General Plumbing ServicesAcross Reading and the Surrounding Areas
Reliable plumbing repairs and installations, done properly the first time
320+ reviews from Checkatrade · 2-year guarantee
28 years' experience
Residential, commercial and industrial
320+ reviews
from Checkatrade
2-year guarantee
On all our workmanship
£10 million insured
Public and employer's liability
24/7 emergency call-outs
Same-day service guaranteed
Plumbing
What our plumbing service covers
General plumbing covers the everyday jobs that keep water moving safely and quietly around a property. It includes fixing dripping taps, replacing worn washers and cartridges, fitting new toilet cisterns and mechanisms, swapping out old fittings, sorting slow-filling systems, and dealing with the small leaks and knocks in pipework that build up in any home over time. It's the routine side of plumbing that most households need at some point, separate from bigger bathroom projects or full installations.
This service is for homeowners and landlords in Reading, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Marlow, Beaconsfield, Wokingham, Henley-on-Thames, Bracknell and Chalfont St Giles who have a plumbing job that needs sorting but doesn't warrant a full refit. It's also useful for anyone who has been let down by a previous fitter and wants the work put right by someone experienced.
General plumbing work is usually needed when something starts behaving oddly, a tap that never quite turns off, a toilet that keeps running, a radiator valve that seizes, or a joint that weeps slowly under a sink. Left alone, these small faults waste water, push up bills and can eventually fail completely at an inconvenient moment.
Getting a professional in matters because plumbing systems interact. A badly fitted washer or an over-tightened compression joint can cause a leak somewhere else entirely, and DIY fixes with the wrong parts often need redoing within months. Mitchell Antrobus has 28 years in plumbing and heating across commercial, industrial and residential work, so jobs are diagnosed properly rather than patched over.
Why it matters
What happens if plumbing issues are left unfixed
A dripping tap or slow leak rarely stays small. Water finds the path of least resistance, meaning a minor drip under a sink can slowly soak a cabinet base, swell chipboard, and eventually reach a floor void or the ceiling below. What starts as an annoyance becomes a repair bill that includes carpentry and decorating as well as plumbing.
Ignored plumbing faults also waste money quietly. A running toilet or a dripping tap can add a noticeable amount to a water bill over months without anyone noticing, since the loss is gradual rather than obvious. By the time it's spotted, the cost has already been paid several times over.
There's also a reliability cost. Fittings that are left to fail rather than repaired tend to go at the worst time, midweek, before guests arrive, or right before a weekend. A same-day repair on the day the fault appears is nearly always cheaper and less disruptive than waiting until it becomes an emergency.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Over-tightening compression fittings, which distorts the olive and causes a leak rather than fixing one
- Using the wrong washer or cartridge size, so the drip returns within weeks
- Applying excessive sealant or tape to hide a leak instead of addressing the actual joint or fitting
- Ignoring a slow drip because it seems minor, allowing it to damage cabinets, flooring or ceilings below
- Ignoring a running toilet mechanism for months, which quietly inflates water usage
Our process
How your plumbing job runs.
- Step 1
Call or enquire
Ring Mitchell on 07810 646762 or send an enquiry. Tell him what's happening and he'll tell you straight away whether it's an emergency or a planned job.
- Step 2
Visit and diagnosis
Mitchell comes out, finds the cause and explains it in plain English. Call-outs are £85 inc VAT, plus £85 inc VAT for the first hour of work.
- Step 3
Clear quote
You're told what needs doing and what it costs before work starts. Larger jobs are booked in with a 5% deposit.
- Step 4
The work
Mitchell and his apprentice Bradley carry out the work, bringing in trusted tilers, plasterers and electricians where a job needs them. Larger jobs are paid daily as they progress.
- Step 5
Test and guarantee
Everything is tested for leaks and correct operation before we leave, the area is cleaned up, and the work is backed by our 2-year guarantee.
What you get
The difference it makes.
Fast turnaround
Same-day service guaranteed for booked jobs, so a dripping tap or faulty cistern doesn't sit unresolved for days.
Safe, correct fittings
Parts matched to the existing pipework and fixtures rather than generic replacements that create a new leak elsewhere.
Work that lasts
Joints and fittings finished properly the first time, backed by a 2-year guarantee on workmanship.
Lower water bills
Fixing a running toilet or dripping tap promptly stops the steady waste that adds up on a water meter.
One experienced plumber
28 years across residential, commercial and industrial plumbing means unusual or older fittings are recognised, not guessed at.
Less disruption at home
Repairs planned around the household, with straightforward daily payments rather than a large upfront bill.
Why CBS
Who'll be doing the work.
CBS Plumbing and Heating is run by Mitchell Antrobus, who has 28 years in the plumbing and heating industry across residential, commercial and industrial installation, servicing and repairs. That background is why your plumbing job gets diagnosed properly the first time rather than patched and left.
Day to day you'll deal with Mitchell and his apprentice Bradley. On bathroom jobs, Mitchell brings in experienced tilers, plasterers and electricians he works with regularly, so you have one point of contact from the first call to the finished room.
CBS has 320+ reviews from Checkatrade, carries £10 million public liability and £10 million employer's liability insurance, and guarantees its work for 2 years. We cover Reading, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Marlow, Beaconsfield, Wokingham, Henley-on-Thames, Bracknell and Chalfont St Giles.
About CBSIn detail
The details of a general plumbing job
General plumbing covers a wide range of fittings and materials, and the right approach depends on what's already installed in the property. Below is a look at how the work typically breaks down.
Taps and mixers
Dripping taps are usually down to a worn washer, a failed ceramic disc cartridge, or a perished O-ring, depending on the tap's age and design. Older traditional taps use rubber washers that harden over time, while modern mixer taps rely on ceramic cartridges that wear out or jam with limescale. Matching the correct replacement part to the tap brand and model prevents the drip returning within weeks. Where a tap is beyond economical repair, a straightforward like-for-like replacement is usually quicker and cheaper than sourcing obsolete parts.
Toilet cisterns and mechanisms
A toilet that runs constantly or refills noisily is almost always down to the fill valve or flush valve inside the cistern rather than the pan itself. These mechanisms wear out gradually, so the fault often creeps in slowly before becoming obvious. Replacement parts vary between low-level, close-coupled and concealed cisterns, and getting the water level and float height set correctly afterwards avoids both wasted water and a weak flush.
Read more
Pipework and joints
Small leaks at joints under sinks, behind washing machines or along exposed pipe runs are common in older properties where fittings have settled or corroded slightly over years of use. Compression joints, push-fit connectors and soldered joints each need a different repair approach, and mixing techniques incorrectly is a common cause of recurring leaks. Where pipework has degraded more widely, a short section replacement is often more sensible than repeatedly patching the same joint.
Radiator valves and fittings
Radiator valves that seize, drip, or fail to shut off fully are a frequent general plumbing call, particularly in systems that haven't been serviced in years. A seized valve can prevent a radiator from being isolated when needed, which becomes a real problem if a leak develops elsewhere in that circuit. Replacing worn valves restores proper control over individual radiators and stops slow weeping at the valve body.
Fixtures and fittings
Beyond taps and toilets, general plumbing includes fitting new sinks, replacing waste traps, swapping shower heads and hoses, and installing new appliances such as washing machines or dishwashers to existing supply points. Each of these has its own quirks around fitting kits, waste connections and isolation valves, and getting the connection right the first time avoids call-backs for leaks.
Residential vs commercial plumbing
Domestic plumbing tends to focus on individual fixtures and smaller repairs, while commercial premises often have higher-use fittings, larger pipe runs and more complex isolation arrangements. Work in shops, offices or rental properties across Reading and the surrounding area needs to account for occupied premises and minimal disruption to trade, which shapes how a job is scheduled and carried out.
Good to know
Plumbing questions, answered.
Can't see your question? Call Mitchell on 07810 646762 or send an enquiry.
How quickly can a general plumbing job be booked in?
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Same-day service is guaranteed for booked work, so most general plumbing jobs, taps, toilets, leaks and fittings, can be seen and resolved on the day they're reported.
Do I need to buy the parts myself?
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No, parts are sourced and supplied as part of the job. If a specific fitting or finish is wanted, it's worth mentioning it when booking so the right part is brought along.
How long do typical plumbing repairs last?
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A properly fitted washer, cartridge or valve should last for years of normal use. All workmanship carries a 2-year guarantee, so if something isn't right, it gets put right.
Do you cover areas outside Reading itself?
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Yes, general plumbing work is carried out across Reading, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Marlow, Beaconsfield, Wokingham, Henley-on-Thames, Bracknell and Chalfont St Giles.
What if the job turns out bigger than expected once you're on site?
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If a repair reveals a larger issue, such as failing pipework behind a fitting, it's explained clearly before any extra work is carried out, so there are no surprises.
What do you charge to come out?
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Our call-out is £85 including VAT, plus £85 including VAT for the first hour of work. You'll know the price of anything beyond that before we start.
How do payments work on bigger jobs?
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Larger jobs such as a plumbing project are booked in with a 5% deposit, then paid daily as the work progresses, so you're never paying far ahead of what's been done.
Is the work guaranteed?
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Yes. Our workmanship is guaranteed for 2 years.
Are you insured?
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Yes. We hold £10 million public liability and £10 million employer's liability insurance.
Can you come out in an emergency?
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Yes. Emergency call-outs run 24/7 and we guarantee same-day service. Call 07810 646762. Standard working hours are 8am to 5pm.
Book a plumber in Reading today
From a dripping tap to a faulty cistern, get it fixed properly with same-day service and a 2-year guarantee on the work.
Next step
Get it fixed properly,
without the wait.
Tell us what you need and Mitchell will get back to you quickly. Same-day service guaranteed, clear prices before we start, and a 2-year guarantee on our work.
Prefer to talk? Call Mitchell07810 646762Emergency call-outs 24/7 · Standard hours 8am–5pm