Urgent plumbing
Emergency plumber in London for leaks, burst pipes and blockages
Water coming through a ceiling, a burst pipe or a toilet that will not flush cannot wait until next week. Call us and we tell you the earliest time an insured plumber can be with you, and what to do until then.
- Mon to Sat 8am to 10pm, Sun 8am to 6pm
- Published first-hour rate
- All London boroughs
What we attend
Plumbing emergencies we deal with
- Burst and leaking pipes, including leaks through a ceiling or into the flat below
- Blocked toilets, sinks and drains that are overflowing or backing up
- No water, or very low pressure across the whole property
- Leaking or overflowing water tanks, cylinders and cisterns
- Stopcocks and isolation valves that will not shut off
- Leaking radiators and radiator valves
- Toilets that will not flush or will not stop running
- Leaking washing machine and dishwasher connections
First steps
What to do before the plumber arrives
Turn off the water
Close the stopcock, usually under the kitchen sink or where the supply pipe enters the property. In a flat it may be in a cupboard or a communal riser. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
Drain the pipes
Open the cold taps to empty the pipework. If the leak is on the hot side, switch off the boiler or immersion heater, then open the hot taps as well.
Keep water away from electrics
If water is near sockets, light fittings or the consumer unit, switch off the electricity at the main switch, but only if you can reach it without standing in water.
Catch and contain
Put buckets under drips, move furniture and valuables, and take photos for your insurer. If a ceiling is bulging with water, stay out from under it.
Cost
How an emergency call-out is charged
We charge by time, at the same published rates as any other visit: a first-hour rate, then a lower rate for each extra half hour. The rate depends on the day and the time, and evenings and weekends cost a little more than a weekday daytime. Materials are charged in addition to labour. We confirm the rate on the phone before anyone sets off, and nothing starts until you agree to it.
Most emergency visits have two parts. First we stop the damage: isolate the supply, make the leak safe or clear the blockage. If the lasting repair needs parts we do not carry, we tell you what it will cost and come back to finish it.
Who to call
When it is not a job for a plumber
You can smell gas
Do not call a plumber first. Open the windows, do not use switches or naked flames, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service free on 0800 111 999, 24 hours a day.
The leak is in the street
Water coming up through the road or pavement, or from the pipe before your stopcock, belongs to the water company. In most of London that is Thames Water, which takes leak reports 24 hours a day.
It is outside our hours
We attend jobs 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 6pm on Sunday. Overnight, turn off the stopcock, contain the water and call us when we open. If the property is at risk and cannot wait, use a 24-hour service.
Coverage
Emergency plumbers across London
We attend plumbing emergencies in all 32 London boroughs and the City of London. See the areas we cover for local pages. For work that can be booked ahead, go to leak repairs, drain unblocking, toilet repairs or general plumbing repairs. If the heating has failed rather than the plumbing, see boiler repair.
Published rates
Plumbing hourly rates in London
You pay a first-hour rate, then a lower rate for each extra half hour. The rate depends on the day and time of the visit.
| Plumbing | Mon–Fri 8am–6pm | Mon–Fri 6pm–10pm | Saturday 8am–6pm | Sunday 8am–6pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First hour | £96Business: £80 + VAT | £102Business: £85 + VAT | £102Business: £85 + VAT | £114Business: £95 + VAT |
| Each extra half hour | £50.40Business: £42 + VAT | £54Business: £45 + VAT | £57.60Business: £48 + VAT | £60Business: £50 + VAT |
| Daily rate | £586.80Business: £489 + VAT | — | — | — |
Prices include VAT at 20%. Offices and companies: the business rate is shown + VAT. Rates apply to jobs inside the M25. Minimum charges apply. Materials are charged in addition to labour. See the full rate card.
Extra If we need to go and buy materials, travel and shopping time is charged at £57.60 per hour inc VAT (business: £48 + VAT). The materials themselves are added at cost.
Questions
Emergency plumber London: your questions
How quickly can an emergency plumber get to me?
It depends on where you are in London and how busy the day is. When you call, we give you the earliest arrival time we can honestly offer, before you commit to anything.
Are you a 24-hour emergency plumber?
No. We attend jobs from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 6pm on Sunday. If you have a leak overnight, turn the water off at the stopcock and call us when we open.
How much does an emergency plumber cost in London?
Our plumbing rate starts at £96 inc VAT (business: £80 + VAT) for the first hour on a weekday daytime, then a lower rate for each extra half hour. Evenings, Saturdays and Sundays are charged at the rates shown in the table on this page. Materials are extra.
Where is my stopcock?
In most houses it is under the kitchen sink, or where the water pipe comes in: a cellar, a cupboard under the stairs or a utility room. In flats it is often in a kitchen or bathroom cupboard, or in a communal riser cupboard outside the front door. It is worth finding it before you need it.
Will my home insurance cover the damage?
Many buildings and contents policies cover damage caused by an escape of water, but not always the cost of repairing the pipe itself. Take photos, keep damaged items, keep our invoice and check with your insurer.
Can you fix the problem on the first visit?
Usually we can stop the leak or clear the blockage on the first visit. If the lasting repair needs a part we do not have with us, we make it safe, tell you the cost and return to finish.
Related services
More from Plumbery
Why Plumbery
Qualified, insured and upfront about price
Every engineer we send is registered or qualified for the trade they work in, and you can check the details before anyone starts.
- Fully insuredEvery job is covered by our insurance.
- Rates published in advanceOur hourly rates are on the pricing page. Nothing starts until you agree the rate.
- Paperwork includedGas safety certificates and electrical records are provided on completion.
- Registered companyPlumbery Ltd, company no. 11677583, registered in England and Wales.
