If your tap won’t shut off properly, or your toilet’s doing that constant “hiss… hiss…” refill noise — I can sort it.
I’m Stuart at SKR Plumbing & Heating. I’m based in Orpington and I’m usually around Bromley, BR7, Petts Wood and Chislehurst most weeks.
Want it stopped today? Call 07706 889 614 or send a quick message with photos.
Leaking taps and dodgy cisterns are funny ones. People put up with them for ages — until they can’t. It’s usually the sound that tips you over the edge… that constant drip at 2am, or the toilet filling every ten minutes like it’s got a mind of its own.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve walked into a bathroom in a BR6 semi and the first thing you notice is a damp patch behind the loo, or that faint smell you can’t place. Nine times out of ten, it’s a slow leak from a fill valve, a tired flush valve seal, or a tap cartridge that’s had enough.
The good news: most of the time this isn’t a “rip out the whole bathroom” situation. It’s a proper diagnosis, the right parts, and fitting it neatly so it doesn’t come back in a month.
Quick help: If your toilet won’t stop filling, you can usually reduce the risk by turning the isolation valve (little slotted screw on the pipe) a quarter turn — but if it’s stiff, don’t force it. Just call me on 07706 889 614 and I’ll talk you through it.
Sounds basic, but the real difference between a quick bodge and a proper repair is knowing what you’re dealing with. Modern mixer taps, old-school pillar taps, concealed valves, push-button flushes… they all fail in slightly different ways.
Cartridge swaps, washer replacements, reseating, fixing stiff handles, replacing worn flexis, and sorting drips that only happen when the hot’s on.
Fill valves that won’t shut off, flush valves that keep letting-by, siphons that won’t pull, button mechanisms that stick, and running toilets.
Damp around the base of the WC, wet boxing-in, staining on ceilings below, or floors that feel “spongy” near the toilet pan.
If the issue turns out to be part of a bigger problem (pressure, old pipework, badly-fitted waste runs), I’ll tell you straight. No scare tactics — just: “this is what I can see, this is what I’d do next.”
For broader repairs beyond taps and toilets, you can jump back to the main hub here: our plumbing repairs page for Orpington & Bromley.
Around Orpington and Bromley, I see the same patterns. A lot of houses have had “a bathroom refresh” at some point, but behind the shiny bits you’ll find older isolation valves, flexi hoses that have been twisted, or stop taps that haven’t moved in years.
If you’re in places like Petts Wood, Chislehurst, Bickley or around the Glades, bathrooms are often compact — boxed-in pipework, tight access behind the pan, and you can’t just “reach in and tighten it” without making it worse.
And yes… getting across the patch matters. The A21 and Crofton Road can be a nightmare at the wrong time. That’s why I always prefer a quick photo/video first — it helps me bring the right parts and not waste your time.
If your leak is getting worse and you’re near Nugent Shopping Park or Bromley North, ring 07706 889 614 and tell me what’s happening. If I’m already in the area, I’ll try and slot you in.
One that sticks in my head: a homeowner in BR7 thought they had “a bit of condensation” by the toilet. Turned out the fill valve was letting-by just enough that the overflow was constantly trickling. Nothing dramatic — but the cupboard base had gone soft and the smell had started. Sorted the valve, checked the flush, dried everything out, and it stopped escalating.
Another was a kitchen tap in a Bromley terrace that only dripped when the hot had been running for a few minutes. People assume it’s haunted… it’s usually heat expansion and a cartridge that’s wearing unevenly. Swap the cartridge, check the seat, job done — quiet again.
If you’ve got something similar, you don’t need a long speech. Just send the details and a couple of photos here and I’ll come back with a plan.
“The toilet was filling every few minutes and driving us mad. Stuart explained what it was, replaced the valve, checked everything else while he was there, and left the bathroom spotless. Proper tidy job.”
Homeowner — near Orpington (BR6)“Tap leak and a dodgy shut-off valve under the basin. Quick communication, turned up when he said he would, and no surprise costs. Saved his number straight away.”
Customer — Bromley (BR1)“We use Stuart on refurb jobs. He spots issues early (before they become delays), and his work is always neat. Exactly what you need when clients are on your back.”
Building contractor — South East LondonIf you want the unfiltered version, my Checkatrade reviews are public — see SKR Plumbing & Heating reviews here.
That’s usually the cistern losing a bit of water and topping itself up. Common causes are a worn flush valve seal, a fill valve that’s not shutting properly, or water trickling into the pan. It’s not “normal” — and it can waste a surprising amount over a week. If you tell me the toilet type (button, lever, concealed), I can usually narrow it down quickly.
Not always. On older taps, yes, washers are common. On many modern mixer taps it’s the cartridge (and sometimes the ceramic discs). If the handle feels stiff, or the drip changes depending on hot/cold use, it’s often cartridge-related rather than a simple washer swap.
You can… but I wouldn’t ignore it. Damp at the base can be a failed pan connector, a weeping inlet, or a hairline crack. If it’s been going on a while, it can start affecting flooring and even ceilings below. If you’ve got a downstairs ceiling stain under the bathroom, that’s your sign to stop guessing and get it checked.
Whichever makes sense. If it’s a decent tap and the parts are available, repairing is usually the cleanest option. If it’s a budget tap that’s already had a hard life, replacement can be better value. I’ll be upfront about that — I’m not here to upsell, I’m here to stop the leak and stop you calling someone twice.
Depends where I am that day. I’m based in Orpington, and I’m regularly around Bromley, BR7, Petts Wood and Chislehurst. If it’s urgent (active leak), call 07706 889 614 and tell me what’s happening — I’ll either slot you in, or I’ll talk you through making it safe until I can get there.
Yes — repairs are a big chunk of my week, but I also do full bathroom refurbishments and planned work. If you’re thinking “we might as well redo the lot”, have a look at bathroom refurbishment options here.
Owner • Plumber & Heating Engineer
“Fix the cause, not the symptom — and leave the place calmer than I found it.”
I started SKR Plumbing & Heating in 2020 after working for other firms around South East London. The actual plumbing side was never the issue — it was the stuff customers hated: missed appointments, vague pricing, and jobs left half-finished. So I built SKR around the opposite approach: clear communication, tidy work, and honest answers.
Qualifications-wise, I’m City & Guilds qualified (Levels 2 & 3), hold BPEC, and ERS certification for unvented hot water systems. I’m also Gas Safe registered for boiler and gas work. That matters even on “small” jobs, because a lot of leaks and toilet issues sit right next to heating pipework, old valves, and questionable DIY.
If you need a local plumber who will actually pick up, explain the options, and do the job neatly — call 07706 889 614. If it’s easier to type than talk, you can send the job details here.
If your tap’s been dripping for months or your toilet’s running nonstop, it’s usually a straightforward fix — as long as it’s diagnosed properly. I’m happy to give you a straight answer over the phone first.
Call 07706 889 614 or message me here with photos.
And if you’re near Bromley South, Orpington High Street, or somewhere off the A21 and it’s urgent, tell me where you are when you ring — it helps me work out if I can swing by the same day.
