Burst Pipe Repairs in Essex, Kent & East London

What to do straight away if a pipe bursts

The first thing to do when a pipe bursts is turn off the water at your internal stop tap, which is often under the kitchen sink. Turning it clockwise shuts off the mains supply to the house. Next, open your cold taps to drain the water left in the pipes, and flush the toilets. If water is near electrics, keep away and only switch off the electricity at the consumer unit if it's safe to do so. Put down towels and buckets, move anything valuable, and take photos of the damage for your insurer. Then call a plumber.

What a burst pipe repair involves

A burst pipe repair starts with finding the exact point of failure, which isn't always where the water appears. Water can run along joists and pipes before dripping through a ceiling some distance away. Once we've found the split or failed joint, we cut out the damaged section and replace it with new pipe and fittings. We then turn the water back on, check the repair and nearby joints under pressure, and make sure the system is running normally. If the pipe failed because of where it runs, such as an unprotected loft or outside wall, we'll explain how to protect it.

Why pipes burst

Pipes burst for a handful of common reasons. In cold weather, water inside pipes in lofts, garages, cellars and outside walls can freeze; ice takes up more space than water, which puts strain on the pipe and its joints. Older pipework and fittings can corrode or wear thin. Joints can be knocked or disturbed during building work, or fail after years of small movement as pipes heat up and cool down. Push-fit and compression fittings that weren't fitted correctly can let go suddenly. Knowing the cause helps you avoid a repeat.

Signs of a burst or leaking pipe

The obvious sign of a burst pipe is water spraying or pouring from pipework. Less obvious signs include water stains or bulging on ceilings, damp patches on walls, the sound of running water when every tap is off, a sudden drop in water pressure, and a water meter that keeps turning when nothing is in use. A pipe that has frozen may stop delivering water at all and only start leaking once it thaws. If you spot any of these, shut off the water and call a plumber before the damage spreads.

What affects the cost of a burst pipe repair?

The cost of repairing a burst pipe depends on where the pipe is, how much needs replacing, and when you need us. A split pipe in an open loft or under a sink is quicker to reach than one under floorboards, inside a wall or behind tiles. The type of pipe and the number of fittings needed also matter. Our standard hourly call-out rates, excluding parts, materials and VAT, are:

Emergency callouts may vary, so ask us for details. There are no hidden charges, and we always confirm a fixed price for your job before we start.

Should I repair one section or replace the pipework?

Repairing the damaged section is usually the right call when a single pipe has frozen and split or one joint has failed. Replacing a longer run of pipework makes more sense when the pipes are badly corroded, have leaked in several places, or are an old material that's reaching the end of its life. Patching old, failing pipework repeatedly tends to cost you more over time. We'll show you what we find and recommend the option that suits the condition of your system.

Burst pipe FAQs