Victorians looking to fix anything from broken pipes to a blocked toilet need to make sure they engage a licensed or registered plumber.
To mark World Plumbing Day today, the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is reminding consumers to hire a professional practitioner for any plumbing work and check that they have the appropriate credentials.
World Plumbing Day is an international day established to recognise the link between good quality plumbing, health and environmental sustainability.
The VBA's State Building Surveyor Andrew Cialini said the VBA wanted to make consumers aware of how to keep safe and have confidence in the building industry, starting with using only registered practitioners.
"The majority of plumbers do the right thing and help keep consumers safe by carrying out important work such as installation of drainage and maintenance when something needs repair," Mr Cialini said.
"As the plumbing regulator, the VBA helps to protect the health and safety of people and the integrity of water supply and wastewater systems."
Mr Cialini said that all licensed and registered plumbers are issued with a photo ID card that lists the type of plumbing work they are eligible to do.
"All plumbers should carry this ID, and you can request to see it at any time," he said.
"Only a licensed plumber can issue a compliance certificate to certify that their work complies with the relevant plumbing regulations, codes and standards."
Consumers who purchase a plumbing product for a plumber to install should also look for the industry seal of approval – the Watermark logo.
If you have purchased a plumbing product overseas or plan to use a second-hand product of unclear origin, you can search for the product on the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) WaterMark database.
You can use the database to check on any product you suspect does not comply with the plumbing codes or standards.
A licensed or registered plumber is prohibited from installing a product that does not have WaterMark certification when a WaterMark product is required by the Plumbing Code of Australia.
Gas appliances also need to be certified and will carry a certification label that indicates the appliance meets certain safety standards in its design and manufacture.
