Emergency Plumber
What to Do Right Now
If you have a burst pipe, flooding, or a plumbing emergency in Andover, Marlborough or Hungerford, this guide tells you exactly what to do - step by step - to protect your home while help is on the way.
Written by Will Gaze, professional plumber serving the Hampshire, Wiltshire & Berkshire borders since 2019.
First: Stop. Breathe. Then Act.
A plumbing emergency is stressful. Water is pouring, you are panicking, and you do not know what to do. That is completely normal. But the first 60 seconds matter, and your actions during that time can mean the difference between a manageable repair and thousands of pounds of damage.
Take a breath. Then follow these three steps in order. They will protect your home while you wait for help to arrive.
Turn Off the Water
Your internal stopcock controls the mains water supply to your home. It is usually located under the kitchen sink, in a utility room, or under the stairs. Turn it clockwise (to the right) until it is fully closed. Once the stopcock is off, open the cold taps downstairs to drain the remaining water from the system and reduce pressure.
If you cannot find your stopcock or it is seized and will not turn, move to step 2 and call us immediately on 01264 502027. We can talk you through alternatives while we are on our way.
Check Electrical Safety
Water and electricity are a lethal combination. If water is anywhere near electrical sockets, light fittings, or your consumer unit (fuse box), you must turn off the electricity at the mains. Do this by switching off the main switch at your consumer unit - it is usually a larger switch at the top or side of the board.
Do not touch any electrical switches or sockets if you are standing in water or if your hands are wet. If water is actively flowing onto a consumer unit, do not attempt to switch it off yourself - call 999 and ask for the fire brigade.
Call Your Emergency Plumber
Once the water and electrics are dealt with, call a qualified emergency plumber. When you ring, we will need to know: what has happened, whether the water is turned off, whether there is any electrical risk, and your location. This allows us to prepare the right tools and materials before we arrive, saving valuable time on site.
Emergency Plumber - Rosebourne Plumbing
01264 50202730-minute response across Andover, Marlborough & Hungerford
Types of Plumbing Emergencies & What to Do
Not every plumbing problem is an emergency, but when one occurs, knowing what you are dealing with helps you respond correctly. Here are the most common plumbing emergencies we attend across Andover (SP10/SP11), Marlborough (SN8), and Hungerford (RG17).
Burst or Leaking Pipes
A burst pipe can release hundreds of litres of water per hour into your property. Copper pipes in older homes around Andover and Marlborough are particularly susceptible during cold snaps, though push-fit joints and corroded pipework can fail at any time.
Immediate Action:
Turn off your stopcock immediately. Open all cold taps to drain the system. Place buckets under active leaks and move valuables away from the affected area.
Flooding from Upstairs or Neighbours
Water coming through a ceiling is an emergency. It may indicate a burst pipe, overflowing tank, failed shower seal, or leaking waste pipe. The longer it continues, the greater the structural damage to joists, plasterboard, and electrics.
Immediate Action:
Turn off the water supply at the stopcock. If water is near light fittings or sockets, turn off the electricity at the consumer unit. Do not stand directly under a bulging ceiling.
Gas Leak (Smell of Gas)
If you can smell gas, this is not a plumbing emergency - it is a life-threatening situation. Natural gas is odourless, but a chemical called mercaptan is added to give it that distinctive rotten-egg smell so you can detect leaks.
Immediate Action:
Do NOT use any electrical switches, light matches, or use your phone inside the property. Open all windows and doors. Turn off the gas at the meter if safe to do so. Leave the property. Call the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999 from outside.
Sewage Backup or Blocked Drains
Raw sewage backing up through toilets, baths, or floor drains is both a health hazard and a plumbing emergency. This is common in older properties across the Marlborough (SN8) and Hungerford (RG17) areas where clay drain runs are still prevalent.
Immediate Action:
Stop using all water in the property - no flushing toilets, no running taps, no washing machines. Open windows for ventilation. Keep children and pets away from affected areas. Do not attempt to unblock it with chemicals.
Complete Loss of Water Supply
No water from any tap in your home needs investigation. It may be a mains supply issue (check with your neighbours first), a failed stopcock, a frozen pipe, or a problem with your internal plumbing. In rural areas around Pewsey (SN9) and Tidworth (SP9), mains supply issues are not uncommon.
Immediate Action:
Check your internal stopcock is fully open. Ask neighbours if they also have no water. Check your water supplier website for reported outages. If neighbours have water and your stopcock is open, call a plumber.
Uncontrollable Running Water
A toilet cistern that will not stop filling, a ball valve that has jammed open, or a pressure relief valve that is continuously discharging are all situations where water is being wasted and damage may be occurring. Overflow pipes running constantly are a sign of an internal component failure.
Immediate Action:
If the overflow is on a toilet, turn off the isolation valve beside or behind the toilet. For a cold water tank in the loft, turn off the mains stopcock. For a hot water cylinder, turn off the supply valve on the cold feed pipe.
Emergency Call-Out or Standard Appointment?
Understanding the difference saves you money. Our emergency minimum is £285 + VAT, while a standard call-out starts at £150 + VAT. Not every problem needs an emergency response - here is how to tell the difference.
The Simple Rule
If water is actively flowing and you cannot stop it, if there is a safety risk, or if the situation will get significantly worse overnight, it is an emergency. If you can contain the problem with a bucket, towel, or isolation valve, and it will not get worse before tomorrow, book a standard appointment and save yourself the emergency premium.
If you are genuinely unsure, call us on 01264 502027 and we will tell you honestly whether it needs an emergency response or whether it can wait. We would rather you called and we said "it can wait" than you sat worrying all night when a simple phone call would have put your mind at rest.
Prepare for a Plumbing Emergency Before It Happens
The best time to prepare for a plumbing emergency is right now, while everything is working. Spending 10 minutes on this checklist could save you hours of stress and thousands of pounds in damage when something does go wrong.
Know where your stopcock is
Usually under the kitchen sink, in a utility room, or near the front boundary of your property. Find it now and make sure it turns. If it is seized, a plumber can free it or fit a new one before you ever need it.
Know where your consumer unit is
Your fuse box or consumer unit controls your electricity. In a water emergency near electrics, you may need to switch off the mains. Know where it is and how to operate it.
Know where your gas meter is
The emergency control valve on your gas meter allows you to shut off the gas supply. It is usually a lever or handle that turns 90 degrees. Make sure you can access it.
Keep a plumber's number saved
When a pipe bursts at 10pm, you do not want to be searching Google with wet hands. Save your plumber's number in your phone now. Ours is 01264 502027.
Have basic supplies ready
Keep a small emergency kit: towels, a bucket, PTFE tape, a basic adjustable spanner, and a torch. These can buy you valuable time while waiting for a plumber.
Know your water supplier
If your area loses water supply, your water company is responsible for mains-side repairs. For Andover and Marlborough, this is typically Southern Water or Thames Water.
Preventative Maintenance Prevents Emergencies
Most plumbing emergencies are preventable. A burst pipe is often the result of a slow, undetected leak that has been weakening a joint for months. A blocked drain usually builds up gradually. Frozen pipes can be avoided with proper insulation. An annual plumbing health check can identify these problems before they become emergencies.
Properties in the Andover, Marlborough, and Hungerford areas face specific risks. Older cottages in villages like Ramsbury, Upper Clatford, and Kintbury often have original lead or iron pipework that is more prone to failure. New-build estates in areas like Tidworth and Ludgershall can suffer from push-fit joint failures if the original installation was not done to a high standard.
Our pipe repair and leak detection services can find and fix problems before they become emergencies. A £150 inspection is far cheaper than a £285 emergency call-out plus thousands in water damage repair.
Why Local Properties Are at Risk
Hard Water and Its Impact on Your Plumbing
The Andover, Marlborough, and Hungerford areas sit on chalk and limestone geology. This means our water supply is extremely hard - typically 250-350 ppm (parts per million) of calcium carbonate. While perfectly safe to drink, this hard water wreaks havoc on plumbing over time.
Limescale builds up inside pipes, reducing water flow and increasing pressure on joints. It attacks immersion elements, shower valves, and tap cartridges. In hot water systems, limescale accelerates corrosion and can cause pressure relief valves to discharge. All of these are precursors to plumbing emergencies.
If you live in Andover (SP10/SP11), Marlborough (SN8), Hungerford (RG17), or any of the surrounding villages, your plumbing is under constant attack from limescale. Regular maintenance is not optional - it is essential.
Older Properties and Period Homes
Many properties in the villages around Marlborough, Hungerford, and the Vale of Pewsey are period homes with original or aging plumbing. Lead pipes, iron waste pipes, and copper systems that are 40 or 50 years old are common. These materials have a finite lifespan, and when they fail, they often fail suddenly and dramatically.
We regularly attend emergency call-outs in villages like Aldbourne, Chilton Foliat, Shalbourne, and Burbage where corroded pipework has finally given way. If your property has original plumbing and has not been inspected recently, we strongly recommend booking a plumbing survey. Early detection of failing pipework is one of the most effective ways to prevent a flood.
Frozen Pipes in Winter
Our area sits on exposed downland and river valleys. Temperatures in rural locations around Pewsey (SN9), Tidworth (SP9), and the upper Kennet Valley regularly drop below -5 degrees C in winter. Uninsulated pipes in lofts, garages, and external walls are vulnerable to freezing, and it is the thaw - not the freeze - that causes the burst.
When water freezes inside a pipe, it expands by approximately 9%, splitting copper pipe or forcing push-fit joints apart. You often will not know about it until the temperature rises and the ice melts, releasing water through the split. This is why we see a spike in emergency call-outs every time temperatures rise after a cold snap - often affecting multiple homes at once.
Emergency Response Across Our Service Areas
Based in Great Bedwyn (SN8), we are centrally located to reach all our service areas quickly. Our target is a 30-minute response time for genuine emergencies, and we typically beat that for most locations.
Andover
SP10/SP11Including: Upper Clatford, Shipton Bellinger, Appleshaw, Weyhill, Enham Alamein, The Wallops
Marlborough
SN8Including: Ramsbury, Aldbourne, Burbage, Savernake, Mildenhall, Axford, Chilton Foliat
Great Bedwyn
SN8Including: Little Bedwyn, Crofton, Burbage, Shalbourne, Grafton (our home village)
Hungerford
RG17Including: Lambourn, Great Shefford, Chilton Foliat, Inkpen, Kintbury
Tidworth
SP9Including: Bulford, Durrington, Larkhill, Figheldean, Netheravon
Pewsey
SN9Including: Upavon, Woodborough, Manningford, Rushall, Charlton
Emergency Pricing: Transparent & Upfront
Our emergency call-out minimum is £285 + VAT. This is payable before we attend and covers the first hour of work including diagnosis. We require payment upfront because emergency work means we are dropping everything else to come to you - it needs to be a genuine emergency.
If additional time or materials are needed beyond the first hour, we will discuss costs with you before proceeding. There are no hidden charges.
What the Emergency Fee Covers
- Immediate response (target 30 minutes)
- Full diagnosis and assessment
- First hour of repair work
- Priority scheduling over all other work
- Fully qualified, insured plumber
What to Do After a Plumbing Emergency
Document Everything
Take photographs of all damage before any clean-up begins. Record the date and time, what happened, and what actions you took. If water has damaged floors, walls, ceilings, or belongings, photograph these too. This documentation is essential for insurance claims. Your home insurance may cover water damage, but insurers will want evidence.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Report the incident to your home insurance provider as soon as possible. Most policies cover "escape of water" (which includes burst pipes and tank overflows), but there may be time limits on reporting. We can provide a detailed written report of what we found and what work was carried out, which insurers typically require.
Prevent Damp and Mould
After a water leak or flood, the biggest secondary risk is damp and mould. Open windows and use dehumidifiers to dry the affected area as quickly as possible. Mould can begin forming within 24-48 hours in damp conditions. If carpets, underlay, or plasterboard have been soaked, they may need replacing rather than drying out, as they can harbour mould spores for years.
Book a Follow-Up Inspection
An emergency repair is often a temporary fix designed to stop the immediate problem. Once the crisis is over, we recommend booking a follow-up appointment to carry out a permanent repair and to inspect the rest of your plumbing for any other potential issues. A pipe that bursts is rarely a one-off problem - it often indicates wider issues with the system that should be addressed.
Emergency & Preventative Plumbing Services
Emergency Plumbing
Immediate response for burst pipes, flooding, and plumbing emergencies.
Pipe Repair
Copper, plastic, and lead pipe repairs and replacements.
Leak Detection
Find hidden leaks before they cause major damage.
Drain Unblocking
Blocked drains, sewage backups, and drainage repairs.
Serving homeowners across Andover, Marlborough, and surrounding areas.
Plumbing Emergency Questions Answered
Answers to the questions we hear most during and after plumbing emergencies.
QWhat should I do first in a plumbing emergency?
Turn off your water at the stopcock immediately. This is usually located under your kitchen sink or in a utility room. Then turn off your electricity at the consumer unit if water is near any electrical fittings, sockets, or wiring. Once the water is off and you are safe, call an emergency plumber on 01264 502027. We aim to respond within 30 minutes across Andover (SP10/SP11), Marlborough (SN8) and Hungerford (RG17).
QHow much does an emergency plumber cost in Andover, Marlborough and Hungerford?
Our emergency plumbing call-out starts at a minimum of £285 + VAT, which must be paid before we attend. This covers the first hour of work and diagnosis. Additional time and materials are charged on top at our standard rates. While this is higher than a standard call-out (£150 minimum), emergency work involves immediate response, often outside normal hours, and prioritisation over all other bookings.
QDo you offer 24 hour emergency plumbing in Andover?
We provide emergency plumbing response across Andover (SP10/SP11), Marlborough (SN8), Hungerford (RG17), Tidworth (SP9), Pewsey (SN9) and Great Bedwyn (SN8). Our emergency line is 01264 502027. Response times are typically 15-30 minutes depending on your location. We prioritise genuine emergencies such as burst pipes, flooding, sewage backups, and situations where water cannot be isolated.
QIs a dripping tap a plumbing emergency?
No. A dripping tap is annoying and wastes water, but it is not an emergency. It can be booked as a standard repair during normal working hours. Emergencies are situations where water is causing active damage to your property, you have no water supply at all, sewage is backing up, or there is a safety risk. Our standard call-out minimum is £150 + VAT for non-emergency work.
QWhere is my stopcock and how do I turn it off?
Your internal stopcock is most commonly located under the kitchen sink, in a utility cupboard, or in a downstairs toilet. It is a brass or chrome tap-style valve on the mains water pipe coming into your property. Turn it clockwise (right) to close it. If it is stiff or seized, do not force it as it may snap. You also have an external stopcock at the boundary of your property, usually under a small metal or plastic cover in the pavement or front garden. We recommend checking your stopcock works at least twice a year.
QWhat counts as a genuine plumbing emergency?
A genuine plumbing emergency is any situation where: water is flowing uncontrollably and causing damage; you have a complete loss of water supply; sewage is backing up into your home; water is near electrical fittings and poses a safety risk; or you cannot isolate the water supply to stop the problem. If the issue can safely wait until the next working day without causing further damage, it is not an emergency and should be booked as a standard appointment at our £150 + VAT minimum rate.
Plumbing Emergency? Call Now.
If you have a burst pipe, flooding, or any plumbing emergency in Andover, Marlborough, Hungerford, or the surrounding areas, we are here to help. 30-minute response. Fully qualified. Fully insured.
Emergency minimum: £285 + VAT (payable before call-out)
Rosebourne Plumbing | Based in Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire | Serving Andover (SP10/SP11), Marlborough (SN8), Hungerford (RG17), Tidworth (SP9), Pewsey (SN9) & surrounding villages