Five tools, five questions
- Which tradie does my job need? Plumber, gasfitter or drainlayer, and the licence that covers the work.
- What size cylinder? The details that decide how much hot water your household needs, gathered for a plumber to check.
- Cylinder, califont or heat pump? Which kinds of hot water suit what your home already has: power, gas and outdoor space.
- Is there a hidden leak? A water meter test you run with every tap off, and what the result means.
- Is my quote complete? What a written plumbing quote should spell out before you agree to it.
Why a checklist can't finish the job
Every house is different. Pipe sizes, pressure, space, the gas supply and the wiring all change the right answer, and only someone who sees the job can weigh them up.
Most plumbing and drainlaying in New Zealand is restricted work, and all gasfitting is. Whatever you work out here, the work itself goes to a person with a current licence from the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB).
Who owns which pipe is a separate question. Your water provider decides that, and the line sits in different places in different towns.
When you have your answer
Tell us about the job and we match you with an authorised local tradie who does that kind of work. Only the tradie who takes your job gets your contact details.