How plumbing quotes work
Describe the job, including whether it's an emergency, a planned repair, or a full installation, and mention access — under a suspended floor is very different from behind fitted units. Plumbers use this for an initial estimate; the final price is usually confirmed once they've seen the fault or the space in person.
How many quotes should you get?
Three is a reasonable number for most plumbing jobs — enough to spot an outlier without asking too many people to visit for a straightforward repair. For a planned job like a bathroom refit, make sure each quote covers the same scope, since a lower price sometimes means less is included, not better value.
When plumbing work needs a Gas Safe engineer instead
Plumbers can install and repair most water systems, but any work on a gas appliance or gas pipework — a boiler, a gas fire, a gas hob — is illegal for anyone who isn't on the Gas Safe Register, by law. If a job involves both plumbing and a gas connection (moving a boiler, for example), check whether your plumber is also Gas Safe registered before booking.
Heat pumps and eco-friendly heating options
Some plumbers also work on or alongside heat pump installations, though this is often a joint job with a heating engineer for the heat pump unit itself. If you're considering moving away from a gas boiler, it's worth asking whether your plumber does this work directly or partners with someone who does.
Common plumbing jobs
Plumbers handle everything from a dripping tap to a full bathroom re-pipe: fixing leaks, clearing blocked drains, replacing taps and valves, fitting new bathroom suites, repairing or replacing radiators, and connecting appliances like washing machines and dishwashers. Emergency work (burst pipes, no hot water) is usually handled separately from planned jobs like a bathroom refit.
Plumbing responsibilities for landlords
Landlords are responsible for keeping water and heating systems in safe working order, and if there's a gas boiler, a valid annual Gas Safety Certificate is a legal requirement, not optional. A burst pipe or heating failure in a rented property is generally treated as an emergency repair the landlord must address promptly.
Low water pressure — common causes
Low pressure can come from a partially closed stopcock, a fault with the water company's supply, scale build-up in old pipework, or (for a shower specifically) the type of shower valve fitted. A plumber can usually diagnose which of these it is by checking pressure at more than one fixture, rather than assuming it's the mains supply.
Shared water supplies in flats and conversions
In a converted property, check whether your flat has its own independent stopcock and supply, or shares one with other flats via a communal system. A shared supply can mean a repair affects your neighbours too, and sometimes needs freeholder involvement before work starts.