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Help and advice

Help with leaks, power cuts and blocked drains

Answer a few quick questions to see if you need us today, and what to do while you wait. Then try our plain guides to your stopcock, fuse box and radiators.

Emergency check

Is it an emergency?

One question at a time. You can go back at any point.

Question 1

Not sure? Call us on 01632 960271.

Guides

Simple fixes you can do safely

Plain steps for the jobs you can do yourself, and when to stop and call us.

Find and turn off your stopcock

Stop the water during a leak. It takes a minute once you know where it is.
2 minutesNo tools
  1. Look under the kitchen sink first. The stopcock is a brass or plastic tap on the pipe that comes up through the floor.
  2. If it is not there, check by the front door, under the stairs, in a utility room or in the garage.
  3. Turn the handle clockwise until it stops. Do not force it with tools if it is stiff.
  4. Open the cold kitchen tap to check the water has stopped. Let the pipes drain.
  5. To turn the water back on, turn the stopcock anticlockwise slowly, then check for drips.
Clockwiseto close
Stop and call us ifThe stopcock will not turn by hand, or it leaks when you move it.
Book this job instead

Reset a tripped switch on your fuse box

Get the power back on when one circuit cuts out.
5 minutesNo tools
  1. Open the fuse box cover. Find the switch that points the opposite way to the rest.
  2. Unplug everything on that circuit. For lights, switch them off at the wall.
  3. Push the tripped switch firmly back up to on.
  4. Plug things back in one at a time. If it trips straight away, the last item may be faulty. Leave it unplugged.
  5. If it trips again with nothing plugged in, leave it off and book a visit.
One switch is down
Stop and call us ifYou see scorch marks, smell burning, or the fuse box feels warm. Never take the cover off.
Book this job instead

Bleed a radiator

Fix a radiator that is warm at the bottom but cold at the top.
15 minutesRadiator key and a cloth
  1. Turn the heating off and let the radiators cool down fully.
  2. Find the bleed valve at one top corner. Hold a cloth under it.
  3. Turn the key a quarter turn anticlockwise. You will hear air hiss out.
  4. When water starts to drip out, close the valve by turning it clockwise.
  5. Check the pressure gauge on your boiler. If it is lower than your boiler manual says, book a pressure top-up.
Bleed valve, top corner
Stop and call us ifWater keeps coming out, or several radiators stay cold after bleeding.
Book this job instead

Clear a slow sink without chemicals

Shift a small blockage with a plunger and hot water.
10 minutesA sink plunger
  1. Take out the plug and remove anything you can see in the drain.
  2. Block the overflow hole with a damp cloth.
  3. Run a little water into the sink, then plunge firmly 10 to 15 times.
  4. Pour a kettle of hot, not boiling, water down the drain to flush it.
  5. If it is still slow, the blockage is further down. Book a visit.
Stop and call us ifWater comes back up in another sink or the bath. Do not use chemical drain cleaner. It can burn skin and damage pipes.
Book this job instead

What to do if you smell gas

Get out first, then call. Do not look for the leak.
Act straight away
  1. Get everyone out of the building.
  2. Do not use light switches, plugs, flames or doorbells on the way out.
  3. Once you are outside, call your local gas emergency number.
  4. Wait outside until the gas team tells you it is safe.
RememberWe do not work on gas. The gas emergency team will make it safe.

Questions

Questions people often ask us

What counts as a plumbing or electrical emergency?

Water you cannot stop, water near electrics, sparks or a burning smell, no power to the whole home, or your only toilet blocked. Request an urgent callback for any of these.

Where is my stopcock?

Most are under the kitchen sink. If not, look by the front door, under the stairs, in a utility room or in the garage. Turn it clockwise to close it.

Why does my fuse box keep tripping?

Usually a faulty appliance, water getting into a fitting, or a damaged cable. Unplug everything and reset once. If it still trips, book a visit. Finding the fault is a fixed £95.

Is a dripping tap urgent?

No. It is safe to book a normal visit. Fixing a dripping tap is a fixed £65, plus the £49 call-out.

Book a visit