What counts as a plumbing emergency?
A plumbing emergency is any fault where water is damaging your home right now, or where you've lost a basic service such as a working toilet or a water supply. Common examples are a burst or split pipe, water coming through a ceiling, a leak you can't isolate, a blocked drain or toilet backing up into the house, an overflowing cistern, and no water to the property. A dripping tap or a slow sink usually isn't an emergency and can wait for a weekday visit, which costs you less. If you're not sure, call us and we'll tell you honestly whether it needs an out-of-hours visit.
What to do while you wait for an emergency plumber
The most useful thing you can do in a leak emergency is turn off the water at your internal stop tap. In many homes it's under the kitchen sink, but it can also be in a downstairs toilet, airing cupboard, utility room or wherever the supply pipe enters the house. Turning it clockwise shuts off the mains supply. If water is near light fittings or sockets, keep clear and only switch off the electricity at the consumer unit if you can reach it safely. Move valuables, put down towels and buckets, and take photos for your insurer.
How our emergency call-out works
When you call, we ask what's happening, where the property is, and whether you've managed to shut the water off. We give you an expected arrival time, and our average emergency response is one hour. On arrival, the first job is making the situation safe: stopping the water, clearing the blockage, or isolating the faulty section so you can use the rest of the house. We then explain what caused the problem and what the permanent fix involves. You get a fixed price before any work starts, so there's no surprise bill afterwards.
Why plumbing emergencies happen
Most plumbing emergencies come from faults that have been building quietly for a while. Pipes in lofts, garages and on outside walls can freeze and split in cold weather. Old joints and flexible tap connectors can fail suddenly after years of small movement. Drains block when fat, wipes and debris build up, or when roots get into older pipes. Washing machine and dishwasher hoses perish with age. Knowing the cause matters to you, because the repair that stops the same emergency coming back is often different from the quick fix that stops the water tonight.
What affects the cost of an emergency plumber
The cost of an emergency plumbing visit depends mainly on when you need us and how long the job takes. Our standard hourly call-out rates, excluding parts, materials and VAT, are:
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm£100 / hour
Monday to Friday, after 5pm£150 / hour
Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 5pm£150 / hour
Saturday and Sunday, after 5pm£180 / hour
Other factors are access (pipes under floors or behind tiles take longer to reach), the parts needed, and whether the permanent repair can be done on the same visit. 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.
Can an emergency plumbing repair be made permanent?
Sometimes the emergency repair is the permanent repair, and sometimes it isn't. A failed tap connector or a split length of pipe can usually be replaced properly on the first visit. A leak hidden in a wall, a collapsed drain or corroded pipework may need a temporary repair at night and a planned repair afterwards, when the right materials are on hand and the work doesn't have to be rushed. We'll tell you which situation you're in, and give you a fixed price for any follow-up work before you agree to it.
Emergency plumbing FAQs
How quickly can an emergency plumber reach me in Essex, Kent or East London?
Our average emergency response time is one hour from your call. The exact time depends on where you are and the traffic, so we give you an expected arrival time on the phone. If you can shut off your stop tap while you wait, you'll limit the damage significantly.
Is it cheaper to wait until morning for a plumber?
It can be, if the problem is under control. Our weekday daytime rate is £100 per hour, against £150 to £180 per hour in the evening and at weekends. Emergency callouts may vary, so ask us for details. If you've shut off the water and the house is safe, a morning visit may save you money. If water is still escaping or you have no working toilet, it's usually worth calling now.
Do you deal with gas leaks or boiler breakdowns?
No. Essex Home Plumbing doesn't carry out gas or boiler work. If you smell gas, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999, which is free and open 24 hours a day. For a boiler fault, contact a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Will my home insurance pay for an emergency plumber?
Many home insurance policies cover damage caused by escaping water, and some include home emergency cover for the call-out itself. What's covered depends on your policy, so check it or call your insurer. We give you a written invoice and can take photos of the fault to support your claim.