A Day in the Life of a Hampshire Plumber

The alarm goes off at 5:45. No snooze button - that's a habit I learned early. By 6:00 I'm checking ServiceM8 (our job management system) on my phone while the kettle boils. Today's looking busy: an emergency leak in Andover first thing, then a bathroom refurbishment we're midway through in Ramsbury, and a couple of maintenance jobs in Hungerford this afternoon.

6:15 - I'm in the van, reviewing what materials I need for each job. The emergency leak customer said water is dripping from their kitchen ceiling - that usually means a bathroom waste pipe or fitting above. I make sure I've got a range of 40mm and 50mm waste fittings, some flexible connectors, and solvent weld cement. Better to have it and not need it.

By 6:45 I'm on the road. The A303 is quiet at this time - one of the perks of early starts. I use the drive time to mentally prepare: what could the leak be? What's my Plan B if it's worse than expected? This preparation saves time and stress when I arrive.

I arrive at the customer's house in Upper Clatford just after 7. They've been waiting since yesterday - the leak started in the evening and they've had buckets down overnight. First thing I do is reassure them we'll sort it, then head upstairs to investigate.

The problem is obvious once I get the bathroom floor panels up: the waste connection from their basin has failed. Old push-fit that's just given up after 15 years. Classic issue in houses built around 2005-2010 - that era of push-fit fittings wasn't as reliable as what we use now.

The fix takes about 45 minutes: I cut out the failed section, install new solvent-weld fittings (much more reliable), and run water tests to confirm it's watertight. Then I spend another 20 minutes explaining to the customer what happened and what to watch for in future. Education is part of the service - informed customers are happier customers.

By 8:30 I'm writing up the job notes in the van. Invoice sent, payment taken. On to the next one.

The drive to Ramsbury takes about 25 minutes through some beautiful Wiltshire countryside. This is week two of a complete bathroom refurbishment - we're at the exciting stage where it actually starts looking like a bathroom again.

Today I'm fitting the new basin and vanity unit. The customer chose a wall-hung design, which looks fantastic but requires proper wall reinforcement. I spent time yesterday installing the frame behind the plasterboard - now it's about connecting everything up.

The physical reality: I spend about an hour on my knees fitting the waste and water connections. My knee pads are essential - after 15 years in the trade, I've learned to protect my joints. There's a bit of contortion getting the copper pipes connected in a tight space. Anyone who thinks plumbing isn't physical work should try this.

By 12:30 the basin is in, water connected, waste running clear. The customer pops in to check progress and you can see them getting excited as their new bathroom takes shape. That reaction never gets old.

Lunch is a sandwich in the van - romantic, I know. But this half hour is crucial for admin: I respond to three quote requests that came in overnight, update the job schedule for tomorrow, and order some parts for next week's boiler work.

Running your own business means wearing multiple hats. I'm not just a plumber - I'm also the bookkeeper, scheduler, customer service rep, and marketing department. It took time to get efficient at this, but now I've got systems that work.

Quick tip for anyone starting out: get a good job management system early. ServiceM8 costs about £30/month but saves me hours every week and makes me look professional.

The afternoon is a mix of smaller jobs - this is what keeps the day interesting. First stop is Hungerford for a tap replacement. The customer's mixer tap has been dripping for months and they've finally got around to calling someone. Twenty minutes to replace it, ten minutes to show them how to look after it.

Next up: a radiator that won't heat up in Kintbury. Classic air lock - I bleed it, check the boiler pressure, explain the simple maintenance they can do themselves. The kind of job that takes 15 minutes but saves them calling someone in the winter when they actually need heat.

Final job of the day is fitting an outside tap in Great Shefford. The customer wants to be able to wash their dogs in the garden (they have three labradors - the garden is muddy). This takes about an hour and a half: drilling through the wall, running the pipe, fitting an isolator valve inside and the tap outside. By 4:30 they're testing it on a very confused labrador.

I'm home by 5:30 most days. The evening routine: update job notes while they're fresh, send any outstanding invoices, reply to any messages that came in during the day. Then I do a quick inventory of the van - what did I use today that needs restocking?

Tonight I need to order some 15mm compression fittings and pick up some silicone sealant from the trade counter tomorrow morning. Getting the materials sorted in advance means tomorrow runs smoothly.

By 6:30 I'm done with work. Some days are longer - emergency call-outs can mean evening or weekend work - but most days follow this pattern. It's a full day, but I'm not staring at a screen in a office wondering where the sunlight went.

The real comparison: A graduate starting an office job in 2026 might earn £25,000-£30,000 - with £50,000+ of student debt. A plumber finishing their apprenticeship at 22 earns similar money with no debt and a skill that's always in demand.

Add in specialist qualifications (gas, renewables, underfloor heating) and you become even more valuable. Heat pump engineers are currently earning £40,000-£50,000 because demand far outstrips supply.

The honest truth: Plumbing isn't for everyone. But if you're someone who likes working with their hands, enjoys solving problems, and wants a career that offers good money and job security without sitting at a desk all day - it's worth serious consideration.