Hiring a Plumber in Florida: Licenses, Permits and Common Florida Problems

• CFC: a state-certified plumbing contractor, licensed to work anywhere in Florida.
• RF: a registered plumbing contractor, licensed only in the counties or cities where registered.

Look the number up at myfloridalicense.com and confirm it shows current and active. A handyman can do small repairs such as swapping a faucet, but work on water heaters, drain lines and supply piping belongs to a licensed plumber.

• Replacing a water heater.
• Repiping a house or replacing a main drain line.
• Adding or moving fixtures in a remodel.
• Installing a water treatment system that ties into the supply line, in many jurisdictions.

Simple like-for-like repairs generally do not. Rules vary by county and city, so ask the plumber who is pulling the permit, and be cautious if they suggest skipping one for a water heater.

• Cast iron drain lines in homes built before the mid-1970s corrode from the inside and eventually crack or collapse. Slow drains throughout the house and sewer smells are warning signs.
• Polybutylene supply piping, used in many homes from the late 1970s into the 1990s, is prone to failure, and some insurers will not cover a home that still has it.
• Slab leaks: supply lines run under the concrete slab in many Florida homes. An unexplained jump in the water bill or a warm spot on the floor is worth a call.
• Water heaters tend to fail sooner here because of mineral content in the water. Flushing the tank yearly helps.

For a drain or sewer problem, ask for a camera inspection and a copy of the video before agreeing to a large repair.

• Find your main water shutoff and make sure it turns.
• Know where the water heater's shutoff valve and breaker are.
• Before a storm or a long trip, shutting off the main prevents a small leak from becoming a flood.

For any non-emergency job, get the scope and price in writing and avoid paying in full up front.