Best Plumbing Kit for Your Home
Everything your house needs, from flat to 5+ bed mansion. Professional recommendations with real brands and honest prices.
After years of being asked "what would you actually put in if it was your house?" I've written this guide. No affiliate links, no sponsorships — just honest recommendations from a plumber who fits this kit every day across Andover, Marlborough, Hungerford and the surrounding villages.
Best Plumbing Kit Series
3-part comprehensive guide
Every house has plumbing, but the difference between "plumbing that works" and "plumbing that works brilliantly" comes down to choosing the right kit in the first place. I've spent over 15 years fitting, repairing and replacing every type of plumbing system across Hampshire, Wiltshire and Berkshire — from period cottages in Marlborough to new builds in Andover, from tiny flats in Hungerford to sprawling farmhouses around Great Bedwyn.
This guide covers all eight categories of domestic plumbing: hot water, heating, bathrooms, kitchens, pipework, water treatment, outside plumbing and smart systems. For each category, I'll tell you exactly what I'd recommend for three property sizes — a flat, a typical 3-bed house, and a large 5+ bed home. Real brands, ballpark prices, honest opinions.
These are the brands I actually fit and trust. Prices are ballpark UK figures as of early 2026 — your supplier, spec and installation complexity will all affect the final number. But this will give you an honest starting point that no showroom salesperson is going to provide.
1. Hot Water Systems
The heart of your home's plumbing
Your hot water system affects every single tap, shower and bath in the house. Get this right and everything else flows from it — literally. This is where I always start when planning a plumbing system, and it's the single biggest investment that makes the most difference to daily life.
Flat / 1-2 Bed
A combi boiler handles both heating and hot water in one unit — no cylinder needed, no wasted space. Alternatively, electric point-of-use heaters like the Triton T30i (~£150–£200) work well for single bathrooms where gas isn't available.
Will's recommendation:
Combi boiler if you have gas. Triton T30i for electric-only flats. Simple, space-saving, cost-effective.
3-Bed House
Most Popular
This is where an unvented cylinder transforms your life. The Megaflo Eco (170–210L) delivers mains-pressure hot water to every outlet simultaneously. No more pathetic trickle when someone runs a tap downstairs. £800–£1,200 for the cylinder, plus £500–£800 installation by a G3-certified engineer.
Will's recommendation:
Megaflo Eco 170L or 210L. It's the industry standard for good reason — 25-year warranty and rock-solid reliability. I fit more of these than any other cylinder.
5+ Bed House
Premium unvented in a larger size — Megaflo Eco 250–300L for big families, or a Mixergy smart cylinder (£1,500–£3,000) that heats only the water you need using smart stratification technology. Multiple bathrooms need serious capacity.
Will's recommendation:
Megaflo Eco for reliability, Mixergy if you want smart features and energy savings. For heat pump homes, consider the Heat Geek Super with its massive 6m² coil.
Why hot water matters most: A quality cylinder is the foundation. Every shower, every bath, every tap runs through it. The difference between a £400 budget cylinder and a £1,200 Megaflo Eco is night-and-day in terms of pressure, recovery time and reliability. I've seen cheap cylinders fail within 5 years. The Megaflo has a 25-year warranty because they know it'll last. Read our complete hot water cylinder guide for the full breakdown of all 11 manufacturers.
2. Heating & Radiators
Keeping your home warm efficiently
Heating accounts for roughly 55% of your annual energy bill. The right radiators and controls can make a huge difference to both comfort and cost. Here in the SP10, SN8 and RG17 postcode areas, older properties often have undersized radiators that were fine for the old boiler but struggle with modern condensing systems.
Flat / 1-2 Bed
Electric panel heaters or a small number of radiators fed from the combi boiler. For a 2-bed flat, you might need 3–5 radiators. Budget electric panels from Dimplex or Elnur run £100–£250 each. A basic programmable thermostat keeps bills under control.
3-Bed House
Most PopularStelrad Compact radiators are my workhorse recommendation — £80–£200 each depending on size. Excellent heat output, well-made, good value. For a 3-bed, budget 7–10 radiators. Add a Hive smart thermostat (~£150–£250 installed) and you'll see immediate savings with phone-controlled scheduling.
Will's pick:
"Stelrad for workhorses, Hive for smart control that actually works. I've tried Nest, Tado, Drayton Wiser — Hive is the most reliable and easiest for customers to use."
5+ Bed House
Mix of Stelrad panel radiators in utility areas with designer radiators in living spaces. Consider Bisque or Vogue designer rads for hallways and living rooms (£300–£1,500 each). Multi-zone Hive system lets you heat different parts of the house independently. Budget 12–20+ radiators.
A note on thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs): These are cheap (about £15–£30 each) and should be on every single radiator. They let each room regulate its own temperature. Combined with a smart thermostat, TRVs can cut your heating bill by 10–15%. It's the simplest upgrade I recommend to every customer.
3. Bathroom Fixtures
Taps, showers, toilets, basins and baths
Bathrooms are where most homeowners spend their plumbing budget — and where the difference between cheap and quality is most obvious on a daily basis. A dripping tap or weak shower ruins your morning. A well-specified bathroom is genuinely life-improving.
Brand Tier Guide
Solid, reliable, widely available. Basin taps from £40–£100. Bath taps £80–£150. The brand I reach for when customers want good quality without paying premium prices. 5-year warranty.
German engineering, beautiful finish, ceramic cartridges that last. Basin taps £80–£250. Bath taps £150–£400. My personal favourite — the EcoJoy technology saves water without you noticing. 5–10 year warranty.
Luxury finishes, designer styling, bathroom showroom standard. Basin taps £150–£500+. Bath taps £250–£700+. For customers building their dream bathroom. 15-year guarantee.
Showers & Toilets
Showers
Mira (budget-mid, £150–£500) — reliable, great parts availability. Aqualisa (mid-premium, £300–£1,200) — SmartValve technology, digital controls, exceptional performance. For a 3-bed, I'd suggest Mira in the family bathroom and Aqualisa in the en-suite.
Toilets
Ideal Standard (budget-mid, £150–£400) — UK institution, parts always available. Villeroy & Boch (premium, £300–£900+) — German quality, rimless designs, easy-clean glazes. Wall-hung toilets look stunning but cost more to install.
Basins & Baths
Ideal Standard for value. Villeroy & Boch for luxury. Duravit sits neatly between the two. Freestanding baths from £400 (basic acrylic) to £3,000+ (cast iron, stone resin).
Deep Dive: Part 2
Want the full breakdown? Our Fixtures & Fittings Deep Dive covers every bathroom product category in detail — specific model recommendations, price comparisons, and what to avoid.
Read Part 2: Fixtures & FittingsBallpark Bathroom Costs by Property Size
Flat (1 bathroom)
£500–£1,500
Bristan taps, Mira shower, Ideal Standard toilet
3-Bed (1–2 bathrooms)
£2,000–£5,000
Grohe taps, Mira/Aqualisa showers, quality sanitaryware
5+ Bed (3–4 bathrooms)
£5,000–£20,000+
Crosswater/Grohe taps, Aqualisa digital, V&B sanitaryware
4. Kitchen Plumbing
Taps, sinks and appliance connections
Kitchen plumbing doesn't get the attention bathrooms do, but you use your kitchen tap more than any other fixture in the house. A quality kitchen tap and a properly plumbed-in dishwasher and washing machine make daily life noticeably smoother.
Kitchen Taps
Sinks & Appliance Connections
Deep Dive: Part 2
Full kitchen plumbing breakdown including tap installation types, sink configurations, and appliance connection best practice in our Fixtures & Fittings guide.
Read Part 2: Fixtures & FittingsFlat
£200–£500
Basic mixer tap + appliance connections
3-Bed House
£800–£2,000
Grohe tap, Franke sink, appliance connections
5+ Bed House
£1,500–£4,000+
Premium tap, Blanco sink, utility room plumbing
5. Pipework & Infrastructure
The bones of your plumbing system
Nobody gets excited about pipes. But get them wrong and nothing else works properly. The push-fit vs copper debate has been settled for most domestic work — and modern push-fit systems are genuinely excellent. Here's what you need to know.
Hep2O Push-Fit System
Hep2O by Wavin is the push-fit system I use most. Fittings cost £2–£5 each, the pipe is flexible polybutylene, and connections are fast and reliable. No hot works (soldering), no fire risk, and the demountable fittings mean future modifications are easy. WRAS-approved for potable water.
Copper vs Push-Fit: Honest Comparison
| Factor | Hep2O Push-Fit | Copper |
|---|---|---|
| Installation speed | Fast | Slower |
| Material cost | Lower | Higher |
| Labour cost | Lower | Higher |
| Lifespan | 50+ years | 50–70 years |
| Appearance | Hidden only | Exposed & hidden |
| Future changes | Easy (demountable) | Requires soldering |
| Fire risk | None | Hot works needed |
Will's verdict:
"I use Hep2O for 90% of domestic work. Copper still wins for exposed pipework and high-temperature runs near boilers. But for everything behind walls and under floors, push-fit is faster, cheaper and just as reliable."
Other Infrastructure Essentials
Isolation Valves
Every appliance and fixture should have its own isolation valve (£5–£15 each). Means you can isolate one item without shutting off the whole house. Non-negotiable.
Waste & Drainage
McAlpine traps are industry standard — £5–£20 each. Proper 110mm soil pipe for toilets, 40mm waste for basins and baths. Get this right to avoid blockages.
Stopcocks & PRVs
New full-bore stopcock (~£30–£60 installed) and a pressure reducing valve if your mains is above 3 bar. Protects everything downstream.
Deep Dive: Part 3
Our Hidden Infrastructure Deep Dive covers pipework systems, drainage, valves, and smart leak detection in complete detail.
Read Part 3: Hidden Infrastructure6. Water Treatment
Essential for Hampshire's hard water
If you live anywhere in our coverage area — Andover (SP10/SP11), Marlborough (SN8), Hungerford (RG17), Great Bedwyn, Pewsey (SN9), Tidworth (SP9) or Stockbridge (SO20) — you're sitting on chalk geology. That means hard water at 200–350+ ppm. Left untreated, it destroys taps, furrs up cylinders, scales shower heads and shortens the life of every water-touching appliance. This is the category that pays for itself.
For Most Homes: Aquabion
The Aquabion electrolytic conditioner (£400–£550 installed) is my go-to recommendation. No electricity, no salt, no maintenance, no running costs. It uses a sacrificial zinc anode to change the behaviour of limescale so it doesn't stick to surfaces. Replace the unit every 5–8 years. Simple, effective, affordable.
For households wanting filtered drinking water too, add an under-sink filter (£100–£250) for a total water treatment solution under £800.
For Severe Hard Water: Salt Softener
If your water is above 300 ppm (Marlborough and Hungerford often are), or you particularly want that soft-water feel for skin and hair, a full salt-based softener makes sense. BWT and Harvey are the market leaders at £1,500–£2,500 installed.
Running costs are £40–£80/year in salt blocks. You'll need a separate drinking water tap (softened water has elevated sodium). The upside is genuinely soft water — no scale anywhere, softer laundry, less soap usage.
Will's recommendation:
Start with Aquabion + under-sink filter. If after 6 months you want more, upgrade to a salt softener. But 80% of my customers find the Aquabion sufficient.
Read the full analysis: We've written an in-depth Best Water Treatment Setup Guide for Hampshire covering every option from basic jug filters to whole-house systems. Also see our water conditioner reviews comparing 7 devices with real customer feedback.
7. Outside & External
Garden taps, external connections and winter protection
An outside tap is one of those small investments that makes a disproportionate difference to daily life. Washing the car, filling the paddling pool, hosing down muddy boots, watering the garden — it all becomes trivial with a proper outside tap rather than dragging a bucket through the kitchen.
Outside Tap Installation
Winter tip:
Every autumn, turn off the indoor isolation valve and open the outside tap to drain any trapped water. This 30-second job prevents burst pipe repairs costing £200+. It's the most common avoidable winter call-out I do.
8. Smart Plumbing & Leak Detection
Prevention is cheaper than cure
Smart plumbing is still a relatively new category, but the technology is genuinely useful now — particularly leak detection. A single undetected leak can cause £10,000+ of damage to floors, walls and ceilings. A £100 sensor could save you from that nightmare.
Grohe Sense
Smart leak detector that sits on the floor in vulnerable spots (under sinks, behind toilets, near the cylinder). Detects moisture and sends a phone alert immediately. Battery-powered, Wi-Fi connected.
Grohe Sense Guard
The full-fat option. Installs on your mains pipe and can automatically shut off your water supply if it detects a leak. Also monitors water consumption and detects micro-leaks you wouldn't notice for months.
Smart Shut-Off Valves
If you travel frequently or own a holiday let, a smart motorised shut-off valve (£150–£300) lets you kill the water supply remotely from your phone. Peace of mind when you're away from the property.
My honest take on smart plumbing: The leak detection stuff is genuinely worthwhile, especially for larger homes and holiday lets. Smart taps and touchless fixtures are nice-to-have but not essential — they're expensive and add complexity. I'd put the money into a Grohe Sense Guard and good-quality conventional fixtures every time. Read the full analysis in our Hidden Infrastructure Deep Dive.
Complete Shopping Lists by Property Size
Here's what I'd recommend if you were starting from scratch. These are ballpark budgets for supply and installation — your actual costs will vary based on specification, supplier and property-specific challenges.
Flat / 1-2 Bed Apartment
| Category | Recommended Brand | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water | Combi boiler or Triton T30i electric | £500–£2,000 |
| Heating | Electric panels (Dimplex/Elnur) or 3–5 radiators | £500–£1,500 |
| Bathroom | Bristan taps, Triton/Mira shower, Ideal Standard toilet | £500–£1,500 |
| Kitchen | Basic Bristan mixer tap | £200–£500 |
| Water treatment | Aquabion + filter jug | £300–£500 |
| Total Estimated Investment | £2,000–£6,000 | |
3-Bed House
Most Common| Category | Recommended Brand | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water | Megaflo Eco 170–210L unvented cylinder | £1,500–£2,500 |
| Heating | 7–10 Stelrad Compact rads + Hive thermostat | £3,000–£6,000 |
| Bathroom | Grohe taps, Mira/Aqualisa shower, quality sanitaryware | £2,000–£5,000 |
| Kitchen | Grohe tap, Franke sink, appliance connections | £800–£2,000 |
| Pipework | Hep2O push-fit system throughout | £1,000–£2,500 |
| Water treatment | Aquabion + under-sink drinking water filter | £500–£1,000 |
| Outside | WRAS-approved brass outside tap | £150–£300 |
| Total Estimated Investment | £9,000–£20,000 | |
5+ Bed House / Large Property
| Category | Recommended Brand | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water | Megaflo Eco 250–300L or Mixergy smart cylinder | £2,500–£5,000 |
| Heating | Stelrad + designer rads, multi-zone Hive, UFH | £6,000–£15,000+ |
| Bathrooms (3–4) | Crosswater/Grohe taps, Aqualisa digital showers, V&B | £5,000–£20,000+ |
| Kitchen | Grohe/Franke premium tap, Blanco sink, utility room | £1,500–£4,000+ |
| Pipework | Hep2O throughout + copper for exposed runs | £2,000–£5,000 |
| Water treatment | BWT/Harvey softener + under-sink RO filter | £1,500–£3,000 |
| Outside | 2x outside taps + garden watering connection | £300–£600 |
| Smart & leak detection | Grohe Sense Guard + 3–4 Sense sensors | £700–£1,200 |
| Total Estimated Investment | £20,000–£50,000+ | |
Important price note
These budgets include supply and installation but assume straightforward access. Old properties with complex pipe runs, asbestos, or structural challenges will cost more. These prices are typical for properties in our Andover (SP10/SP11), Marlborough (SN8) and Hungerford (RG17) coverage area as of early 2026. Get a proper quote for your specific situation — we offer free, no-obligation quotes on all work.
Staging Your Upgrade: A Practical Approach
Most families can't drop £15,000 in one go — nor should they. I regularly help customers plan a staged upgrade over 2–3 years. Here's the order I recommend based on what gives you the biggest daily impact per pound spent:
Hot Water System
Year 1Replace that old cylinder or upgrade from a combi. Biggest single improvement to daily life.
Smart Heating Controls
Year 1Hive thermostat + TRVs on all radiators. Pays for itself in energy savings within 12-18 months.
Main Bathroom
Year 1-2Your most-used room. Quality taps, good shower, decent toilet. You'll use it thousands of times.
Water Treatment
Year 2Aquabion or softener. Protects everything you've already invested in and everything you're about to.
Kitchen Fixtures
Year 2New tap and sink make a surprising difference. Add appliance connections if needed.
Secondary Bathrooms & Extras
Year 2-3En-suite, guest bathroom, outside tap, leak detection. The finishing touches.
Hampshire & Wiltshire: Local Considerations
Working across Andover, Marlborough, Hungerford, Tidworth, Pewsey, Ludgershall, Stockbridge and Great Bedwyn means I see the same local challenges repeatedly. Here's what's different about plumbing in our area:
Hard Water (200–350+ ppm)
Our chalk geology means hard water everywhere. Untreated, it scales up cylinders, destroys taps and shortens appliance life by years. Water treatment isn't optional here — it's essential. Budget for it from day one.
Period Properties
SN8 and RG17 postcodes have many older properties with lead pipes, galvanised steel, and gravity-fed systems. These need careful upgrading — you can't just swap like-for-like. We often recommend replacing the entire internal pipe run when doing major work.
Mains Pressure Variation
Mains pressure varies hugely in our area — from barely 1 bar in some Pewsey Vale villages to over 4 bar in Andover town. This directly affects what hot water and shower systems will work well. We always test mains pressure before specifying any system.
Winter Frost Risk
Exposed rural properties around Savernake, Chute and the Wallops get proper cold winters. Outside taps, pipes in unheated spaces and loft tanks all need frost protection. We specify trace heating and insulation as standard for vulnerable runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to plumb a whole house?
A complete plumbing fit-out varies enormously by property size. A flat might need £2,000–£6,000 for basics. A typical 3-bed house runs £9,000–£20,000 covering hot water, heating, bathroom, kitchen and pipework. A large 5+ bed property can easily reach £20,000–£50,000+ with premium fixtures and multiple bathrooms. These are ballpark figures — your actual cost depends on spec, brands, and existing infrastructure.
What brands do professional plumbers actually use?
Most professional plumbers have trusted go-to brands. For hot water cylinders, Megaflo (Heatrae Sadia) is the industry standard. Stelrad dominates the radiator market. Grohe and Bristan are the most commonly fitted tap brands. Hep2O push-fit is increasingly preferred over copper for speed and reliability. For showers, Mira and Aqualisa lead the market. These are brands we fit regularly and trust to last.
Should I choose push-fit or copper pipework?
For most domestic situations, Hep2O push-fit is now our recommendation. It’s faster to install (saving you labour costs), doesn’t require hot works, and is approved for all domestic applications. Copper still has its place — visible pipework, high-temperature runs, and some commercial settings. For a standard 3-bed house, push-fit saves around £500–£1,000 on installation vs copper.
How often does plumbing need replacing?
Copper pipes last 50–70 years. Push-fit systems are rated for 50+ years. Hot water cylinders typically last 15–25 years (Megaflo warranties run to 25 years). Taps and showers last 10–20 years depending on water hardness. Radiators can last 20–40 years. In Hampshire’s hard water areas, fixtures touching water directly (taps, showers, cylinders) may need attention sooner due to limescale.
Can I upgrade my plumbing in stages?
Absolutely, and we often recommend this approach. Priority order: 1) Hot water system (biggest daily impact), 2) Heating controls (Hive thermostat saves money immediately), 3) Main bathroom (most used room), 4) Water treatment (protects everything else), 5) Kitchen fixtures, 6) Secondary bathrooms. Staging over 2–3 years makes a full upgrade affordable without compromising on quality.
What’s the most important plumbing investment?
Your hot water system. It’s the heart of your home’s plumbing. A quality unvented cylinder like the Megaflo Eco gives you mains-pressure hot water to every outlet, supports multiple bathrooms simultaneously, and lasts 20–25 years. After that, water treatment is the smartest investment in Hampshire’s chalk geology area — an Aquabion or water conditioner protects every appliance and fixture downstream.
Do I need a water softener in Hampshire?
Hampshire sits on chalk geology, giving us water hardness of 200–350+ ppm — that’s very hard. You don’t necessarily need a full salt-based softener, though. For most homes, an Aquabion electrolytic conditioner (£400–£550) provides excellent protection with zero running costs. Add an under-sink drinking water filter and you’re sorted. Full salt softeners (£1,500–£2,500+) make sense for severe hard water or if you particularly want that soft-water feel.
Ready to Upgrade Your Home's Plumbing?
Whether you're planning a full house plumbing upgrade or just want to start with the hot water system, we're here to help. Free, no-obligation quotes covering Andover, Marlborough, Hungerford and surrounding villages.
Related Guides
Part 2: Fixtures & Fittings Deep Dive
Detailed guide to taps, showers, toilets, basins, baths and kitchen fixtures. Specific models, prices and installation advice.
Read Full GuidePart 3: Hidden Infrastructure Deep Dive
Everything behind the walls: pipework, drainage, valves, smart leak detection and the infrastructure that makes it all work.
Read Full GuideBest Water Treatment Setup Guide
Complete guide to water treatment for Hampshire's hard water. Conditioners, softeners, filters and whole-house solutions compared.
Read Full Guide