Emergency repairs
Emergency Bathroom Plumbing
The bathroom holds more water connections than any other room, a toilet, taps, a shower, a basin and often a bath, each with supply and waste pipes hidden behind panels and tiles. When one of them fails, we stop the water quickly and carry out a repair that lasts.
Water escaping now? What to do while you wait
When water is coming through a ceiling or spreading across the floor, the first few minutes count. These steps keep everyone safe and hold back the damage:
- Shut off the water at the small isolating valve on the pipe to the leaking fixture, or at the main stopcock if you cannot isolate it locally.
- Stop using the bathroom and open a downstream tap to help drain what is left in the pipes.
- Stay clear of electrics. If water is near a light, extractor or socket, switch off at the consumer unit when it is safe to reach.
- Catch the water with towels and a bucket, and lift toiletries and anything that can be damaged out of the way.
With the water off and the area safe, email us so the source can be traced and repaired. If you are not sure where to turn the supply off, our guide to turning off your water supply shows where the stopcock usually sits.
What we fix
Which bathroom problems do we get called to?
From one persistent drip to water pouring through the ceiling, these are the faults that bring us out most often.
Toilets
Leaking pans and cisterns, a fill valve that runs on, loose connections and water creeping out at the base. A faulty toilet wastes water and can rot the floor and the room beneath. If the pan itself will not clear, see our blocked toilet repairs.
Taps & basins
Taps that drip, seize or refuse to shut off, water seeping from the base of a mixer, and leaking basin wastes and traps. We renew the washer, cartridge or seal, or fit a new tap where that makes more sense. More on emergency tap repairs.
Showers & baths
Leaking shower valves, dripping bath taps, perished seals around trays and enclosures, and water sneaking out under the bath. These leaks often stay hidden and can run for weeks before a mark appears. See emergency shower repairs.
Hidden leaks & pipework
Leaks under suites, behind panels or beneath tiled floors, where a stain on the ceiling below is often the first clue. We trace the source and, when it is not obvious, arrange water leak detection to find it precisely.
Why bathroom leaks hide
Why is a small bathroom leak worth worrying about?
Bathrooms are built to look clean and uncluttered, so most of the plumbing is tucked away. Supply pipes run under the floor, waste pipes sit behind boxing, and the seals around baths and trays disappear beneath tiles and panels. That is fine until something gives, and because the pipework is hidden, a slow leak can soak joists, plaster and insulation long before a damp patch shows on the ceiling below.
That is the reason a minor-looking leak deserves attention. Water follows the lowest point and the easiest path, so the stain you can see is rarely right beneath the fault. Instead of lifting a whole floor or stripping every tile, we narrow the source down step by step, open up only what we must to reach it, carry out the repair, and leave the area watertight again.
How we work
A careful repair, from first look to final test
A bathroom is a finished room, so the work has to be tidy as well as effective. We settle the situation first, find the real cause, then put it right properly.
- Make the area safe and stop the water escaping
- Pin down the faulty fixture, seal, joint or pipe
- Explain whether a repair or a replacement makes more sense
- Carry out the repair and reseal wherever it is needed
- Test the fixture and leave the room clean
Homes, rentals and businesses
A bathroom out of action is a real problem, all the more so when it is the only one or when tenants, staff or customers depend on it. We help homeowners and tenants, and we work with landlords and letting agents who need a dependable repair backed by a clear record of the work.
For washrooms in offices, shops and hospitality venues, see our emergency commercial plumbing.
Frequently asked questions
Bathroom plumbing, answered
My bathroom is leaking through the ceiling below. What should I do?
Stop using the bathroom straight away and turn off the water supply, either at the isolating valve for the affected fixture or at the main stopcock. If water is near a light fitting or runs close to electrics, keep clear and switch off the electricity at the consumer unit if it is safe to do so. Place a bucket under the drip, move belongings out of the way and contact us for help so the source can be found and repaired.
Can you repair a leak under the bath or behind tiles?
Yes. Leaks under baths, behind panels or beneath tiled areas are common because the pipework and seals are hidden and hard to inspect. We trace the source carefully, open up only what is necessary, repair the pipe, joint or seal and make good so the area is watertight again. Where the leak is not obvious, we can arrange leak detection to pinpoint it with minimal disruption.
Is a running or leaking toilet urgent?
A toilet that leaks onto the floor, overflows or lets water run continuously should be dealt with quickly. As well as wasting water, a persistent leak can damage flooring and the room below, and an overflow is a hygiene risk. Isolate the toilet's water supply using the small valve on the supply pipe, stop flushing it, and contact us for help.
Do you work on both the fixtures and the pipework?
Yes. We repair and replace the bathroom fixtures themselves, such as taps, toilet parts, shower valves and wastes, as well as the supply and waste pipework that serves them. The right solution depends on the fault, and we explain whether a repair or a replacement is the more sensible option before any work begins.
Bathroom plumbing problem that can’t wait?
Email our team for immediate help and safety guidance, or request a call back and we’ll arrange for the problem to be put right.