Plumber in Newport (20)

Ask to see their Gas Safe registration if the job involves any gas work, as this is a legal requirement, and check them on the official online register.

For general plumbing work, check their Checkatrade reviews and ask for references from previous jobs.

When it comes to the wellbeing of your and your home, it’s important that you hire a plumber who will carry out their work safely and securely and to a professional standard. Being a licensed plumber and/or having the relevant plumber qualifications is a sign that they take their trade seriously and that they will work to certain standards, governed by their licensing body.

In the UK, there are a number of licenses that a plumber can have, depending on the nature of the work. Two of the most important plumber licenses for you to check for are WaterSafe and the Gas Safe Register.

WaterSafe approved plumbers

WaterSafe is an online directory for competent and qualified plumbers in the UK. All WaterSafe approved plumbers are certified by their national accreditation body, which specifically focuses on training plumbers in the UK’s Water Fittings Regulations and Byelaws.

By hiring a WaterSafe approved plumber you can be confident that they will work to a high standard and do their best to conserve water and improve water systems in the best way possible.

You can check if a plumber is WaterSafe approved by using the Watersafe approved plumber search tool.

Registered Gas Safe engineers

The Gas Safe Register is the official list of tradespeople and businesses that are legally permitted to carry out gas work in the UK. All registered Gas Safe engineers are issued with a Gas Safe ID card, which details the type of gas work that they are permitted to do.

Many plumbers are also registered Gas Safe engineers, but not all engineers are qualified to do all types of gas work. Therefore, it’s important that you check the plumber’s ID card before they carry out any gas work in your home.

If you need to find a plumber with the appropriate plumber qualifications to carry out gas work, you can use the Gas Safe find an engineer search tool online.

Find a plumber with plumbing qualifications

All Checkatrade members have been checked by our team to verify any qualifications they hold, so that you can be confident that any information on their profile is valid and accurate. Search for plumbers now!

Knowing when to call a plumber for a blocked toilet will depend on several factors. The most common reasons to call a plumber for a blocked toilet are:

• A plunger hasn’t worked after five to ten minutes

• Corrosive chemicals haven’t worked

• The toilet is overflowing

• The toilet won’t stop running

• Your sewer drain is leaking

• The blockage has been caused by a foreign object (eg. A child’s toy, electronic device, a sanitary pad or nappy etc)

These problems will not be easily resolved without a plumber.

That depends.

• Hourly rates work well for small, flexible jobs (think leaky taps or unblocking a sink).
• Fixed prices are often better for planned projects like bathroom installs or pipework replacements.
• Emergency plumbing may include higher hourly rates and a call-out charge.