Bursts and leaks
Burst or split pipes, leaks you can't stop, water coming through a ceiling, and frozen pipes in a cold snap.
Emergency Plumber in Reading
Burst pipe, a leak you can't stop or a toilet that won't stop running? Post your job and compare quotes from up to 3 vetted plumbers in Reading.
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Plumbing emergencies we can help with
Toilets and drains
Overflowing or blocked toilets, water backing up into sinks or showers, and drains that have stopped completely.
No water or hot water
Losing water to the taps, a cylinder or immersion heater that's leaking, and isolation valves that won't turn off.
In a plumbing emergency, the first job is to stop the water. Turn off the stop tap. In many Reading terraces it's under the kitchen sink or just inside the front door. If water is near sockets, lights or the consumer unit, switch the electrics off at the consumer unit if it's safe to reach. Then open the cold taps to drain the pipes, and turn off the boiler if the leak is on the heating system. Catch what you can in buckets, move valuables, and take photos for your insurer.
Not every problem needs a plumber. If you have no water at all, or water is coming up through the pavement or road, check Thames Water's website first. It may be a supply problem or a burst main, which Thames Water fixes. If you smell gas, leave the property, turn off the gas at the meter if it's safe to do so, and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
Emergency rates are higher than daytime rates, especially at night, weekends and on bank holidays. Before a plumber sets off, ask for the call-out fee, the hourly rate after that, and roughly what the total might be. In an emergency, a plumber's first job is to make things safe and stop the damage. Bigger repairs can often wait for a normal-hours visit and a proper quote. Check whether your home insurance or home emergency cover includes plumbing call-outs before you book.
Reading's hard water and older housing play a part in many emergencies. Limescale makes valves and isolation taps stiff, so they can fail just when you need them, and older pipework in Victorian terraces can split where it has been joined and altered over the years. In a cold snap, pipes in lofts, garages and on outside walls are the first to freeze. Insulating them before winter is cheaper than an emergency call-out.
When you post your job, say how urgent it is and whether water is still escaping. Reviews on Trade Pilot come from real, invoiced jobs, so you can see how other homeowners rated a plumber's work.
Typical prices
| Job | Typical UK range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent daytime visit, first hour | £80–£150 | Often includes the call-out and the first hour |
| Out-of-hours call-out | £100–£180 | Then £75–£150 an hour; higher at night, weekends and bank holidays |
| Repair a burst pipe | £150–£400 | Depends on access and how much pipe is damaged |
| Unblock a toilet, urgent | £100–£200 | More if the blockage is further down the drain |
| Make safe only | £100–£180 | Stop the leak now and come back for the full repair |
Typical UK ranges; your quotes depend on the job and access.
How it works
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Tell us about the job
Check your Reading postcode and describe what you need. Photos help.
- 2
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Up to 3 vetted local trades who cover your part of Reading can quote.
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How Trade Pilot helps you hire in Reading
Vetted local trades
We check every plumber before they can quote. For any gas work, always ask to see a Gas Safe ID card.
Reviews from real jobs
Reviews on Trade Pilot are tied to invoiced jobs, so you’re reading about work that was actually done and paid for.
Free, with no obligation
Posting a job and getting up to 3 quotes is free for homeowners. You choose who to invite round, or no one at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Expect a call-out fee of about £100 to £180 out of hours, then £75 to £150 an hour. Daytime urgent visits are usually cheaper. Always ask for the call-out fee and hourly rate before the plumber sets off.
Anything where water is escaping and you can't stop it, water near electrics, a toilet that's overflowing, or no water at all in a home with vulnerable people. A dripping tap or a slow drain can usually wait for a normal appointment.
Turn off the stop tap, switch off electrics near the water if it's safe, open the cold taps to drain the pipes, and catch what water you can. Take photos for your insurer.
Not always. Check Thames Water's website for supply problems or burst mains in your area first. If your neighbours have water and you don't, the problem may be on your own supply pipe or stop tap.
Home emergency cover often pays for the call-out and a temporary repair. Buildings insurance usually covers water damage but not always the repair to the pipe itself. Check your policy, and keep receipts and photos.
Insulate pipes in the loft, garage and on outside walls, keep the heating on low when you're away in cold weather, and fix dripping taps. If a pipe does freeze, thaw it slowly with warm towels or a hairdryer, never a naked flame.
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