Replacing a complete tap is regulated plumbing work in Queensland and must be done by an appropriately licensed person.
The narrow household exception covers replacing a tap washer or jumper valve. It does not extend to removing and installing the complete tap.
QBCC's homeowner plumbing guide states that distinction directly.
Is changing a washer the same as replacing a tap?
No. A washer or jumper valve is a service part inside some tap designs. Complete replacement disconnects and replaces tapware connected to the plumbing installation.
Queensland's Plumbing and Drainage Regulation lists replacing a jumper valve or washer in a tap as unregulated work.
Cartridges, mixer bodies, flexible connectors, isolation valves and concealed pipework are not named in that narrow exception. Read which plumbing tasks require a Queensland licence before treating a repair as household maintenance.
What does a plumber check before replacement?
The plumber first confirms the tap, the installation and the intended replacement. Useful checks include:
- Tap configuration: pillar taps, mixers, wall-mounted tapware and concealed bodies use different mounting and connection arrangements.
- Access: a basin, cabinet, waste pipe, wall or tile finish can restrict access to the retaining hardware and water connections.
- Isolation: the correct water service must close properly before a connection is opened.
- Compatibility: the replacement must suit the mounting, connections, space, intended use and manufacturer requirements.
- Existing condition: corrosion, damaged threads, moving pipework or old connectors can require separate repair.
- Product compliance: the selected tapware needs the applicable Australian product registration and certification.
You can record the tap type, brand and model without disconnecting anything. Photos of the tap, mounting area and accessible connections also help define the starting point.
What happens during a complete tap replacement?
The exact method depends on the tap and installation. The licensed work generally involves:
- confirming the replacement product and full scope
- isolating the correct water service
- removing the existing tap without damaging connected plumbing
- checking the mounting surface, connections and accessible pipework
- installing the suitable tapware and required connection components
- restoring the supply and testing operation and leakage.
If isolation fails, pipework moves or concealed damage appears, the plumber should reassess the work before continuing. A visual match does not guarantee a direct replacement.
Moving a tap, altering pipework or opening building finishes can change both the plumbing classification and the trades required.
How do WaterMark and WELS apply?
WaterMark and WELS answer different questions. WaterMark covers whether specified plumbing products are authorised for installation, while WELS records water-efficiency information for regulated products.
The WaterMark tapware schedule identifies tapware categories that require certification. The actual model should be checked rather than relying on a logo in an advertisement.
The Australian Government's WELS guidance says taps supplied in Australia must carry the required registration and water-efficiency information.
WELS registration does not replace WaterMark certification, and product certification does not prove the tap fits a particular installation.
What can make replacement more involved?
Access and existing plumbing often determine whether the job remains a simple in-place replacement. Common scope changes include:
- a seized or leaking isolation valve
- corroded retaining hardware or connections
- damaged or unsupported pipework
- different mounting holes or connection arrangements
- concealed mixer components behind finished walls
- building access that affects cabinetry, tiling or waterproofing.
QBCC gives repairing or replacing a fitting or fixture as a minor-work example for a licensed person. Broader renovation or pipe alteration can follow another pathway.
The complete scope, not the label attached to the tap, determines the work category and records required.
When should you stop using the tap?
Stop using it when water will not isolate, a connection moves, corrosion is severe or leakage is spreading. Do not force a seized valve or retaining nut.
Use the guide to identifying a tap isolation valve without dismantling or forcing it.
If water reaches power points, switches, appliances or a switchboard, keep people clear and do not touch wet electrical equipment. Arrange urgent licensed assistance.
A licensed plumber should assess complete replacement, product compatibility and any connected plumbing defect before fittings are disconnected.