Plumbing problems
Burst pipes, no hot water, dripping taps and overflow pipes — what each fault usually means and how urgent it is.
Burst Pipe
EmergencyWater is escaping from a split pipe and will keep escaping until the supply is shut off.
No Hot Water
CautionCold water runs fine but the hot taps stay cold, or run hot then go cold within seconds.
Low Water Pressure
Low riskTaps trickle, the shower is weak, or pressure drops away whenever someone else uses water.
Dripping Tap
Low riskA tap keeps dripping after it is turned off, or water seeps from the base of the spout.
Leak Under The Kitchen Sink
CautionWater is pooling in the base of the sink cabinet, or the chipboard floor of the unit has gone soft.
Toilet Keeps Running
Low riskWater trickles into the pan constantly, or the cistern never stops refilling after a flush.
Overflow Pipe Dripping Outside
CautionA small plastic pipe through an outside wall is dripping or running, sometimes soaking the brickwork below.
Banging Pipes
Low riskA bang, knock or shudder runs through the pipework when a tap or appliance valve shuts.
Frozen Pipes
High riskA tap has stopped running in cold weather, or a pipe in the loft or garage is iced up.
Water Coming Through The Ceiling
EmergencyA stain, a drip or a bulge has appeared in a ceiling below a bathroom, kitchen or flat above.