Best Plumbers in Christchurch
We assessed 19 plumbers in Christchurch and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 3,660 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 3 September 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Plumbers in NZ must be registered with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, whether you need an emergency call-out, a repair or a full installation. Check their registration before work starts, and make sure any gas work is carried out by a licensed gas fitter. Get a written quote that covers parts and labour.
Top 5 Plumbers in Christchurch
The top 5 plumbers in Christchurch are #1 ACF Plumbing, #2 Clyne & Bennie, #3 Plumbquick, #4 Foleys, and #5 Plumb Fast, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you book.
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1
ACF Plumbing
↑ 3★ 5.0 442 reviews +20 Top5 Score 196 +145★ 431 4★ 10 3★ 1ACF Plumbing turns around urgent jobs fast, covering burst pipes, leaking hot water cylinders, broken elements, tap replacements, and pre-purchase house inspections. Their office team communicates proactively about scheduling and timing, and plumbers like Alex and Tim arrive on time, call ahead, and clean up after themselves.
location_on 27 Saxon Street, Phillipstown, Christchurch
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2
Clyne & Bennie Plumbing & Electrical
↓ 1★ 4.7 751 reviews +10 Top5 Score 192 -35★ 665 4★ 44 3★ 7 2★ 10 1★ 25Clyne & Bennie gets leaking hot water cylinders, under-sink boilers, dripping pipes, and waste disposal faults resolved the same day, often by lunchtime. Plumbers call ahead before arriving, walk customers through what they found, and on more than one occasion have spotted and fixed a second issue on the spot without being asked.
location_on 112 Buchan Street, Sydenham, Christchurch
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3
Plumbquick Christchurch
↓ 1★ 4.9 486 reviews +23 Top5 Score 191 +15★ 435 4★ 43 3★ 3 2★ 1 1★ 4Plumbquick covers tap replacements, blocked drains, hot water cylinder installs, and bathroom leaks across Christchurch, with named technicians like Joe, Kane, and Cameron regularly singled out by name for how they communicate on the job. Rather than just fixing the problem and leaving, they take time to explain what went wrong and why, which suits customers who want to understand their own plumbing.
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4
Foleys | Christchurch
↑ 1★ 4.7 544 reviews +1 Top5 Score 183 +15★ 469 4★ 34 3★ 6 2★ 14 1★ 21Foleys coordinates plumbers and electricians together on jobs like hot water cylinder failures, under-sink heater installs, and stormwater or sewerage relays, getting multi-trade work done in a single visit rather than across separate bookings. When jobs in older homes run longer than expected, their team works through it without pushing the scope back onto the customer.
location_on 16/3 Stark Drive, Wigram, Christchurch
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5
Plumb Fast Ltd.
↓ 2★ 4.9 318 reviews +11 Top5 Score 1835★ 297 4★ 15 3★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 3Plumb Fast coordinates hot water cylinder replacements, bathroom and toilet renovations, and plumbing repairs, keeping clients updated at each stage and arranging trades like plasterers and builders when the work needs them. Plumbers like Glen, Connor, and Jeremy are named repeatedly by returning clients, some of whom have used the company for ten years or more, which points to a business worth settling on rather than just trialling once.
location_on 160 Westminster Street, Mairehau, Christchurch
Before you book a plumber in Christchurch
Drawn from 185 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What do plumbers typically charge in New Zealand? expand_more
Licensed plumbers in New Zealand charge between $80 and $150 per hour plus GST for standard work. A separate call-out fee of $80 to $150 plus GST is common and sits on top of the hourly rate.
After-hours or emergency call-outs cost significantly more, often $150 to $300 just for the call-out before labour and materials are added. Some Christchurch plumbers noted by reviewers as good value still charge competitive rates without cutting corners on quality.
How do I check if a plumber is registered for the work I need? expand_more
The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) maintains a public register at pgdb.co.nz where you can verify any plumber's licence status before work begins. Ask the tradesperson for their registration number and check it matches their name and licence type on the register.
A Certifying Plumber can independently sign off their own work, while a Licensed Plumber needs a Certifying Plumber to certify it. Unlicensed work is illegal and can void insurance, complicate building consents, and cause problems when selling your property.
What's the difference between a quote and an estimate for plumbing work? expand_more
A quote locks in a fixed price, so the plumber cannot charge more without your prior approval, while an estimate is a rough guide that can change as the job unfolds. For straightforward jobs like tap replacement or toilet installation, always ask for a written quote before work starts.
Where a job involves opening walls or investigating hidden leaks, a plumber may reasonably provide an estimate first, but should contact you before proceeding if costs look like they will exceed it. One reviewer praised a plumber for explaining pricing options and alternatives upfront, which is exactly the kind of conversation that protects you from bill shock.
What are the warning signs of a plumber you shouldn't hire? expand_more
- –Arriving without confirming a time window, as happened in one case where a homeowner was almost late for work because the plumber showed up unannounced.
- –Charging for time that does not match the job duration, including billing for paperwork time while still parked outside.
- –Dismissing your description of the problem rather than investigating it, which led to a delayed diagnosis in at least one reviewed case.
- –Offering only a temporary fix without explaining why a permanent solution was not possible or quoting for it separately.
- –Refusing to return to correct faulty work or blaming other trades when independent assessment proves otherwise.
- –Going silent or becoming hostile when you raise a complaint, rather than communicating openly to resolve the issue.
What should you ask before hiring a plumber? expand_more
- –Are you registered with the PGDB, and can you provide your registration number so I can verify it at pgdb.co.nz?
- –Will you provide a written quote rather than a verbal estimate, and what happens if you discover additional problems once the job is underway?
- –What is your call-out fee, and is it charged separately from your hourly labour rate?
- –What are your after-hours or weekend rates, given that emergencies rarely happen at convenient times?
- –How will you let me know you are on your way, and can you give me a specific arrival window rather than an all-day wait?
- –Do you guarantee your workmanship, and how do you handle it if something related to the job fails after completion?
Also recommended plumbers in Christchurch
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Walton Plumbing Christchurch
★ 4.7 376 reviews +4 Top5 Score 180 -15★ 322 4★ 28 3★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 23Walton Plumbing gets plumbers to hot water cylinder failures, burst pipes, leaking taps, and dishwasher leaks quickly, in several cases arriving within hours of the call including early Monday mornings. Named plumbers like Mark, Brent, and Justin are cited for taking time to explain what they found and why, and for staying on the job until the work is done that day.
location_on 112 Buchan Street, Christchurch
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7
Simply Plumbing
★ 5.0 143 reviews +6 Top5 Score 1745★ 142 4★ 1Simply Plumbing suits homeowners running bathroom and kitchen renovations, whole-house filter installs, hot water heat pump connections, tap repairs, and drain clears, with named plumbers like Ollie, Robbie, and Aaron returning to the same clients across multiple visits. Their office, handled by Emma, responds quickly to quote requests and works with customers through rescheduling without friction, which makes longer projects easier to manage.
location_on Unit 6/11 Print Place, Middleton, Christchurch
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8
Whitehead Plumbing & Gas
★ 4.7 248 reviews -1 Top5 Score 173 +15★ 216 4★ 10 3★ 5 2★ 4 1★ 13Whitehead Plumbing & Gas covers water leak detection, hot water cylinder replacements, gas connections, drainage inspections, and water filter installs, with plumbers like Jed, Virginia, and Ben named for clear communication on the job. When Ben completed a CCTV drainage inspection, he explained what the camera was picking up in real time and followed up quickly with written notes, a level of detail that goes beyond just handing over footage.
location_on 1D Grafton Street, Phillipstown, Christchurch
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9
A1 Plumbing
★ 4.9 209 reviews +5 Top5 Score 172 +15★ 197 4★ 7 3★ 3 1★ 2A1 Plumbing handles hot water cylinder replacements including heat pump units, full bathroom renovations covering shower and vanity installs, toilet supply and install, burst mains, and low water pressure faults. Kerry and plumbers like John and Harry are cited for writing detailed reports when poor prior workmanship is uncovered, giving homeowners documentation to hold developers accountable.
location_on 30 Beach Road, North New Brighton, Christchurch
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10
Plumb Right Ltd
★ 5.0 143 reviews +1 Top5 Score 168 -15★ 140 4★ 2 3★ 1Plumb Right covers leak repairs, tap replacements, and new build plumbing, with Hamish known for sourcing specific parts to solve problems that simpler approaches cannot fix. Customers who have used them across many years describe being able to call and have a likely diagnosis before anyone has even visited the site, which shortens the time from call to fix.
location_on 233 Sparks Road, Christchurch
About this ranking
What the 10 plumbers listed above hold, at the 3 September 2026 check.
We first assessed plumbers in Christchurch in March 2026 and have rechecked the ranking four times since. Two different businesses have held first place; ACF Plumbing has held it since September 2026. ACF Plumbing, Clyne & Bennie, Foleys and Plumb Fast have been in the top 5 at every check. Across the 14 locations we assess plumbers in, the 140 businesses listed have a median rating of 4.9, and one-star reviews are 2.7% of their total.
What has changed since March 2026? expand_more
- Sep 2026
New first place: ACF Plumbing.
- Jul 2026
Scoring method updated. Whitehead Plumbing & Gas entered the list at #8.
- Apr 2026
Scoring method updated. Walton Plumbing entered the list at #6.
- Mar 2026
First check. Clyne & Bennie #1.
Months where nothing changed at the top are not listed.
How are the top plumbers in Christchurch chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for plumbers in Christchurch. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out, and a business whose main Google category is a different trade is held back until a person has checked what it does. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for plumbers in Christchurch. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.