Emergency Plumber Folkestone
A genuine 24 hour emergency plumber covering Folkestone and Kent. Burst pipes, leaks, no water, blocked drains and heating failures, answered by a local engineer rather than a call centre.
Emergency Plumber in Folkestone, 24 Hours a Day
When water is coming through a ceiling, the gap between calling someone and someone arriving decides how much damage you are left with.
We are based in Hythe, ten minutes from central Folkestone. When you call, you speak to the engineer who is coming out, not a national call centre taking your details and passing them to whoever is nearest.
Call +44 7915 255984 at any hour, including nights, weekends and bank holidays.
"I came home to a burst water pipe. Within 20 minutes of call, repair was being done. Very happy with service received."
Ali L, Google review
Do this before we arrive
Turn the water off at the stopcock. This is the single most useful thing you can do and it takes seconds once you know where yours is. In most Folkestone homes it is under the kitchen sink, in a downstairs cloakroom, or in the airing cupboard in older terraces. There is usually an external stop tap too, under a small metal cover near the front boundary.
If you have never located yours, or it is stiff and you are not sure it turns, read how to find and use your stopcock now rather than during an emergency. A surprising number of the call-outs we attend are far worse than they needed to be because the stopcock would not move.
Turn the electricity off at the consumer unit if water is anywhere near sockets, light fittings or the fuse board.
Open all the cold taps to drain the system down and take the pressure off the pipework.
Move what you can and photograph everything before you start clearing up. Your insurer will ask for those pictures later.
Our emergency plumbing guide for Folkestone homes sets this out in order, and the burst pipe emergency guide covers what to do while you wait.
What we treat as an emergency
A burst or split pipe
No water at all
A leak you cannot isolate
Water coming through a ceiling or down a wall
A smell of gas
A blocked drain backing up into the property
An overflowing cistern or tank you cannot stop
No heating or hot water in cold weather where someone elderly, very young or unwell is in the house
What honestly is not
A dripping tap. A slow draining sink. One cold radiator. A toilet that runs on. A boiler with no heating in mild weather when you still have hot water.
All of these need fixing, and we will fix them, but at a normal appointment and a normal rate. Paying an out of hours premium for a dripping tap is money you do not need to spend, and we will say so on the phone rather than take the booking. For those, see plumbing repairs.
What we deal with most at night
Burst and split pipes. Freezing is the biggest cause, particularly in lofts, garages and unheated extensions where the pipework has never been lagged. Full detail on burst pipe repair.
Leaks with no visible source. Water appearing with nothing obviously wrong needs locating properly rather than opening up floors on a hunch. See leak detection.
Boiler failures. Lockouts, pressure loss and complete breakdowns. In cold weather with a vulnerable occupant this is genuinely urgent. See boiler repair, and why your boiler keeps losing pressure if the gauge is dropping.
"Boiler lost pressure suddenly but Damian was nice enough to come in an hour and sorted it out instantly, gave lots of information and advice too. Would highly recommend as reliable and speedy."
Alika Rai, Google review
Blocked drains backing up indoors. Different from a slow sink and it will not wait. See blocked drains.
Overflowing toilets and cisterns. See what causes an overflowing toilet for what to do in the first minute.
If you smell gas
Do not call us first. Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. It is free and staffed around the clock.
Open windows and doors. Turn the gas off at the meter if you can reach it safely. Do not use light switches, do not use your phone inside the property, do not light anything. Get everyone out.
They will attend and make it safe. They do not carry out repairs, and that is where we come in afterwards. See gas safety and leak repair.
What happens when we get there
We stop the water first, then diagnose, then tell you what the repair involves and what it costs before we carry on.
Sometimes what looked simple turns out not to be, particularly in older Folkestone and Hythe properties where the pipework is fifty years old and has been altered by several owners. We would rather stay and finish it properly than patch it and leave you with the same problem next week.
"The job should have been simple, but due to old pipe work it turned out to be much more complicated than originally thought. Daimon stayed until the job was finished, making doubly sure that the leak was fixed before he left. Very professional, reasonable rates and an excellent service."
Gill Davies-Patrick, Google review
Pricing
Our call-out charge is explained before we set off, so you know where you stand before anyone turns up. It covers attendance and the first hour on site, then time is charged in 30 minute blocks. Parts are itemised separately on your invoice rather than buried in the labour figure.
If the job turns out to be bigger than it sounded on the phone, we tell you the cost before continuing, not afterwards. Our article on questions to ask before approving a plumbing quote is worth two minutes, whoever you end up calling.
Trusted by other trades
"Couldn't get one of our own plumbers out to a customer, so we contacted Plumbing and Central Heating Hythe Ltd and spoke with Damien. He attended the property the very same day to assist our customer and provided an excellent service. Really appreciated the quick response and willingness to help."
SwiftFix247, Google review
Where we reach quickly
Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate, Seabrook and Saltwood are all within a few minutes.
We also cover Hawkinge, Capel-le-Ferne, Lympne, Lyminge, Elham, Sellindge, Dymchurch, New Romney, Dover and Ashford, where arrival times are longer and we will tell you honestly on the phone rather than leave you waiting.
Preventing the next one
Most winter emergencies are preventable. Lagging pipes in lofts, garages and unheated spaces costs very little. Fitting an isolating valve on an outside tap and draining it before the first frost takes minutes.
See preventing frozen pipes in cold weather, preparing your plumbing for winter and, if you leave a property empty over winter, how to prevent water damage while away.
Common questions
Do you genuinely answer the phone at night? Yes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including bank holidays. You speak to the engineer, not a message service.
How quickly can you reach me? For genuine emergencies in Folkestone and the immediate area we aim to be with you within the hour wherever possible. Further out takes longer and we will tell you before you commit to waiting.
I am a tenant. Can I call you directly? Report it to your landlord or letting agent first, as arranging repairs is their responsibility. If they instruct us, we will attend.
Are you Gas Safe registered? Yes, for all gas work.
Call +44 7915 255984 now for an emergency plumber in Folkestone.
