What does a plumber cost in South Africa?

Published industry rates

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), the industry body, publishes guidance on what plumbers charge. Its figures exclude VAT, materials and travel costs, and it notes that charges vary by province. See IOPSA's guidance.

Rates exclude VAT, call-out travel costs and materials. Always ask for a written quote before work starts.

What pushes the price up

• After-hours and weekend work. Evening, weekend and public-holiday call-outs are charged at a premium by most plumbers.
• Distance. Travel is often billed from the business's depot, so a plumber far from your suburb costs more to get to you.
• Access. Pipes buried in a wall or under a slab need breaking out and making good, which adds hours and materials.
• Materials. Geysers, taps and pipe sections are billed on top of labour, and IOPSA advises insisting on SANS-approved products.

Before you accept a quote

1. Ask whether the call-out fee is included in the hourly rate or charged separately.
2. Ask for the labour and materials to be itemised on the quote.
3. Check that the plumber is registered with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) and can issue a Certificate of Compliance.
4. Get the quote in writing before any work begins.
5. For bigger jobs, compare two or three quotes.

These steps follow IOPSA's own consumer checklist. Read the full checklist.