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UrgentPlumbing & Drainage

Emergency plumbing: burst pipes, leaks and no water

When water is going where it shouldn't, two things matter: stopping it now, and fixing it properly afterwards.

Call us and tell us what you can see. We'll help you with the first part over the phone and arrange the second.

Need help right now?

Water escaping or a drain backing up?

Call 01223 482425

Not urgent, or want a quote?

Send an enquiry

Signs to look for

When to treat it as an emergency.

If any of these are happening, call rather than filling in a form. A dripping tap or a slow sink can usually wait for a booked visit.

  • A burst or split pipe

    Water spraying or pouring from a pipe — often after a cold snap, or when a pipe has been knocked or drilled.

  • Water coming through a ceiling

    A bulging or dripping ceiling usually means a leak from a pipe, tank, bath or shower in the room above.

  • Water near electrics

    Water around sockets, light fittings or the fuse box. Don't touch anything wet.

  • No water at all

    Taps have stopped with no warning from your water supplier. It may be a supply problem or a fault on your side.

  • Sewage coming back up

    Waste rising through a toilet, shower tray or outside drain, or a toilet that overflows when flushed.

  • Water you can't turn off

    A tap, valve or toilet cistern that keeps running even when it's shut off.

Right now

While you're calling us.

These steps limit the damage. Only do what's safe.

Call 01223 482425
  1. Turn off the water at the stopcock. It's usually under the kitchen sink — turn it clockwise until it stops.
  2. If water is near anything electrical, switch off the power at the fuse box — but only if you can reach it without touching water.
  3. Open the cold taps and flush the toilets to drain water out of the pipes.
  4. Move valuables and electrical items out of the way, and catch drips with buckets and towels.

Smell gas? That isn't a plumbing call. Leave the property and ring the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

How we help

What we do when you call.

On the phone we'll ask what you're seeing. That tells us how urgent it is and what we're likely to need.

  • Help you find and turn off the water, and make the area safe
  • Find where the water is actually coming from — not just where it's showing
  • Make a safe temporary repair if the full fix needs parts or more time
  • Explain the permanent repair and agree the cost before doing it
  • Tell you in plain terms what failed and why, which helps if you need to speak to your insurer
A brass stopcock and copper pipe in the void beneath a floor
Stopcock and pipework beneath the floor

What happens next

What happens when you contact us.

  1. Step 1

    You call us

    Tell us what's happening and where you are. If water's still running, we'll help you stop it first.

  2. Step 2

    We work out what's needed

    A few quick questions tell us how serious it is and what to bring.

  3. Step 3

    We agree the next step

    We tell you what happens next and how charges work before any work is done.

  4. Step 4

    We fix it, or make it safe

    If the full repair needs a part, we make things safe first and come back to finish.

Questions

Emergency plumbing: common questions.

Something else you'd like to know? Call 01223 482425 or email us.

What counts as a plumbing emergency?

Water escaping that you can't stop, water near electrics, losing your water supply, or waste backing up into the house. A dripping tap, a running toilet or a slow sink is worth fixing, but can usually wait for a booked visit.

Where is my stopcock?

Most often under the kitchen sink. If it isn't there, check a downstairs toilet, the airing cupboard, under the stairs, the garage, or where the water pipe comes up through the floor. There's usually another one outside under a small cover in the pavement, but that belongs to the water company and needs a special key.

My stopcock won't turn. What should I do?

Don't force it with tools — old stopcocks can snap. Try turning it gently both ways to free it. If it still won't move, call us and we'll talk you through the other options, such as isolation valves on individual pipes.

Can you do a temporary repair?

Often, yes. If the permanent repair needs a part we don't have with us, we'll make the leak safe so you can use as much of your water as possible, then come back to finish the job.

Related

Related services.

All services

  • Leak repairs

    Dripping taps, running toilets, damp patches and pipes weeping under the sink. Traced back to the source and repaired.

  • Pipe repairs & replacement

    Split, corroded, frozen or badly joined pipes. Repaired, or replaced where repairing would only move the problem along.

  • Call if urgent

    Blocked drains

    Sinks, toilets, showers and outside drains that won't clear. We find the blockage, clear it and tell you what caused it.

If it can't wait, call us now.

Tell us what you can see. We'll help you make it safe and explain what happens next.

Call 01223 482425

Not urgent? Send an enquiry and we'll get back to you.

Call 01223 482425Enquire