Plumbing & Heating in the North East

Boilers, bathrooms and radiators by a Gas Safe registered engineer

Book your job with a local business

Owner-led plumbing and heating across Chester-le-Street, Durham, Newcastle and the North East.

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    Clear, honest pricing before any work starts
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    Open 7 days, usually 08:00 to 17:30
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    One local business, start to finish
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    Covering Durham, Tyne and Wear and beyond

Our Easy
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1
OPEN THE FORM Fill in your details
2
TELL US THE JOB What you need and where you are
3
WE GET IN TOUCH We come back to you to talk it through
4
BOOKED IN We agree a time that suits you

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Why choose LAB Plumbing & Heating?

LAB Plumbing & Heating is run by Lewis Barton, a plumbing and heating engineer with 10 years in the trade. Lewis started his apprenticeship at 16, but his interest began long before that, when he was growing up with a father who was also a plumbing and heating engineer. What started as a family influence became a genuine passion, and in 2026 Lewis started trading as his own business, built on quality workmanship, honesty and reliability. When you book LAB, you deal with a local, owner-led business from the first message to the finished job.

We are Gas Safe registered and fully insured, so every boiler installation, service and repair is carried out safely and to the correct standards. From a new tap to a complete bathroom, the same care and attention to detail goes into every job, whatever its size.

Customers choose LAB because the service is high quality at a fair and honest price, with no corners cut. You get a clear scope and price before work begins, we turn up when we say we will, and your home is treated with the same care and respect as our own. A reputation is earned through actions, not promises, and our name is behind every job.

Lewis has lived in the North East his whole life, growing up in Washington and now based in Chester-le-Street. His aim is not just to finish a job, but to become the plumbing and heating engineer you can rely on for years to come, and to build a local business people are happy to recommend.

Lewis Barton, owner of LAB Plumbing & Heating, with his partner and their dog

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What areas do you cover?

LAB Plumbing & Heating is based in Chester-le-Street and covers Durham, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Washington, Stanley, South Shields and the surrounding North East. If you are not sure whether your postcode is covered, give us a quick call on 07438 818496.

What are your opening hours?

We work 7 days a week, usually from 08:00 to 17:30. You can call, WhatsApp or send a quote request at any time and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Are you Gas Safe registered?

Yes. We are Gas Safe registered (No. 951095), so all gas work, including boiler installations, servicing and repairs, is carried out safely and legally. LAB Plumbing & Heating also holds public liability insurance up to £5 million.

How much experience do you have?

Lewis has 10 years of experience in plumbing and heating. He grew up with a father who was also a plumbing and heating engineer, started his apprenticeship at 16, and started trading as LAB Plumbing & Heating in 2026.

How do I get a quote?

Use the Get a Free Quote form, call 07438 818496 or send a WhatsApp message. Sending a few details and photos of the job helps us give you a quicker, more accurate quote. You get a clear price before any work begins.

Will I have one point of contact?

Yes. LAB Plumbing & Heating is owner-led, so you have one point of contact from your first message to the finished job. For larger projects, such as bathrooms, we organise the other trades on your behalf.

Do you guarantee your work?

Yes. On top of your statutory rights, every job comes with a 6-month workmanship guarantee from completion, covering defects in the workmanship. Manufacturer warranties on boilers and products are separate.

Do you work on oil boilers?

No. We work on gas boilers of all types, including combi, system and regular boilers, but we do not work on oil boilers.

How long is the warranty?

It varies between manufacturers, but is usually 5, 7 or 10 years.

How long will it take to install?

Nine times out of ten it will take one day if you already have a combi boiler. Changing the boiler type or moving it to a new position can take longer, and you will be told the timescale before the job is booked.

How much does a new boiler cost?

Most new boiler installations cost between £2,000 and £3,000 supplied and fitted. The final price depends on the boiler, its position and any upgrades your system needs, and you get a clear quote before any work starts.

Will I be without heating and hot water?

Usually only for the day of the swap. The old boiler is removed, the new one is fitted and commissioned, and in most cases your heating and hot water are back on before we leave.

Do you take the old boiler away?

Removal and disposal of the old boiler can be included in your quote. Just mention it when you get in touch.

Will my boiler work more efficiently?

Certain parts of a service, like cleaning the heat exchanger, can improve efficiency, but a service is mainly for safety and for testing that the boiler is working correctly.

How often should my boiler be serviced?

Every 12 months, to keep it safe and to keep the manufacturer warranty valid.

How much is a boiler service?

A boiler service costs £85 to £120, depending on the boiler type and access.

What is checked during a service?

We check the burner, gas pressure, seals, condensate and safety devices, test the flue gases with a calibrated analyser and clean parts where needed.

What happens if a fault is found?

You are told straight away what the problem is and what it will cost to fix. No extra work is carried out without your agreement.

Do you offer a boiler care plan?

Yes. LAB Boiler Care is a membership at £12.99 a month. It includes your annual boiler service, priority booking, 50% off call-out fees for breakdown and diagnosis visits, and WhatsApp support for quick advice and fault diagnosis before a visit. Your boiler has a short eligibility inspection first. Full terms apply, and details are available on request.

How long will the refurb take?

It depends on the size, layout and complexity of the bathroom, but it is usually around 7 days of labour.

How much does a new bathroom cost?

Bathroom installations are typically £3,000 to £5,000. You get a clear scope and price before any work begins. Anything unexpected found once work starts is explained and agreed with you before it goes ahead.

Do you organise the other trades?

Yes. We handle the strip-out and all the plumbing and fitting, and manage our own subcontractors for tiling, plastering, electrics and joinery or flooring, so you have one point of contact.

Can I supply my own bathroom suite?

Yes. You can choose and buy your own suite, or we can recommend products that suit your space and budget.

Will I still have a working toilet during the work?

We plan the job to keep disruption to a minimum. If you only have one bathroom, mention it at the quote stage and we will explain how the work will be staged.

Do you include decorating in a bathroom refurbishment?

No. We do the plumbing ourselves and manage our own subcontractors for tiling, plastering, electrics and joinery or flooring. The finished room is left ready for you or your decorator.

How long does it take to fit a radiator?

Allow about an hour per radiator if it stays in the same place with little or no pipework change.

How much does it cost to fit a radiator?

Most radiator installations cost £150 to £300 per radiator, depending on the radiator and whether the pipework needs moving.

Can you fit designer and vertical radiators?

Yes. We fit standard panel radiators, vertical and horizontal designer radiators and heated towel rails in black, anthracite, white and brushed brass finishes.

Can you move a radiator to a different wall?

Yes. Moving a radiator means altering the pipework, so it takes longer than a like-for-like swap. We will price this clearly before starting.

Should I flush my system when replacing radiators?

Often, yes. We flush radiators and whole heating systems to clear sludge, either as a standalone job or alongside radiator work, and we can advise whether a flush would help your heating run better.

Do you fit thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)?

Yes. We fit new TRVs and replace old ones, either with a new radiator or as a job on its own, so you can control the temperature in each room.

How much does a boiler repair cost?

Most repairs come to £100 to £500. There is a £75 call-out and diagnostic fee, which covers the first hour of labour; any parts needed are charged on top, and you are told the price before they are fitted.

Which boilers do you repair?

We repair combi, system and regular gas boilers. We do not work on oil boilers. Tell us the make and model when you get in touch.

How quickly can you come out?

Call or WhatsApp with the boiler make and the fault or error code, and we will arrange the earliest visit we can, 7 days a week.

Will I know the cost before parts are fitted?

Yes. Once the fault is found, you are told what is needed and what it will cost before anything is fitted.

Is it worth repairing an old boiler?

It depends on the age and condition of the boiler and the fault. If a repair no longer makes sense, we will tell you honestly and give you a clear quote for a replacement, so you can decide.

Is the call-out fee cheaper on the care plan?

Yes. Members of the LAB Boiler Care plan get 50% off call-out fees for breakdown and diagnosis visits, along with priority booking. Ask us for details.

How long does a tap installation take?

It is usually completed within an hour.

Can I use my water?

If the tap has isolation valves, all other water outlets can be used while the work is going on.

How much does it cost to fit a new tap?

Tap installation costs £85 to £150, depending on the tap and the access underneath the sink or basin.

Can I buy my own tap?

Yes. You can buy your own tap and we will fit it, or we can recommend one to suit your sink and water pressure.

Do you fit isolation valves?

Yes. If your tap does not already have isolation valves, we can fit them when we fit your new tap, which makes future maintenance much easier.

What air conditioning do you install?

We install wall-mounted split systems for single rooms and multi-split systems that run several indoor units from one outdoor unit, for homes and businesses.

Are you F-Gas qualified?

Yes. Lewis holds the F-Gas qualification needed to work on air conditioning systems.

Do you cover commercial air conditioning?

Yes. We cover commercial air conditioning maintenance contracts and VRF/VRV systems.

Can you remove an old air conditioning unit?

Yes. We remove and decommission old air conditioning systems, whether they are being replaced or taken out for good.

Is there any air conditioning work you do not do?

We do not service or repair portable air conditioning units, carry out refrigerant leak detection and repairs, or install, clean or repair ventilation ductwork.

How much does air conditioning cost?

Every system is priced individually, depending on the number of rooms, the units and the installation. We give a free quote before any work starts.