Can I replace a tap myself in Australia? Washers vs whole taps, by state

A dripping tap is usually a worn washer or jumper valve — a cheap part and a genuinely DIY-friendly fix in most of Australia. Replacing the whole tap or mixer is a different story, and that’s where people get caught out.

The rules by state

State	Change a washer or jumper valve	Replace the whole tap or mixer
Queensland	DIY OK	Licensed plumber
Western Australia	DIY OK (repairing a tap)	Licensed plumber
Victoria	DIY OK (minor tap repairs)	Licensed plumber
New South Wales	DIY OK (repairing a tap)	Licensed plumber
Tasmania	DIY OK	DIY OK like-for-like
SA, ACT, NT	Check with regulator	Licensed plumber

What the regulators say:

• Queensland: the QBCC’s list of unregulated work includes replacing a jumper valve or washer in a tap.
• Western Australia: since March 2024, owners (or someone helping them unpaid) can maintain or repair a tap — but not a thermostatic mixing tap.
• Victoria: tap washers and other minor tap repairs in a home are exempt from the plumbing licensing rules.
• New South Wales: plumbing needs a licence “regardless of the cost”, but the regulations let an owner-occupier repair a tap or showerhead (not thermostatic mixing or tempering valves).
• Tasmania: owners can repair or replace tapware like-for-like as low-risk work on their own property.

Why “just swapping the tap” is licensed

Replacing a tap or mixer means disconnecting and reconnecting the water supply, often with new flexible hoses, isolation valves and seals under the sink or in the wall. Get it wrong and you get a slow leak inside a cabinet or wall cavity — the kind of damage that isn’t obvious until it’s expensive. That’s why most states draw the line at repair.

Changing a tap washer: the basics

1. Turn off the water at the isolation valve under the sink, or at the mains.
2. Open the tap to drain the line and release pressure.
3. Remove the handle and cover (often a cap, then a screw), then unscrew the headgear with a spanner.
4. Swap the washer or jumper valve for one of the same size — take the old one to the hardware store to match it.
5. Reassemble, turn the water back on slowly and check for drips.

If the tap still drips after a new washer, the seat inside the tap body may be worn. Reseating the tap is usually a job for a plumber.

When to call a plumber straight away

• Mixers and quarter-turn ceramic cartridges you’re not sure how to service
• Any leak inside a wall, or water where it shouldn’t be
• Thermostatic mixing valves and tempering valves (hot water safety devices)
• Anything involving gas hot water

For the rest of the plumbing rules, including toilets, showerheads and drains, see the Queensland DIY plumbing list and what you can legally DIY in Australia.

Sources

Every rule on this page is taken from these official sources. If a rule has changed, please tell us and we’ll fix it.

1. QBCC — Unregulated plumbing guide
2. WA Government — New plumbing rules for industry and homeowners
3. NSW Government — Plumbing, draining and gasfitting licences
4. Victoria — Plumbing Regulations 2018
5. CBOS Tasmania — Consumer guide to low-risk building and plumbing work

This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ between states, councils and individual properties, and they change. Confirm with your state regulator or council before starting work, and if in doubt, get a licensed tradesperson.