Looking for a plumber in Colchester? This page covers everyday plumbing repairs, from dripping taps to running toilets and weeping pipe joints. It deals with water supply, pipes and fittings only. For drains, see our blocked drains page.
Small faults grow if you leave them. For example, a dripping tap wastes water all day, and a loose fitting can leak behind a wall. Therefore it pays to ask early.
Common plumbing repairs
Taps are the most common fault. A tap that drips or turns stiffly often needs a new washer or cartridge. Hard water speeds this up, because limescale builds up inside the fitting.
Toilets come next. A cistern that keeps refilling or a flush that sticks usually points to a worn valve or seal. However, the leak can be silent. Essex & Suffolk Water says a leaking toilet could waste up to 215 litres of water every day. So fix it soon, even when the leak looks small.
Radiators and pipework need care too. Radiator valves and pipe joints can weep, and a plumber can replace a worn valve or tighten a joint. This covers the water side only, since drains have their own pages.
Why hard water matters here
Anglian Water says all water in its region is hard to very hard, because the rocks hold a lot of chalk. A third-party summary of Anglian Water test results classes Colchester tap water as very hard. It lists about 304 to 314 mg/L of calcium carbonate across the CO1 to CO4 postcodes.
Hard water is safe to drink. However, it leaves limescale on taps, kettles and fittings. In Maldon, Essex & Suffolk Water describes its local water as moderately hard to hard, so the effect varies by town.
Your pipework and your water company's
The water company looks after the mains and the pipe up to your boundary. You own the supply pipe from the boundary into the property and all the pipework inside. Therefore a leak under your kitchen floor is yours to repair, while a leak under the road is not.
Anglian Water says a confirmed leak on a private supply pipe should be repaired within 30 days. Since that window is short, ask a plumber to look at a suspected leak early. Our leak detection page explains how to confirm one.
Request a plumber in Colchester or nearby
Tell us the fault and your town in the online form, because it helps us plan. We cover Colchester, Braintree, Sudbury and other nearby towns. Request a quote online and describe the problem; the plumber will discuss the job with you.
If the fault is sudden, see our emergency plumber page. If your taps run weakly, see low water pressure. Either page may save you a visit, since the fix is sometimes simple.
Plumbing Repairs — frequently asked questions
What counts as a plumbing repair?
Faults with taps, toilets, valves, radiator valves and the pipes that carry clean water. Drain blockages are a separate job, because they sit on the waste side. Our drain services cover them.
Why does my tap keep dripping?
A worn washer or cartridge is the usual cause. Limescale from hard water can add to the problem, so the fault may return if the fitting clogs again. A new part helps, yet limescale will keep building.
Who owns the pipe that serves my house?
The water company owns the mains and normally the pipe up to your boundary. You own the supply pipe from the boundary into the property and all internal pipework. However, shared supplies can differ, so check your deeds.
Do you also fix drains?
Yes. Drain work has its own pages, starting with blocked drains and drain repairs. Tell us which problem you have when you request a quote, because the two jobs need different tools.