Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question about 24/7 Trades Ltd or the services we provide? We’ve answered some of the questions our customers ask us most often below, covering everything from our service areas and appointments to pricing, emergency callouts, insurance work and larger projects.
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, just get in touch. Our team will be happy to discuss your job and answer any questions before arranging your appointment.
Yes. Emergency and out-of-hours appointments are charged at a higher rate than our standard appointments. We’ll always explain the applicable charges before arranging your visit, so you know what to expect before an engineer attends.
24/7 Trades Ltd covers Ilford, Redbridge, Hainault and surrounding areas across East London and Essex. Our engineers regularly work in areas including Woodford, South Woodford, Chingford, Walthamstow, Wanstead, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill, Loughton and Epping, as well as many surrounding locations.
If you’re unsure whether we cover your area, simply get in touch with your postcode and we’ll be happy to confirm.
Our care plans vary depending on the level of cover required and the property or system being covered. Please contact us for details of our current care plan options and pricing, and we can help you choose the most suitable level of cover.
Yes. We can undertake a range of repair and investigation work associated with insurance claims, including leak investigation, trace and access and subsequent repairs.
The exact work covered will depend on your insurance policy and insurer. We can provide invoices and details of the work carried out where required, but customers should confirm what their insurer has authorised before work begins.
Yes. 24/7 Trades Ltd undertakes both domestic and commercial work, including larger installations, refurbishments and property maintenance projects.
For larger commercial projects, we’ll normally arrange a site visit first so we can understand the scope of work, access requirements and timescales before providing a quotation.
Yes. Where old pipework, fittings or other waste materials are removed as part of our work, we will normally clear these from the work area and dispose of them appropriately.
If a project is likely to produce a particularly large amount of waste, we’ll discuss waste removal arrangements with you as part of the quotation.
We always aim to treat your home with care and respect. For health and safety reasons, our engineers may need to keep their protective footwear on while working.
Where appropriate, we can use protective shoe coverings and floor protection to help keep your home clean while work is being carried out.
Yes. We aim to leave our work area clean and tidy when the job is complete. Packaging, offcuts and waste generated by our work will normally be removed as part of the installation unless otherwise agreed.
For larger refurbishment projects, waste removal arrangements will be confirmed as part of the quotation.
Yes. 24/7 Trades Ltd provides more than plumbing and heating. Depending on the project, we can coordinate the additional trades required to complete the work, including electrical work, carpentry, plastering, decorating and other property maintenance and refurbishment work.
This is particularly useful for projects such as bathrooms, kitchens and larger property improvements, where several different trades may be required.
24/7 Trades Ltd provides a wide range of property repair, maintenance and improvement services for homes and businesses.
Our services include plumbing, central heating, boiler repairs and gas work, electrical work, bathroom and kitchen installations, roofing & guttering and general property maintenance.
Having several trades available through one company can also make larger jobs easier to manage, particularly where more than one trade is required.
Our rates vary depending on the trade required and the type of work being carried out. For up-to-date pricing, please visit our Our Rates page.
If you’re unsure which rate applies to your job, simply give us a call or get in touch with details of the work required. We’ll be happy to discuss the job with you and explain the likely charges before arranging your appointment.
Where possible, yes. If the work can be accurately assessed from the information, photos or videos you provide, we may be able to give you an estimate or quotation without visiting the property.
Some jobs need to be inspected or diagnosed before we can establish what work is required. In these cases, an appointment may need to be arranged first.
For larger projects, such as bathrooms, kitchens and refurbishment work, we will normally arrange a site visit before preparing a detailed quotation.
Where possible, we’ll always try to give you an indication of the likely cost before arranging your appointment.
However, many plumbing, heating, electrical and property maintenance faults need to be investigated before we can confirm exactly what is required.
If you’re unsure, send us some photos or videos along with a description of the problem. This can often help us understand the job and advise you on the most appropriate next step.
You can contact 24/7 Trades Ltd by phone or through our website.
We’ll normally ask for your name, property address, postcode, email address, best contact number and a brief description of the work required. Photos or videos are also very helpful where appropriate.
Once we have the information we need, we can discuss availability and arrange a suitable appointment.
Our engineers are normally booked within an arrival time window rather than at an exact time.
This is because the length of repair and maintenance jobs can sometimes be difficult to predict. Traffic and other circumstances can also affect an engineer’s arrival time.
We’ll always do our best to keep you informed if there is a significant delay.
We accept payment by secure card payment, bank transfer or cash. Payment details and available payment methods will be provided with your invoice.
Unless otherwise agreed, payment for smaller repair and maintenance work is due on completion. Larger projects may have an agreed deposit and staged payment schedule.
Yes. Where materials or replacement parts are required, these will normally be charged in addition to labour unless they are already included within an agreed fixed-price quotation.
For larger quoted projects, the quotation will explain what is included within the agreed price.
Yes, subject to availability. We can provide evening, weekend and out-of-hours appointments where required.
Different rates may apply to appointments outside our standard working hours. Please contact us with details of the job and we can confirm availability and the applicable charges before arranging your visit.
If water is leaking and it is safe to do so, turn off the water supply using the appropriate isolation valve or your property’s main internal stopcock.
Try to contain any escaping water and move belongings away from the affected area where possible.
If water is coming into contact with electrical fittings, sockets or equipment, do not touch them. Keep away from the affected area and seek appropriate professional assistance.
When you contact us, let us know what has happened and send photos or videos if it is safe to take them.
Photos and videos can be extremely helpful and may allow us to identify likely causes, suitable parts or what may be required before attending.
However, we can’t guarantee an accurate diagnosis from photographs or videos alone. Some faults need to be tested or inspected in person before the cause can be confirmed.
Sending us clear photos before your appointment can still help us arrive better prepared.
Yes. We can normally source and supply the materials and replacement parts required to complete your work.
Where specialist or non-standard parts are required, we may need to identify the existing product before ordering a suitable replacement.
For larger installations, the materials and products being supplied will normally be discussed as part of the quotation.
Yes, in many cases we’re happy to install products supplied by our customers.
However, we recommend discussing them with us before purchasing or ordering anything. This gives us an opportunity to check that the product appears suitable for the existing installation and that any necessary fittings or alterations have been considered.
Customer-supplied products remain subject to the manufacturer’s or supplier’s own warranty arrangements.
Yes. 24/7 Trades Ltd is fully insured, and work requiring specific qualifications or registrations is carried out by appropriately qualified tradespeople.
For regulated work, such as gas or certain electrical work, the relevant engineer will hold the qualifications and registrations required for the work being undertaken.
Yes. Gas work is carried out by appropriately qualified Gas Safe registered engineers.
You should always use a Gas Safe registered engineer for work on gas appliances and installations. Registration details can be provided where required.
Sometimes an engineer may discover an additional fault or further work that could not reasonably have been identified before the job started.
If this happens, we’ll explain what we’ve found and discuss the additional work with you.
Where the additional work will result in extra charges, we’ll discuss this with you before proceeding wherever reasonably possible.
Yes, in many cases we can.
If you have several jobs that need attention, please let us know when making your booking. This helps us allow enough time for your appointment and gives the engineer an opportunity to bring any materials or equipment that may be required.
If additional jobs are mentioned once the engineer arrives, we’ll do our best to complete them during the same visit, but this will depend on the time and materials available.
Yes. We work with homeowners, landlords, letting agents, property managers and commercial customers.
We can assist with individual repairs as well as ongoing property maintenance, planned works and larger projects.
If you manage several properties or require regular maintenance support, get in touch and we can discuss your requirements.
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel or rearrange an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible.
If a confirmed booking is cancelled on the day of the appointment, a minimum cancellation charge equivalent to one hour’s labour at the applicable rate will apply. The same minimum charge applies if we’re unable to gain access to the property at the agreed appointment time.
Deposits are non-refundable unless otherwise agreed in writing.
For full details, please see our Terms & Conditions.
Yes. We provide a 12-month guarantee on our workmanship, covering faults arising from poor installation or defective workmanship.
The guarantee does not cover issues caused by misuse, negligence, third-party interference or circumstances outside our control. Certain services, including drain unblocking, are also excluded.
Products and materials supplied or fitted by us are covered by the relevant manufacturer’s warranty.
For full details and exclusions, please see our Terms & Conditions.
24/7 Trades provides an emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Our office and general enquiries are not necessarily monitored around the clock, so if you require urgent assistance outside normal working hours, please call us.
We do not charge a separate call-out, travel or congestion charge. You simply pay the applicable labour rate for the appointment, plus any materials required.
Electrical work is carried out by appropriately qualified and experienced electricians, with NICEIC registration applying where required.
For work that requires testing, certification or notification, the appropriate electrical certification will be provided.
Yes. We can install and disconnect many household appliances and can investigate problems with the electrical supply, water supply or waste connections serving them.
However, we don’t generally carry out internal appliance repairs. If the fault is within the appliance itself, you may need an appliance repair specialist or the manufacturer.
If you’re unsure, give us a call and tell us what’s happening. We’ll let you know whether it’s something we can help with.
Yes, our plumbing work is carried out by experienced tradespeople with the appropriate skills and training for the work being undertaken.
We take the quality of our workmanship seriously and ensure work is completed professionally and in accordance with the relevant requirements.
A radiator that’s cold at the top but warm at the bottom is commonly caused by trapped air.
Bleeding the radiator may release the trapped air and allow it to heat properly again. If you have a sealed heating system, remember to check the boiler pressure afterwards.
If the problem keeps returning or the radiator still doesn’t heat properly after bleeding, there may be another issue that needs investigating.
Check our our blog post on radiators here for more information.
Repeated drain blockages can have several causes. Hair, soap residue, grease, fats and other debris can gradually build up and restrict the flow of water.
Avoid pouring fats, oils and grease down sinks, and use suitable strainers where possible to prevent food, hair and other debris entering the waste.
If the same drain keeps blocking, there may be an underlying problem that needs investigating rather than simply clearing the blockage each time.
It depends on where the water is coming from.
If water is leaking from the connection between the shower head and hose or arm, a worn washer, seal or O-ring may be responsible.
If water continues to drip from the shower head when the shower is switched off, the problem may be elsewhere, such as within the shower valve or cartridge.
If you’re unsure, we can investigate the cause and advise on the appropriate repair.
That’s considerably more accurate than saying the O-ring is the most common cause regardless of where it’s leaking.
A dripping tap can be caused by a worn washer, damaged seal, faulty ceramic cartridge or another problem within the tap.
The exact cause depends on the type of tap you have.
A persistent drip can waste a surprising amount of water, so it’s worth getting it repaired rather than leaving it to get worse.
Discoloured water can have several causes.
If your tap water looks cloudy or milky but clears from the bottom upwards after standing in a glass, this is often caused by tiny air bubbles.
Brown, orange or rusty-looking water can have different causes, including disturbance within the water supply or corrosion and sediment within older pipework.
If the discolouration persists, affects your drinking water or you’re unsure of the cause, contact your water supplier or a qualified plumber for advice.
Warning signs can include scorch marks or discolouration, a burning smell, unusual heat, buzzing or crackling sounds, intermittent power or a plug that no longer fits securely.
If a socket shows signs of overheating, burning or physical damage, stop using it and have it inspected by a qualified electrician.
Don’t continue using a damaged or overheating socket.
