Plumbers Insurance

What is plumbers' insurance?

Essentially, this is another term for business insurance that bundles together different types of cover most critical for a plumber. It provides that peace of mind, acting as a safety net to protect your business financially if things go wrong.

Your specific policy is tailored to your needs, but business insurance is generally built by combining several key protections vital for your trade. The exact details depend on your selections, but here’s an overview of the essential types of insurance that plumbing professionals often include.

While policies can be customised with optional extras, core cover usually involves: 

• Public Liability Insurance: Essential protection against third party claims for accidental injury or property damage caused during your plumbing activities. It covers things like   accidental damage claims if a joint fails from not being attached properly and leads to escape of water. 
• Employers’ Liability Insurance: A legal necessity in the UK if you have staff. This protects your business financially if an employee claims they were injured or became ill due to their work for you. This includes full-time, part-time, temporary staff, or apprentices.
• Business van insurance addresses the specific needs of using your van for work purposes, such as travelling between job sites and transporting tools and materials. It's important to arrange this cover separately, as it not included in your plumbers' insurance policy, and standard personal van policies usually exclude business use.

Added Safety

These are covers that are relevant to some plumbers. 

• Professional indemnity insurance may be required if you’re going to be giving advice or designs to customers. If this is something that you do offer, then you should consider professional indemnity when getting a quote.

You can often tailor your plumbers’ insurance further to give you added protection with optional extras, like workshop cover, to provide even more comprehensive protection for your business operations.

• Tools insurance helps protect your tools and equipment (whether owned or hired-in) if it's lost, stolen, or accidentally damaged. Since your tools are vital for your livelihood, this plumber’s tool insurance minimises downtime by helping you repair or replace them quickly, getting you back on the job faster. 
• Workshop contents insurance is designed for trades businesses that have a small workshop, store or office space to protect their valuable items, such as tools, machinery, stock stored or used there.

Insurance Considerations for Plumbing Sub-contractors

Subcontractors should check whether they’re covered under the main contractor’s insurance. If not, it’s best to arrange your own public liability insurance.

How much does plumbers’ insurance cost?

Our plumber’s insurance cost is tailored to each business, as no two plumbers have identical needs. Several factors do however affect the cost of your cover such as: 

• The types of cover selected (such as plumbers public liability insurance, tools cover, or employers’ liability) 
• The indemnity limits required
• Your business operations 

The best way to find out the exact price for your plumbing business is to get a personalised quote online – it only takes a few minutes. 

Which other types of work do you cover?

We provide cover for several related HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) trades, there are trades involved in working with pipework, heating, gas, and ventilation systems, acknowledging the overlapping skills and risks. 

Cover is available if your business undertakes work such as:

• Heating services (including installation and maintenance) 
• Ventilation services 
• Boiler and gas work
• Kitchen and bathroom work

If you do other work, you can select dual trades when you're getting a quote.

We cover several trade professions, so even if you’re not a plumber we may still be able to offer you cover. Here are just a few of the trades we cover:

• Bricklayers’ insurance
• Builders’ insurance
• Carpenters’ insurance
• Electricians’ insurance
• Glazier insurance
• Handyman insurance
• Kitchen and bathroom fitter insurance
• Locksmiths insurance
• Painter & decorator insurance
• Plasterers’ insurance
• Window cleaners’ insurance

Can’t see your occupation on the list? Try our handy occupation A-Z to see what cover we can offer you.

†Only AXA Business Insurance product customers and their employees are eligible to use the 24/7 health support line. AXA Health reserve the right to withdraw access for AXA Business Insurance product customers and their employees at any time. For more information please visit: 24/7 Health Support Line | AXA Health