HOW TO HIRE · PLUMBING & HEATING

How to hire a leak repair plumber in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

A leak repair in Ireland costs €90–€400 per job, typically around €180. 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 leak repair plumber in five steps

  1. Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers leak repair plumber work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — water Damage Assessment — after a leak is repaired, assessing any water damage is crucial.
  2. How does location change the price?The distance is worked out before the quote is given. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  3. How does severity of the leak change the price?It changes both what is used and how long it takes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  4. How does materials required change the price?What is used up on the job is charged whether or not it is all needed. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  5. What is not included?Fixture Replacement — in some cases, faulty fixtures like faucets or toilets may need replacing — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a leak repair 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 leak repair plumber work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — water Damage Assessment — after a leak is repaired, assessing any water damage is crucial.

“How does location change the price?”

A good answer: The distance is worked out before the quote is given. — ask before the quote rather than after.

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

A good answer: It changes both what is used and how long it takes. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does materials required change the price?”

A good answer: What is used up on the job is charged whether or not it is all needed. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“What is not included?”

A good answer: Fixture Replacement — in some cases, faulty fixtures like faucets or toilets may need replacing — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a leak repair 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 — repairing Pipe Damage — once the leak is located, the repair process often involves fixing or replacing damaged pipes.

“What do I get in writing, and when?”

A good answer: A written scope and a price before the leak repair plumber starts, and an itemised invoice after — identifying the Leak — leak repair begins with identifying the source of the leak, which may involve using tools like moisture meters or thermal imaging cameras.

Getting the quote right

  • Location — the distance is worked out before the quote is given.
  • Severity of the leak — it changes both what is used and how long it takes.
  • Materials required — what is used up on the job is charged whether or not it is all needed.
  • Time taken to complete the job — time on the job is the largest part of the price.
  • 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: location — the distance is worked out before the quote is given
  • They will not talk about it: severity of the leak — it changes both what is used and how long it takes
  • They will not talk about it: materials required — what is used up on the job is charged whether or not it is all needed
  • A price for the leak repair 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 leak repair plumber has begun
LOW
€90
TYPICAL
€180
HIGH
€400

What a leak repair plumber costs: €90–€400 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 repair and Fixture leak repair each carry their own band. Leak 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

Leak repair 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 firstLocation — the distance is worked out before the quote is given — that is what the leak repair plumber is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
  2. Agree what is being doneSeverity of the leak — it changes both what is used and how long it takes — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
  3. The work itselfMaterials required — what is used up on the job is charged whether or not it is all needed — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
  4. Check it togetherTime taken to complete the job — time on the job is the largest part of the price — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the leak repair plumber is still there.
  5. What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, understand that safety measures, such as shutting off the water supply, will be taken during repairs.

Identifying the Leak
Leak repair begins with identifying the source of the leak, which may involve using tools like moisture meters or thermal imaging cameras.
Repairing Pipe Damage
Once the leak is located, the repair process often involves fixing or replacing damaged pipes.
Fixture Replacement
In some cases, faulty fixtures like faucets or toilets may need replacing.
Water Damage Assessment
After a leak is repaired, assessing any water damage is crucial.
Pipe Leak Repair
This involves locating and fixing leaks in water supply pipes using various techniques like patching or replacing sections.
Fixture Leak Repair
Repairing leaks at fixtures such as sinks, toilets, and bathtubs, often requiring resealing or replacing fittings.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and the paperworkAn itemised invoice with the trader's name, the work and the total — water Damage Assessment — after a leak is repaired, assessing any water damage is crucial, because it is what a buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a lender asks for long after the leak repair plumber has gone.
Test what was doneFixture Replacement — in some cases, faulty fixtures like faucets or toilets may need replacing — 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. repairing Pipe Damage — once the leak is located, the repair process often involves fixing or replacing damaged pipes — 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 leak repair plumber's card means something — identifying the Leak — leak repair begins with identifying the source of the leak, which may involve using tools like moisture meters or thermal imaging cameras.

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 leak repair plumber: questions people ask

The cost of leak repair can vary based on the location and severity of the leak, the materials required, and the time taken to complete the job. For example, a simple faucet leak may cost less than replacing a section of pipe in a wall.

The duration of a leak repair can range from a couple of hours for minor leaks to a full day for more extensive repairs. The complexity of the job and the accessibility of the leak will largely determine the time required.

In most cases, a qualified general plumber can handle leak repairs effectively. However, if the leak involves gas or electrical systems, it's important to hire a specialist who is certified for those specific areas.

Many plumbing services offer emergency or same-day leak repair options, especially for significant leaks that could cause further damage. It's advisable to contact local plumbers directly to check their availability.

Yes, many plumbers allow you to book multiple jobs during a single visit, which can save time and potentially reduce overall costs. It's best to discuss this with your plumber when scheduling the appointment.

Leak repair services usually do not cover extensive renovations or structural repairs resulting from water damage. If significant structural work is needed, it may require a separate contractor with expertise in that area.

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 →

Leak repair plumbers near you

Leak repair plumbers in DublinLeak repair plumbers in CorkLeak repair plumbers in GalwayLeak repair plumbers in LimerickAll leak repair plumbers on Locufy →Do it yourself: fixing a dripping tap or a weeping joint →

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