HOW TO HIRE · PLUMBING & HEATING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a plumber in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A plumber in Ireland costs €60–€120 per hour, typically around €80. 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 plumber in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers plumber work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — emergency Plumbing Services — in cases of urgent leaks or burst pipes, many plumbers offer emergency services to mitigate damage.
- How does complexity of the job change the price?Detail work cannot be rushed, so it costs more per hour on site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does materials required change the price?Specialist products cost more than the everyday equivalent. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does plumber's experience level change the price?The better known the provider, the less they need to discount. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Drain Cleaning Services — clogged drains are a common issue that plumbers can resolve using specialised tools like drain snakes or hydro-jetting — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a 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 →
A good answer: No register covers plumber work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — emergency Plumbing Services — in cases of urgent leaks or burst pipes, many plumbers offer emergency services to mitigate damage.
A good answer: Detail work cannot be rushed, so it costs more per hour on site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Specialist products cost more than the everyday equivalent. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The better known the provider, the less they need to discount. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Drain Cleaning Services — clogged drains are a common issue that plumbers can resolve using specialised tools like drain snakes or hydro-jetting — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a plumber job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and ask specifically about water-damage cover — pipe Installation & Repair — plumbers are skilled in installing and repairing various types of piping systems.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the plumber starts, and an itemised invoice after — water Heater Repair/Installation — involves repairing existing water heaters or installing new units for hot water supply.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of the job — detail work cannot be rushed, so it costs more per hour on site.
- Materials required — specialist products cost more than the everyday equivalent.
- Plumber's experience level — the better known the provider, the less they need to discount.
- Condition of the system — the first visit after a long gap is always the slowest.
- 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: complexity of the job — detail work cannot be rushed, so it costs more per hour on site
- They will not talk about it: materials required — specialist products cost more than the everyday equivalent
- They will not talk about it: plumber's experience level — the better known the provider, the less they need to discount
- A price for the 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 plumber has begun
What a plumber costs: €60–€120 per hour
Most plumbers quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Leak detection and Drain cleaning each carry their own band. Plumber 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
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, or book by the hour.
- Look firstComplexity of the job — detail work cannot be rushed, so it costs more per hour on site — that is what the plumber is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneMaterials required — specialist products cost more than the everyday equivalent — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfPlumber's experience level — the better known the provider, the less they need to discount — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherCondition of the system — the first visit after a long gap is always the slowest — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the plumber is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, access to the plumbing area — small jobs carry the call-out; large ones spread it thinly.
- Pipe Installation & Repair
- Plumbers are skilled in installing and repairing various types of piping systems.
- Drain Cleaning Services
- Clogged drains are a common issue that plumbers can resolve using specialised tools like drain snakes or hydro-jetting.
- Emergency Plumbing Services
- In cases of urgent leaks or burst pipes, many plumbers offer emergency services to mitigate damage.
- Leak Detection
- Involves locating and repairing leaks in pipes, fixtures, or appliances to prevent water damage.
- Drain Cleaning
- Cleans clogged drains using specialised tools and techniques to restore proper flow.
- Pipe Replacement
- Replaces damaged or outdated pipes to improve water flow and prevent leaks.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a plumber: questions people ask
The cost of plumbing services can vary based on factors such as the complexity of the job, the materials required, and the plumber's experience level. Additional costs may arise if emergency services are needed or if specialised parts must be sourced.
The duration of a plumbing job depends on its nature. Simple tasks like fixing a leaky faucet may take an hour, while more complex jobs like repiping a house can take several days.
Many plumbers offer same-day service for emergencies, especially for issues like severe leaks or blocked drains. It's advisable to call as soon as a problem arises to increase the chances of a quick response.
Yes, many plumbers can accommodate multiple jobs in one visit, which can be more cost-effective. Discussing your needs upfront can help the plumber schedule accordingly and potentially save you money.
Plumbers generally do not handle structural repairs or extensive renovations. Tasks like electrical work, major construction, or installation of non-plumbing fixtures are usually outside their scope.
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.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in plumbing & heating
Plumbers near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CRU — RGI and Safe Electric schemes
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — PLUMBING SERVICES (Private dwellings/Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only