Plumber vs handyman: who should I hire for leaks?

The plumber-vs-handyman decision for leaks depends on the leak's location and what fixing it requires. Hidden leaks (behind walls, under slabs, inside fixtures) are licensed-only. Visible leaks at hand-tightenable connections may fall within the handyman exemption.

What requires a licensed plumber (regardless of project dollar amount):

- Any leak behind a wall or under a slab - Any water-supply line (copper, PEX, CPVC) repair or replacement - Any drain line repair, replacement, or reroute - Any gas-line leak — gas leaks are licensed-only in every state due to explosion risk - Water heater work (tank or tankless, gas or electric — gas requires both plumbing and gas-fitting credentials in many states) - Sewer line work, including main-line clearing if it requires a permit - Fixture rough-in (new bathroom, new kitchen, new laundry hookup) - Backflow preventer install or testing - Permit-required plumbing anywhere - Anything that ties into the municipal water supply (cross-connection concerns) - Water service line from the meter to the house

In nearly every state, the above is licensed-only. State boards: California C-36, Texas TDLR Master Plumber, Florida CFC, Oregon BCD, Washington L&I, Arizona ROC C-37, North Carolina NCBELP. Some states have separate gas-fitting credentials (Texas LPG Licensed Installer, etc.) — verify that any gas work is performed by a credentialed gas fitter, not just a plumber.

What a handyman can legally do (typically):

- Tighten a loose toilet supply line connection - Tighten a loose P-trap connection under a sink - Replace a leaky toilet flapper or fill valve (no shutoff required) - Replace a leaky faucet aerator - Replace a leaky shower head - Snake a slow-draining sink (no permit, no main-line work) - Replace a toilet wax ring (handyman exemption in most states for below-threshold work, but some states require licensed plumber)

What handyman work converts into licensed plumber work:

- Hand-tightening a supply line that turns out to need a new fitting (now you need a licensed plumber) - "Just replacing" a toilet that requires resetting the flange or replacing the water supply line - "Just replacing" a kitchen faucet that turns out to need new angle stops

The conversion happens silently — a handyman who starts on a $150 toilet flapper job and discovers a corroded shutoff is now operating outside the exemption if they replace the shutoff. The work continues, but the permit-fail and insurance-claim-denial risk is now the homeowner's.

Why hiring a handyman for leaks is risky:

1. Hidden damage. A small visible leak often has a much larger hidden component — water has been running behind a wall for months, causing mold and structural damage. A handyman who "fixes" the visible drip without diagnosing the cause leaves the underlying problem to grow.

2. Cross-connection contamination. Anything tying into municipal water has cross-connection rules. An unlicensed installer can introduce contamination into the city water supply, triggering water department fines and homeowner liability.

3. Gas leak risk. ANY gas leak must be handled by a licensed plumber or gas fitter, plus reported to the gas utility. Handymen are not qualified for this.

4. Insurance claim denial. If a slab leak causes $50,000 in water damage and the cause is traced to an unlicensed plumbing repair, the homeowner's insurance may deny the claim.

5. Resale disclosure. Unpermitted plumbing work must be disclosed at sale in most states.

Quick framework for the decision:

- Drip from a visible joint, fixable with a wrench, no shutoff needed: handyman fine. - Drip from a fixture, requires opening a wall or replacing a fitting that's not hand-tightenable: licensed plumber. - Anything behind a wall: licensed plumber. - Anything gas: licensed plumber or gas fitter. - Anything that requires a permit: licensed plumber.

Groundcheck (earthmove.io/trust) verifies state plumbing licenses and prior complaints. The matching state page at earthmove.io/trust/license/plumber/[state] documents the exact licensing rules for your jurisdiction.