Emergency Plumber Northampton

A plumbing emergency puts your home or your safety at risk. Burst pipes, bad leaks and sewage backing up all count. So does a total loss of heat in cold weather.

Gas is different, because a gas leak is dangerous. If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. The line is free and open 24 hours, according to Cadent.

Open doors and windows, and keep away from switches and flames. Leave the building if your meter sits in a cellar. Wait for the gas engineer to give the all-clear, because the home may not be safe to enter yet.

Turn off the water at the stop tap if a pipe has burst. The tap is usually under the kitchen sink, says the Met Office. Test yours every six months so it never seizes.

Next, switch off the boiler and heating, then open the taps to drain the pipes. Keep clear of electrics near the leak, because water and power do not mix. Soak up spills with towels while you wait.

Our first 10 minutes checklist walks through each step. Photos of the damage also help, since you may need them for an insurance claim.

Engineers who work on gas are Gas Safe registered. UK law says anyone who works on gas appliances at home must be, as the HSE explains. Check the ID card before work starts, because it shows what each engineer may do.

Ask to see proof of insurance before the job begins. Ask what guarantee covers the work too, since terms differ. Then get both answers in writing.

Prices vary, so treat these figures as a guide. MyJobQuote puts the average call-out at £75, while TradeMatch gives £100 to £250 for an emergency call-out covering the first hour. Hourly rates in the Midlands run from about £35 to £65, according to TradeMatch.

Overnight and weekend call-outs often cost more, says TradeMatch. These are national guides, not our prices. However, a quote request gets you an exact price, while our pricing page lists more ranges.

We cover Northampton and towns within 30 miles. See emergency plumbing in Kettering or plumbers in Wellingborough for local details, while plumbing help in Daventry and plumbers in Corby have pages too.

Most callers need burst pipe repair, boiler repair or blocked drain clearing. Our full list of areas shows every town we cover, including plumbers in Northampton.