Plumbing & repairs
Leaks, drips & everyday fixes
The small jobs that can’t wait, fixed properly first time: leaks, dripping taps, running toilets, new taps and more.
General plumbing
No job is too small
A dripping tap wastes water, and a slow leak can quietly damage floors and ceilings. Send Loui a photo and a short description and he'll tell you what's likely to be wrong and roughly what it will take to fix.
Repairs are done with proper parts, not quick patches, and Loui will tell you honestly whether something is worth repairing or would be better replaced.
- Leaking pipes & joints
- Dripping & replacement taps
- Running & leaking toilets
- Kitchen sinks & wastes
- Washing machine & dishwasher plumbing
- Outside taps
- Stopcocks & isolation valves
- Blocked sinks & basins
- Noisy or banging pipes
Common repairs
The jobs Loui is called for most
Most of these can be sorted in a single visit. A photo on WhatsApp helps Loui bring the right parts.
Leaks under sinks
Worn compression joints, loose wastes and failed flexible hoses are the usual causes. Found, fixed and checked.
Dripping taps
New washers, ceramic cartridges or a new tap. Hard water in Hertfordshire wears them faster than you'd think.
Running toilets
Worn fill valves and flush valve seals replaced so the cistern stops refilling and wasting water.
Washing machines & dishwashers
New supply valves and waste connections fitted, or leaking ones replaced.
Outside taps
New outside taps with an isolation valve inside, so they're easy to drain before winter.
Stopcocks & isolation valves
Seized stopcocks replaced and isolation valves added, so you can turn the water off when you need to.
Got a leak?
What to do first
Turn the water off at your stopcock straight away. It's usually under the kitchen sink or where the water pipe comes into the house. Switch off your boiler if the leak is from a hot pipe, and keep water away from electrics. Then send Loui a WhatsApp with a photo.
Winter plumbing
Get ready before the frost
Frozen pipes can split and flood a room when they thaw. Outside taps and pipes in lofts, garages and under floors are most at risk.
Loui can fit isolation valves for outside taps, lag exposed pipework and replace stiff stopcocks, so your home is ready for the cold. Our guide on stopping pipes freezing has simple steps you can do yourself.
- Outside tap isolation valves
- Lagging for loft & garage pipes
- Stopcock checks & replacement
- Advice on keeping pipes warm
Plumbing repairs across Hertfordshire
Including Welwyn Garden City, Welwyn, Hatfield, Hertford, St Albans, Stevenage, Harpenden, Potters Bar and surrounding areas.
Repair questions
Quick answers
Can you price a repair from photos?
Often, yes. A clear photo of the tap, toilet or pipe and a short description is usually enough for a guide price.
My toilet keeps running. Is that a big job?
Usually not. It's normally a worn fill valve or flush valve, which can be replaced in one visit.
Do you fit taps I've bought?
Yes. Just check they suit your sink and water pressure, or ask Loui before you buy.
Why does my tap keep dripping after a new washer?
The seat the washer presses on may be worn, or the tap may use a ceramic cartridge instead. Sometimes a new tap is the better fix.
Can you plumb in a washing machine?
Yes, including new supply and waste connections if there isn't a space already set up.
Advice
Repair advice
Practical guides from Loui on common plumbing questions. See all advice
Toilet keeps running? The common causes and how they are fixed
A running toilet can waste a surprising amount of water. Here is what is usually going on inside the cistern and how it gets fixed.
How to find and turn off your stopcock
If a pipe bursts, the stopcock is the first thing you need. Find yours now, before you need it in a hurry.
Dripping tap? Why it happens and how it is fixed
A drip every few seconds adds up to a lot of wasted water. Here is why taps start dripping and whether yours needs a repair or a new tap.