When a drain camera survey is worth it
For a recurring blockage, tree root ingress, or before buying a property with an older drainage system, a CCTV drain survey shows the actual condition of the pipework rather than guessing from symptoms alone — worth the cost if a blockage keeps coming back despite repeated clearing.
Plumbing and selling your home
Buyers' solicitors sometimes ask about the age and condition of the boiler and any recent plumbing work, particularly if there's visible evidence of a past leak or repair. Keeping paperwork for any significant plumbing work — a new boiler, a bathroom refit, a burst pipe repair — makes this a much smoother conversation.
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.
Plumbing work and home insurance
Escape of water is one of the most common home insurance claims in the UK, and insurers sometimes ask whether recent plumbing work was carried out by a registered professional when assessing a claim. Keep receipts and any commissioning paperwork for significant work, not just for the boiler.
Plumbing regulations, FAQ
Do I need a certificate for a new bathroom? There's no single certificate like Part P for electrics, but any work must comply with Water Fittings Regulations, and gas-connected work needs a Gas Safe engineer. Can I do my own plumbing? Straightforward repairs, yes; anything affecting the public water supply (like a new connection) should go through a WaterSafe-approved plumber.
Boiler pressure and heating faults
Most combi boilers run best between 1 and 1.5 bar of pressure — too low and the heating cuts out, too high and the pressure relief valve can discharge. A plumber checking a heating fault will usually look at pressure, check for trapped air in radiators (bleeding), and check the pump and diverter valve before assuming a full boiler fault.
Blocked drains — causes and what a plumber checks
Slow-draining sinks are usually a local blockage (grease, hair, food waste) that a plumber can often clear with rodding or a drain snake. A blockage affecting multiple fixtures at once, or gurgling sounds from other drains, points to something further down the system — sometimes needing a drain camera survey rather than guesswork.
Understanding the labour vs materials split
Materials — pipework, fittings, a new boiler or bathroom suite — are often a smaller share of a plumbing quote than labour, particularly for jobs involving lifting floors or chasing walls. If a quote looks unusually cheap, check whether it specifies the same brand/quality of fittings as a competing quote, not just a lower labour rate.