns. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  4. How does condition of the existing plumbing change the price?The starting point matters as much as the finish you want. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  5. What is not included?Water Damage Assessment — after repairing the burst pipe, assessing any water damage is crucial — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a burst pipe plumber job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PLUMBING ITSELF. Anyone may trade as a plumber. The line that does exist is gas: any work on a gas appliance or gas pipework is restricted to the Registered Gas Installer scheme, and a plumber who is not on it may not touch the gas side of a boiler however competent they are at everything else. Ask which side of that line your job falls on before you book.

Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.

What to check instead

Whether any part of the job touches gas — if it does, the gas register applies and a plumbing qualification is not a substitute; A trade qualification or apprenticeship, which is voluntary but checkable; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; Whether they carry the parts or price them separately; A written scope naming what is isolated, drained and reinstated; How a leak discovered mid-job changes the price, agreed in advance.

Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.

Insurance

Expect public liability, and ask specifically about water-damage cover. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.

Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.

Trader or private seller

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.

Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.

VAT

VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.

Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →

“Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?”

A good answer: No register covers burst pipe plumber work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — testing and Maintenance — once repairs are completed, testing the system for leaks is essential.

“How does severity of the damage change the price?”

A good answer: Poor condition adds preparation before the work itself starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does location of the burst change the price?”

A good answer: Rates sit higher in the cities than in the smaller towns. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does condition of the existing plumbing change the price?”

A good answer: The starting point matters as much as the finish you want. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“What is not included?”

A good answer: Water Damage Assessment — after repairing the burst pipe, assessing any water damage is crucial — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a burst pipe plumber job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

“Who insures you, and what is the policy number?”

A good answer: Expect public liability, and ask specifically about water-damage cover — pipe Replacement — if the pipe is severely damaged, replacement may be necessary.

“What do I get in writing, and when?”

A good answer: A written scope and a price before the burst pipe plumber starts, and an itemised invoice after — initial Inspection — the first step in a burst pipe repair is a thorough inspection to identify the source of the leak.

Getting the quote right

  • Severity of the damage — poor condition adds preparation before the work itself starts.
  • Location of the burst — rates sit higher in the cities than in the smaller towns.
  • Condition of the existing plumbing — the starting point matters as much as the finish you want.
  • Materials required for the repair — an older job often hides work that only shows once started.
  • In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
  • What is NOT included, named
  • Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
  • The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register

Walk away if

  • They will not talk about it: severity of the damage — poor condition adds preparation before the work itself starts
  • They will not talk about it: location of the burst — rates sit higher in the cities than in the smaller towns
  • They will not talk about it: condition of the existing plumbing — the starting point matters as much as the finish you want
  • A price for the burst pipe plumber before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
  • Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
  • No written quote, or one that moves once the burst pipe plumber has begun
LOW
€120
TYPICAL
€200
HIGH
€450

What a burst pipe plumber costs: €120–€450 per job

The figures are for the job, per job, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Pipe leak detection and Pipe replacement each carry their own band. Burst Pipe Repair price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Burst pipe plumbers near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. Look firstSeverity of the damage — poor condition adds preparation before the work itself starts — that is what the burst pipe plumber is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
  2. Agree what is being doneLocation of the burst — rates sit higher in the cities than in the smaller towns — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
  3. The work itselfCondition of the existing plumbing — the starting point matters as much as the finish you want — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
  4. Check it togetherMaterials required for the repair — an older job often hides work that only shows once started — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the burst pipe plumber is still there.
  5. What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, access issues or the need for additional work — upper floors need the work brought up piece by piece.

Initial Inspection
The first step in a burst pipe repair is a thorough inspection to identify the source of the leak.
Pipe Replacement
If the pipe is severely damaged, replacement may be necessary.
Water Damage Assessment
After repairing the burst pipe, assessing any water damage is crucial.
Testing and Maintenance
Once repairs are completed, testing the system for leaks is essential.
Pipe Leak Detection
Identifying the exact location of a leak using specialised equipment to minimise damage during repair.
Emergency Burst Pipe Repair
Immediate response service for severe leaks requiring urgent attention to prevent extensive water damage.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and the paperworkAn itemised invoice with the trader's name, the work and the total — testing and Maintenance — once repairs are completed, testing the system for leaks is essential, because it is what a buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a lender asks for long after the burst pipe plumber has gone.
Test what was doneWater Damage Assessment — after repairing the burst pipe, assessing any water damage is crucial — and something that does not work on the day is theirs to put right there and then.
Ask what the guarantee isOn the workmanship and on the parts, and for how long each one runs — they are usually different. pipe Replacement — if the pipe is severely damaged, replacement may be necessary — under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 what was agreed is what can be relied on.
Leave the reviewOnly a booked job can be reviewed on Locufy, which is why the score on a burst pipe plumber's card means something — initial Inspection — the first step in a burst pipe repair is a thorough inspection to identify the source of the leak.

STEP 1Say it in writing, firstSay what is wrong and what you want done. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and defective work put right.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyUnder four stars you are asked whether to send it to the provider first; we follow it through. Then review.
STEP 3Escalate to the body that regulates itThere is no register, so the route is the consumer body and, if needed, the courts.
STEP 4Small claimsSmall claims covers €2,000, once you have asked in writing and given them a chance to put it right.

Hiring a burst pipe plumber: questions people ask

The cost can vary based on the severity of the damage, the type of pipe, and the location of the burst. Additional factors include accessibility and whether any related repairs, such as water damage restoration, are needed.

The duration of a burst pipe repair can range from a few hours to a full day, depending on the complexity of the issue. Simple repairs may be completed quickly, while extensive damage could require more time.

In most cases, a qualified plumber is sufficient for burst pipe repairs. However, if the issue involves gas or electrical systems, a licensed specialist in those areas may be required.

Many plumbing services offer emergency or same-day repair options for burst pipes. It's best to contact local plumbers directly to check their availability and response times.

Yes, many plumbers can handle multiple issues during a single visit, such as fixing a burst pipe while also addressing leaks or blockages in other areas. This can often save time and reduce overall costs.

Out of scope work usually includes extensive structural repairs, complete plumbing system overhauls, or unrelated plumbing issues. These services may require separate quotes and specialists.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in plumbing & heating

How to hire: PlumberHow to hire: Emergency PlumberHow to hire: Boiler InstallationHow to hire: Boiler Service & RepairHow to hire: Boiler ReplacementHow to hire: Central Heating InstallationHow to hire: Radiator InstallationHow to hire: Underfloor HeatingAll 701 hiring guides →

Burst pipe plumbers near you

Burst pipe plumbers in DublinBurst pipe plumbers in CorkBurst pipe plumbers in GalwayBurst pipe plumbers in LimerickAll burst pipe plumbers on Locufy →Do it yourself: stopping a burst pipe and repairing an exposed section →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. CRU — RGI and Safe Electric schemes
  2. CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
  3. Consumer Rights Act 2022
  4. Courts Service — small claims
  5. Revenue — PLUMBING SERVICES (Private dwellings/Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
  6. Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
  7. Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only