Frequently asked questions

A new boiler needs clean system water to work properly and to keep its manufacturer guarantee valid. We assess the condition of your system at the survey and recommend either a chemical clean or a full power flush, depending on how much sludge is in the radiators.

Yes. Swift 24-7 registers the manufacturer guarantee, completes the Benchmark commissioning checklist and notifies Building Control through Gas Safe, so all the paperwork is done when we leave.

Swift 24-7 engineers repair all the common domestic gas boiler brands found in London homes, including combi, system and regular boilers. Tell us the make and model when you call so we can bring the most likely parts.

Many repairs are completed on the first visit because we triage the fault by phone and carry common parts. If a specific part has to be ordered, we make the boiler safe and return to fit it as soon as the part arrives.

A standard boiler service usually takes under an hour. It can take longer if the boiler needs cleaning or a part such as a seal or condensate trap needs replacing.

No. A boiler service is maintenance of the boiler, while a landlord gas safety certificate (often called a CP12) records safety checks on every gas appliance in a rented property. Swift 24-7 can do both on the same visit.

If the cold spots are at the bottom or middle of the radiators, they are usually caused by sludge, and a power flush normally clears them. Cold spots at the top are usually trapped air, which bleeding the radiator fixes.

Most systems only need a power flush when symptoms appear or when a new boiler is fitted. Keeping inhibitor topped up and fitting a magnetic filter helps the system stay clean for many years afterwards.

A dripping overflow pipe usually means a ball valve in a toilet cistern or loft tank is not shutting off. The valve washer or diaphragm has worn, or the float is set too high. Replacing or adjusting the valve stops the overflow.

Yes. Hissing, whistling and banging when a cistern refills are usually caused by an old-style ball valve. Fitting a modern quiet-fill valve normally solves the noise.

We can repair most taps. Standard washers and many ceramic cartridges are carried in the van. For designer or older taps, we identify the exact cartridge needed and source it, or recommend a replacement tap if parts are no longer made.

Most tap repairs take less than an hour once the correct parts are on hand.

Yes. Swift 24-7 fits customer-supplied taps. Check the tap is rated for your water pressure before buying, or send us the product details and we will confirm it will work.

Weak flow from a new tap is usually a mismatch between a high-pressure tap and a low-pressure, gravity-fed hot water system. It can also be a partly closed isolation valve or a restrictor in the tap. We check pressure before fitting to avoid this.

Yes. Swift 24-7 services and repairs Quooker taps and other boiling water taps, including descaling, filter changes and fixing leaks. We are an independent plumbing company and not part of Quooker.

The tank needs a switched socket in the sink cupboard. If there is already one in place, we can complete the installation. If not, an electrician needs to install it before or on the day of fitting.

A shower pump that switches on when nothing is running is detecting flow, which usually means a leak on the pumped pipework or a dripping tap or shower valve. Fixing the leak normally stops the pump running on.

No. Shower pumps must not be used with combi boilers or on mains water. They are designed for gravity-fed systems with a cold water tank and hot water cylinder.

Yes. Swift 24-7 Plumbers runs a 24 hour phone line for emergencies across South West London, 7 days a week, including weekends and bank holidays.

In most houses the stopcock is under the kitchen sink. Other common places are under the stairs, in a downstairs toilet, or in a cupboard near the front door. In flats it can be in a utility cupboard or a communal riser. It is worth finding before you need it.

If a repair needs a part that has to be ordered, we will discuss options for keeping vulnerable occupants warm in the meantime. Ask when you call.

Yes. If water is coming from the boiler, switch it off at the fused spur, turn off the water to the boiler if you can, and keep water away from electrics. Then call us.

A landlord gas safety check must be carried out every 12 months. The check can be done up to two months before the deadline while keeping the original renewal date.

If an appliance is unsafe, the engineer will explain the problem, record it on the certificate and, with your permission, disconnect it or make it safe. We quote for the repair so the appliance can pass.

Yes. A running toilet is usually caused by a worn flush valve seal or a fill valve that is not shutting off. Both parts can be replaced on the same visit in most cases.

Yes. If the pan is cracked or the toilet is too old to repair economically, we can supply and fit a new toilet or fit one you have chosen.