Lead Pipe Replacement & Mains Water Upgrades

Lead pipes are dull grey and feel soft when scratched with a coin. If your home was built before 1970, you likely have lead pipes somewhere in your water system. Properties built before 1950 almost certainly contain lead piping. You can also test your water for lead contamination or book our free assessment where our Thames Water approved engineers will identify your pipe materials.

Yes, Thames Water offers a free Lead Replacement Scheme where they replace their communication pipe (from the water main to your outside stop valve) at no cost. You're responsible for replacing your supply pipe from the outside stop valve to your property. To qualify, your property must be built before 1970, you must suspect lead pipework, and plan replacement within 3 months. We help manage your Thames Water application and coordinate both replacements to minimise disruption.

25mm pipes are suitable for 1-3 bedroom properties with standard domestic usage. 32mm pipes are recommended for larger homes (4+ bedrooms), multiple bathrooms, or properties with high water demand like power showers and multiple appliances. Our engineers assess your property size, existing fixtures, and mains pressure during the survey to recommend the optimal diameter for maximum water pressure improvement.

We will need to dig a trench from the boundary to your property entry point for lead pipe replacement. We plan the route carefully to minimise disruption to driveways, patios, and landscaping where possible, using specialist equipment for clean, precise excavation. We will restore the trench to ground level and back fill accordingly, in the instances where you have tiles or slabs which break when lifted then we can provide a separate handyman/making good quotation post works to cover this additional scope. 

Your water will typically be turned off for 2-4 hours during the connection phase. We provide 48 hours advance notice and schedule the shut-off during convenient daytime hours. Most excavation and preparation work is completed while your water remains on - only the final pipe connections require the water to be turned off for safety.

Yes, we manage all regulatory requirements, including Thames Water permits, comprehensive utility searches before excavation, building regulations compliance, and TAPS certification upon completion. We arrange all necessary inspections and provide you with complete documentation, including warranties and compliance certificates. You don't need to worry about any paperwork - we handle everything from application to final approval.