How do I find a plumber’s licence number and check it online?

In the United States, plumbers are licensed by the state or, in some places, by the city or county. Ask the plumber for the licence number and the name it is issued under, then look it up yourself on the licensing board’s website for your state or locality. The record usually shows the licence level, such as journeyman or master, whether it is current and sometimes any disciplinary action. In the United Kingdom there is no general plumbing licence, so the check is different: for any gas work, look up the engineer on the Gas Safe Register and check their ID card; for water work, ask whether they belong to an approved plumber scheme such as WaterSafe.

Does a plumber need to be Gas Safe registered in the UK?

Only for gas work, but there the rule is strict. Anyone who installs, repairs or services a gas appliance, including a boiler, a gas cooker or a gas water heater, must be on the Gas Safe Register by law. Ask to see the engineer’s Gas Safe ID card: the back lists the types of gas work they are qualified for, such as domestic boilers or cookers. You can confirm the registration on the Gas Safe Register website. A plumber who fixes leaks, taps, toilets and pipes does not need Gas Safe registration, but the same person cannot touch the boiler unless they are registered.

What is the difference between a plumber’s quote and an estimate?

A quote is a fixed price for a defined job. If the work matches what was described, that is what you pay. An estimate is an informed guess, and the final bill can change once the plumber sees what is behind the wall or under the floor. Both are useful, but know which one you have. Ask for it in writing, with the work described clearly, what parts are included, whether call-out and labour are charged separately, and what happens if extra problems are found. A good plumber will ask your permission before doing extra work rather than adding it to the bill afterwards.

What should I do before an emergency plumber arrives?

Turn off the water at the main shut-off valve in the US, or the stop tap in the UK, which is often under the kitchen sink or where the supply enters the building. If water is near sockets, switches or appliances, do not touch them while standing in water; switch off the electricity at the main panel or consumer unit only if you can reach it safely and dry. If you smell gas, leave, avoid switches and flames, and call the gas emergency line. Move valuables, catch drips, and photograph the damage for your insurer before cleaning up.

Who pays for a plumber if I rent?

It depends on the country, the lease and the cause. In the UK, landlords are generally responsible for keeping the water supply, drains, sanitary fittings and gas installations in repair, so report the problem to your landlord or letting agent in writing first. In the US, the answer depends on state law and the lease, but landlords usually handle major plumbing. Either way, a tenant may be charged when the damage was caused by misuse, such as a blockage from items flushed down the toilet. Do not book work yourself and expect reimbursement without written agreement, except in a genuine emergency the landlord cannot be reached for.

Can I find an emergency plumber through Hirovo?

Hirovo is better suited to planned work than to emergencies. Posting a job is free, and people nearby who do plumbing work can apply or message you, but replies take time and you still need to check the person yourself. For a burst pipe, flooding or a gas smell, shut off the supply and call a local emergency plumber, the gas emergency line or emergency services straight away. Use a Hirovo post for things that can wait a few days: a dripping tap, a new toilet, a slow drain, bathroom fittings or regular maintenance.

How to Hire a Plumber: Licences, Quotes, Emergencies and Questions to Ask

Water finds the weakest point in a house, and a plumbing job done badly can stay hidden until the ceiling below starts to stain. Knowing how to hire a plumber well comes down to a few checks: whether the job is an emergency, whether the person is licensed or registered for that kind of work, what the quote actually commits them to, and how you will pay.

This guide covers the United States and the United Kingdom, because the rules differ sharply. In the US, plumbers are licensed; in the UK, there is no general plumbing licence, but gas work is tightly controlled by law. It ends with the questions to ask, the scams to avoid and who pays when you rent.

How to hire a plumber: first, is it an emergency?

A burst pipe, water coming through a ceiling or a gas smell is not the moment to compare three quotes. Do these things first:

Shut off the water. Find the main shut-off valve (US) or stop tap (UK) before you ever need it. It is often under the kitchen sink, in a basement or utility room, or where the supply enters the building.
Keep electricity and water apart. Do not touch switches, sockets or appliances while standing in water. Switch off at the main panel or consumer unit only if you can reach it safely.
Gas smell: leave. Do not use switches or flames, get everyone out and call the gas emergency line from outside.
Photograph everything before you clean up: the source, the damage and any affected belongings. Your insurer will ask.

Then call a local emergency plumber or, for gas, the emergency service. Expect a call-out charge and higher rates at night and at weekends, and ask what they are before the plumber sets off. Everything below applies fully to planned work, and as far as time allows to emergencies.

Match the job to the right kind of professional before you compare prices.
Job	Who to call	What to check
Burst pipe, major leak, flooding	An emergency plumber, after shutting off the water.	The call-out charge and out-of-hours rate before they set off.
Blocked toilet, sink or drain	A plumber or drain specialist.	Whether the price covers the first attempt only or the job done, and whether a camera survey is extra.
Water heater replacement	US: a licensed plumber. UK: a Gas Safe engineer if it runs on gas.	US: whether a permit is needed and who pulls it. UK: the Gas Safe ID card and the work types it lists.
Boiler, gas cooker, any gas appliance	UK: a Gas Safe registered engineer, by law. US: a licensed professional under your state or local rules.	Registration or licence, looked up yourself, not taken from a van or card.
New bathroom, new water lines	A licensed plumber (US) or an experienced plumber, ideally in an approved scheme (UK).	Permits or notifications, a written quote, and who signs off the work.
Dripping tap, running toilet, small fixes	A plumber or a capable handyperson.	Experience with that fitting, and the price agreed before work starts.

Hiring a plumber in the United States: licences and permits

Look up the licence yourself

Plumbers in the US are licensed by the state or, in some places, by the city or county. Licences usually come in levels: an apprentice works under supervision, a journeyman can do the work, and a master plumber has more experience and can typically pull permits, run a business and supervise others. Ask for the licence number and the name on it, then check it on your state or local licensing board’s website. Confirm the licence is current and covers the type of work you need.

Permits and insurance

Many jurisdictions require a permit for work such as replacing a water heater or running new supply or drain lines. The permit brings an inspection, which protects you when you sell the house or make an insurance claim. Ask who will pull the permit; a plumber who suggests skipping it to save money is passing the risk to you. Ask too for proof of liability insurance, and workers’ compensation if a crew will be on site, so an accident in your home is not your bill.

Hiring a plumber in the United Kingdom: Gas Safe and WaterSafe

The UK has no general licence for plumbers, so the checks are different.

Gas work means Gas Safe, by law. Anyone working on a boiler, gas cooker, gas fire or gas water heater must be on the Gas Safe Register. Ask to see the engineer’s ID card, check the back for the types of gas work they are qualified for, and confirm the registration on the Gas Safe Register website. This is not optional, and it applies to emergencies too.
Water work and approved schemes. Work on the water supply must meet the water regulations. Plumbers in an approved plumber scheme, such as WaterSafe, have shown they understand those rules and can certify their work. Membership is a useful sign; check it on the scheme’s own website.
Experience and paperwork. Ask about similar jobs, request a written quote and keep any certificates the plumber issues when the work is finished.

For appliances that use water but are not plumbing as such, such as a washing machine that will not drain, see how to choose an appliance repair service.

Have a plumbing job that can wait a few days?

Post a free job on Hirovo: describe the problem, the area and when you are available. People nearby who do plumbing work can apply or message you, and you decide who to hire.

Post a free job →

What sets the cost of a plumber

Online figures describe someone else’s job. Yours depends on:

The type of work: a quick repair, a replacement or a new installation.
Call-out or minimum charge, and whether it is deducted from the job.
Time of day: night, weekend and holiday rates are usually higher.
Parts and materials, and whether you or the plumber supplies them.
Access: pipes behind tiles, under floors or in tight spaces take longer.
Travel distance and parking.
Permits, inspections or certificates the job requires.
What turns up: corroded pipes or hidden damage, which is why an estimate can change.

Know whether you have a quote (a fixed price for a defined job) or an estimate (a best guess). Ask for either in writing, and agree that any extra work needs your approval first.

Questions to ask before you hire a plumber

What is your licence number (US), or are you Gas Safe registered for this work (UK)?
Are you insured, and can I see proof?
Is this a fixed quote or an estimate, and what does it include?
Is there a call-out charge, and does it change at night or at weekends?
Will you do the work yourself, or send someone else?
Is a permit or certificate needed, and who arranges it?
What guarantee do you give on parts and labour?
When is payment due, and how can I pay?

Plumbing scams to watch for

Door-to-door offers of a quick fix or a “problem” spotted from the street.
Full payment up front, especially in cash. A deposit for special-order parts can be reasonable; the whole job is not.
A low phone price that grows once the plumber is in your home and the water is off.
No address or traceable name, or a licence or registration number that does not check out.
Pressure to decide on the spot, or urgent warnings about work you did not ask about.

Landlord or tenant: who calls the plumber?

In the UK, landlords are generally responsible for keeping the water supply, drains, sanitary fittings and gas installations in repair, and they have their own gas safety duties. In the US, it depends on state law and the lease, though major plumbing usually falls to the landlord. In both countries, report problems in writing and promptly, and expect to pay if the damage was caused by misuse. Do not book a plumber yourself and expect to be reimbursed unless the landlord has agreed or it is a genuine emergency they cannot be reached for.

Hiring a plumber through a Hirovo post

Posting a job on Hirovo is free. Your post appears in the job listings for your country and region, such as the jobs in the United States or the jobs in the United Kingdom, where people nearby who do plumbing work can apply or message you in the app.

Be clear about what that is. Hirovo does not vet applicants or check licences, registrations or insurance; the checks in this guide are yours. That makes a post a good fit for planned work and repeat needs, and the wrong tool for a burst pipe or anything involving gas in a hurry. Describe the problem, add photos if you can and give the area rather than your full address. For the wording, see how to write a job post; for larger renovation work, see how to hire a contractor.

Know where your water shut-off is before anything goes wrong. And in the UK, never let anyone work on a boiler or gas appliance without checking their Gas Safe ID card and the register: it is the law, and it is about your safety.

In short

Decide first whether it is an emergency: shut off the water, keep electricity away and leave if you smell gas. For planned work, check the licence in the US or Gas Safe registration for gas work in the UK, get a written quote or estimate, ask about call-out and out-of-hours charges, and never pay the whole job up front. If you rent, tell your landlord before you book anyone.