In depth
Everything worth knowing before you book.
The details a salesperson skips. Skim it, or read every word, both are useful.
Questions on this?
Talk to a Spectrum tradesman direct.
07864 901019
Leak detection and repair, without ripping the house apart
We trace leaks using thermal imaging, acoustic listening discs and dye testing before opening up floors or ceilings, so we know exactly which board to lift. Most domestic leaks fall into a few categories: failed compression olives on radiator tails, pinholed copper on old hot supplies (especially in hard-water Kent), failed push-fit O-rings behind tiles, and overflowing F&E tanks in lofts. Each has a tell, and a permanent fix that doesn't involve crossing fingers.
Bathroom installations and full re-pipes
When we re-pipe a bathroom we usually run new 22mm cold and 22mm hot in copper from the mains tee or hot cylinder, reduced to 15mm at the appliance with proper isolators on every outlet. Soldered ends-feed and capillary joints behind tiles; compression at accessible junctions for future serviceability. Wastes run in 40mm or 50mm solvent-welded plastic with the correct falls (18mm/m minimum), bossed cleanly into the soil stack rather than tee'd off horizontally.
Hot water systems, unvented & vented cylinders
We install and service unvented cylinders (Megaflo, Telford) under our G3 ticket, plus traditional vented cylinders with cold storage in the loft. Stored cylinders get yearly anode checks, T&P valve discharge tests and immersion replacements where needed. Gas appliance work, boiler installs, services and certification, is handled by a Gas Safe registered partner, not by Spectrum directly.
Mains pressure, flow and water softening
Kent water is hard, 280–320ppm calcium carbonate in most TN postcodes. Untreated, it scales kettles, blocks shower heads and ruins hot water cylinders within 5–8 years. We install proper salt-based softeners (Harvey, Kinetico, Tapworks) on a dedicated bypass with a drinking-water spur at the kitchen tap, plus inline scale inhibitors on heating circuits to protect cylinders and pipework.
Outside taps, washing machines and appliance plumbing
Outside taps are fitted with a dedicated isolator inside, a self-draining bib tap outside, and a double-check valve where regs require. Washing machine and dishwasher plumbing runs to manufacturer height with proper standpipe falls, preventing the slow drain and gurgle that wrecks bearings over time.
