Burst and Leaking Pipes in Blackburn

Why pipes burst and leak

The commonest cause in winter is freezing, when water expands in the pipe and splits it, often showing itself only when the thaw arrives. Age and corrosion wear pipes and fittings out over time, joints that were never made well fail eventually, and high water pressure stresses weak points. Pipes are also damaged by building work or a nail through a wall. Outside, the supply pipe from the boundary to your house can be damaged by ground movement or a spade. Most of the damage we are called out for was avoidable, and finding a leak early limits it.

Signs of a leak

Not every leak is dramatic. Look for:

• Stains, bubbling paint or damp patches on a ceiling or wall
• A musty smell, or condensation you cannot explain
• The sound of running water when everything is off
• A water meter that keeps moving when every tap is shut
• Low pressure, or a sudden rise in your water bill
• A wet or unusually green patch in the garden or on the pavement along the line of the supply pipe

How we find and fix it

We isolate the water to stop the damage, then trace the leak by following the stain, listening along the pipe and checking the pressure. We open up the minimum we need to, cut out the damaged section and replace it with new pipe and fittings, then test the repair before closing everything up. For a leak on the supply pipe underground, that means digging down to the pipe, repairing or replacing the damaged length, and putting the ground back.

If you have just found a burst, turn the water off at the stop tap and call. Our page on emergency plumbing has the steps to take while we get to you, and stop taps and water supply repairs covers what to do if the stop tap itself will not turn.

What affects the price

The biggest factor is how hard the leak is to reach. A pipe under an exposed floor is a short job, a pipe buried in a wall or under a drive is a longer one. The pipe material, the number of repairs, the surface that has to be lifted and replaced, and the time of day also change the price. A firm price is agreed before work begins.

What happens after you call

You speak to the team. We talk you through shutting off the water, ask where you can see the damage, and tell you when we can get a van to you. On site we find the leak, explain the repair and the cost, and fix it once you say go. Before we leave we check the repair holds and that the water is back on.

Whose pipe is it

In England the water company owns the supply pipe in the street up to your boundary, and you own the pipe from the boundary into the property. If the leak is on your side, the repair is yours to arrange. Many water companies will consider an allowance on your bill for a leak on a supply pipe that has been repaired, so ask yours.