Not sure whether you need a plumber or a drainage engineer? Many homeowners face this exact question during an emergency. The good news is that picking the "wrong" option from our form isn't a problem. This site covers both types of emergency under one roof.
Water-Side Emergencies: When You Need a Plumber
A water-side emergency usually involves clean water going somewhere it shouldn't. A burst pipe, a leaking joint, or a total loss of water in the house all fall into this category. Similarly, a dripping tap that suddenly turns into a steady flow counts too. These are jobs for an emergency plumber.
For example, if water is pooling under a sink or running down an internal wall, that's a plumbing issue. However, if you have no water at all coming from any tap, that's also plumbing rather than drainage. Either way, mark your request urgent if the situation is active right now.
Drainage Emergencies: When You Need a Drainage Engineer
A drainage emergency usually involves water that should be leaving the property but isn't. A blocked drain, a gurgling toilet, or sewage backing up into a sink or bath all point this way. Flooding that seems to come from outside, rather than from an internal pipe, often has a drainage cause too. These are jobs for a blocked drains specialist.
In particular, a bad smell near a drain cover, or water that won't go down at all, both suggest a blockage further along the run. Consequently, a CCTV survey or a jetting visit is usually the right next step, rather than a plumbing repair.
Why the Line Isn't Always Clear
Some problems sit right on the boundary between the two trades. A burst pipe under a floor can flood a room in exactly the same way a blocked drain does. Meanwhile, a failed washing machine connection can look identical to a nearby drain backing up. Even experienced homeowners struggle to tell the two apart from symptoms alone.
Additionally, some properties have combined issues, where a slow drain has put pressure on a nearby pipe joint. Untangling cause and effect isn't something you need to do yourself. That's what an on-site assessment is for.
It Doesn't Matter Which Box You Tick
Since this site covers both water-side plumbing and drainage work, choosing a category on our form is only a starting point. An engineer will assess the actual problem once on site, whichever box was ticked. Therefore, the most useful thing you can do is describe the symptoms clearly, rather than diagnose the cause yourself.
Where to get help
Not sure which you need? A sewage emergency response or flooding emergency response call is drainage work, while a burst supply pipe is a plumbing job. Either way, our form reaches the right engineer for North Shields and Whitley Bay.
Related reading
For more on spotting problems early, see our guides to emergency plumbing issues and blocked drains symptoms. You can also browse our full range of services at any time.