Pipe Repairs &
Replacement

Act immediately: (1) Turn off your mains stop tap — usually under the kitchen sink or where the main enters the property. If you can't find it, locate the external stop tap in the pavement outside. (2) Turn on all cold taps to drain the system and reduce pressure. (3) Switch off your boiler and immersion heater. (4) If water is near any electrics, turn off at the consumer unit. (5) Call us — burst pipes are a 24/7 emergency and we will attend as fast as possible. Do not attempt to repair a burst pipe under pressure.

Not necessarily. Our first step is to pinpoint exactly where the leak is using pressure testing and acoustic detection, so we excavate only at the point of failure rather than lifting the whole floor. For some pipe configurations, it is also possible to re-route the supply through a different path altogether — for example, running new pipework in the ceiling void or externally — which avoids any excavation. We give you both options and the costs before starting.

It depends on your water chemistry and whether you are already seeing problems. In Hertfordshire, water hardness of 300–400 ppm accelerates pitting corrosion in copper, so pipes that are 25–30 years old can develop multiple pinhole leaks in quick succession. If you have had one pinhole leak, others are likely following — we often recommend staged repiping: starting with the most vulnerable sections (kitchen, ground floor, areas that have had previous leaks) and working outward. A water softener can also slow further deterioration significantly.

Copper (22 mm and 15 mm) has been the traditional choice for over-ground plumbing in the UK for decades — it is durable, biologically safe, and well understood by every plumber. Modern plastic alternatives — cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) and polybutylene (PB) — are both accepted under Building Regulations and are increasingly popular because they are flexible, faster to install, resistant to frost damage, and immune to corrosion. We use both materials and will recommend the best option depending on your specific situation.

Lead pipe is a significant health risk — lead dissolves slowly into drinking water, particularly in soft-water areas. It has been linked to developmental problems in children and cardiovascular issues in adults. If your property was built before the 1970s there is a reasonable chance the supply pipe from the street boundary to your kitchen tap is lead. We can identify lead pipe on inspection and replace it with a modern MDPE supply pipe. There is sometimes partial funding available via Affinity Water's lead pipe replacement scheme for affected properties — ask us for details.

Pinhole leaks in copper are caused by pitting corrosion — a localised electrochemical reaction that eats through the pipe wall from inside. The main drivers in Hertfordshire are hard water (high calcium and bicarbonate), slightly acidic water at certain times of year, and chlorine disinfection. Pipes that are 15–20 years old in hard-water areas are most at risk. Once pitting starts it tends to accelerate — a single pinhole is often followed by several more within months. A water softener and/or inhibitor treatment can slow the process significantly.

Yes. The mains supply pipe from the street boundary to your property (the 'communication pipe' from the boundary box to your stop tap) is your responsibility to maintain. We can replace it in MDPE blue polyethylene pipe — the modern standard for buried mains supplies. This work usually requires a permit to dig the pavement and we handle the road permit application as part of the job. We give you a full written quote including all permit costs before starting.

Yes — we are Gas Safe registered (No. 936121), which means we are qualified to work on gas pipework as well as water, heating, and drainage systems. Gas pipe work is strictly regulated and must only be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. We repair and replace gas pipework as part of boiler installations, kitchen alterations, and when extending or re-routing gas supplies.

Simple repairs — a leaking joint, a single-section replacement, a pinhole leak repair — typically start from £200 ex VAT including parts. Burst pipes and larger section replacements are £350–£800 depending on access and pipe size. Whole-house repiping is quoted individually based on the number of circuits and access conditions, typically £3,500–£8,000 for a 3–4 bedroom home. We provide a written quote before starting any work over our standard call-out rate.

A pressure test involves isolating a section of pipework and pressurising it with either water or air to check for leaks. If the pressure drops, there is a leak somewhere in that section. By systematically isolating different sections we can narrow down exactly where a hidden leak is without opening up the whole pipe run. We use pressure testing as standard after every pipe repair to confirm the fix holds before we make good.

Yes — sometimes the most cost-effective and least disruptive solution is to run a new section of pipework on a different route entirely, particularly if the existing route passes through a concrete slab or a section of wall where access is very difficult. Rerouting is also common when a property is being renovated, a new kitchen or bathroom is installed, or when old-style pipework is being replaced as part of a full heating or plumbing upgrade.

All our pipe repair and replacement work carries a 12-month workmanship guarantee. If a repaired or replaced section fails due to our workmanship within 12 months, we return and put it right at no charge. This covers the work itself — it does not cover damage caused by subsequent external events such as ground movement, frost, or accidental damage by a third party.

This depends on where the pipe is located and how many properties it serves. Pipes that serve only your property are your responsibility regardless of where they run. Once a pipe serves two or more properties it becomes a shared drain and is typically the responsibility of your sewerage company (Thames Water for most of Hertfordshire). For water supply pipes, the position is slightly different — the supply main in the road is the water company's responsibility, but the service pipe from the street boundary to your property is yours. We can help you identify which rules apply to your specific situation.