Frequently asked questions about emergency plumbers

Any time. Our number, 085 115 0249, is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including Sundays and public holidays. You'll speak to someone who talks the problem through with you and gives you a price estimate up front. Outside office hours an out-of-hours rate applies. We'll tell you about it before a plumber sets off, so you can decide for yourself.

The plumber is usually with you within the hour. Exactly how quickly depends on where you live, the time of day and how busy we are at the time. We don't promise a fixed arrival time, because traffic and other emergency call-outs can't always be predicted. If it's going to take longer than expected, we'll let you know.

No, we only take emergencies by phone. With a leak or a blockage, you need to speak to someone right away – someone who can help you work out what to do and get a plumber to you immediately. Even a non-urgent question is quickest to sort out with a phone call. And for anything to do with water in your home that can't wait, the rule is simple: always call.

It's an emergency if water keeps flowing, sewage is coming up, water is getting near electrics or you no longer have a single working toilet. A dripping tap or a washbasin that drains a bit slowly is annoying but rarely urgent; it's better to book that in during the day. Not sure? Call us and we'll work out together what's sensible.

Yes. If you'd like to have a tap replaced, for example, or want someone to look at a drain that's been slow for a while, we'll book it in for a time that suits you. On weekdays during the day, you won't pay the out-of-hours rate. Just call, mention that it isn't urgent, and we'll find a convenient time together.

Our prices for simple jobs, such as clearing a standard blockage, start from €89. That doesn't include the call-out charge. In the evening, at night, at weekends and on public holidays, an out-of-hours rate applies. For larger jobs, you can ask for a quote first. Exactly what your job costs depends on the cause, how easy the pipe is to get at and the time of day. That's why you always get a price estimate up front.

The call-out charge covers the cost of getting to your address, separate from the work itself. It isn't included in the starting price of €89, so it's always added on top. When you call, we'll tell you what costs to expect, so you have a price estimate in advance and can decide for yourself.

The out-of-hours rate applies outside office hours: in the evening, at night, at weekends and on public holidays. It's the price of having a plumber who can come out at any hour. If your problem can safely wait until the next working day, we'll talk that through with you. You can then choose whether to get help straight away or book a normal appointment instead.

You get a price estimate over the phone, before a plumber is even on the way. It's based on what you tell us about the problem. If the plumber finds there's more to it on site – a fractured sewer pipe rather than a simple blockage, say – they'll talk it through with you first. No extra work is done without your agreement.

For jobs where it's hard to judge the scale of the work over the phone. Examples include a hidden leak under a tiled floor, a long stretch of sewer pipe that needs replacing, or old pipework you want renewed in one go. After an inspection, we'll tell you what's needed and what it will cost, and then you decide whether the work goes ahead.

Look at how many places are affected. If only the washbasin or only the shower is slow to drain, the blockage is usually close to that drain. If several drains are slow at once, or water comes up at the lowest point in the house, the problem is further along the pipe or in the sewer. If in doubt, the plumber can take a look with a camera.

We advise against harsh products containing caustic soda or acid. They rarely dissolve a blockage completely, can damage older pipes and seals, and are dangerous to your skin and eyes, and to the plumber who opens up the drain afterwards. Using a plunger or cleaning out the trap is safer. If that doesn't help, have the drain unblocked by a professional.

That almost always points to a blockage further along the drain, beyond the point where the toilet and shower pipes join. The water from the toilet can't get away, so it takes the easiest way out: the lowest drain. Don't flush again, as that will only make it worse. Get the drain unblocked before dirty water ends up on the bathroom floor.

That depends on where the blockage is. If it's close to the outlet, a drain snake is often enough. If it's further down or particularly stubborn, the plumber uses an electric drain machine. Pipes coated in grease or silt over a long stretch are jetted clean at high pressure. A drain camera inspection then shows whether the pipe is completely clear again.

Don't pour fat or frying oil down the kitchen sink, don't flush wet wipes or cotton buds down the toilet, and put a hair catcher in the shower. Every now and then, run plenty of hot tap water down the kitchen drain. If you notice a drain getting slower, don't wait until it's completely blocked. Getting a slow kitchen sink unblocked or shower cleared early saves you work and hassle.

The main stopcock is usually next to the water meter in the meter cupboard. In older houses it may also be in the cellar, the crawl space or under the stairs. In a flat, you'll often have your own stopcock in the meter cupboard or a pipe cupboard. Find it before you need it and check that it still turns easily.

With measuring equipment rather than demolition. A moisture meter shows how wet walls and floors are, a thermal camera picks up temperature differences around hot or cold pipes, and a pressure test shows whether a pipe is leaking. That way the source can be pinpointed, and walls or floors only need opening up where necessary. Read more about leak detection.

Turn off the main stopcock immediately and switch off the power to any room where water could reach sockets or appliances. Catch as much water as you can and move your belongings up off the floor. Then call 085 115 0249 straight away. Wherever possible, the water pipe repair is done there and then, so you have running water again quickly.

Turn off all the taps and make sure no appliances are using water, such as the washing machine, the dishwasher or a cistern that's still filling. Then look at the water meter. If the little wheel or the counter keeps moving, water is leaking somewhere. Other warning signs include inexplicably high water use, a musty smell, patches of mould or tiles coming loose.

That depends on the tap. On a fairly new tap, a worn cartridge or seal can often be replaced easily. If the tap is old, the whole mechanism is furred up with limescale or it leaks in several places, a new tap is usually the wiser choice. The plumber will look at it on site and explain what gives you the best value in your case. Find out more about tap replacement.