Plumbers Insurance

Solid Cover for the Trade That Can Flood a House in Seconds

Plumbing is one of the few trades where a simple mistake can cause thousands of pounds in damage within minutes. Burst pipes, faulty joints, leaking cylinders, when things go wrong, they go wrong fast. Whether you’re fixing a leaky tap or fitting out a commercial boiler room, the risks are real, and the costs can add up quickly.

That’s why getting the right plumbers insurance matters, not just to protect your business, but to give your clients confidence, win better contracts, and keep working without sleepless nights.

This page explains everything you need to know with information written for working plumbers.

Who Needs Plumbers Insurance?

If you work with water or heating systems and take on paid work, whether you’re self-employed, subcontracting, or running a small business, you need proper insurance in place.

You may be:

• Installing boilers
• Fitting bathrooms and kitchens
• Responding to emergencies
• Handling pipework on new builds
• Working as a Gas Safe-registered engineer

In all cases, you’re exposed to risks that can cost you your tools, your income, and in some cases, your business. A well-built tradesmen insurance policy protects you from that and opens doors to bigger clients who expect it as standard.

The Real Risks: Why Insurance Isn’t Optional

1. You Crack a Pipe in a Customer’s Wall

You’re drilling through to run a pipe and hit something you shouldn’t. Water pours through the cavity wall, damages plaster, paintwork, and even ruins flooring.

Without public liability insurance, you could be facing:

• £3,000 in water damage repairs
• The cost of alternative accommodation for the client
• A compensation claim for stress or disruption

With the right cover, the damage gets fixed and your client stays on your side.

2. An Apprentice Burns Themselves on a Soldering Torch

You’ve got a young lad helping on-site. He’s not paying attention, picks up the wrong end of a blow torch, and ends up in A&E. He’s fine, but there’s a claim and potentially an HSE investigation.

If you don’t have employers’ liability insurance, you’re now facing:

• A £2,500 fine (minimum) for each day you’re uninsured
• Legal costs and compensation for the injury

This isn’t a “nice to have”, it’s the law.

3. Someone Steals Your Van and All Your Tools Go With It

You park outside a flat, go in to fit a new bathroom, and 20 minutes later come out to an empty street. Everything’s gone, your van, your tools & your materials for the job.

If you’ve got tools insurance and commercial vehicle insurance, you can replace the lot within days.

If not, you’re looking at £8,000+ out of your own pocket and possibly missed work, lost clients, and refunding deposits.

Types of Insurance for Plumbers

Let’s break down each part of a well-structured plumbers insurance policy and explain what it actually does.

Public Liability Insurance

Essential. Every plumber needs this.

Covers injury or property damage caused by your work. This includes:

• Flooding a kitchen
• Damaging a client’s heating system
• A trip hazard from your hoses

Example:
A homeowner trips on your uncoiled pipe and breaks their wrist. Public liability pays legal fees, NHS reimbursement, and compensation.

Cover amounts:
Usually £1m, £2m, or £5m, many councils or large contracts require £5m+.

Employers’ Liability Insurance

Legally required if you employ anyone, including part-time, labour-only subcontractors, apprentices, or work experience students.

It covers:

• Injuries sustained during work
• Illness caused by exposure (e.g. fumes, chemicals)
• Legal defence and compensation costs

Example:
An apprentice cuts themselves on an exposed copper pipe, develops an infection, and sues. You’re covered.

Tip: If you’re a one-man band, you usually don’t need this, but double-check if you ever bring help on site.

Tool Insurance

Protects your gear, hand tools, power tools, testing kits and more against:

• Theft
• Accidental damage
• Fire or flood

Optional: Some policies include tools left in vehicles overnight. Others don’t. Always check.

Real-World Loss:
Tool theft from vans is up nearly 40% in major UK cities. You’re a walking target. Lockboxes and trackers help, but insurance is your backup.

Commercial Vehicle Insurance

Covers your van (and contents, if selected). You’ll need business use specified, social and commuting won’t cut it.

Add-ons include:

• Courtesy van
• Windscreen repair
• Tool cover (only if selected)
• Breakdown cover

Tip: Consider any driver policies if your team shares a van. It avoids insurance headaches later.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Useful if you offer advice, design, or system specifications. It protects you from negligence claims, even if unintentional.

Example:
You advise on a new underfloor heating setup. Months later, the system fails. The client claims you gave incorrect guidance that led to £20k of rework. Professional indemnity pays your legal defence and the client’s damages.

This cover is especially relevant if you do design-and-install jobs or work with architects or surveyors.

Contract Works / Plant Insurance (For Larger Projects)

If you’re involved in larger contracts, extensions, new builds, refurb projects, these extras might be worth adding.

• Contract Works Insurance: Covers materials, labour, and temporary structures mid-project.
• Own Plant or Hired-In Plant: Protects hired machinery or owned diggers, boilers, lifts, etc.

Mini Case Study: One Mistake, Two Claims

Tom, a heating engineer from Manchester, was installing a new combi boiler.
While cutting through pipework, a section fell and cracked a granite worktop, £1,200 damage. He then mistakenly mis-wired the thermostat, causing it to short out the main board a week later, another £900.

Tom had:

• £2m public liability insurance
• £500 excess
• Legal expenses add-on

Total payout: £2,100
Tom’s cost: £500 excess

His client was fully compensated, no court case needed, and Tom didn’t lose future referrals.

How Much Does Plumbers Insurance Cost?

Premiums vary based on:

• Turnover
• Staff numbers
• Risk level of work
• Claims history
• Level of cover chosen

Rough guide:

The easiest way to find out how much it could cost you is to submit the quote form via the “Get Quotes” button below and discuss your requirements with an experienced insurance provider.

Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Plumbers Insurance

• Choosing the cheapest policy blindly – High excess or exclusions can cost you later.
• Not declaring all your activities – If you do gas and water, say so. Don’t risk rejection.
• Forgetting to update when you hire staff – An uninsured worker = no cover, possible fines.
• Assuming your van policy covers tools – Many don’t, unless explicitly added.

Why Clients Choose Us for Plumbers Insurance

• We work with specialist providers who focus solely on the trades
• Our partners have access to exclusive schemes and insurer relationships not available through online quote engines
• A real expert will contact you to discuss your needs and tailor a policy, no chatbots or generic bundles
• You get advice, not just a price
• Support is available if you ever need to claim, switch, or expand your cover

Get Started Today

We don’t offer generic online quotes, because they don’t always work for serious tradespeople. Instead, we collect a few key details and pass them directly to a specialist broker who understands the plumbing trade inside out.

They’ll contact you to discuss your quote, explain any cover you might need (or don’t), and help you get the right protection in place, without wasting your time.