HOW TO HIRE · PLUMBING & HEATING

How to hire a drain repair specialist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

A drain repair in Ireland costs €150–€700 per job, typically around €350. 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.

  • Search and compare — no account needed
  • Nearest to you first
  • One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews

THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a drain repair specialist in five steps

  1. Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers drain repair specialist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — preventative Maintenance — routine drain maintenance can help prevent future issues, including cleaning and descaling pipes to avoid buildup.
  2. How does severity of the blockage change the price?It has to be settled before anything can be ordered. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  3. How does complexity of the repair needed change the price?The starting point matters as much as the finish you want. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  4. How does location of the pipes change the price?A provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  5. What is not included?Repairing Damaged Pipes — when pipes are found to be cracked or corroded, repair work may involve patching or replacing sections of the pipe — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a drain repair specialist 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 drain repair specialist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — preventative Maintenance — routine drain maintenance can help prevent future issues, including cleaning and descaling pipes to avoid buildup.

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

A good answer: It has to be settled before anything can be ordered. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does complexity of the repair needed change the price?”

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

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

A good answer: A provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“What is not included?”

A good answer: Repairing Damaged Pipes — when pipes are found to be cracked or corroded, repair work may involve patching or replacing sections of the pipe — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a drain repair specialist 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 Inspection — drain repair often includes inspecting pipes for damage or leaks using cameras and other diagnostic tools.

“What do I get in writing, and when?”

A good answer: A written scope and a price before the drain repair specialist starts, and an itemised invoice after — blocked Drain Clearing — this process involves removing blockages from drains using tools such as drain rods, plungers, or high-pressure water jetting.

Getting the quote right

  • Severity of the blockage — it has to be settled before anything can be ordered.
  • Complexity of the repair needed — the starting point matters as much as the finish you want.
  • Location of the pipes — a provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work.
  • Condition of the drainage system — the condition decides whether this is a touch-up or a rebuild.
  • 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 blockage — it has to be settled before anything can be ordered
  • They will not talk about it: complexity of the repair needed — the starting point matters as much as the finish you want
  • They will not talk about it: location of the pipes — a provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work
  • A price for the drain repair specialist 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 drain repair specialist has begun
LOW
€150
TYPICAL
€350
HIGH
€700

What a drain repair specialist costs: €150–€700 per job

The figures are for the job, per job, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Blocked drain clearance and Pipe repair each carry their own band. Drain 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

Drain repair specialists 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 blockage — it has to be settled before anything can be ordered — that is what the drain repair specialist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
  2. Agree what is being doneComplexity of the repair needed — the starting point matters as much as the finish you want — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
  3. The work itselfLocation of the pipes — a provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
  4. Check it togetherCondition of the drainage system — the condition decides whether this is a touch-up or a rebuild — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the drain repair specialist is still there.
  5. What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, materials used — what goes into the job is priced separately from the time.

Blocked Drain Clearing
This process involves removing blockages from drains using tools such as drain rods, plungers, or high-pressure water jetting.
Pipe Inspection
Drain repair often includes inspecting pipes for damage or leaks using cameras and other diagnostic tools.
Repairing Damaged Pipes
When pipes are found to be cracked or corroded, repair work may involve patching or replacing sections of the pipe.
Preventative Maintenance
Routine drain maintenance can help prevent future issues, including cleaning and descaling pipes to avoid buildup.
Pipe Repair
Repairing damaged or leaking pipes to prevent water loss and further damage to the property.
Drain Inspection
Utilising cameras to inspect the drainage system for blockages or structural issues.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and the paperworkAn itemised invoice with the trader's name, the work and the total — preventative Maintenance — routine drain maintenance can help prevent future issues, including cleaning and descaling pipes to avoid buildup, because it is what a buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a lender asks for long after the drain repair specialist has gone.
Test what was doneRepairing Damaged Pipes — when pipes are found to be cracked or corroded, repair work may involve patching or replacing sections of the pipe — 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 Inspection — drain repair often includes inspecting pipes for damage or leaks using cameras and other diagnostic tools — 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 drain repair specialist's card means something — blocked Drain Clearing — this process involves removing blockages from drains using tools such as drain rods, plungers, or high-pressure water jetting.

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 drain repair specialist: questions people ask

The cost of drain repair can vary based on the severity of the blockage, the complexity of the repair needed, and the location of the pipes. Additional factors include whether specialised equipment is required and the urgency of the service.

The duration of a drain repair can range from an hour for simple blockages to several hours for more complex issues like pipe replacements. Most straightforward jobs can usually be completed within a couple of hours.

While general plumbers can handle most drain repairs, certain situations may require specialists, especially if structural work or regulated systems are involved. It's advisable to check qualifications for any work that involves gas or electrical systems.

Many plumbing services offer emergency or same-day drain repair options, especially for urgent situations like severe blockages or flooding. However, availability may vary based on the time of day and the service provider.

Yes, many plumbing services encourage booking multiple jobs together, which can often lead to cost savings and more efficient use of time. Discuss your needs with the plumber to see if they can accommodate several tasks in one visit.

Out of scope services may include extensive excavation for major sewer line replacements or work that requires permits and inspections. Always clarify with your plumber what is included in the service before work begins.

MORE GUIDES

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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 →

Drain repair specialists near you

Drain repair specialists in DublinDrain repair specialists in CorkDrain repair specialists in GalwayDrain repair specialists in LimerickAll drain repair specialists on Locufy →

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