How to choose a plumber in Newcastle: a practical checklist

Five checks and a list of warning signs to run before you let anyone start work on your pipes, drains or gas.

Most people pick a plumber in a hurry, with water on the floor. A few minutes of checking, ideally before you have an emergency, saves money and stress. Use this checklist for any plumber, including us.

1. Check the licence is real

In NSW, plumbing and gasfitting work needs a licence. Ask for the licence number and look it up on the free NSW Government licence check. Make sure the licence class matches the work, for example gasfitting for gas jobs.

2. Ask about insurance and paperwork

A professional will be happy to talk about insurance, and, where the work requires it, will provide the compliance paperwork when the job is done. Keep it. It matters for insurance claims and when you sell the house.

3. Look for a real local presence

A real address, a local phone number and consistent business details across the web are good signs. Search the business name and check the address and phone match from one listing to the next. Reviews on independent sites that sound specific, rather than generic praise, are more useful than a star count alone.

4. Ask what happens after hours

Pipes do not burst at convenient times. Ask whether the plumber takes emergency calls at night and on weekends, and whether after-hours pricing differs. A clear answer before you book is better than a surprise on the invoice.

5. Get the problem explained

A good plumber tells you what is wrong, what the options are and what each costs, in plain language. For a recurring blockage, ask whether a drain camera inspection is worth doing so the cause is found rather than guessed at.

Warning signs

• Cash only, with no invoice or receipt
• No address, or only a mobile number and no business name
• Pressure to decide immediately on a big job
• A fixed price for a complex job without anyone seeing it
• Unwillingness to show a licence

Where Flow Plumbing Solutions fits

Flow Plumbing Solutions is a Mayfield West plumber taking calls 24/7 across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Maitland. You can read more on the Flow Plumbing Solutions website or call 0461 408 283.