Emergency repairs
Emergency Kitchen Plumbing
The kitchen sees constant use and packs a lot of plumbing into a small space, the sink and tap, the waste, and the hidden connections to the washing machine and dishwasher. When something leaks or blocks, it quickly disrupts the busiest room in the house. We put it right.
Why does kitchen plumbing fail when you least expect it?
The cupboard under most kitchen sinks is a crowded place: the sink waste and trap, the tap supply pipes, the fill and waste connections for a washing machine and dishwasher, and often the main stopcock for the whole property. All of it is packed in behind cleaning products and bin bags, so a slow leak is easy to miss until the cupboard base is soaked or water starts creeping across the floor.
The sink itself takes more punishment than any other outlet in the house. Fats and oils poured away cool and set, food scraps catch on the hardened grease, and over a few months the waste pipe narrows until water sits and backs up. Throw in flexible appliance hoses that perish with age and push-fit joints that can ease loose, and it is no surprise the kitchen is one of the most common places a plumbing emergency starts.
What we fix
Common kitchen plumbing problems
Blocked sinks & wastes
Water draining slowly or sitting still, a gurgle from the plughole and a stale smell with it. We clear the trap and the waste pipe and check what caused it. For a stubborn or repeat blockage, see blocked sink repairs.
Leaking & faulty taps
A steady drip, a tap that will not shut off, a wobbly spout or water seeping from the base of a mixer. We renew the washer, cartridge or seal, or fit a new tap. More on emergency tap repairs.
Appliance connections
Leaks from washing machine and dishwasher fill and waste connections, perished hoses and isolating valves that have failed. We check and repair the plumbing side of the connection safely.
Leaks under units
Quiet drips soaking cupboard bases and flooring, usually from a slack joint or a weeping valve. We trace the source and, where it is hard to pin down, arrange water leak detection.
What to do while you wait
When water is escaping under the sink or from an appliance, a few quick steps hold back the damage before we arrive:
- Shut off the supply at the small isolating valve on the pipe to the tap or appliance, a quarter-turn until the slot sits across the pipe.
- If you cannot isolate it there, close the main stopcock, which often lives inside the kitchen sink cupboard.
- Switch a leaking washing machine or dishwasher off at the socket with dry hands, and never touch a socket that is wet. If in doubt, switch off at the consumer unit.
- Empty the cupboard, mop up standing water and lay towels down so it cannot spread to the flooring and skirting.
Water and electricity sit close together in a kitchen, so stay well clear of any socket or appliance that is wet. Our guide to turning off your water supply explains how to find and use the stopcock.
How our service works
From leak to lasting repair
Stop and assess
We isolate the water, make the space safe around any appliances and electrics, and work out exactly where the trouble is coming from.
Diagnose the cause
We establish whether it is a blockage, a worn seal, a failed valve or hose, or a leaking joint, and whether a repair or a new part is the wiser choice.
Repair and test
We carry out the repair, reconnect, then run the sink or appliance connection to be sure it is watertight before we leave.
Who we help
Home kitchens and commercial kitchens
A kitchen out of use is a nuisance at home and a cost to a business. We help households, tenants, landlords and letting agents, along with cafes, restaurants and other businesses where a lost sink or a leak can stop work in its tracks.
In a commercial kitchen a leak or blockage can mean closing the doors until it is sorted, so a prompt, properly recorded repair counts for even more. Our commercial plumbing services also take in reactive and planned maintenance to keep things ticking over.
Keep your kitchen sink clear
A few simple habits head off most kitchen blockages:
- Let fats and oils cool and bin them instead of pouring them away
- Scrape plates into the bin before they reach the sink
- Fit a sink strainer to catch food scraps
- Run hot water through the waste after washing greasy pans
Frequently asked questions
Kitchen plumbing, answered
Water is pouring from under my kitchen sink. How do I stop it?
Most kitchen taps and appliances have small isolating valves on the supply pipes beneath the sink. Turn the valve a quarter-turn so the slot sits across the pipe to shut the water off. If you cannot find or move the valve, turn off the main stopcock, which is often under the kitchen sink itself. Then clear the cupboard, mop up the water and contact us for help so the leaking joint or fitting can be repaired.
My washing machine or dishwasher is leaking. Is that a plumbing job?
The plumbing connections to an appliance certainly are. Leaks often come from the fill hose, the connection to the water supply or the waste hose where it joins the pipework, rather than the appliance itself. We can check and repair the supply and waste connections and the isolating valve. A fault inside the appliance is a matter for an appliance engineer, and we will tell you if that is where the problem lies.
Can you unblock a kitchen sink as well as fix leaks?
Yes. Kitchen sinks block easily because fats, oils and food waste build up in the trap and waste pipe over time. We clear the blockage, check the trap and waste, and advise on keeping it clear. If the blockage is deeper in the drainage, we can carry out drain unblocking to reach it.
Do you help businesses as well as homes?
Yes. A commercial kitchen that loses its sink or suffers a leak can be forced to stop trading, so prompt repair matters even more. We help cafes, restaurants and other businesses alongside households, and can discuss reactive and planned maintenance for commercial kitchens.
Kitchen leak or blockage right now?
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.