- By Hanover Plumbing
- In General, Tips
- Tags Kitchens, Renovations
Navigating DIY Plumbing | What You Can and Can’t Do Yourself
DIY is in our blood as kiwis and many of us pride ourselves in our renovation skills but there is a good reason why plumbing is a highly regulated industry. Whether you’re hoping to work on your new kitchen sink installation or replace a leaky tap it is important to understand what you can and can’t do to avoid risking insurance complications or fines. Below we will outline what you can do yourself and what you have to have done by an authorised plumber.
What is Restricted?
The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006 states that sanitary plumbing is restricted work and can only be conducted by a registered plumber.
Sanitary plumbing generally encompasses the following.
• The installation of sanitary fixtures and appliances (e.g. toilets, sinks, showers)
• The installation of the pipes and fittings that supply water to those sanitary fixtures and appliances
• The installation of the associated traps, waste or soil pipes, ventilation pipes and overflow pipes connected with those fixtures. In simple terms, this means any pipes, drains or sinks connected to a sanitary fixture.
What is Not Restricted?
While the above is restricted for good reason, the following is not restricted under the act and can be undertaken by anyone with the right know-how
• Fixing or unfixing, a dishwasher or washing machine
• Repairing or replacing taps, tap washers or plugs, ball valves such as float valves and ball cocks in toilet cisterns
• The work of fixing or unfixing a shower over a bath that is supplied with the water through the bath taps such as those that have a push on rubber connection on the outlet of the bath taps
In summary, you can work on jobs that are not related to sanitary plumbing. This means, for example, you can not conduct kitchen sink installation, but you can install a new shower head.
If you have any questions regarding what you can or can’t do feel free to drop us a line. If you need an authorised plumber please get in touch to discuss your next project.
This information and more can be found in the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006.
