Last updated: 2026-10-11
Plumbline passes pipe leak requests to PUB Licensed Plumbers across Singapore. Pipe work on your home's water supply and sanitary pipes is regulated: since 1 April 2018 it has been an offence to engage a plumber who is not licensed by PUB for regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works (PUB).
What the plumber does first
The plumber first confirms whether the leak is on your side of the water meter or not. PUB maintains the water mains and connecting pipes up to the meter, and installations downstream of the meter are the consumer's to maintain (PUB handbook). In HDB estates, Town Councils maintain the water tanks and pipes on common property, and homeowners maintain the pipes and fittings in their own unit (MSE, 2024). Then they find the leak point: an exposed joint, a pipe behind a cabinet, or a concealed pipe inside a wall or floor.
Exposed leak or concealed leak
Exposed leaks are on pipes you can see: under the sink, behind the toilet, at a tap connection. They are usually a joint, a fitting or a short pipe section, and published 2026 rates put them at roughly S$80 to S$200 (published 2026 rates).
Concealed leaks are inside walls or floors. Signs are a damp patch that keeps spreading, a water bill that jumps, or a meter that keeps turning with every tap off. Finding and reaching them can mean hacking tiles, and published rates for concealed leak work run from S$250 to S$800 (published 2026 rates).
Check for a hidden leak yourself
- Turn off every tap and appliance that uses water.
- Read your water meter and note the figures.
- Wait 30 minutes without using any water.
- Read it again. If it moved, water is leaking somewhere on your side of the meter.
Who pays
- On your side of the meter, inside your unit: the homeowner.
- HDB common property pipes and water tanks: the Town Council (MSE, 2024).
- Water mains up to the meter: PUB (PUB handbook).
A leak from a pipe inside your neighbour's unit is generally theirs to fix. Water coming through your ceiling is often the floor slab of the flat above rather than a pipe, and in HDB flats the slab between two units is shared by both owners.
What is included
- Confirming whose side of the meter the leak is on
- Locating the leak point
- Repair or replacement of the joint or pipe section
- Concealed leak work priced separately before hacking
- Pressure and drip check after repair
- Licensed plumber for regulated pipe work
- Price agreed before work starts
- Receipt for the job
DIY, a quick fix, or a proper job
| DIY | Quick fix | Proper job | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed for pipe work | No | Often not | PUB Licensed Plumber |
| Finds hidden leaks | Meter test only | Guesswork | Located before hacking |
| Fixes the cause | Tape on a joint | Sealant | Joint or section replaced |
| Price known first | Free | Lump sum | Itemised |
What it costs
Published 2026 Singapore rates: exposed pipe leak repair about S$80 to S$200; concealed leaks needing hacking S$300 to S$800 (published 2026 rates). Ask whether making good the tiles is included.
Try the cost estimator or read the plumber cost guide.
Related guides
- Who Fixes Which Water Pipe in an HDB Flat?
- Licensed Plumber or Handyman? What PUB Allows
- How Much Does a Plumber Cost in Singapore? (2026 Prices)
How it is done
- Send a request. Where the water is, and whether the meter moves with taps off.
- Price. Exposed leaks quoted on the call; concealed leaks after locating.
- Repair and test. Joint or section repaired, checked under pressure.
- Pay the plumber. Directly, with a receipt and the plumber's licence number.