Find a trusted plumber in Melbourne

Old drains, tree roots and the boundary trap

Much of inner and middle Melbourne was plumbed long before plastic pipe. Victorian terraces in Carlton and Fitzroy, Edwardian homes in Northcote and Californian bungalows through Coburg, Essendon and Camberwell often still drain through earthenware sewer pipes, and street trees and backyard gums send roots into the tired joints. A slow toilet, a gurgling shower or an overflowing gully after rain usually points to a blockage somewhere between the house and the street.

Many older Melbourne properties also have a boundary trap, a water-filled U-bend in the drain near the front fence with an inspection opening above it. It’s often the first place a plumber looks, and when it chokes up, sewage can back up into the yard. A camera inspection then shows whether the line needs jetting, relining or digging up.

Your drains are yours up to where they join the water corporation’s sewer. Depending on the suburb, that’s Greater Western Water, South East Water or Yarra Valley Water, and a fault on their side is theirs to fix.

Gas heaters, hot water and the shift to electric

Gas does a lot of work in Melbourne homes: ducted heating, space heaters, cooktops and hot water. Energy Safe Victoria recommends servicing gas heaters at least every two years, and for older open-flued heaters that service should include a carbon monoxide test. Landlords have a duty here too, with a gas safety check due every two years on most leases signed since March 2021.

At the same time, plenty of households are moving off gas. Swapping a gas storage unit for an electric heat pump is now a common hot water job, and the Victorian Energy Upgrades program can discount some heat pump installs. Ask whether your plumber can apply it before you pick a model.

Checking a plumber’s licence with the BPC

Plumbing, gasfitting and drainage in Victoria are licensed by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), the body that replaced the Victorian Building Authority in July 2025. Search the name or licence number on BPC Find a plumber and check the licence covers the class of work, such as drainage or gasfitting. Registered plumbers can do the work, but only under a licensed plumber’s supervision.

On any job worth $750 or more, the licensed plumber must issue a compliance certificate. Make sure you get it and file it with the house papers. Our Victorian licence check guide walks through each register.

What plumbing costs in Melbourne

Melbourne rates run close to Sydney’s. Expect to pay around $90–$140 an hour during the working week, on top of a call-out fee of roughly $80–$200, with after-hours work often $150–$300 an hour. Clearing a blocked sewer with a jetter typically costs $250–$700 before any camera work, and a replacement hot water system is usually $1,800–$4,500 installed.

Our plumber price guide breaks down more jobs, from tap repairs to hidden leaks. Use those ranges as a yardstick, then get a written price.

Matched with one Melbourne plumber

needatradie isn’t a directory, and your details don’t go out to a queue of businesses. Describe the job and your suburb. We’ll put you in touch with one licensed Melbourne plumber, and we vet their licence, insurance, ABN and reviews before they ever see your details.

Somewhere else in Australia? See plumbers by city, or browse all trades in Melbourne. Whenever you’re ready, ask for a free quote and we’ll find your plumber.