Plumbing in Hillfields

Hillfields sits in north east Bristol between Fishponds, Speedwell and Kingswood. Much of it was built as a council estate in the years after the First World War, under the national “homes for heroes” programme. The houses were laid out with front and back gardens, wide verges and greens, and many have since been bought by their occupiers and extended or modernised. The estate is often cited as one of Bristol’s earliest of its kind, and local history groups have recorded its story. Today it is a settled residential area close to the shops and services of Fishponds and Kingswood.

A century on, very little of the original plumbing survives, but the drains under the gardens and paths often date from the estate’s early years. Kitchens and bathrooms have usually been replaced more than once, sometimes moved to a different room, and extensions have added extra pipework at the back. The result is a mixture of old and new, and the weak points tend to be where they meet. Gardens here are generous by city standards, so drain runs can be long, with inspection chambers part way down the garden or near the boundary. Settlement, tree roots and years of use can all crack or shift older pipes, leading to slow drains or repeat blockages.

Common Hillfields jobs

• Blocked drains and inspection chambers in gardens
• Leaks where new pipework joins older runs
• Bathroom refits and replacement toilets
• Radiators fitted or relocated after extensions
• Outside taps for gardens and allotments

Extending an older estate home

Plenty of Hillfields homes have had or are planning a rear extension or a bigger kitchen. Before building starts, think about where the water supply and waste pipes will go, and whether an existing drain or inspection chamber sits in the way. Building over or near a drain may need agreement from Wessex Water, especially if the pipe is shared. We can plan the kitchen plumbing, move radiators and connect new sinks and appliances, and we will tell you clearly if any part needs an electrician or a Gas Safe engineer. Doing that groundwork early saves time and avoids awkward changes once walls are up. It also gives you a chance to replace any tired sections of pipe while floors are open, rather than lifting new flooring later to reach them.

Plumbing services in Hillfields

• Emergency plumbing: burst pipes and serious leaks, aiming to arrive within the hour
• Blocked drains: sinks, toilets, gullies and manholes
• Leak repair: pipes, joints and appliance connections
• Radiators and heating: valves, cold spots and system pressure (no gas work)
• Taps and toilets: drips, running cisterns and replacements
• Bathroom and kitchen plumbing