Pipe repair & maintenance

...........................................

Your trusted, local same-day plumbers

Some of our recent work....

Mains leak under drive.

Leak identified and fixed.

Customer – Henley home owner Ben.

For a number of weeks, Ben had noticed a damp patch on his home’s drive spreading and starting to become a puddle

Following an investigation our plumbers dug a small trench to access to the leaking section of the cast iron pipe – connecting the mains to the house. The pipe had been in the ground for c90 years and although corroded was generally sound.

As part of the rectification, the pipe’s surface was made even and a permanent clamp fitted sealing the pin hole leak.

Dangerous drain pipe discharging (hot) water on to porch.

Faulty pipe replaced with new.

Henley customer – Home owner Estelle

Following substantial building works, Estelle and her husband had recently moved into the house they’d purchased a year and a half ago.

Soon after, they noticed that the waste pipe leading from the upstairs bathroom to the outside drain was unsafe with hot and cold waste water flowing against an external wall as well as on the surrounding concrete floor.

Our plumber removed the hazardous pipe and fitted a new section appropriately terminating beneath the drain’s lip and above it’s grating – so that waste water flowed safely away and into the drain.

The quickest way to get in touch to discuss repairing or maintaining your home’s water and waste pipes is to WhatsApp, text or phone us on 07442966664.

You can also email plumbing@angusplumbing.co.uk or use the form – and well get back to you as soon as we can.

The AngusPLUMBING team

Your home - what type of pipes do you have?

Copper

There are over 400 different types of copper and copper alloy pipes in use in the UK.

How long your copper pipes function without leaking depends on water chemistry (acidic/hard water reduces life), installation quality (proper sizing, soldering, support), and environmental factors – soil acidity etc.

Since the 1960’s – in most UK homes, copper

Type-l (blue pipe markings), have been used to transport hot and cold water. With proper care and maintenance these will problem free for 50 plus years. And with proper installation and good water quality this may stretch to 80 or more.
Type-m copper pipe (identified by red markings on the pipe), is primarily used for low-pressure interior residential uses such as branch water supply lines and heating systems. These are thinner and less durable than type-l and should last for between 20 to 50 years.
The third pipe you may find used is type-k (green markings). These have thicker walls than type-m which protects them from mechanical damage and corrosion making, so ideal for buried lines. These can be expected to last over 100 years.

Steel, lead and iron

In older houses, plumbing’s often made a range of metals. The most common are cast iron, galvanised steel and of course lead.

Galvanized steel’s common in houses built before the 1960s, and their zinc coating protects against rust. But eventually they corrode from the inside, leading to low water pressure, rusty water, and potential leaks or ruptures.
Cast iron pipes are often found in pre-1970s/80s homes. The metal’s durable but prone to rust and deterioration corroding internally over time. The result – potential backups/blockages, leaks, foul odours, and discoloured water.

Both steel and iron pipes require regular inspection and are now days often replaced with modern materials such as plastic/PVC providing longer term reliability.

Lead. Properties built before 1970 will often have lead pipes, including the underground pipe connecting to the mains. With lead’s flexibility, these were much easier to install than galvanised steel and cast iron pipes. But came with what were found to be significant health risks through leaching into drinking water. This is especially for young children and pregnant women, affecting brain development and causing other general health issues including cardiovascular problems, kidney damage and high blood pressure.

Lead pipes were banned in the UK for new water installations in 1969, with the regulations fully in force by 1970.

Plastic

Plastic and PVC pipes have become the standard way to transport water around your home over the last 20 years. They are quicker and easier to install than metal pipes and also deal with issues like rust, corrosion, low water pressure, and potential health risks from lead leaching into the water.

While older PVC can be expected to last 40-50 years, with modern formulations, proper installation and ideal conditions they’ll be problem free for 100 plus years.

Why's this important?

Knowing the pipe’s your home has is extremely helpful. It will enable you to decide the best way to keep them working as they should, so that your family’s kept safe and healthy.

Maintaining water and waste pipes is also crucial for preventing costly property damage (such as damp, mould, flooding), avoiding foul odours, protecting structural integrity, and safeguarding the environment from sewage contamination.

Ignoring them leads to blockages, leaks, and bursts, creating expensive, disruptive, and hazardous issues for you and your neighbours.

7 reasons for maintenance

Property protection: Prevents water pooling, dampness, mould, and potential foundation damage, preserving your home’s structure.
Health & hygiene: Stops bacteria, pathogens, and pests (like mosquitoes) from breeding in stagnant water, reducing illness risks.
Cost savings: Proactive maintenance catches small issues before they become major, expensive repairs or replacements.

Protect insurance claims: Many UK insurance policies require proof of regular maintenance; without it, claims for water damage are often rejected.

Environmental safety: Prevents sewage leaks from contaminating soil and watercourses, protecting wildlife and ecosystems.
Functionality: Ensures smooth water flow, preventing slow drains, backups, and inefficient water usage.
Reduced odours: Regular cleaning removes decaying organic matter that causes unpleasant smells.

3 simple DIY maintenance tips

Don’t put grease, food scraps, wipes, or sanitary products down drains.
Regularly clean out gully traps and check gutters for blockages.
Ensure connections are secure and pipes are properly aligned.

Pipe repair

And if you do need to repair your pipes or want a plumber to do this, knowing the type(s) of pipes your home has will make this a quicker and cheaper thing to do.

Other plumbing services....

Our local plumbers provide a range of expert plumbing services that’ll keep you and your family safe, save you money and your home running smoothly and as it should including:

Improving water pressure and flow (to see our work click here).
Leak detection (to see our work click here).

Water and waste pipe repair & maintenance (to see our work click here).

Unblocking waste systems (to see our work click here).

Dripping/running overflow pipe investigation (to see our work click here).
Turning off/isolating your homes water supply (to see our work click here).
Repairing and maintaining your home’s water tanks (to see our work click here).