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Southsea · Portsmouth

Home plumbing guides

Find a guide by topic to see what a plumbing fault might mean and what to tell us before booking.

Leaks and water supply

Find the source of a leak, check a faulty stop tap or narrow down why one tap runs weakly.

Water leak at home: what to check first

Know what to do if water is escaping, what the timing of a leak can tell you and what to report to a plumber in Portsmouth.

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Why is the water flow weak at just one tap?

Compare hot and cold flow, learn what an aerator does and find out what to report if one tap is running slowly.

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A metal garden tap mounted on a wooden post
Garden Tap by CathG · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized for the site

Why is my outside tap leaking after frost?

Tell a drip from an outside tap apart from a possible burst pipe after frost. Find out what to report and what to do if water is still escaping.

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A brass stop tap with a T-shaped handle, a spindle below it and two copper pipe connections
Example of a brass stop tap. The stem is directly below the handle. The two large nuts connect the valve to the pipework.

What to do if your stop tap is stuck or leaking

Find out what to do if the stop tap will not turn, drips around the handle or fails to shut off the water. See when to call a plumber or your water supplier.

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Under-sink example with a curved white waste trap beside a separate copper supply pipe, isolation valve and braided hose
Example under a sink. The white trap carries waste water away. The copper pipe and braided hose supply the tap.

Why is there water under my kitchen sink?

Tell a leaking sink trap from a tap supply leak or a dishwasher hose problem. Find out when to stop using the sink and what to tell your plumber.

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Fixtures, drains and heating

Work out what to report when a bath leaks, a sink backs up, a shower pump stops or a radiator stays cold.

Shower tray, sliding screen and drops on the floor beside the wall profile
Illustrative example of a tray and screen junction. The first wet spot helps us choose where to test.

Why is water leaking from my shower tray or screen?

Compare water pooling in the tray, leaks at the door or frame, and damp on the ceiling below.

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Sink trap with two corrugated appliance waste hoses and a separate water supply valve
Illustrative example of a twin appliance trap. Each grey hose joins its own waste connection.

Washing machine and dishwasher plumbing problems

What a leaking inlet hose, overflowing standpipe or water backing up in the sink can tell you about your appliance connections.

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Waste trap and supply pipe in the cabinet below a kitchen sink
Illustrative example of the space needed below a sink for the trap and supply connections.

Can I replace my kitchen sink without changing the worktop?

Check whether a deeper, wider or smaller kitchen sink will fit the existing worktop, cabinet and waste pipe.

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Bath trap and overflow hose under a bath
Illustrative example of a bath waste, trap and overflow hose.

Why is water leaking under the bath?

Learn how the timing of a bath leak points to different fittings, including the taps, waste, overflow, trap and shower seal.

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Why is one radiator cold when the others are warm?

Compare cold patches, radiator valves and the rest of your heating. Find out what to report before arranging a water-side radiator repair.

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Is it a blocked sink or a shared drain?

Compare a slow sink, water backing up in another fitting and an overflowing outside drain. Find out what to report and who to contact.

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Example of a twin shower pump with a silver model plate on its motor housing
Example of a twin shower pump. The position of the model plate varies.

Why is my shower pump not working properly?

What to report if your shower pump will not start, the shower loses flow, the pump cuts in and out or it starts on its own.

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Example of water collecting on the tiled floor beside a toilet base
Example of water beside a toilet. Water can travel down the pan or out from behind it before pooling on the floor.

Why is there water around the base of my toilet?

See what to report if water appears around your toilet while it is idle, refilling or flushing. Learn how a cistern, flush pipe or waste connection can leak.

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Example of a numbered radiator valve with one joint to the panel and another to the copper pipe
Example of a radiator valve. One joint connects it to the panel and another connects it to the pipe below.

Why is my radiator leaking water?

Find out what to report when a water-filled radiator leaks from a valve, a pipe joint, the bleed point or the panel.

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Bath shower mixer with a small diverter knob between the hot and cold handles and a separate shower hose
Example of a bath shower mixer. The small knob above the spout switches the water to the shower hose on this style of tap.

Why will my bath tap not switch to the shower?

Find out what to report if the bath shower diverter sticks, water runs from both outlets or the handset has weak flow.

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Inside an open toilet cistern with a fill valve on the left and a larger flush mechanism in the centre
Example of a cistern. The fill valve on the left tops up the water. The larger flush mechanism in the centre releases it.

Why is my toilet flush weak?

A toilet can flush poorly because of slow cistern filling, a flush valve fault, restricted rim openings or a blockage. See what to look for and what to report.

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Concealed shower controls on a trim plate in a tiled enclosure
Illustrative example of a shower mixer. The position of the cartridge depends on the model.

Why does my mixer shower keep going hot and cold?

Find out what changing shower temperature can tell you about a thermostatic cartridge, the hot and cold supplies or restricted flow.

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Planning a visit

Gather the details that help us discuss your plumbing job.

What to send when you book a plumber

A simple checklist for reporting a faulty tap, toilet, shower, radiator or leak before you arrange a plumbing visit.

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Tell us what needs attention

Have your postcode and a short description ready. If water is still escaping, call us.

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