Plumbing and heating in London

Most plumbing problems are easier to deal with once you understand what's going on behind the wall. That's what this site is about. We explain how London homes are plumbed and heated, so you know what you're looking at before anyone picks up a wrench.

London housing is a mixed bag, and the plumbing reflects it. A Victorian terrace in Ealing has different needs from a 1930s semi in Bromley or a flat in Croydon. We've written about the things that come up again and again: leaks that hide until the ceiling stains, boilers that need replacing, drains that back up at the worst moment.

The aim is to leave you better informed — about how a central heating system actually moves warmth around, what the difference between a combi and a system boiler really means, and how to plan a bathroom that won't need ripping out in five years.