If you've ever wondered what it's really like to be a plumber on the front line of Britain's housing issues, this week's careers feature offers a rare glimpse. We spoke exclusively to professional plumber and Gas Safe registered engineer Leah Carney, who shared her expert insights on everything from the pitfalls of new-build properties to the reality of installing heat pumps.
The Real Cost of a Rush Job: Plumbing in New Builds
Leah Carney doesn't mince her words when it comes to the quality of plumbing in many new build homes. She encounters frequent issues, particularly in larger new-build flats, where baths, showers, and toilets are often found leaking.
The root cause, she explains, is a combination of high demand and cost-cutting. "The plumbing is installed in a rush," Leah states. "Things are forgotten by plumbers and installed without care or thought for longevity due to the high demand for creating homes quickly." This pressure often leads to cheaper materials and less skilled labour being used, storing up problems for future homeowners.
Heat Pumps: A Greener Future, But Not For Every Home
As an eco-conscious engineer, Leah appreciates the technology behind air source and ground source heat pumps. However, she offers a crucial reality check for homeowners considering the switch. She believes they are not suited to a huge number of UK homes due to three major barriers: lack of space, high upfront costs, and the significant upgrades many older properties need to become suitable.
"Boilers are compact," she notes, suggesting that the future may lie in integrating heat pump technology into more familiar, space-efficient systems. "I think that if they engineer a similar concept from heat pumps or electric boilers into our standard boilers this could pave the way."
Your Action Plan: Save Money and Avoid Disasters
Leah's years of experience have given her a clear list of recommendations for homeowners wanting to save on costly call-outs and keep their systems running smoothly.
For boiler health: Her top tip is to have a strip-down clean and a chemical clean performed every five years. This proactive maintenance can prevent major failures.
To avoid blocked pipes: The most common culprits are large food items, cooking grease, and hair. Leah's advice is simple: always use sink and bath traps, wipe cooking grease with paper for the bin, and use a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the drain regularly to dislodge buildup.
Essential skills and tools: She believes everyone should know how to check for leaks and own a basic toolkit comprising a pair of grips, a screwdriver, and a drill.
On costs, she advises that fixing a problem early saves on parts and labour. While she doesn't recommend haggling over a fair price—which covers many unseen costs—she says buying common products yourself for small jobs can sometimes save on time charged. The average cost to fix a leaking tap or shower, including a new part and labour, is typically between £150 and £300.
Inside the Trade: Burnout, Diversity and the Skills Gap
Leah works over 60-70 hours a week running her business and is acutely aware of the challenges facing her industry. Plumber burnout and loneliness are significant issues, exacerbated by the rise of remote work where tradespeople might be a customer's only daily contact.
She is passionate about tackling the severe skills gap. Recent research from BIKBBI (now BIFIS) revealed that only 3% of installers entering the sector in the past year. Leah criticises the outdated career advice in schools: "When you're at school, you're pushed into university if you're seen as academic and pushed into trades if you're not. As someone who's done both, I don't think that's fair or accurate."
She also champions greater diversity, wanting to see more young women enter the trade. Leah has faced sexism and racism but focuses on her capability. "I know that I can do anything the next guy can because I trust my knowledge and experience," she asserts.
From her worst job—dealing with a catastrophic toilet leak into a living room—to her charitable work for elderly or disabled clients in need, Leah Carney's insights paint a vivid picture of a skilled trade at the heart of British home life, facing modern challenges head-on.
