General Plumbing Advice
Everyday plumbing advice — leaking taps, loft tank leaks, pressure problems and knowing when to call a professional plumber.
From dripping taps to loft tank leaks, everyday plumbing problems can cause damage and waste water if left unfixed. This page covers the most common issues and when to call a professional.
For urgent plumbing problems — burst pipes, major leaks, or no water — book an emergency plumber.
Leaking taps and toilets
A dripping tap is usually a worn washer or cartridge — a straightforward fix for a plumber. A running toilet is often a faulty fill valve or flapper. Both waste significant water over time and are worth fixing promptly. See our leaking tap repair page for indicative costs.
Loft tank and cold water issues
If you have a traditional cold water tank in the loft, common problems include overflowing tanks (a faulty ball valve), frozen pipes in winter, and slow hot water. Loft tank leaks can damage ceilings below — see our loft tank leak repair page for more.
When to call a plumber
- Any leak you cannot stop at the isolation valve or stopcock.
- Burst or frozen pipes — book an emergency plumber.
- No water or very low pressure affecting the whole house.
- Any work involving gas pipes or boiler connections — must be a Gas Safe Registered engineer.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I fix a leaking tap?
A dripping tap is usually caused by a worn washer, ceramic cartridge, or O-ring. On most taps this is a straightforward repair, but the exact part depends on the tap type — mixer, monoblock, or traditional pillar. If you're not confident identifying the part and isolating the water supply, a plumber can fix it in one visit. See our leaking tap repair page for indicative costs.
Why is my loft tank overflowing?
An overflowing cold water tank in the loft is almost always a faulty ball valve (float valve) that isn't shutting off when the tank is full. The valve washer or diaphragm wears over time and needs replacing. Left unfixed, it wastes water and can cause damage to ceilings below. See our loft tank leak repair page for more.
Can I repair a leaking radiator valve myself?
A weeping radiator valve can sometimes be tightened gently with a spanner to compress the gland packing, which may stop a slow drip. If that doesn't work, the valve needs repacking or replacing — which involves draining part of the system. If you're not confident isolating and draining the circuit, book a plumber.
When should I call a plumber instead of fixing it myself?
Call a plumber for any leak you can't stop at the isolation valve or stopcock, burst or frozen pipes, no water or very low pressure affecting the whole house, and any work involving gas pipes or boiler connections — which must be done by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Simple tasks like tightening a radiator valve gland are reasonable for a confident homeowner.
Still need help?
Our Gas Safe Registered engineers cover Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and West London — 24/7.