Choose a plumber and agree the repair
In short
For an Adelaide plumbing repair, check the business through Consumer and Business Services, confirm it covers your suburb and get a written scope and price. Report a faulty SA Water meter to SA Water first. For a blocked sewer, a plumber may need to establish whether the problem is in private pipes or SA Water's network. Ask about the completion certificate when agreeing the work, because South Australia requires one for some plumbing jobs and exempts others.
Step 1
Choose the first contact for the problem
These routes apply to SA Water customers. If another provider serves the property, check its fault guidance. Photograph the location if it is safe, and describe what you can see without trying to identify an underground fault yourself.
Where to start in Adelaide
| Problem | First action |
|---|---|
| A faulty, damaged or leaking SA Water meter | Report it through SA Water's faults map or contact SA Water. It owns and repairs its meters. |
| A blocked sewer at your property | Arrange a licensed plumber to assess it. If the blockage appears to be in SA Water's pipes, report it to SA Water. |
| A leaking fixture or a hot water fault inside the property | Describe the symptoms to a licensed plumber and confirm what the assessment visit will cost. |
Step 2
Check the licence for the work you are hiring for
Ask for the business name and licence number, then check the Consumer and Business Services licensing register. Match the business on the quote and check that the licence covers your job and any conditions. Ask who will carry out the work, including gas fitting if relevant.
CBS distinguishes straightforward plumbing jobs from major bathroom or kitchen renovations: coordinating the whole renovation requires an appropriate builder's licence. Make clear whether you are booking a repair or asking someone to manage several trades.
Confirm the company services your Adelaide suburb, ask about similar jobs and request evidence of relevant insurance. Discuss attendance directly with the business.
Step 3
Give each plumber the same symptoms and access details
Include the suburb, property type, affected fixtures and when the fault occurs. For hot water, add a photo of the model label and say whether the system uses gas or electricity. For drainage, describe which fixtures back up and any earlier clearing or repairs.
Explain access to the affected area and any shared pipes, locked gates, narrow side paths or parking restrictions. For a rental or strata property, identify who can authorise the work and arrange access before booking.
Example brief: The shower and laundry drain slowly in a unit in Glenelg. The kitchen sink drains normally. The problem started this week; no recent drain work. Photos of the affected fixtures attached. Side gate access is available, and the strata manager holds the drainage plan. Please quote assessment and clearing, with camera inspection priced separately if needed.
Step 4
Keep a priced quote before authorising work
For planned repairs, compare three businesses where practical. Keep your own copy of each quote with the tasks and fixed price before accepting, including when signing on a device. Extra work and costs should be put in writing and approved before proceeding.
Ask whether the charge covers assessment, repair or both. Compare labour, parts, GST where applicable, disposal and return visits. For a drain, separate clearing, camera inspection and pipe replacement so you can see what each offer actually includes.
If the job needs urgent attendance, confirm the call-out charge, after-hours charges and the work you are authorising on the booking call. Ask what happens if the first visit only makes the problem safe or a part needs ordering.
Step 5
Collect the certificate and fault records that apply
An electronic certificate of compliance, or eCoC, records that applicable work has been tested and meets the required standards. SA guidance requires a plumbing eCoC for work such as sanitary plumbing and drainage or installing or replacing a water heater. When required, you must receive it within seven days of completion, by email or as a printed copy if you do not have email access.
The listed plumbing exceptions include changing tap washers, clearing blocked drains, installing domestic tapware and installing stormwater systems. Ask which category your completed work falls into, especially if a simple clearing job becomes a pipe repair.
If the plumber finds the sewer blockage in SA Water's infrastructure, ask them to report it and keep the job number. SA Water's reimbursement process is lodged by the plumber on the customer's behalf and has eligibility conditions. Do not assume a private visit will be reimbursed.
Keep the accepted quote, approved changes, invoice, findings and any certificate with the property records. Ask the plumber to explain any remaining fault or recommended follow-up work.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- CBS: always use a licensed plumber
Licence checks, renovation coordination, written priced quotes and approval for extra work.
- SA Water: faulty, damaged or leaking meter
SA Water meter ownership, repair responsibility and fault reporting.
- SA Water: sewer blockages and overflows
Plumber assessment, reporting network blockages and conditional reimbursement claims.
- SA Government: certificates of compliance
Plumbing certificate requirements, seven-day deadline and listed exceptions.
