Plumbing in Totterdown

Totterdown climbs the hillside south of the River Avon, a short walk from Temple Meads. Most of it was built in the second half of the nineteenth century, and its rows of terraced houses, many painted in bright colours, can be picked out from across the city. The gradients are what people remember. Vale Street is often described as one of the steepest residential streets in England, and plenty of its neighbours are not far behind. The Wells Road runs up through the middle, lined with independent shops and cafés. Its streets are densely packed, and many houses have small back yards rather than gardens, so outside drains and gullies are tucked into tight spaces.

Building on a slope shapes the plumbing in ways you don’t see on flat ground. Houses sit at different levels from the ones beside them, so drains can drop sharply, cut across back yards or pass under the house next door before reaching the sewer. Many of these shared runs became the responsibility of Wessex Water in October 2011, which matters when deciding who should clear a blockage. Indoors, older metal supply pipes are often found alongside newer plastic sections, and the joins between them are a common place for slow leaks to start. A dripping joint inside a wall or under a floorboard can go unnoticed for months, so a damp patch or a musty smell is worth investigating early.

Common Totterdown jobs

• Blocked shared drains and inspection chambers
• Leaks where old and new pipework meet
• Weak water pressure on upper floors
• Limescale in taps, showers and cisterns from hard water
• Bathroom refits in Victorian terraces

Steep streets and split levels

On many Totterdown streets, houses on the downhill side have rooms at the back that sit below pavement level. Getting waste from a shower or toilet in one of those rooms up to the sewer may need a pump or a macerator, so it’s worth asking about the route before any building work starts. Heavy rain also sends a lot of water down these roads. Gullies and yard drains that are partly blocked with leaves or silt can overflow quickly, and water may pool by back doors or air bricks. If you see that happening after a downpour, have the drain checked before it gets worse. Let us know about parking or access when you call and we’ll plan around it. A short check now is far cheaper than repairing a flooded kitchen.

Plumbing services in Totterdown

• 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