Emergency Plumbing
What to do before your plumber arrives, including safe isolation, protecting surfaces and checking whether the issue needs an emergency plumber.
Read guidePlumbing advice
Helpful plumbing advice for homeowners, landlords and small businesses
Find practical guidance for common plumbing problems, maintenance tips and useful information before arranging a visit. Every article is written to help customers understand the issue, know what information to provide and decide when professional assistance is the safest option.
Advice centre
Practical plumbing advice from a local professional
Good plumbing advice can save money by helping you act early, avoid unnecessary damage and understand whether a problem needs urgent attention. Some checks are safe for homeowners, landlords and small businesses to carry out, such as looking for visible leaks, checking whether a tap or toilet can be isolated, noting when a fault started and taking clear photos before anything is moved.
Other issues are better handled by a professional plumber, especially active leaks, radiator repairs involving pipework, shower repairs hidden behind panels, kitchen plumbing faults under units, hot water problems and anything connected to an unvented cylinder. Early leak detection can prevent stained ceilings, damaged units and repeated call-outs, while clear information helps Rez explain the practical options before work begins. This advice centre is written for customers across Colchester, Essex and Suffolk who want straightforward guidance before calling, sending WhatsApp photos or requesting a quotation.
Advice articles
Plumbing guides for common household problems
Use these guides to understand the issue, reduce avoidable damage and decide when calling a local plumber is the sensible next step.
Water Leaks
How to reduce water damage quickly when a leak appears under a sink, near a toilet, around pipework or through a ceiling.
Read guideRadiators
Why a radiator may be cold, what simple checks are safe and when radiator repairs or valve replacement may be needed.
Read guideToilets
Why a toilet may keep running, filling slowly or leaking, and what information helps identify the likely cistern part.
Read guideKitchen Plumbing
Common causes of kitchen sink blockages, leaking traps, loose taps and under-sink pipework problems.
Read guideBathroom Plumbing
Signs your shower needs attention, from leaks outside the enclosure to poor flow, waste smells and failing silicone.
Read guideHot Water
No hot water? Learn what to check first, what details to note and when a hot water cylinder fault needs qualified help.
Read guideUnvented Cylinders
When a G3 qualified engineer should be called for unvented cylinder discharge, pressure concerns or safety control issues.
Read guideOutdoor Plumbing
Protecting outside taps during winter helps reduce the risk of frozen pipework, split fittings and avoidable leaks.
Read guideGeneral Plumbing
What photos help us provide a quotation faster, including wider shots, close-ups, labels, valves and access routes.
Read guideBefore you enquire
Before requesting a quotation
Clear information helps Rez give useful advice faster and reduces unnecessary back-and-forth. Please include your postcode or area, a short description of the plumbing problem, when it started and how urgent it feels. If water is escaping, say whether you have isolated the water supply and whether the leak has slowed or stopped.
Photos and short videos are often the most helpful part of an enquiry. Send one wider photo to show the surrounding area, then close-ups of the leak, tap, toilet, radiator valve, shower, kitchen plumbing, cylinder label or visible pipework. If an appliance, shower valve, tap, macerator, pump or unvented cylinder has a make or model label, include that too. Mention access restrictions such as boxed-in pipework, loft access, tight cupboards, parking issues or landlord/tenant arrangements so the visit can be planned properly.
Why use this page
Why customers use our advice centre
Practical guidance
Advice focuses on what customers can safely check before arranging plumbing help.
Clear explanations
Common problems are explained in plain English so you understand the likely next step.
Written by a plumber
Topics reflect real plumbing work, Water Regulations Approved practice and G3 qualified awareness.
Based on real jobs
Guidance is shaped by the leaks, toilets, radiators, showers and cylinder enquiries Rez sees locally.
Local knowledge
Advice is written for homes, landlords and small businesses across Colchester, Essex and Suffolk.
Easy next steps
Each topic points you towards calling, sending WhatsApp photos or requesting a quote when needed.
Common questions
Plumbing advice FAQs
Should I turn my water off?
If water is actively leaking, try to isolate the affected supply if you can do so safely. This may be a local isolation valve under a sink, behind a toilet or near an appliance, or the main stop tap for the property. Do not force a seized valve. If the leak continues or you are unsure, call a plumber for advice.
Can I wait until tomorrow?
Small drips may sometimes wait, but active leaks, water near electrics, overflowing tanks, running water that cannot be isolated or damage spreading through ceilings should be treated more urgently. If you are unsure, call first and explain what is happening. A short conversation can help decide whether an emergency plumber is needed.
Should I attempt the repair?
Simple checks such as taking photos, clearing access and identifying isolation valves can be helpful. Repairs involving hidden pipework, hot water cylinders, radiator valves, shower controls, macerators or anything under pressure should be approached carefully. If there is a risk of making the leak worse, it is usually safer to stop and arrange professional help.
How quickly should I call a plumber?
Call as soon as a fault risks water damage, loss of essential facilities or further deterioration. Early advice can prevent a small leak becoming a larger repair. For planned general plumbing, bathroom plumbing, radiator repairs or kitchen plumbing, send photos and details first so Rez can understand the job before confirming the next step.
Do I need photos?
Photos are not essential for every job, but they usually help. Send a wider image for context and close-ups of the leak, fitting, pipework, valve, toilet cistern, radiator or cylinder label. Good photos can make quotations clearer and help Rez identify whether parts, access or a visit are likely to be needed.
Can I get a quotation before a visit?
Some plumbing jobs can be quoted or estimated from clear photos, especially straightforward tap replacements, toilet repairs or visible leaks. More complex work may need a visit because access, pipe condition, isolation valves and hidden fittings affect the final scope. Rez will explain what information is needed before confirming the most sensible next step.
Need a plumber?
Need professional plumbing help?
If your plumbing problem cannot safely be resolved using the guidance above, REZ Heating & Plumbing Services is happy to help. We cover Colchester, Essex and surrounding areas, offering clear advice, tidy workmanship and honest recommendations.