Frequently Asked Questions
We often have lots of queries, so here are a few of our most frequently asked questions:
Where do you offer plumbing services?
Geographically, the bulk of our work is within about a 15 mile radius of Farnborough – Hampshire. Generally speaking we do not cross the M25
Do you charge a call-out fee?
We do not charge a call-out fee but have an hourly charge for smaller works such as leaky taps. We believe that this is a fairer way to operate rather than charge a blanket call-out fee regardless of distance travelled.
Can you fit bathrooms?
Yes, we fit bathrooms and kitchens and carry out all aspects of plumbing and heating.
Do you do emergency plumbing callouts?
We do not offer a 24-hour emergency call-out service but will always do our best to get to you quickly during normal working hours. We charge at 1.5 times our standard hourly charge for works commenced after 5pm.
Do you do free plumbing consultations?
We carry out free surveys for all our planned work. If you need advice only then we charge at our standard hourly rate for onsite visits and any admin.
How often do I need to service my boiler?
You should service your boiler Annually using a gas-safe registered engineer. Your manufacturer warranty is only valid if your boiler is serviced accordingly.
How long will the job take?
This will completely depend upon the extent of the work required. On average though a complete renovation of a bathroom or kitchen is 2 to 3 weeks.
What do I need to get ready for you to start?
You should clear out of the room anything that you wish to keep prior to works commencing. We would normally assume that anything still in the room and which is portable is no longer required. At the least, you should put labels on anything that is to be kept if you are unable to remove it.
Will you take away the rubbish?
We would normally include for the removal of all waste within our costings. This will always be by way of a skip on site. We also use a licensed waste carrier where a skip on site is not possible.
Will there be much mess?
As the saying goes, you can’t make an omelette without cracking eggs. If you are having a complete refurbishment of a kitchen or bathroom where old tiles are knocked off, chases cur in walls etc, then this will create a lot of dust. We will always do our best to keep things as tidy as possible but dust will inevitably travel and settle in areas that are away from the immediate working area. If necessary we can, at the outset, arrange for a complete house ‘builders clean’ to be done once works are completed.
Do you do small jobs like leaky taps?
Yes we carry out smaller works on an hourly charge.
Are you insured to work or on my home?
We have full public liability insurance.
Do you provide quotes before you start?
We provide full estimates for larger jobs and operate an hourly charge for small jobs.
Do you carry out Gas safe inspections?
We carry out Landlord Gas Safety Certificates and gas inspections for homebuyers.
Do you cover all makes and models of boilers?
We can service most boilers on the market. We will always ask for the details of your boiler before accepting the job and will let you know then if we are unable to.
Do you use genuine parts for repairs?
We always use manufacturer parts.
Which type of boiler should I choose?
This is a question that needs to be answered after a survey of your property and depends on different factors. Things like how much mains water pressure and flow you have will make a big difference. The location of waste pipes and gas meter and the required location of the boiler all need to be carefully evaluated.
Why is my radiator not heating up?
This could be due to different things such as a stuck pin in a thermostatic radiator valve, a blocked pipe, an unbalanced system or a wrongly plumbed system. You may need a powerflush. Please see Powerflushing.
Why is my boiler making a lot of noise?
This can be different things; a restricted or blocked heat exchanger or just a noisy fan. A heat exchanger that is restricted (lack of flow through it) will kettle with some popping and banging similar to the noise a scaled-up kettle makes only worse.
How do I know if I have a pipe leak?
If you have a sealed system (combination or system boiler) or converted heating-only boiler to a sealed system then if it’s from your heating system you will have a loss of pressure which will be seen on the pressure gauge which could be on the boiler or near a separate expansion bottle.
How do I know if I have a gas leak?
The bottom line is you may not. You may be able to smell it or you may notice that you are using more gas than seems correct. If you suspect you may have a leak then you need to ask an engineer to check it asap. If you can smell gas and know where your gas meter is then you should turn off the meter using the lever on the side of it. You may also need to call the emergency gas service on 0800 111999.
What do I do when a pipe bursts?
As long as it’s not a leak on the waste pipe then open up the hot and cold bath taps and leave them running while you go and shut the mains stop cock off if you know where that is or the shut off outside of your property. This will allow the loft tanks to drain if the problem is from the gravity hot or cold or the header tank to drain if it’s on the heating side.
If you have pressurised system then shutting off the mains water should stop your leak.
Be aware though that even after you have shut the water off, it may take a while for the water to actually stop running or dripping.
To avoid extensive damage, making some holes in the ceiling and letting the water drop through into buckets may prevent the ceiling from needing to be replaced.
Where is the water shut off valve for my property?
The first place to look is always under the kitchen sink but it could be anywhere in reality. Your house may have been extended over the years so the stop cock could be in an obscure location.
My advice would be that if you don’t know where it is then spend some time locating it and then make sure it works. You should also look for where your shut off is outside and also make sure that you’re able to turn that off.
I’ve seen many distressed customers over the years who wish they had!
Contact us if you have any queries that we haven’t covered in the frequently asked questions above.
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