How to Find a Trustworthy Plumber in Preston: 7 Checks Worth Doing
Search "plumber Preston" and the top of the page is mostly directories and lead-generation sites, many of which sell your enquiry to whoever pays. That's not necessarily bad, but it does mean the checking is down to you. Here's how to do it properly — and yes, use these checks on us too.
1. For anything gas: check the Gas Safe Register
It's a legal requirement that anyone working on gas appliances — boilers, gas fires, hobs — is on the Gas Safe Register. Ask for their registration number and check it on the Gas Safe Register website, and ask to see their ID card when they arrive. The back of the card lists exactly which appliances they're qualified to work on. (Ours is 203011.)
2. Look for an approved scheme
In Lancashire, the Safe Trader Scheme is run by Lancashire County Council Trading Standards: members have had their insurance and qualifications checked and agree to a code of practice. Nationally, WaterSafe lists approved plumbers for water supply work. Being on one of these isn't everything, but someone vetted by Trading Standards has at least been looked at by someone independent.
3. Ask about insurance
A proper plumber will have public liability insurance and won't mind you asking. If a job goes wrong and floods the floor below, you want that covered.
4. Read reviews — properly
Check Google reviews, not just testimonials on their own site. Look for detail: names of the people who did the work, the type of job, whether problems were sorted afterwards. Twenty detailed reviews beat two hundred one-liners.
5. Get a written quote
It should spell out labour, materials, VAT, call-out charges and any guarantee. Be wary of vague prices and "we'll see when we get there" on anything bigger than a small repair.
6. Be careful with cold callers and big deposits
Genuine tradespeople rarely knock on doors saying they've spotted a problem. And while a deposit for materials on a large job is normal, being asked for most of the money up front, or cash only with no paperwork, is a red flag.
7. Talk to them
You'll learn a lot from a five-minute conversation. Do they explain what's wrong in plain English? Do they tell you when a job is simple enough to do yourself? Do you get the person who'll actually do the work?
Why it matters
A 2026 WaterSafe survey found one in five people had hired a rogue trader and needed a second contractor to fix the job — costing nearly £380 more on average. Checking first is cheaper.
Who we are
Preston Plumbing Services is a family-run firm based in Bamber Bridge, founded by Michael Singleton in 2002. Michael works alongside Max. We're Gas Safe registered (203011), Safe Trader members, DBS checked, fully insured and a Baxi Approved Installer — and most of our work comes through word of mouth. Read our reviews, then call 07949 075721 or use the form below.
We cover Preston, Bamber Bridge, Leyland, Chorley, Penwortham, Fulwood and Longridge.