GUIDE
Why small plumbing jobs are hard to get done
It's not that plumbers don't want small jobs. It's that the travel often takes longer than the job.
IN SHORT
Small plumbing jobs wait because travel and parking can take longer than the work itself, so they only fit when a plumber is free and nearby. Clear photos, a plain description, flexible timing, easy parking and grouping several small jobs together all make yours easier to say yes to.
The problem is the travel, not the job
A tap washer takes minutes. Getting there, parking, and getting to the next job can take an hour. For a plumber booking full days, a small job across town costs more time than it's worth, so it waits for a gap.
That's why small jobs are hard to get done, and why they're easy when a plumber happens to be free and nearby. The trick is reaching the right plumber at the right moment.
What counts as a small job
Roughly, anything a plumber can finish in a couple of hours with parts from the van or a merchant nearby. For example:
- a dripping or loose tap
- a toilet that keeps running
- a slow sink or shower waste
- a small leak under a sink
- fitting a new tap or a washing machine valve
- replacing a radiator valve
Jobs that need a full day, lifting floors, or work on gas are a different kind of job, and are best booked in the usual way.
How to make your job an easy yes
- Add photos. One of the problem and one of the area around it. Include any make or model labels.
- Describe it plainly. What's happening, since when, and anything you've tried.
- Be flexible on timing. "Any afternoon this week" fits far more plumbers than "Tuesday at 10".
- Mention parking and access. A parking space near the door can decide whether a small job is worth it.
- Say if you have the part. If you've bought the tap you want fitted, say so.
A GOOD JOB POST
"Kitchen mixer tap drips from the spout, getting worse over three weeks. Photo of the tap and the make on the base attached. Isolation valve under the sink works. Any time Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon. Parking on the drive."
Group small jobs together
Two or three small jobs in one visit are much more attractive than one. Walk round and note anything else that's been bothering you: a dripping outside tap, a sticky valve, a loose toilet seat. List them all in one post.
What to expect on price
Small jobs are often priced by the visit rather than by the minute, because travel and setting up are part of the job. Ask what's included, whether parts are extra, and when they can come, so you're comparing like with like. For typical prices, see what plumbing jobs cost and how call-out charges work.
When it isn't a small job
If you smell gas, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Anything involving gas must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Water coming through a ceiling, no water at all, or a leak near electrics isn't a job to wait on. Turn off your stopcock and get help straight away.
How Fill My Day helps
Fill My Day, coming soon to Bristol, sends your job to checked plumbers nearby who have free time right now. It's built for exactly the kind of job that usually waits. See Fill My Day for your home.
GOOD TO KNOW
Questions,
answered straight.
Why won't plumbers come out for small jobs?
For a plumber booking full days, getting to and from a short job can take longer than the job itself. Small jobs fit best when a plumber is already free and close by.
How can I get a small plumbing job done faster?
Add photos, describe the problem plainly, be flexible on timing, mention parking, and group several small jobs into one visit.
Why is a small job priced by the visit?
Travel, parking and setting up are part of the job, so small jobs are often priced per visit. Ask what's included and whether parts are extra.
FIRST STOP / BRISTOL
Bristol.
You’re up first.
The app is in development and isn't taking bookings yet. Plumbers first, other trades to follow.