What is included in a leak repair.
Leak repairs are part of our plumbing services for homes and businesses. Whether it is a tap that will not stop dripping or a stain spreading across a ceiling, the work starts by finding the source.
Dripping taps repaired
Older taps that take several turns to close usually drip because of a worn washer or valve seat. Quarter turn and lever taps use a ceramic cartridge instead. Forcing the tap tighter rarely stops the drip and can wear it faster, so we replace the worn part.
Leaks around the tap
Water round the base of a tap or under the handle usually comes from a worn seal rather than the valve itself. On a mixer with a swivel spout, the O-rings at the base of the spout are a common cause, and a tap that has worked loose can let water get under the worktop.
Leaks under the sink
The usual culprits are the waste trap, the flexible tap connectors, a weeping joint or valve, and the hoses to a washing machine or dishwasher. We dry everything off and run the water to see where the first drop appears, then fix that joint rather than guessing.
Pipe leaks and burst pipes
A weeping joint is remade, and pipe that has split in a frost, been pierced by a nail or screw, or pinholed with age is cut back to sound pipe and a new section put in. Burst pipes and other urgent leaks get prompt attention.
Hidden leaks traced
A leak inside a wall, floor or ceiling usually shows itself as a damp patch, a stain, bubbling paint or a musty smell. We follow those signs back to the source and explain what needs opening up, if anything, before we start.
Checked dry before we go
Once the repair is done we run the water, check that every joint we worked on stays dry, and clear up before we leave.
If a leak will not stop, do this first.
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Step 1: Turn off the stopcock
It is usually under the kitchen sink. If not, look where the water pipe comes into the building: a utility room, downstairs toilet, under the stairs or near the front door. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
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Step 2: Make the electrics safe
If water is near sockets, lights or appliances, or coming through a ceiling, switch off the electricity at the consumer unit if you can reach it without standing in water. Do not touch anything electrical with wet hands.
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Step 3: Drain and contain
Turn on the cold taps to drain the water left in the pipes, and switch the boiler off if a hot water or heating pipe is leaking. Put a bowl or bucket under the drip and move anything that could be damaged.
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Step 4: Phone us
Ring 01256 805 164 and tell us what has happened. Urgent leaks get prompt attention, and a photo on WhatsApp helps us understand the problem before we arrive.
A leak can need anything from a new washer to a new length of pipe, so we price the repair once we know what is causing it. The quotation is free, with no obligation.
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