What to check first
Dry the area completely, then watch it while the water is running to see exactly where it first gets wet. A leak that appears at a tap handle, a mixer body or a flexible hose is a fitting problem. A leak that appears as a stain spreading across a wall or ceiling, with no visible fitting nearby, is a concealed pipe problem, and the two are not the same job.
Check the water meter next. If it keeps turning with every tap in the flat closed, there is a leak somewhere in the supply line even if you cannot see it yet — that is worth knowing before you call anyone, because it changes how urgent the job is.
Do not tighten a compression fitting past finger-tight with a wrench, and do not wrap a leaking joint in tape as a long-term fix. Both can turn a small, cheap leak into a fitting that has to be cut out.
The likely causes, in order
A worn tap, mixer or hose (most common). The most common source is a worn tap, mixer or the flexible hose feeding it. PUB names "replacing or removing any tap or mixer" and accessories such as shower hoses or connecting hoses as simple works you may do yourself, so check these fittings before assuming the pipe itself has failed.
A visible joint or connection. The second most common source is a joint or fitting you can see and reach, such as where a washing machine or water heater connects to the wall. Dry the area, wrap tissue around the joint, and see exactly where it wets first before deciding what to replace.
Concealed pipework. If the leak is inside a wall, under the floor, or you cannot find a visible source, it is concealed pipework. HDB states residents maintain the sanitary branch pipes in their flat, but altering or repairing pipework itself is regulated work under PUB, not simple work. This is the point where trying it yourself risks making the repair bigger, not smaller.
When to call, and who
Stop and call a licensed plumber if the leak is inside a wall, ceiling or floor, if water pressure has dropped elsewhere in the flat, or if the leak is near any electrical point — none of those are simple works a handyman may open up. A meter that keeps running with every tap shut is also a call-now sign, since it means the leak is continuous, not occasional.
If the leak is affecting the unit below you, tell them what you have found before they discover it themselves, and expect the plumber to want access from both units if the pipe runs between floors.
What it costs
A visible fitting replacement costs less than opening a short section of concealed pipe, so ask which scenario the quote assumes.
Get the call-out fee, whether it is credited against the repair, and whether making good the wall or floor after the pipe is opened is included or billed separately — patching plaster and tiling back is often a second line item providers forget to mention upfront.
Who to call, and how to judge them
A plumber first checks the taps, mixers and visible joints closest to where the water appears, then opens concealed pipework only once those are ruled out, since the sanitary branch pipes inside your flat are yours to maintain but not yours to cut open. All regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works must be carried out by Licensed Plumbers, except for simple plumbing works that can be carried out by handymen — and replacing a tap, mixer or connecting hose is on that simple-works list. For anything beyond a fitting, ask to see the individual's PUB Licensed Plumber number before work starts.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licensed plumber to fix a leaking tap?
All regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works must be carried out by Licensed Plumbers, except for simple plumbing works that can be carried out by handymen — and replacing a tap, mixer or connecting hose is on that simple-works list.
How do I know if a pipe leak is behind a wall?
If the leak is inside a wall, under the floor, or you cannot find a visible source, it is concealed pipework. HDB states residents maintain the sanitary branch pipes in their flat, but altering or repairing pipework itself is regulated work under PUB, not simple work.
How much does pipe leak repair cost in Singapore?
It depends on whether the leak is at a visible fitting or inside a wall or floor, and whether making good is included. Ask for the call-out fee and the scope in writing before work starts.
Sources
- PUB, "Plumbing Works" (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
- PUB, "Licensed Plumbers" (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
- HDB, "Pipes" home care guide (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
Compare plumbers providers and tell each one exactly where the water first appears, whether the meter keeps turning with taps shut, and what you have already checked.
