Plumbing questions, answered honestly
The questions we get asked most often on the phone, written out properly. No sales language, no promises we can't keep — if the answer is "no", it says no.
Emergencies and call-outs
What actually happens when you ring, and when it's worth ringing at all.
Are you genuinely available 24/7?
Yes. The phone is on 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and it is answered by the plumber rather than a call centre. If it is urgent, ring rather than message — a phone call gets a response, a message might sit unread if we are under a floor somewhere.
How quickly can you get here?
It depends entirely on where you are, what we are already on and the time of day. We will tell you honestly on the phone roughly when we can be with you, and if we cannot get there in a sensible time we will say so rather than leave you waiting.
What counts as a real emergency?
Water you cannot stop, a leak coming through a ceiling or near electrics, a burst pipe, a completely blocked only toilet, or no water at all in the property. A dripping tap or a slow basin is worth booking in rather than paying emergency rates for.
What should I do before you arrive?
If you can reach it safely, turn off the internal stopcock — usually under the kitchen sink, in a utility or near the front of the house — and open the cold taps to drain down. If water is anywhere near electrics, do not touch it: switch off at the consumer unit and stay clear.
What information should I have ready?
Your postcode, a plain description of the problem, the best phone number to reach you on, and whether it is a house or a flat. Flats matter because shared risers and upstairs neighbours change how a leak has to be isolated. A photo or short video over WhatsApp helps a lot.
Pricing and quotes
Can you give me a price over the phone?
Not a final one, and anyone who does is guessing. What we will do is be straight about how we charge and whether a call-out fee applies before we travel. Once we have seen the job you get a clear quote before any work starts.
Is there a call-out fee?
A call-out fee may apply depending on the job, the distance and the time. It is always confirmed on the phone before we set off, so there is nothing to argue about on the doorstep.
Do you charge more at night or at weekends?
Out-of-hours work is priced differently to a booked weekday job. Again, it is discussed on the phone first — you decide whether to go ahead before we travel.
What if the job turns out to be bigger than expected?
We stop and tell you. If what we find behind a panel or under a floor changes the job, you get a revised quote before we carry on rather than a surprise at the end.
How can I pay?
Bank transfer or card on completion. Ask when you call if you need anything specific for a landlord, agent or insurance claim.
What we don't do
Do you work on boilers or gas?
No — and this is worth being completely clear about. We do not carry out gas or boiler work of any kind: no boiler repairs, no boiler swaps, no gas cooker or hob connections, no gas safety certificates. Anything involving gas legally needs a Gas Safe registered engineer, and we will tell you that rather than take the job on.
So what heating work can you do?
The wet side. Radiators repaired, replaced or moved, radiator valves and TRVs, heated towel rails, heating pipework repairs and extensions, and power flushing a sludged system. Everything except the boiler itself.
Do you do tiling, plastering or making good?
We do the plumbing and we leave the work area clean and tidy. Where a wall or floor has had to be opened up, we will tell you what making good is needed. Tiling and plastering we hand to trades who do it properly rather than pretending to cover everything.
Blocked drains and leaks
The same drain keeps blocking. Why?
A blockage that returns is usually a symptom of something structural: a collapsed or displaced section, a run laid without enough fall, root ingress at an old clay joint, or heavy fat build-up further along. We would rather find that and quote for the fix than clear the same pipe every three months.
Will drain jetting damage my pipes?
Used correctly on sound pipework, no. We look at the run first and pick the right method — sometimes rodding or a drain machine is the better tool, and jetting is not always the answer.
Can you find a leak if I can't see where it's coming from?
Usually, yes. Damp patches and stained ceilings very rarely appear directly below the leak — water travels along joists and pipe runs. We trace it back to the source rather than opening up the first likely-looking spot.
Is the drain outside my house my responsibility?
Broadly, drainage within your boundary is yours; shared lateral drains and public sewers beyond it are usually the water company's. If we lift a chamber and it is clearly on their side, we will say so and point you to United Utilities.
Are flushable wipes really a problem?
Yes. They do not break down like toilet paper. They catch on anything slightly rough inside the pipe and gather everything behind them. If wipes are used in the house, that is the first thing we ask about on a repeat blockage.
Coverage and how we work
Where are you based and how far do you travel?
Oldham. We travel out from there, typically up to around 30 miles, which covers Manchester, Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne, Stockport, Bury, Salford, Middleton and the surrounding towns and villages. We have no branches anywhere else and we will not claim otherwise.
Will it be the same person who answers the phone?
Yes. This is an independent plumbing business, not a franchise or a lead-generation site. The person you speak to is the person doing the work.
Are you insured?
Yes — Public Liability Insurance is in place, and we are happy to confirm the details before starting work at your property.
Do you work with landlords and letting agents?
Regularly. We can deal with tenants directly to arrange access if you prefer, and report back on what was found and what was done. Periodic plumbing checks between tenancies are available too.
Can you work at a property while nobody is home?
With the owner's or landlord's clear instruction and a way in, yes. It is common on rental work and void properties.
Emergency? Here's what to send us
A photo or short video helps too. The more we know before setting off, the less time is wasted when we get there.
Your postcode
So we can tell you straight away whether you're inside the radius we cover.
What the problem is
In your own words — where the water is coming from and how long it's been going on.
A phone number
The best number to reach you on when we're close, so nobody is left waiting at the wrong door.
House or flat
Flats, shared risers and upstairs neighbours change how a leak has to be isolated.
Plumbing emergency right now?
Call and speak to the plumber who will be doing the job — not a call centre. Lines are open 24 hours a day, every day.
You get a clear quote before work starts. A call-out fee may apply — confirmed on the phone before we travel.