Emergency plumber in Reading: what to do first and costs

Water coming through a ceiling or spraying from a pipe is stressful, but the first few minutes matter more than how fast a plumber arrives. Stopping the water limits the damage and often turns an emergency into a job that can wait until morning. Here's what to do, who to call in Reading, and what an emergency visit typically costs.

Safety: Keep away from water near sockets, light fittings or appliances. If water is coming through a light fitting or near the consumer unit, don't touch anything electrical and call an electrician. If you smell gas, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

What to do in the first five minutes

1. Turn off the water at your inside stop valve. Thames Water says it's usually under the kitchen sink, in an airing cupboard, under the stairs or near the front door. Turn it clockwise. If it won't move, don't force it, as old valves can snap.
2. Open the cold taps in the kitchen and bathroom to drain the water left in the pipes.
3. If hot water is leaking, switch off the boiler or immersion heater.
4. Catch drips with buckets and towels, and move furniture, rugs and electrical items out of the way.
5. If water is pooling in a ceiling and it's bulging, keep people out of the room underneath.
6. Take photos of the leak and any damage. Your insurer will want them.

What counts as a plumbing emergency?

Call an emergency plumber when water is escaping and you can't stop it, or when your home can't be used safely. Common examples:

• A burst or split pipe.
• Water coming through a ceiling or wall.
• A leak that carries on after you've turned off the stop valve, or a stop valve you can't turn.
• An overflowing toilet when it's the only one in the house.
• Sewage backing up into a sink, bath or shower.

A dripping tap, a slow-draining sink or a toilet that runs on can usually wait for a normal daytime visit, which costs less.

Emergency plumber or Thames Water: who should you call?

Thames Water supplies water and runs the sewers in Reading. Who you call depends on where the problem is.

• Inside your home, or on the supply pipe between your boundary and your house: that's yours to fix, so call a plumber.
• A leak in the road or pavement, or water bubbling up outside your boundary: report it to Thames Water.
• No water at all, or low pressure that your neighbours have too: check with Thames Water before calling a plumber.
• Sewage coming up from a drain that neighbours share: contact Thames Water, as shared sewers are its responsibility.
• If you rent: tell your landlord or letting agent straight away. Landlords are responsible for repairing leaks.

Thames Water's 24 hour emergency number is 0800 316 9800.

How much does an emergency plumber cost in Reading?

These are typical UK ranges checked in November 2026. Reading, like the rest of the South East, tends to sit at the higher end.

• Weekday daytime call-out: usually £60 to £150, then around £60 to £120 an hour.
• Weekday evening call-out: usually £100 to £200, then around £80 to £150 an hour.
• Overnight call-out: usually £150 to £300, then around £100 to £200 an hour.
• Weekend daytime call-out: usually £100 to £200.
• Bank holiday call-out: usually £150 to £350.

For the whole job, typical daytime prices include about £150 to £400 to isolate a burst pipe and make a temporary repair, and about £150 to £350 to replace a stop valve. Night and bank holiday visits can add 50 to 100 percent. Parts are usually extra.

What to ask before an emergency plumber comes out

• What's the call-out fee, and does it include any labour?
• What's the hourly rate after that, and is there a minimum charge?
• Roughly when can you get here?
• Are parts extra, and do you carry common parts on the van?
• Can you make it safe tonight and quote for the full repair in daytime hours?

Making it safe overnight and doing the full repair later is often the cheapest route. Be wary of anyone who pushes for major work on the spot without a written price.

How to avoid the next plumbing emergency

Thames Water suggests checking your inside stop valve once a month by turning it off and on, so it doesn't seize. Lag pipes in lofts, garages and outside walls before winter, and know where your outside tap's isolating valve is. Check what your home insurance covers for escape of water, and whether it includes an emergency helpline you should call first.

Label your stop valve with a bright tag and show everyone in the house where it is. In an emergency, nobody wants to be searching cupboards with a torch.