Plumber in Totterdown, open 24/7
Leaks, blocked drains, toilets, taps, pipework and radiators across Totterdown and the streets around it. Ring for a free quote over the phone.
Plumbing and drain services
Everyday plumbing for homes in Totterdown, from a dripping tap to a burst pipe in the middle of the night. If it carries water and isn’t connected to gas, we can usually help.
Emergency plumber
Burst pipes, overflowing toilets and water coming through ceilings, day or night.
Emergency help →See all services, including bathroom, kitchen and appliance plumbing.
How we quote
Every quote starts with a phone call, and it’s free. Tell us what you can see: where the water is, how long it’s been happening, what you’ve already tried. Photos help if you can send them once we’re talking. From that we’ll explain what we think is going on and what the job is likely to involve.
If something can’t be judged without seeing it, we’ll say so rather than guess. Either way, you’ll know what you’re agreeing to before any work starts, and nothing goes ahead until you’ve said yes.
Plumbing in Totterdown homes
Totterdown is mostly Victorian terraced housing, built in the second half of the 1800s and climbing steeply up from the River Avon south-east of Temple Meads. Vale Street is said to be the steepest residential street in England. That shapes plumbing work here more than you might think.
Older terraces often have pipework that has been added to and rerouted over many decades: a bathroom moved upstairs, a kitchen extended into the back yard, a new radiator plumbed off an old run. Joints and connections from different eras sit side by side, and that’s where leaks tend to start. Drains in long terraced rows can also be shared between neighbours, which matters when a blockage won’t clear.
Bristol Water says homes built before the 1970s could have lead pipework. The pipe from the water main to the external stop tap in the pavement is normally the water company’s; from that stop tap into your house it’s yours. If you’re not sure what your supply pipe is made of, we can take a look while we’re there for another job.
Bristol Water also describes all the water in its area as moderately hard to very hard. In practice that means limescale on taps, shower heads and toilet valves, and it’s one of the most common reasons we’re called out for a tap that won’t stop dripping or a cistern that keeps running.
What happens when you call
- You ring 0117 214 1238. Day or night, you’ll speak to someone about the problem.
- We talk it through. We’ll ask a few questions and, if it’s urgent, tell you how to limit the damage while you wait.
- You get a free quote. We explain the likely job before anything is booked.
- We arrange a time. For emergencies, as soon as we can get to you.
- We fix it and explain what we did. Including anything we noticed that you might want to keep an eye on.
Where’s your stop tap?
Knowing where your internal stop tap is can save a ceiling. In Totterdown terraces it’s most often found:
- Under the kitchen sink, usually at the back of the cupboard
- Near the front door, under the stairs or below a floorboard in the hall
- In a cellar or downstairs cupboard, where the supply pipe comes in from the street
Turn it clockwise to close it. If it’s stiff, don’t force it with a wrench, because old stop taps can snap. There’s also an external stop tap, normally in the pavement outside, which belongs to the water company. If yours won’t turn or you can’t find it, ring us and we can fit a new one you can actually use.
Quick checks before you call
A few things worth trying first. They might save you a call-out, and they’ll help us quote if not.
- No water at all? Check whether neighbours are affected. If so, it’s likely a supply issue for Bristol Water rather than your plumbing.
- Sink draining slowly? Clear the plug hole and the trap underneath (put a bowl under it first).
- Toilet running constantly? Lift the cistern lid and check whether the float is catching on something.
- Radiator cold at the top? It probably needs bleeding. Cold at the bottom is usually a different problem.
- Outside drain overflowing? Lift the cover carefully if you can. If the chamber is full, the blockage is further down the line.
Areas we cover
We’re based around Totterdown and cover a 10-mile radius, including:
- Windmill Hill
- Knowle
- Bedminster
- Arnos Vale
- Brislington
- Temple Meads
- Bristol city centre
Common questions
Are you really open 24 hours?
Yes. You can ring 0117 214 1238 at any time, including nights, weekends and bank holidays.
Do you charge to give a quote?
No. Quotes are free and given over the phone. If we need to see the job first, we’ll tell you.
Do you work on boilers or gas?
No. We don’t work on gas appliances. For a boiler, gas fire or gas cooker, use a Gas Safe registered engineer. We do work on radiators, valves and heating pipework.
Who’s responsible for a blocked drain?
It depends where the blockage is. Since 1 October 2011, shared sewers and lateral drains outside your boundary have been the sewerage company’s responsibility (Wessex Water in Bristol). A drain serving only your property, inside your boundary, is yours. We can help you work out which it is.
Can you replace lead pipes?
Yes, we can replace the supply pipe within your property. The section up to the external stop tap is the water company’s, so it’s worth contacting them too.
Plumbing problem in Totterdown?
Ring now for a free quote over the phone. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.